Alternative To Fox Farm Soil

[Ringodoggie]

What fertilizer are you using on these? Seems dry amendments would be ideal for a 50/50 mix

Here is their history...

The clones were in 20 oz Solo cups for almost 3 weeks from when I took them. Only plain water during that time.

Then, they transplanted to #1 pots for 3 weeks. During that 3 weeks they got no nutes but I did use fish ferts and seaweed ferts one time each. Otherwise, pain water. The stuff I used was Neptune's Harvest.

Then, they trans into #7 pots for 3 weeks (one more week to go). During that time, they got just plain water.

Next week they go into the flowering tent.

As for nutes, for over 10 years I have used the Fox Farms Trio with a tiny CalMag.

Since I have been in SoCal and having issues, I have been trying some new things including Seaweed and Fish (Neptune's Harvest). I also think dry amendments are on my list to try.

The crop that I am about to harvest was in 100% Frog their entire life and the crop is doing awesome. It seems that after the Frog gets old, it stops burning. Which is logical. I had issues with that crop in the early stages but now they are great.

The buds got nice and frosty and they leaves are still mostly green.

I think mixing 50/50 is going to be my solution but it's not over yet so that might change.

Thanks again for the input.

 

[RobFromTX]

Here is their history...

The clones were in 20 oz Solo cups for almost 3 weeks from when I took them. Only plain water during that time.

Then, they transplanted to #1 pots for 3 weeks. During that 3 weeks they got no nutes but I did use fish ferts and seaweed ferts one time each. Otherwise, pain water. The stuff I used was Neptune's Harvest.

Then, they trans into #7 pots for 3 weeks (one more week to go). During that time, they got just plain water.

Next week they go into the flowering tent.

As for nutes, for over 10 years I have used the Fox Farms Trio with a tiny CalMag.

Since I have been in SoCal and having issues, I have been trying some new things including Seaweed and Fish (Neptune's Harvest). I also think dry amendments are on my list to try.

The crop that I am about to harvest was in 100% Frog their entire life and the crop is doing awesome. It seems that after the Frog gets old, it stops burning. Which is logical. I had issues with that crop in the early stages but now they are great.

The buds got nice and frosty and they leaves are still mostly green.

I think mixing 50/50 is going to be my solution but it's not over yet so that might change.

Thanks again for the input.

Yeah it seems the 50/50 mix is becoming really popular. I already bought two bags of ocean forest so i think ill just buy some coco and do a mix like youre using to help with nute burn. Seems ideal since sativas dont really need much nutes anyway and it will help deal with overwatering too

 

[PadawanWarrior]

Here is their history...

The clones were in 20 oz Solo cups for almost 3 weeks from when I took them. Only plain water during that time.

Then, they transplanted to #1 pots for 3 weeks. During that 3 weeks they got no nutes but I did use fish ferts and seaweed ferts one time each. Otherwise, pain water. The stuff I used was Neptune's Harvest.

Then, they trans into #7 pots for 3 weeks (one more week to go). During that time, they got just plain water.

Next week they go into the flowering tent.

As for nutes, for over 10 years I have used the Fox Farms Trio with a tiny CalMag.

Since I have been in SoCal and having issues, I have been trying some new things including Seaweed and Fish (Neptune's Harvest). I also think dry amendments are on my list to try.

The crop that I am about to harvest was in 100% Frog their entire life and the crop is doing awesome. It seems that after the Frog gets old, it stops burning. Which is logical. I had issues with that crop in the early stages but now they are great.

The buds got nice and frosty and they leaves are still mostly green.

I think mixing 50/50 is going to be my solution but it's not over yet so that might change.

Thanks again for the input.

I noticed you're using CalMag. That might be part of your problem. The new water in SoCal might already have more than enough Ca and Mg, so excess might be blocking other cations like K.

The fact that the half coco isn't having issues would kinda make sense too since coco usually has lots of K in it to begin with. That's why people buffer it. To balance the K with Ca and Mg.

Dry amendments are definitely the way to go with organics. The Neptune's Harvest is good to have too for quick fixes. I've been using my old FFOF for 6 years now.

