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Blue Sonja Test Grow
- Thread starter growpuppet
- Start date
growpuppet
Member
soil mix, watering and other ramblings
soil mix, watering and other ramblings
I have been re-using the same soil for over a year now.
Originally I started with Miracle Grow Organic gardening soil in the big bag, not the potting soil in the small bag.
To this I added perlite, worm castings, some screened compost from my compost pile, peat, coir and even a scoop of soil from my vegetable garden. I added some nutes; meals, guano, lime, etc. The soil was moistened, mixed, stored in large rubbermaids and stirred occasionally.
The exact measurements of the soil are really irrelevant, it was a general mix of soil that held water nicely yet had many air pockets (perlite) so that even wet it didn't become waterlogged.
Now, once a grow is done, I take each plant out of the container and run it through a 1/2" hardware cloth screen. This breaks up the rootball so the soil and a lot of small pieces of root make it through the screen. This adds some organic material back to the soil and also breaks it up for better mixing.
Next I add various meals (alfalfa/kelp/blood/bone), guano, greensand, plantone and a small bit of lime (I use pickling lime from walmart).
Since the meals and greensand take a long time to break down, they carryover some each round so they are already present when I add the new ones for the new round. This 'accumulation' and the fact that I go heavy on the bone meal creates a 'hot soil'. Meaning a soil that is very high in nutrients and can, but not necessarily will, cause plant burn/death.
I go heavy on the bone meal because my cab is always 12/12. I don't really veg the plants too much so I don't feel the need for high N. They are flowered for most of their life so I prefer a high P soil, ie a lot of bone meal.
The high nute content of my soil brings us to the next part and that is watering/feeding of the plants.
I only use tap water from my faucet for their whole lives. I NEVER add nutes to the water.
This is why I make my soil 'hot' or totally full of nutes. I want the soil to be able to carry the plant all the way through a flowering cycle so that by the end the plant is eating itself (fans).
With this method, the plants I grow will be smoothly smokebale within 4-5 days from chop.
I do feel soil re-use (and plain water) are big parts of why this works so well for me. The soil is a 'healthy' soil. It just looks and feels nice.
I think a good exercise for a beginner grower would be to mix up your soil that you are gonna use and save like a gallon or two to use as a reference. Grow and chop your plants. Then take those plants and run the rootballs through a 1/2" hardware cloth screen.
Then compare your 'original' soil with the screened soil. I don't care if you burned your plants or if they had nute problems. If they made it through a whole flowering, the microheards have had 2 months to work on your soil along with the plant itself. IMO, the 'used' soil is just gonna look and feel better than your original soil. Now you add more nutes, some moisture, stir it occasionally and you are good to go for your next round.
soil mix, watering and other ramblings
PAGreen said:
I have been re-using the same soil for over a year now.
Originally I started with Miracle Grow Organic gardening soil in the big bag, not the potting soil in the small bag.
To this I added perlite, worm castings, some screened compost from my compost pile, peat, coir and even a scoop of soil from my vegetable garden. I added some nutes; meals, guano, lime, etc. The soil was moistened, mixed, stored in large rubbermaids and stirred occasionally.
The exact measurements of the soil are really irrelevant, it was a general mix of soil that held water nicely yet had many air pockets (perlite) so that even wet it didn't become waterlogged.
Now, once a grow is done, I take each plant out of the container and run it through a 1/2" hardware cloth screen. This breaks up the rootball so the soil and a lot of small pieces of root make it through the screen. This adds some organic material back to the soil and also breaks it up for better mixing.
Next I add various meals (alfalfa/kelp/blood/bone), guano, greensand, plantone and a small bit of lime (I use pickling lime from walmart).
Since the meals and greensand take a long time to break down, they carryover some each round so they are already present when I add the new ones for the new round. This 'accumulation' and the fact that I go heavy on the bone meal creates a 'hot soil'. Meaning a soil that is very high in nutrients and can, but not necessarily will, cause plant burn/death.
I go heavy on the bone meal because my cab is always 12/12. I don't really veg the plants too much so I don't feel the need for high N. They are flowered for most of their life so I prefer a high P soil, ie a lot of bone meal.
The high nute content of my soil brings us to the next part and that is watering/feeding of the plants.
I only use tap water from my faucet for their whole lives. I NEVER add nutes to the water.
This is why I make my soil 'hot' or totally full of nutes. I want the soil to be able to carry the plant all the way through a flowering cycle so that by the end the plant is eating itself (fans).
With this method, the plants I grow will be smoothly smokebale within 4-5 days from chop.
I do feel soil re-use (and plain water) are big parts of why this works so well for me. The soil is a 'healthy' soil. It just looks and feels nice.
