New soil mix

[FunTimesIndeed]

Seriously though, lava rock includes pumice. I think you're talking about scoria.

In terms of available elements, the whole range of igneous rocks offers very similar ratios of calcium to magnesium. It just doesn't matter. It matters even less if we're talking about using it for aeration.

 

[spook719]

Ok guys thanks for the input I was thinking about using both lava rock and pumice, probable half and half. Also I plan on using compost teas. My goal with this mix is to have fast acting nutrients like the guanos and sloe releases like the soybean,feather,and bone. I've made soil mixes for indoors a lot but my base is coco using LCs mix. I've had good results but I've always used guanos which only last so long so I would have to top dress after a month or so in veg continuing into bloom. In LCs mix he calls for 1/3 cup of Mexican and 1/2 cup of indo/Jamaican per gallo which comes to about 13 tablespoons per gallon. In this outdoor mix I'm only using two tablespoons per gallon of each alongside my other amendments. My point is I'm not going full strength with my amendments so I should be able to diversify. But your right the best way to find out is to mix it let it sit for a few weeks Then get an analysis done. That's probably what I'll do it's better to be safe then sorry when it come to these things.

 

[SunGrown]

I think your mix is fine, I would water it in a time or three and let it sit a few weeks but you should be fine.

I use chunky perlite and sometimes I use pumice only because the local soil producers add pumice to their mixes cause it's cheap.

I also add red worms to my pots and they have no problem that I know of with it.

The alpaca manure is great for sure, I try to avoid horse manure in my pots because of weed and grass seeds. But both will work for teas.

But always add mycos to your mix and planting hole, those fungi really make any soil healthier in relation to your roots using available nutrients and building life in the soil.

 

[Sir D]

Are you talking lave rocks or lava sand? Lava sand is sand size and smaller...

I use lava rock for its microbe holding environment, water and air rention and as it breaks down it releases that goodness to the plant. But to each his own... As long as it support living soil......

What he said
Lava rock is excellent for housing microbes. I think this year I'll be replacing perlite completely with it.
I've also noticed that some of these places are using redwood sawdust in place of coco and two years ago I've seen a grow with it that did really well!

 

[vonforne]

I didn't have time to search out the correct link.

Then why post off topic information?

 

[OrganicBuds]

Then why post off topic information?

Off topic?

all three are from volcanic rock. lol

How could it be off topic if lava rock and sand both come from volcanic rock? I mean, they are the same thing right? O that's right, it doesn't matter what I write, the haters will hate on either side of the argument.

 

[W89]

lol too funny...Von you big bad hater mo fo!

 

[Coba]

"O that's right, it doesn't matter what I write, the haters will hate on either side of the argument."

they hate misinformation!

"Everything you see me write on these forums is complete fabrication."

and tag your it!

 

[OrganicBuds]

Yea, because that is why I added that into my signature. Can't see any other reason.....Guess I am still it. And what did I post that was misinformation exactly? OP asked what people thought of his mix. I told him what I thought, and what I would do.

 

[vapor]

your mix will be to much. in terms of nutrients. If you go for a clean ash at the end{white ash}. Your mix will work and grow big buds, but they will not be top noch,in smoking terms, black ash/grey dark bad{nutrients the plants didnt use}. compared to a plant that gets to cannibalism{eat stored nutrient}till it is done. There is a big difference in meds that are grown properly{what the plants needs} and what a grower wants to feed. Get in touch with that, took me 3 years of playing around with different mix values to find what works.Not all plants will feed the same, cal/mag ratios make plants turn out completely different which is interesting. Once you have a crop that burns white and clean in the ash{the whole crop}, then use that mix.The more light you use the more nutrients you will use. less is more, use teas and top feeding if you need too. and of course pot size and all of that roots happy etc.Ideal soil is a good place to start for values. when minerals are balance you get nitrogen for free yo{phil collins effect}! peace

 

[spook719]

Vapor- this is for a 200 gallon pot in greenhouse at 6500 ft elevation. So theres gonna be lots of light.
I don't care how this shit smokes because I won't be smoking any of it I only want a big buds that have no smell and are harsh to smoke, that's why I'm growing organically. As matter of fact I'm not even gonna flush it.. ;-)

 

[njl1354]

So what kind of mix do you use vapor? When you recycle your soil do you re- amend at full strength?

 

[spook719]

What do you think I have to much of vapor?

 

[vapor]

Well since you asked....
People are always touchy about this subject but to be honest i dont mean any harm or foul. so lets continue.
It does not matter if it is 200 gallons or 20000 gallons it all breaks down to per gal.As big a plant as you want to grow is about container size and length of veg.
So for 20 gal i use two different mixes one for kush types and one for more aggressive sativas.
For 20 gal of medium low mix{kush types}
rock phos 40ml
pyro clay 30ml
lime dol 80ml
calcium carb 80ml
rapid lime 80ml
soybean meal 600ml
alfalfa 560ml
neemseed cake 40 ml
leonardite 60ml
green sand 60ml
kelp meal 40 ml
diatomacious earth{fine} 15ml
for trace would look like this
copper sulfate .2ml
zinc .3ml
manganese .35ml
borate 40 .6ml
cobalt sulfate. pinch does 100 gal
there is a few other traces i use but i dont have them on hand atm. add 200 ml a gal of wormcasting, i like to add to build my soil meduim as per coco 50-60% perlite-10-20% peat moss{darker better}10-20%. Will post my heavy feeder mix when i get back from dinner....

 

[vapor]

ps sounds like you are in a a growers dream spot!

 

[vapor]

and yes i have used the same soil for 5 years or so and i always use my full strength and things turn out clean, over time you get to know when to add new things as per per lite and peat/coco etc. part of the trick is knowing what size to transplant into for flower some plants like lots room. food and other not so much.....generally i like to double what ever i have vegged in......

 

[vapor]

forgot to mention teas once a week for microbes and if you need to add food.....

 

[spook719]

just so I understand , your using 40 ml rock phosphate, 30 ml pyro clay, ect.. per 20 gallons of mix? 30 ml is is one tablespoon right?

 

[spook719]

Ya I'm gonna do compost teas. I was hoping this mix will get me to bloom without top dressing much. Then I plan on top dressing for the transition phase.

 

[vapor]

15ml is a table spoon. 5 ml is a tea spoon. yes thats right, kushes/8-10 weeks strains love that mix....