Do I need to add dolomite lime to Sunshine Mix #4 when growing soilless?

[ReprobateMind]

I would like to grow using nothing but Sunshine Mix #4, Pure Blend Pro Grow, Liquid Karma, Calmag+, and Pure Blend Pro Bloom (Soil), i.e., I will not be amending the SS#4 and only feeding with bottled nutes. NOTE: this is regular Sunshine Mix #4 and NOT the Advanced version.

My questions are:

1. Do I need to add dolomite lime to the SS#4 to offset the acidity of the peat. If so, how much per gallon of SS#4?
2. What do I pH my water and nutes to? Recall, this is a soilless mix and not a soil mix.
3. Do I need to add perlite to the SS#4 for more drainage?

Thanks

 

[dogzter]

No and lose those ferts and get some jacks pro 20-20-20 use at 1\2 tsp per gallon tap water.

 

[ReprobateMind]

Thanks for responding, and I'm not trying to be a dick, but that doesn't answer my questions.

 

[dogzter]

1. No
2.Do what I said and you don't.
3.No

 

[ReprobateMind]

Sure, but I already have PBP Grow, PBP Flower (Soil), LK, CM+, and SS#4. I want to work with what I already have.

 

[dogzter]

Good luck.
I have been using the ss mix for a long time just trying to save you some pain.

 

[xtsho]

Doesn't it already have dolomite lime?

 

[ReprobateMind]

Yes, but I read that it runs out so people have been adding more to it so they can complete their grows. I was wondering if anyone here had experience using it.

 

[xtsho]

I haven't used the SS mix but I've used Promix which is basically the same thing and I kept it simple and did what @dogzter did using a similar fert and had great results. There isn't any need to add additional lime or perlite. It's used by nurseries around the world straight out of the bag. Just water and feed.

 

[dogzter]

Yes, but I read that it runs out so people have been adding more to it so they can complete their grows. I was wondering if anyone here had experience using it.

They are answering you and you aren't listening.

 

[ReprobateMind]

They are answering you and you aren't listening.

I see what you're saying but I didn't post in those threads. I simply read them.

 

[ReprobateMind]

What do I adjust the pH of water and feed to when using soilless? Do I pH for soil or pH for hydro?

 

[dogzter]

What do I adjust the pH of water and feed to when using soilless? Do I pH for soil or pH for hydro?

If you jse a quality fert you don't adjust ph.
I use tapwater with no adjustments.
Ever ask yourself why a canna specific fert even need ph adjustments?

 

[ReprobateMind]

No and lose those ferts and get some jacks pro 20-20-20 use at 1\2 tsp per gallon tap water.
View attachment 19103114

Every watering?

 

[dogzter]

Every watering?

Yes except for seedlings and unrooted cuts.
Seedlings get plain water until the first true set of leaves.
Cuts get plain tap water until rooted.
Once that happens every watering gets fed as a half tsp. comes out around 3-3-3.

 

[Tynehead Tom]

I've been using Sunshine Mix 4 since i started growing back in 1989.... with a few deviations into other methods but always back to the Sunshine 4.
Do they add dolomite lime..... yes but not in any meaningful amounts.
Do I agree with the advice being given to you so far? Not exactly but as a caveat, I have not used Jacks.
Back in the day we used Peter's 20-20-20 which i believe has evolved into the Jacks line.... correct me if I am wrong. I know quite a few growers who use the Jacks line with great results but I can't comment on it really because i don't use it.
I also disagree that Promix XP is the same as Sunshine 4..... they look the same but they are not. I dislike Promix HP and have always run into issues using it the same way I use Sunshine 4 so I stick to what works and leave the promix to other growers. I do know lots of growers who use it but again, I prefer the sunshine 4

PH..... what I know from years of growing with different water sources from chlorinated tap, well water tap, Reverse Osmosis..... PH absolutely needs to be tailored to the medium being grown in.
Now I'm not trying to be a know it all , just relating my experiences.

How do I use and feed in sunshine 4?
First I fill up an 18 gallon rubbermaid tote with dry sunshine mix about 3/4 full
To that I add 1/3 cup of Dolopril (dolomite lime product) and 3/4 cup of Agriculture grade Gypsum ( nitrogen, calcium, sulphur) and mix well.
Then I wet out the sunshine mix with 1/2 strength or full strength nutrients depending on plant stage at transplant. I PH that nutrient mix to 6.8 which is important in Sunshine 4.
Now the reason for the dolopril and gypsum is to bring magnesium, calcium, sulphur to the soil base as both essential elements and as PH balance. There are many other benefits to gypsum as well.
For nutrients I use General Hydro Flora series and have sworn by it since the mid 90's. I only use the Micro and Bloom , following the Lucas Formula. Standard strength is 8ml micro to 16ml bloom thru veg and flower. For young clones and seedlings starting on feed, the ratio is dropped to 4ml micro/8ml bloom
There is no need for any calmag products or other addatives other than General Hydro Koolbloom powder during the swell after the stretch.
During the grow, if a calcium or magnesum deficiency show..... 200 to 250 ppm of gypsum per gallon dissolved into the nutrient mix for calcium supplement or a teaspoon of epsom salts per gallon for magnesium supplement. Again, no need for any other calmag products.
I PH every watering and feeding to 6.8 except for the last 3 weeks where PH is tapered down to 6.3 to adjust how the plants take up certain nutrients/elements in the ripening phase. Setting the PH to 6.8 , as the plants feed and draw up moisture, the PH in the medium will drop down to about 6.2 allowing the plants to "feed at the buffet" as the PH range falls. If you look at a PH/Nutrient chart, you can visualize what nutrients are availlable to the plant in greater or lesser amounts as the PH range drops. The last 10 to 14 days they get ph 6.3 water only.
It's a very simple method and quite efficient as far as nutrient usage goes but PH is very important..... crucial in my opinion.

 

[Creeperpark]

I would like to grow using nothing but Sunshine Mix #4, Pure Blend Pro Grow, Liquid Karma, Calmag+, and Pure Blend Pro Bloom (Soil), i.e., I will not be amending the SS#4 and only feeding with bottled nutes. NOTE: this is regular Sunshine Mix #4 and NOT the Advanced version.

My questions are:

1. Do I need to add dolomite lime to the SS#4 to offset the acidity of the peat. If so, how much per gallon of SS#4?
2. What do I pH my water and nutes to? Recall, this is a soilless mix and not a soil mix.
3. Do I need to add perlite to the SS#4 for more drainage?

Thanks

Hello friend, You don't need to add anything to SS #4. The liquid that goes in the substrate should be around 6.2 pH. If you have hard water, you may need to adjust the pH with acid to get it low enough. I recommend using RO or Rainwater fortified with Cal-mag to eliminate all the impurities. The purer the water the better the nutrient sequence. Good luck friend.