I think a good exercise for a beginner grower would be to mix up your soil that you are gonna use and save like a gallon or two to use as a reference. Grow and chop your plants. Then take those plants and run the rootballs through a 1/2" hardware cloth screen.
Then compare your 'original' soil with the screened soil. I don't care if you burned your plants or if they had nute problems. If they made it through a whole flowering, the microheards have had 2 months to work on your soil along with the plant itself. IMO, the 'used' soil is just gonna look and feel better than your original soil. Now you add more nutes, some moisture, stir it occasionally and you are good to go for your next round.
This is a great thread growpuppet. I have been reading and getting up the nerve to pop some Blue Sonja. I started 10 soaking last night at 3 am after reading this thread for about the 10th time. They have sunk and split and are ready for the next step. I'm going to sex them and clone the females. I am going to put them outside this summer. I will keep a clone of each female inside too. Don't wanna lose something super special that might come along.
Thanks for inspiring me to get started with these.
Thanks for inspiring me to get started with these.
growpuppet
Member
Here are some shots of the main colas after they have been dried for a week.
Blue Sonja BX2 - Main cola from all plants
Blue Sonja 1
Blue Sonja 2
Blue Sonja 3
Blue Sonja 6
The colas are still curing. I hope to put up a smoke report soon.
Blue Sonja BX2 - Main cola from all plants
Blue Sonja 1
Blue Sonja 2
Blue Sonja 3
Blue Sonja 6
The colas are still curing. I hope to put up a smoke report soon.
R
Ronley
WOnderful grow with a wonderful strain.
Most impressive.
Well done and ENJOY those buds...
How exciting to finally be able to smoke them.
Most impressive.
Well done and ENJOY those buds...
How exciting to finally be able to smoke them.
growpuppet
Member
I have a Blue Sonja 1 clone and a Blue Sonja 2 clone in flower
I underestimated the stretch that would happen during the time I was on vacation, and the Blue Sonja 1 clone stretched up to the glass and got burned.
Blue Sonja 1 Clone - Day 37 Flower
Blue Sonja 2 Clone - Day 37 Flower
They are just past the halfway point.
I underestimated the stretch that would happen during the time I was on vacation, and the Blue Sonja 1 clone stretched up to the glass and got burned.
Blue Sonja 1 Clone - Day 37 Flower
Blue Sonja 2 Clone - Day 37 Flower
They are just past the halfway point.
G
Guest 16149
Hey GP
Sorry to see the burn, but looks like the plant will survive
Nice colors, how cool do your nights get? do you think that is cause of the color
Sorry to see the burn, but looks like the plant will survive
Nice colors, how cool do your nights get? do you think that is cause of the color
Last edited:
growpuppet
Member
Blaner123Doobie said:Hey GP
Sorry to see the burn, but looks like the plant will survive
Nice colors, how cool do your nights get? do you think that is cause of the color
My nights are cooler (mid to low 60s on average, down to upper 50s in the middle of the winter), so the colors really come out on a lot of strains I grow. I think the color is there in the Blue Sonja and is just enhanced by the cool temps.
G
Guest 16149
Thanks for the info GP
They still looking good, burn or no burn
They still looking good, burn or no burn
G
guest3854
Hey yas MedGuy ,
SBay probably has 'em and will be listed this week . Get your post count up and I can PM club locations as well .
Thanks fer tha interest in GrindHouses proven genetics ,
Steele
SBay probably has 'em and will be listed this week . Get your post count up and I can PM club locations as well .
Thanks fer tha interest in GrindHouses proven genetics ,
Steele
Growpuppet- 
major props mayn, this is the best/most detailed test grow Ive seen. You should test the Sour Bubble next! you do a good job detailin day ta day and taken shots. Im finna be growin some of these Blue Sonja's out in the future, thanks for the heads up on the grow patterns and phenos. Peace! 
-GET MO-
major props mayn, this is the best/most detailed test grow Ive seen. You should test the Sour Bubble next! you do a good job detailin day ta day and taken shots. Im finna be growin some of these Blue Sonja's out in the future, thanks for the heads up on the grow patterns and phenos. Peace! -GET MO-
Goldenseed
Member
Hey!!
@Growpuppet: you wrote an very helpfull report that is rounded by very nice pics + i like your style very much.....keep up the stellar work!!
@Steele Savage: Thanks for the nice beans!! I snagged a pack last time they where up on the bay...got lucky with a BIN
Keep it up guys!! peace GS
@Growpuppet:
you wrote an very helpfull report that is rounded by very nice pics + i like your style very much.....keep up the stellar work!!@Steele Savage: Thanks for the nice beans!! I snagged a pack last time they where up on the bay...got lucky with a BIN
Keep it up guys!! peace GS
