How, when and what to feed

[Seal-Clubber]

Damn Seal-Clubber, baseball bats. I am growing pencils lol. Hopefully I will get to your level one day. I am growing in 2 gal containers though compared to 20 gal containers. I too added earth worm castings but not the other items you mentioned. I am going to have to get a hold of those items if the wife will let me lol.

heheh.. I know about that wife thing. Mine has a bun in the oven and the smell of compost-tea makes her resist ANY help at all but God bless her.


I have a recipe here:
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=266901

I must admit, the organic juice gets that smell during the hot summer days, whew!.. It`s the bloodmeal. We are having average temps around 95f-100f for the last 2 months in Northern California - with no rain at all. Sometimes the temp is 105f-110f, every day, for a week. We have had a couple of those weeks and another is happening now. I have to water/feed them 2x per day with 2.5gallons per feeding. I have 2 plants in 20-gallon tote containers and I follow state laws for medical cannabis.
An outdoor, 2gallon pot would not be big enough. 2-gallons is good but in the summer heat of the Nor-Cal sun, 2-gallons would dry out too fast. I stick with 2gallon containers of soilless when I do indoors. If you want to start a tea, you can get most of that stuff for real cheap. Generally, the price of 1-quart of bottled grow-shop juice is the same for making 400gallons or so of tea.

just be thorough and pay attention to detail. make lists and charts to plot progress. The big details are; medium with enough oxygen and does not stagnate, good pH with enough macro and micro nutrients, light, and a very forgotten essential - ventilation. Without ventilation your plants will choke and possibly overheat.

 

[KaMoeKazee]

Hi Skunkenstein I hope this isn't dumb but what is prilled and powdered? I will have to get some micro nutrients and the silica you mentioned. How often would I need to use those or do you just follow the label? Thanks for the tip too about the boosters. They have so damn many at the store and it makes you think you need them. I was wondering how they grew mj back in the day without all these fancy products lol.

Thanks for helping out

 

[KaMoeKazee]

Hi SunGrown Plants are doing very well. The flowering ones appear to be gaining some girth. I think from here on out it will be straight water. I read you need to flush for 2 to 3 weeks in soil. I hope I am timing it just right.

The GS Cookies I picked up is not doing so well. She is kinda losing her green. I put her in coco as the guy at the store told me it is what everyone uses instead of soil. I may need to stick with soil until I improve my skills.

I am gonna have to buy something for the ants. Wish I knew where they are coming from so I could take care of the source.

I agree on the Pure Blend Pro. Very simple to use and thats all I used. Well I added some cal/mag but it didnt seem to help my problem for the yellowing leaves.

And thanks a bunch SunGrown for all your help!

 

[KaMoeKazee]

Hi bad gas, we all make mistakes my friend. Dont worry about it we are human. Great knowledge though.

About the sardines, do you have to smash them up and work it the soil? Does it work better than fish emulsion? I have seen fish emulsion at HD but wasnt sure if I should use that indoors because of the odor.

Your right too about all the great advice. A ton of knowledge I am gaining. I wish I started posting sooner. I am happy too so many people are willing to help me have success.

Thank you too for helping me out

 

[KaMoeKazee]

HiYa Seal-Clubber,
Congrats my friend with the bun in the oven!

Thanks for the recipe. I was wondering where to get all those items? A few of them I think I have seen at HD.

I hear you on the temps. It has been boiling here too but got a little nice break the last couple of days in the 90's but we are back in the 100's today. The plants I have outdoors though are in the ground though which I don't water too much. somewhere I read you want the roots to search for water and they dont look stressed so I water them every 2 to 3 days depending how hot it is.

What kinda info would I want to pay attention to? Things like what and when I feed and how they respond. Please elaborate if you can.

Thanks for helping Seal-Clubber you really dont club seals do you?

 

[KaMoeKazee]

I just wanted to say thanks again for all your help guys and also to get to 50 posts.

 

[SunGrown]

Flushing really is just to help remove extra salt buildup in the soil and to allow the plants to use the nutrients stored within...anyway, yeah, 2-3 weeks should do you fine. I bet you don't have much salt buildup.

And you can use Alaska fish indoors, I have seen a guy that only ran Alaska and molasses inside and it blew me away with the results...no other nutrients or additives.

