Consensus on using Bark/Wood wastes in soil mixes? - Organic Soil - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

BACKCOUNTRY · 03-26-2006, 07:30 AM

Hey there! I did a seach and found nothing on this subject here, so here we go!

What is the consensus on using Bark from conifer type trees (Redwoods, Firs, Ceders, Pines, etc), in soil mixes? I've heard a few things...yes and no

One thing I do know is that they can lower the PH alot, but I have also heard that toxins in some barks may be bad for Cannabis. I have used soils with wood products wastes in it in the past, and planted amoung evergreens on many occaisions, all with no noicable effects.

Anybody?

03-26-2006, 08:46 PM

My only input is 2nd hand, from a trusted grower friend with 25 years of experience.

- Redwood, in his opinion, likes to kill cannabis plants. Not conifers in general... redwood in particular.

- Having a reasonable amount of "chunks", bark etc in your organic soil mix is a good thing.

Suby · 03-26-2006, 08:54 PM

Well typically coniferous soil is very acidic and very high in fungi, so if you where groing organic in this type of soil you woiuld have a hard time balancing the bacterium in the soil for MJ.
To me bark is simply filler that won't contribute to the soil quality, it's filler and will just take up space better used for a healthy rootmass.

If you gather alot of this bark and pine needles and mix in some greens like lawn clipping you could COMPOST them, google compost piles and you will find it easy to turn everyday organic matter into a healthy compost for your soil.

Remeber organics are all about feeding the soil so bacteria can feed the plants.

Sub's

jaykush · 03-26-2006, 10:43 PM

im with suby, pine needles and some bark really fuck up your soil. they deff. need to be composted first for best results. hell i try and keep pine needles out my compost they take 10x longer to break down i learned it the hard way. by the time everything was composted the pine needles were still fine and dandy i had to sift them out before putting the compost to good use.

minds_I · 03-26-2006, 10:53 PM

Barks also have water retaining properties. They also provide airation and texture. They are cheap and are used a lot in pre-mixes. Even the exalted FFOF has composted forest products in the mix.

As a matter of point- I emailed FF and asked if the Composted forest products are redwood bark. I have not received a reply.

Its hard to say really when you have results such as those obtained from others that use FFOF.

It would seem to not be an issue.

minds_I

BACKCOUNTRY · 03-27-2006, 08:32 AM

Its still interesting to to get imput on odd subjects, especially when there is still no real guide lines as to which are good, and which are bad. It is indeed a gray area issue I believe. Even though I do not use bark in my soil, and probably never will, I still think it is worth opening the subject up to the community.

03-27-2006, 07:42 PM

bark uses N when it breaks down. i dont think uncomposted bark or needles is a good ammendment

LavenderCowboy · 03-28-2006, 02:53 AM

I say leave the "forrest products" out of the potting mix...Why take a chance when you have perlite and other amendments????LC

BACKCOUNTRY · 03-28-2006, 06:48 AM

Well, I guess LC said it! I'm satisfied with that answer.

OXOSSI · 05-30-2006, 05:14 AM

I just ground up a bunch of pine bark mixed it with perlite and a soilles rich medium 1:1:1. Will test germination rates of shwagg bagseed (so far coco fiber perlite 30% looked promising). The pH of the pine wash was low (<6.5) and I'll know in acouple of days.

03-26-2006, 07:30 AM	#1
BACKCOUNTRY Mourning the loss of my dog...... Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: South-west Oregon Posts: 2,780	Consensus on using Bark/Wood wastes in soil mixes? Hey there! I did a seach and found nothing on this subject here, so here we go! What is the consensus on using Bark from conifer type trees (Redwoods, Firs, Ceders, Pines, etc), in soil mixes? I've heard a few things...yes and no One thing I do know is that they can lower the PH alot, but I have also heard that toxins in some barks may be bad for Cannabis. I have used soils with wood products wastes in it in the past, and planted amoung evergreens on many occaisions, all with no noicable effects. Anybody? __________________ Outdoor finishing times, Photoperiod, Latitude, and how it all works! My 2005 Outdoor season 2006 Outdoor season My 2007 grow thread My 2008 outdoor thread Do you have enough sunshine? Is your outdoor soil texture right?Is your outdoor soils PH correct? Earth holes: A experiment in Guerrilla irrigation My 2009 grow thread with a test of my new irrigation system
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03-26-2006, 08:46 PM	#2
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	My only input is 2nd hand, from a trusted grower friend with 25 years of experience. - Redwood, in his opinion, likes to kill cannabis plants. Not conifers in general... redwood in particular. - Having a reasonable amount of "chunks", bark etc in your organic soil mix is a good thing.
	Quote

