Rock Dust Surprise

[Paqnampiza]

Hey all,

Let me begin by thanking everyone for there contributions on this website, I have been learning from all of you from day 1. My first grow was mediocre, and i plan on tuning everything in during my next few grows, always something to learn here, love it!

I have an organic living soil on the go this time around, consisting of peat, hummus, EWC, rice husk, Aussie Gold orchid mix for some added texture(diatomite, coir fiber , charcoal, perlite), kelp meal, alfalfa meal, neem meal, rock phosphate.

This has all been mixed and sitting now for 4+ weeks.

My question is, recently I was able to source some rock dust, looks like some quality stuff ( http://www.borealagrominerals.com/src-minerals.html ), and i was wondering if rock dust is "hot", does it need time to settle in or can i ammend it and use right away?

Thanks for the replies in advance

 

[SpicySativa]

Rock dust is not hot whatsoever. Get it in there!

 

[SpicySativa]

Your soil looks low on phosphorus. That rock phosphate is a great soil amendment, but is it VERY slow to release phosphorus. It'll be beneficial in the long run if you choose to recycle your soil (which you SHOULD), but won't supply much P during the first couple rounds.

If I were you, I would get ahold of some high P bat guano to top dress from time to time (maybe once late veg, 2-3 times during bloom). It's too late to add guano or fish bone meal to your soil if you're going to use it soon, but top dressing P guano should supply plenty to get you by.

 

[OrganicBuds]

Rock dust is not hot whatsoever. Get it in there!

Second that.

 

[Paqnampiza]

Spicy - Thanks for quick reply and tip!

Organic - thanks for the backup!

How long would steamed bone meal or fish bone meal need to settle in?
I will get a hold of some P guano and use my current soil, think I can get a little from a friend.
With the remaining soil I would like to add bone meal as it will have time to sit before being used again.

 

[xmobotx]

the main benefit of that rock dust will be mineralizing your mix ~i.e. trace minerals

fish bone meal will be one of your best options for P & I also like cal-phos {which is a colloidal RP w/ the added benefit of additional Ca}

 

[Paqnampiza]

I appreciate all your knowledge man, thanks!

I've made a decision, thanks for the advice.

 

[VortexPower420]

I would go for the Carbonatite you mentioned. It is great stuff. You will get the extra P you need from that, as well as clays Ca and many other goodies.
I would also add some Cal-phos (SRP) because it has alot more available P.

Timbuktu

 

[trichrider]

http://remineralize.org/a-rock-dust-primer

 

[DinosaurCocks]

so i would assume something like ground up granite would be considered organic...but i'm reading these rock dusts are not considered organic?

was gonna order this product
http://www.fertilizeronline.com/rockdust.php

but after reading that rockdust isn't organic i decided to hold off, i don't wanna wreck the organic nature of my buds, but then again water isn't organic either and i use it on my plants quite often...

what is the story on this? just because it doesn't have carbon atoms in it's structure, we can't use it? or is it more complex than that? clearly im not selling my product on a regulated market so it really doesn't matter but for my own peace of mind i'd like to know for sure if it's considered organic enough...

 

[xmobotx]

granite dust & many other "generic" amendments are approved for organic use

the people who will tell you rock dust isn't organic are making a play on words ~since rocks were never living, they aren't truly organic

that's not what organics is about ~it's about growing w/ a more natural method/closer to how it happens minus the intervention of man

agrowinn is widely accepted by many who choose organics; i can;t speak to it's efficacy or quality because i haven't seen or used it myself

 

[DinosaurCocks]

awesome thanks! ive been reading up on organics non stop since i started about 6 weeks ago, ive been absorbing a lot, but not everything lol, i thought i had read something that had mentioned there was some controversy about whether rock dust should be allowed for organic growing...i guess that is not the case...

i'll be ordering some of this stuff soon im thinking...is this stuff used as a top dressing or is it mostly mixed into your soil ahead of time...i don't till so i would prefer to top dress only...

 

[xmobotx]

1st best way is to "nutrient cycle" {compost it/have it in your worm bin}

next is to use it as an ingredient in your soil-mix "recipe"

finally; top-dressing would be "OK" but you typically want to top-dress w/ plant-based amendments e.g. mulches ~top-dressing is fine/just your 3rd choice basically

colloidal rock-based amendments could also be delivered by mixing w/ water & watering in