Glad to hear most are growing well for ya! Keep up the effort!

 

[bad gas]

I smash my sardine up with my fingers and put it in little piles on top of dirt just under the rootball. I learned not to mix sardine into the soil. It causes an area of soil to have different water retention characteristics making it hard to water all areas of the container evenly. The area with mixed in sardine will not be ready to water when the rest of the container is too dry. Same principle for mixing two different soils. IME

I forgot to tell you. Don't worry about your yellowing leaves. That is your plant entering old age and using up the nutes it stored in the fan leaves. This is normal.

Great thread, guys. bg

 

[Skunkenstein]

Dolomite lime in prilled form looks like little balls of rust..and powdered looks like concrete powder.The prilled is slower to break down in the medium, powered is faster acting.I get the powered Locally for about 7 bucks/25 pound bag..so it last a helleva long time.You could run 2tbls of either really..I just divide em up..That's just me.I've been running Black Gold for 20yrs and this medium is very Acidic, so Dolomite is a must in my situation.At a bare minimum you could use 1tbls in most other types of bagged soil and see Benefits..must have amendment IMO.

 

[Skunkenstein]

I think you could probably forgo the use of Squished up Sardines in your mix.My grandfather was a gardener during the Depression, and they would throw a Fish under the Tomatoes plants because they had no money to by Certs, but fish were Free. If you want to give your plants a little extra N boost Sprinkle some 5-5-5 in the bottoms of your container.You could also use the Dry pellatized Fish from Alaska brand.I'm thinking you could be bringing some nasty Anaerobic junk into your soil, causing root rot or Something nasty..Just my 2cents..Hope this Helps.

 

[bad gas]

Greetings, all!

Didn't mean to derail your thread with those damn sardines. It's just something I experimented with on my first 30 plants. I don't think anyone here on ICMAG has ever recommended raw fish. When I started, I had very limited knowledge and accessability for organic ammendment. Stone-Age simplicity was my only hope. Hence, the Pilgrims.

Over the weekend, I started conditioning my germination tubes for seeds tonight. They're soaking now.

This crop will go into a Passive Plant Killer. KISS method or Jack's Pro Hydro. I have both.

I wish I knew the stuff in this thread when I started feeling it out. Have a nice day, everybody. bg

 

[SunGrown]

KaMoe, how grows it??

 

[KaMoeKazee]

Hey Guys'

Hi SunGrown, Thanks for your input my friend. You have been so helpful. I have been doing so much research finding out new information from your insight. I also found out how the hydroponic industry is out to rip us off with all kinds of hype. If it wasn't for your tips I don't think I would have found that out and I probably would have spent a butt ton of money on the fancy products.

Hey bad gas, how well did the sardine grow work out? I did purchase some Alaska fish emulsion at HD to try. I have got so much input that it is great stuff and cheap too. I have not had a chance to use it yet but I did take a smell of it and it wasnt too bad. My dog sure liked it lol.

Wazzup Skunkenstein, Thanks for that info on the dolomite lime. I picked up a bag of Epsoma I think it is at HD. I am going to give it a try on my next potting. Just wondering how do you find out if your soil is acidic?

Hi again bad gas, no worries my friend. I am here to learn and would like to know of your experiences. One day we may have a period like Skunkenstein's grandfather and need that knowledge. You never know lol. What are germination tubes and a passive Plant Killer? I have read a little about the KISS method but have not heard of Jack's Pro Hydro. I am trying out some hydro with rockwool. Is it anything I can gain knowledge from.

Ahhhh SunGrown, thanks for asking. I spent some time with them today and some are begining to explode similar to popcorn while others have not. I think it was a matter of time. I am concerned about the leaves, I just don't think they should be curling up into a dry brown crispy leaf and falling of. It is not a big problem just a concern.

Thanks everyone for their guidance and support Knowledge is King

 

[SunGrown]

yo bro! you shouldn't have dry leaves falling off...maybe overfeeding, easy to do. got a pic?

no worries on all the info, I want the world to stop spending money they don't have for shit they don't need!

your soil should be slightly acidic, shoot for a ph of 5.8 - 6.2

you can get a simple probe deal from depot to check with some accuracy, or you can measure the runoff after a water drench

 

[KaMoeKazee]

Wazzup SunGrown, I dont think I over fed but I really dont know. I think I fed them 2 or 3 times the entire time. Does that sound like a lot during the flower cycle? The last time I fed them I added Botanicare cal mag because the leaves were turning yellow and I read that cal/mag helps bring the green back. It didnt in my case.