 

[mudballs]

I totally misread this...there is something up, more i look at the pics

 

[RobFromTX]

I've been using my old FFOF for 6 years now.

You mean youve been using the same soil over again?

 

[PadawanWarrior]

You mean youve been using the same soil over again?

Yep. I used the FFOF straight for a few runs and then mixed in pumice and rice hulls to make it into a notill soil. I just topdress it. I'm super lazy so it's perfect for me.

 

[RobFromTX]

Yep. I used the FFOF straight for a few runs and then mixed in pumice and rice hulls to make it into a notill soil. I just topdress it. I'm super lazy so it's perfect for me.

Fascinating stuff man. I my start recycling mine now that im switching to dry amendments. Ive bought fish bone meal, crab meal, kelp meal and chicken manure, all organic. I figure adding them to the 50/50 coco soil mix, at a couple of tablespoons per gallon, should be enough for the sativas i plan to grow

I know i started this thread to find alternatives to foxfarm but theres not many options out there as far as bag soil goes. So im just going to improvise it like you guys are doing

 

[Shua1991]

I simmer water with 3 bay leafs in it. Then I raise temperature to a boil and drench the soil with the boiling water, i let the bottom of the bag i use drain the hot water, this sterilizes soil from insects, eggs and viroids, I do this twice and then I wrap the hot soil/pepper bag in a plastic bag when enough is drained and let the radiant heat kill off any spores and viruses/viroids/eggs/insects or bacterium remaining.
Then mix the cooled wet soil with perlite, about 30% perlite will improve aeration and drainage, I would also consider using BTI once a week if you have a gnat/thrip infestation until it is eradicated, the bay leaf water is insect repellant for soil, so I use it as a prep before transplants.

 

[zachrockbadenof]

Fascinating stuff man. I my start recycling mine now that im switching to dry amendments. Ive bought fish bone meal, crab meal, kelp meal and chicken manure, all organic. I figure adding them to the 50/50 coco soil mix, at a couple of tablespoons per gallon, should be enough for the sativas i plan to grow

I know i started this thread to find alternatives to foxfarm but theres not many options out there as far as bag soil goes. So im just going to improvise it like you guys are doing

i have in the past when ffof wasn't available used coast of maine... pretty good, and usually a bit cheaper...

 

[pop_rocks]

I simmer water with 3 bay leafs in it. Then I raise temperature to a boil and drench the soil with the boiling water, i let the bottom of the bag i use drain the hot water, this sterilizes soil from insects, eggs and viroids, I do this twice and then I wrap the hot soil/pepper bag in a plastic bag when enough is drained and let the radiant heat kill off any spores and viruses/viroids/eggs/insects or bacterium remaining.
Then mix the cooled wet soil with perlite, about 30% perlite will improve aeration and drainage, I would also consider using BTI once a week if you have a gnat/thrip infestation until it is eradicated, the bay leaf water is insect repellant for soil, so I use it as a prep before transplants.

i would put it under a plastic tarp in the sun to bake off any contaminante

Yep. I used the FFOF straight for a few runs and then mixed in pumice and rice hulls to make it into a notill soil. I just topdress it. I'm super lazy so it's perfect for me.

ive never reused the ffof but my outside garden loved it!

Yeah it seems the 50/50 mix is becoming really popular. I already bought two bags of ocean forest so i think ill just buy some coco and do a mix like youre using to help with nute burn. Seems ideal since sativas dont really need much nutes anyway and it will help deal with overwatering too

i always mixed it with coco for the first few buckets, ffof is kind of hot soil

 

[RobFromTX]

i always mixed it with coco for the first few buckets, ffof is kind of hot soil

Extremely hot. I use to veg in happy frog and then up-pot with ocean forest but i don't like transplanting

Landrace sativas don't really like it either

 

[Ringodoggie]

I noticed you're using CalMag. That might be part of your problem. The new water in SoCal might already have more than enough Ca and Mg, so excess might be blocking other cations like K.

The fact that the half coco isn't having issues would kinda make sense too since coco usually has lots of K in it to begin with. That's why people buffer it. To balance the K with Ca and Mg.

