Bad choice of soil. Looking for advice

[Therealzemi]

My first grow was done with Biobizz allmix. A superb soil that i cant say enough possitive about. The downside is the price, so i desided to mix my own for my current grow.

It is a mild pre fertilized soil with a good amount of Leca. I then added 1 liter burned clay pepples/10 liter soil.

It's way way too compact and heavy. And i'm having trouble judging when to water, as the pots seam heavy even when in need of water. Did a couple of clonings in the soil too, to learn a bit more. They root fine and a lot. But the plants seam very un whilling to dig deeper in the soil. The small roots you see on this pic, have been like that for several days. Only a couple of the roots went for the buttom of the cup.


Now to the real issue.
My current grow is in this soil, and it's too late to do a transplant to a different soil. It's a scrog well on the way. Plants do seam to do okay, but i'm worried that the plants wont build a large enough rootnet to yield a good harvest.
Is there ANYTHING i can do to help this issue? They are in 20 liter smartpots.

 

[Therealzemi]

Anyone..... Kinda desperate here

 

[hush]

Your plants look fine so I would say don't try to fix it if it ain't broken. I know you are saying that the root growth isn't what it should be. And that may very well be true. But the only true solution here is to transplant into better soil. And if you are unable to do that because the plant is already woven through the scrog screen, then what other choice do you have but to let it go? There's no magic fix to soil compaction. So if it really is an issue, you should undo the screen and then transplant the plants into better, more aerated soil. If it's really not an issue, based on the fact that the plants seem to be doing well in spite of the poor soil, then just let it go. If you're having trouble knowing when to water, just buy one of these things, they take all the guesswork out:

The plants I see in those pictures are happy plants.

 

[dank.frank]

How are you feeding the plants, before I start making suggestions?

Are these in an amended organic soil - or are you just using soil as a generic base medium?



dank.Frank

 

[OldSSSCGuy]

I am with Hush. The plants look fine... don't overthink it... Fix it next time, you would only mess up the crop to make big changes now.

 

[Therealzemi]

Thank you for the replies guys. Much appreciated

@Hush. That is exactly what i already had in my head. Was just (desperately i guess) Searching for something that could improve the conditions just a little bit
I did not how ever NOT think of the meter. Will search for one when i'm done posting

@Frank
I am using the Kiss method. GH Bloom and micro. Feeding on every second watering atm. The soil is a non organic peatmoss with leca and burned clay pepples mixed in.

 

[dank.frank]

hmmmmm....and here I was going to suggest increasing microbial content via compost or EWC teas and applying VAM type bacterias, etc - to try and create a more living soil for the roots to thrive in.

It's a completely different approach to what you currently have going - so it's kind of moot.

It'll be hard to exponentially increase root growth without increasing the ecosystem of the soil they are being grown in...



dank.Frank

 

[Therealzemi]

Oh well. Thank you for trying anyway

Lesson is learned. I'll see what the final result is, and make a better effort in regards to soil next time.

Thanks guys

 

[Granger2]

First, lose the pebbles on top. You'll get faster dry out and better air flow in the soil. And yeah get a moisture meter. Shouldn't cost more than $10. Well worth it till you get a feel for watering the medium. Plants look good, so just be careful with watering and you'll probably get a good crop. Good luck. -granger

 

[Therealzemi]

ph/Moisture meter should be here tomorrow

 

[Therealzemi]

Just to update the issue.

The day before yesterday, i removed the pepples on the top. Replaced the top 5-7cm of soil. I had enough left of the Allmix to do it. I even pulled the smart pot sides all the way down. Let them damp off for about an hour. Made sure the surface soil is nice and fluffy.
I got the PH/Humidity meter. Ph was surpricingly good (6.4). But the buttom half of the soil was super wett.
The changes made a huge change. The plants now look even happier. The room humidity went up some 6-7 points. That tells me the soil is breathing again
*BIG sigh of relief*
Thank you for the help guys

 

[Granger2]

I can see improvement. I think you're right about the RH rise. Use a root stimulator, to get them to root down. Letting the upper soil dry will force roots to seek water-go down. I'd inoculate with something like Great White, or top dress an EWC slurry and water in. Good luck. -granger

 

[Therealzemi]

They kinda exploded on growth since yesterday. Was bafled when i opened the grown room door this afternoon
Even though it would make perfect sence, to add some sort of root nutrient, it would counter the whole idea about the kiss method. And seeing how the changes i made, have made a pretty big difference to the better, i think i'm gonna carry on as it is.
One thing that i'm pretty sure i need to change though, is the way i water. On my previous grow (done in pure allmix) i always watered till i had a decent amount of runoff. I cant do that with this soil, as it holds too much water at the buttom half of the pots. Instead i will do a flush when i swap to 12/12, and 1 or 2 more during the first 1½ month of flowering.

Again. I cant thank the ICMAG community enough, for all the help ive gotten. Directly and in-directly. Not just on this grow, but my previous too. Very happy to be here