03-26-2006, 08:54 PM	#3
Suby AWD Aficianado Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the healing arms of planet love. Posts: 2,435	Well typically coniferous soil is very acidic and very high in fungi, so if you where groing organic in this type of soil you woiuld have a hard time balancing the bacterium in the soil for MJ. To me bark is simply filler that won't contribute to the soil quality, it's filler and will just take up space better used for a healthy rootmass. If you gather alot of this bark and pine needles and mix in some greens like lawn clipping you could COMPOST them, google compost piles and you will find it easy to turn everyday organic matter into a healthy compost for your soil. Remeber organics are all about feeding the soil so bacteria can feed the plants. Sub's __________________ Organic Fanatic Collective Suby's Kitchen The "Beer" Fridge ~Pimp Your Organic Fertilizer~
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03-26-2006, 10:43 PM	#4
jaykush dirty black hands Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: the old growth forest Posts: 4,990	im with suby, pine needles and some bark really fuck up your soil. they deff. need to be composted first for best results. hell i try and keep pine needles out my compost they take 10x longer to break down i learned it the hard way. by the time everything was composted the pine needles were still fine and dandy i had to sift them out before putting the compost to good use. __________________ “Everything is written in the book of nature. This book is always open.” sepp holzer
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03-26-2006, 10:53 PM	#5
minds_I The Emperor is not only naked but batshit crazy. Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Norcal USA Posts: 5,269	Barks also have water retaining properties. They also provide airation and texture. They are cheap and are used a lot in pre-mixes. Even the exalted FFOF has composted forest products in the mix. As a matter of point- I emailed FF and asked if the Composted forest products are redwood bark. I have not received a reply. Its hard to say really when you have results such as those obtained from others that use FFOF. It would seem to not be an issue. minds_I __________________ His contempt for objective truth is the rejection of democratic accountability, an implicit demand that his supporters place undying faith in him. Because the only measure of truth he accepts is what he claims at any given moment, the power his supporters vest in him is unlimited. Sound familiar? If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures. In the United States, under our Constitution, a free press is a check on politicians of all parties. If we are to demand that other countries respect the tradition of a free press we must also practice that here at home. Let the people know the facts, and the country will be safe.
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03-27-2006, 08:32 AM	#6
BACKCOUNTRY Mourning the loss of my dog...... Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: South-west Oregon Posts: 2,780	Its still interesting to to get imput on odd subjects, especially when there is still no real guide lines as to which are good, and which are bad. It is indeed a gray area issue I believe. Even though I do not use bark in my soil, and probably never will, I still think it is worth opening the subject up to the community. __________________ Outdoor finishing times, Photoperiod, Latitude, and how it all works! My 2005 Outdoor season 2006 Outdoor season My 2007 grow thread My 2008 outdoor thread Do you have enough sunshine? Is your outdoor soil texture right?Is your outdoor soils PH correct? Earth holes: A experiment in Guerrilla irrigation My 2009 grow thread with a test of my new irrigation system
	Quote

03-27-2006, 07:42 PM	#7
irie-i Guest Posts: n/a	bark uses N when it breaks down. i dont think uncomposted bark or needles is a good ammendment
	Quote

03-28-2006, 02:53 AM	#8
LavenderCowboy Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 192	I say leave the "forrest products" out of the potting mix...Why take a chance when you have perlite and other amendments????LC __________________ To starve the soil, is to starve the life that depends on it....
	Quote

03-28-2006, 06:48 AM	#9
BACKCOUNTRY Mourning the loss of my dog...... Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: South-west Oregon Posts: 2,780	Well, I guess LC said it! I'm satisfied with that answer. __________________ Outdoor finishing times, Photoperiod, Latitude, and how it all works! My 2005 Outdoor season 2006 Outdoor season My 2007 grow thread My 2008 outdoor thread Do you have enough sunshine? Is your outdoor soil texture right?Is your outdoor soils PH correct? Earth holes: A experiment in Guerrilla irrigation My 2009 grow thread with a test of my new irrigation system
	Quote

05-30-2006, 05:14 AM	#10
OXOSSI Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 227	/ I just ground up a bunch of pine bark mixed it with perlite and a soilles rich medium 1:1:1. Will test germination rates of shwagg bagseed (so far coco fiber perlite 30% looked promising). The pH of the pine wash was low (<6.5) and I'll know in acouple of days.
	Quote