Dry amendments are definitely the way to go with organics. The Neptune's Harvest is good to have too for quick fixes. I've been using my old FFOF for 6 years now.

For a moment you had me ready to quit the CalMag but then I realized all these issues happen long before I ever start using the CalMag. Still, it's something to consider. I'll check the Coachella Water web site and check out the latest water quality report. They might have an analysis of constituents n the water.

I use CalMag only when I add other nutes (not every time I water) and I use 1/2 to 1/4 of the recommended amount. Usually about 2ml of CalMag per gallon of water.

Peace

 

[PadawanWarrior]

For a moment you had me ready to quit the CalMag but then I realized all these issues happen long before I ever start using the CalMag. Still, it's something to consider. I'll check the Coachella Water web site and check out the latest water quality report. They might have an analysis of constituents n the water.

I use CalMag only when I add other nutes (not every time I water) and I use 1/2 to 1/4 of the recommended amount. Usually about 2ml of CalMag per gallon of water.

Peace

Ya it was just a thought since it started after you moved and your water changed. But I've also heard the Fox Farms soils can be different depending on where you buy it so that's something else to consider. Another thought is maybe that's a fungal issue and it doesn't happen as much in the coco mix since that mix has better aeration. Just thinking out loud here.

 

[Old Piney]

I gotta throw this out there,@acespicoli has a big long indepth thread and I just think it’s the cats pajamas . Yeah he gets real techy with all kinds of charts ect but its great
Thread 'DIY Organic Potting Mix's for Grass - Ace Spicoli'
https://www.icmag.com/threads/diy-organic-potting-mixs-for-grass-ace-spicoli.341796/ just saying

 

[Shua1991]

Extremely hot. I use to veg in happy frog and then up-pot with ocean forest but i don't like transplanting

Landrace sativas don't really like it either

The method i described was also good at killing bacteria, you can replace the ffof bacteria with 1 tea feeding and re-populate with more "managable" colonies from fresh ewc. That's my method, I use this for pure sativas ever since growing Ace malawi, sometimes the heat treating only kills the bugs and the bacteria(anearobic) has to be aerated to die, like stated the open air tarp works in this regard, although I have too many pests in my area to do this. Once it's outdoors I consider it contaminated, unless sterilized.

 

[Ringodoggie]

But I've also heard the Fox Farms soils can be different depending on where you buy it so that's something else to consider.

That is an excellent observation. I am going to check into that.

Thanks

 

[PadawanWarrior]

That is an excellent observation. I am going to check into that.

Thanks

There's an East Coast facility and a West Coast facility. I think most of the complaints were from the East Coast one, but don't remember for sure. Plus depending on how it's stored can affect it too. I'd try to find a shop that stores it inside.

 

[zachrockbadenof]

There's an East Coast facility and a West Coast facility. I think most of the complaints were from the East Coast one, but don't remember for sure. Plus depending on how it's stored can affect it too. I'd try to find a shop that stores it inside.

my garden guy told me it all comes from the west coast... hence the higher prices where i am due to trucking...

 

[cbotany]

I use Roots Organic Original potting soil.I've not been dissatisfied. Every grower is going to have his fave,but mine has been and continues to be Roots O. I also use their Micro Greens seedling mix. I use the Micro Greens not only for seedlings,but as a base for Landraces that tend to be finicky about ferts. Some some people might freak out,but I use a toaster oven and those big aluminum Turkey trays and bake my soil before I use it. Honestly, I'd rather deal with whatever happens to the soil during baking than import some dam* pest that I'll fight for weeks to eradicate. Then I just use good common sense when entering the grow space. When you get to be my age,you just don't have the patience to deal with doggone bugs. I also bake Coco Coir just in case I were to dabble in some Mycology. Not that I would do that you understand , but just that if I did, I'd be prepared with clean Coco all ready to go. <wink wink>.

I've never personally used Roots organics, but many growers I know swear by it.

 

[PadawanWarrior]

my garden guy told me it all comes from the west coast... hence the higher prices where i am due to trucking...

Not according to Fox Farms. This is their South Carolina factory. And you know what they say about listening to grow shop workers, lol.