Here are a few pics from a few days ago. A few of the leaves have got worse since I think but the buds seem to be doing well. I will have to get a pic when lights are on.

Here is a pic of what the buds look like


If I remember right my pH is 6.4 after adding nutes. I stopped checking the pH when I add plain water and I am thinking that could be what my problem is. I think that is around 7.0. I would have to double check that though. I read 7.0 was fine to use but maybe it has changed since I last checked it.

I think I may have one of those pH deals in the garage that also tells you if the soil is moist that we use to use for house plants but honestly never felt I could trust that thing. I will see if I can find it and give it a try.

Thanks buddy

 

[SunGrown]

hmm, any chance you have root bugs? the buds look good.

almost looks like, well it looks like it could be a few things...the way the leaf curls up first is what makes me think maybe something like roots not getting enough air...or getting munched on..like I said looks like a lot of things.

I feed almost daily inside or out, so no, 2 or so times isnt too much. those aren't overfed for sure. That late in flower some leaf drop is normal, but there is something sick there.

the flowers look great, so at least you are good with that.

that moisture dealy is what I am talking about. It is close to accurate, I use mine a lot. the probes have to be kept very clean though.

even with plain h20 you want to add ph down to get it at 5.8 or so. I am not sure that is the problem, but you should get into the habit of checking to be sure ph is in that sweet spot though.

 

[KaMoeKazee]

Hey there SunGrown

I dont think I have any root bugs but I have seen a few fungus gnats. I am not sure what root bugs look like. I will have to do a search on that. And that is good to hear that I am not feeding too much, I read somewhere to feed them when they start showing signs but I dont know what the signs are lol.

Thanks for saying my flowers look great. It feels good for my first time at bat. It really builds the confidence.

I still have not found that pH soil meter. I may have just thrown it away. I may just have to buy another. I will be checking my pH from now on wether I am adding nutes or not.

Won't be much longer before I chop them down. I am gonna have to take a crash coarse on harvesting and curing. Woohooo

Thanks my friend :friends:

 

[bad gas]

Good morning all. Just harvested my second sardine crop last night. Decent, but not spectacular yield. I screwed up in a couple places and paid the price.

My first crop was better cared for and turned out spectacular. Three 6-7 ft tall plants and nine 4 footers with less veg time. I trained the big ones up a 4 ft vertical screen and then bent them over on a horizontal screen to form a dome shaped canopy around my DIY vertical cooltube. The small ones were topped once and flowered under a horizontal air cooled hood.

It is absolutely true that the first weed you grow will be the very best weed on earth.

Germination tubes: 2 1/2 inch diameter ABS plastic tubing cut into 6 inch long pieces.
Cover one end with barrier cloth. Attach with a hose clamp. Put in plastic bin. Add Phed water until water level is approx 3 inches below top of media. WARNING: This dimension worked for me. You may need to adjust it to establish proper moisture at seed level. This dimension will be dependant on the consistancy of your chosen media. I've used it with both soil or NAPA floor-dry P/N 8822. This morning, 4 of my new seedlings have poked their parts above ground.

I've got to go to work. I'll post later about the PPK and Jack's.

Hasta la vista, baby! bg

 

[bad gas]

I forgot to tell you that seedlings are kept in these germination tubes while I ramp up nutrient levels. Easier to dump small bins rather than my big reservoirs which have full strength nutes at all times.

Smoke a fatty! bg

 

[Brotherhood]

Feed low in soil.

Feed low in soil.

View image in gallery​

Hello, Brotherhood here.
There is no way around it, your experience will increase exponentially with every flowering round.
This plant was fed twice a week till run off with Gh Maxibloom at only 400ppm(.5 scale)
pH is very important, this was fed at around 6.3
Simplicity is key till you go a few rounds, then start tweaking, boosting, adding additives.
This plant was in very poor dirt, so to speak, if it was good soil I would have fed less.
Sometimes I feel that less is more, provide enough light and good temps, 72-85 and let the plant do its thing.
And wait. You will be rewarded. Over 4 ounces, 70 days flower.
I hope this helps, your buds look really nice.