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Black ash with organics

2bags

2bags

Member
Hi all,

I can't seem to get to the bottom of this.

My understanding is that with organic soil, feeding only water, a plant cannot require flushing as there is no salt buildup and no liquid ferts.

The soil I grow in is 100 percent certified organic. I don't add dry ferts or seaweed/guano or anything. I feed only water. The soil doesn't come heavily fertilised and my plants yellow out fully.

Yet my bud burns black after 2 weeks in the dark and a bit of a cure.

What am I doing wrong?

Can black ash result from under feeding?

Thanks for your help. :thank you:

1
 
Green Supreme

Green Supreme

Well-known member
Veteran
For some reason people seem to believe you cannot over feed using organic. Although I do find usually organic means doesn't burn, I have encountered a few with the knack that proves its possible to get a white ash. Lotsa pure water for some weeks at the end. Peace GS
 
C

canna woop!

Member
The problem isn't with inorganic vs. organic particles, and i don't think organics can over fertilize. It's a natural vs synthetic matter IMO, for example the pieces of wax from cartons and other unknown pieces of garbage that lead to the over fertilized Look IMO.
 
R

Rromack

New member
According to cigar experts, it is possible to get black ash from under fertilization.

"So what does a clean powder-white ash contribute to a cigar’s quality? “Other than aesthetics, absolutely nothing,” is the blunt answer from Bahia Cigar’s Tony Borhani. “It means the soil has lots of phosphorus and calcium. The soil that produces Sumatra tobacco will always give a white ash. Cuban soil is low in calcium and that’s how they maintain it, so Cuban cigars’ ashes are hardly ever white.”"

http://www.smokemag.com/0604/feature.htm
 
Bush Dr

Bush Dr

Painting the picture of Dorian Gray
Veteran
Black ash = excess N

You should flush with water for at least a week ..... you won't believe how shitty the unflushed weed tastes
 
O

OrganicOzarks

Black ash, and white ash don't have much to do with proper nutrient supply to a plant. I don't know where this came from. Flushing in organics is not necessary. Are we burning our tomatoes to tell if the grower had the proper nutrients available to the plant? The only way to tell is to take a leaf sample. Good luck on finding a lab that will test that for you. :)
 
2bags

2bags

Member
Thanks for all the responses.

The plants were outdoors so had rainwater mostly.

I can't see how they were overfed as they were never fed and yellowed out heavily.

I still have a few going so can continue to experiment.

I ran a couple gallons water through a pot the other day and the runoff was yellow. Other sites suggest soil should still be flushed throuh with water until it runs clear. Worth a try?

I don't think it's to do with curing as I've had bud still damp burn white in the past. Although I know curing can improve ash colour and smokability. But this ash is jet black and difficult to burn. It doesn't taste of chemicals however.

1
 
2bags

2bags

Member
Bush Dr said:
Black ash = excess N

You should flush with water for at least a week ..... you won't believe how shitty the unflushed weed tastes
Click to expand...

Hi Bush Dr, they've yellowed out completely and only had rainwater. How could it be excess N? Surely if there was an excess there would be no yellowing?

When you say flush do you mean run a lot of water through i.e. 3x?

Thanks

1
 
F

FlaDankster

Active member
Veteran
Just my 2 cents worth but when ever ash color comes up most are quick to jump on what was over done or not flushed out.

Not many mention what could have been possibly lacking to end up with a black or grayish ash.You say your plants yellowed out fine by the end of the grow......maybe use that as a starting point.Every thing given and NOT given through out the grow is going to determine the ash color i believe.
 
2bags

2bags

Member
FlaDankster said:
Just my 2 cents worth but when ever ash color comes up most are quick to jump on what was over done or not flushed out.

Not many mention what could have been possibly lacking to end up with a black or grayish ash.You say your plants yellowed out fine by the end of the grow......maybe use that as a starting point.Every thing given and NOT given through out the grow is going to determine the ash color i believe.
Click to expand...

Hi Fla,

So you think the fact these plants have been pretty much starved all their lives could be causing the black ash?

Thanks

1
 
2bags

2bags

Member
Also, I think it is important to mention when black ash buds are water cured they turn white.

This would suggest something remains in the bud that is preventing total combustion that the water cure removes. Could starving the plants be locking up some kind of element?

Or as Clean says could it be an immobile element like Ca trapped in the plants somehow?

1
 
F

FlaDankster

Active member
Veteran
My opinion is that it could play a factor.Knowing for sure...... i do not,but it's some thing to think on i'd say.

If having too much of this or that in the finished product affects ash color i do not see why certain things missing wouldn't do the same thing.
 
xmobotx

xmobotx

ecks moe baw teeks
ICMag Donor
Veteran
"organics" is way to broad a category to get anything but these 'all over the map' responses to this kind of question.

just exactly what do you mean by organics? soil/coco? Did you apply bottled organic products? were they actually organic or deceptively labeled? Or, did you use dry amendments to male a soil mix? which amendments?

if you applied any bottled product, you may have needed to flush ~particularly if it was a 'pseudo-organic' tricky-labeled chem product.

However, none of this addresses the black ash vs white ash issue. This myth has little or nothing to do w/ the quality of your product or your grow method ~other than, as mentioned plentiful Ca may influence it somewhat.

And; it is absolutely un-necessary to flush w/ a true organic dry soil amendment grow. Some of the finest cannabis I've ever smoked grew out in my vegetable garden. Just how do you suppose I flushed that? The ONLY reason one may need to flush is if they are applying something they probably shouldn't be in the 1st place. ~@least & claim "organic"
 
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