First timer looking for advice

[UtmostFire]

Hey guys. Looking for a little help from the organic pros! i plan on running LC's Soiless Mix #2:
6 parts Pro Mix BX
2 parts perlite
2 parts earthworm castings
Powdered (NOT PELLETIZED) dolomite lime @ 2 tablespoons per gallon or 1 cup per cubic foot of the soiless mix.


And i plan on running it with this feeding schedule...


1 tablespoon Blood meal per gallon or 1/2 cup per cubic foot of soil mix
2 tablespoons Bone meal per gallon or 1 cup per cubic foot of soil mix
1-tablespoon kelp meal per gallon or 1/2 cup per cubic foot of soil mix
or Maxicrop 1-0-4 powdered kelp extract as directed
(OPTIONAL) 1 tablespoon per gallon or 1/2 cup per cubic foot of Jersey Greensand to supplement the K (potasium) in the Kelp Meal and seaweed extract.

I mixed 20 gallons total soil, all ratios to the tee of what the mix calls for with espoma amendments, and moistened the mix with 1 Tbsp/gal liquid karma, and plan on letting it cook 3 weeks. I plan on watering with plain water and occasional ewc teas. I was planning on vegging for a month, and i read that this mix was designed for one week veg, so i planned on topdressing with ewc and espomas Bulb tone at about week 2 or so of flower as i was told it was a great whole organic flower nutrient. Any advice/criticisms are welcome, im totally new to organics, im just curious if the experienced organic gardener thinks this is an acceptable plan of action. Thanks guys it feels good to be stepping in a more organic direction.

 

[UtmostFire]

Oh and to clarify i used the optional greensand addition as well, and i used kelp meal, not the maxicrop option.

 

[CoastalKind]

Well this all sounds good to me. I wouldn't even think you need to let it "cook". I couldn't imagine that recipe burning your plants. The green sand is super slow releasing but it might who knows, soil science is kinda like magic. You could add azomite for micro nutrients, and there is always potasium magnesium sulfate as a good option for an organic soil ammendment. Molasses is a cheap and effective way to increase the health of your soil too. It has a small amount of potassium and minerals as well but the best thing about it is that it feeds your soil microbes. Tea the worm casting and spray your plants leaves with the tea as an insect repellent, add some molasses to the tea too to make the tea even more effective.

 

[CoastalKind]

Let me know how it goes!

 

[Lapides]

That recipe was used to grow every plant in the pictures in my signature threads. I love it.

 

[Granger2]

MOlasses has 3-5% K so take that into account. Good luck. -granger

 

[UtmostFire]

Awesome feedback guys, makes me feel more confident in my choices. Hey lapides, how long should i expect the amendments to last into flower if i veg for a month?

 

[UtmostFire]

Coastalkind, ill definitely keep you guys updated weekly on my first run. I may even start a journal for my first run of organic. Im gonna do a whole tray of Deathstar clones as my first attempt. Its a hardy strain so i couldnt see it not thriving in this mix.

 

[Scrappy4]

Upmost, your plan sounds sound. To save money you could have used espoma plant tone garden tone or others as a all in one nutrient. How long the nutrients last depends on pot size and plant size and age, lights and so on. Big plants under big lights eat more than small plants in small pots, duh, lol.

I like to mix the soil light and feed teas of alfalfa meal, kelp meal, comfrey and so on. But a tea made from a handfull of espoma is fine, just don't over do it, and remember despite all the warnings it's still the biggest mistake.

You definitely want to use kelp meal over kelp extract. Kelp meal being less processed has hundreds of beneficial compounds including growth hormones over extract that is basic elements with nothing else. In general the least processed is best.

Greensand is super slow release and a waste in a container garden. IMHO A better option would be a rock dust like glacial rock rust and you can find that in hydro stores lately, if that's how you roll.

Look through the stickies for more soil mix ideas, there's tons. But know junk in junk out. Better mixes have better ingredients. Your mix should do fine.

 

[intotheunknown]

Looks pretty good to me as well. I would have kicked out that dolomite lime and went with with either powdered oystershell or basalt.
I agree with Scrappy on the kelp meal v.s. the maxicrop extract. Kelp meal instead, and toss a little of that extract in with it next time.

All in all that should work pretty well.

Also, with this mix the trick is to pay attention to your plants, they may need a mid flower tea or a topdressing. You may also need to add/subtract amendment amounts to/from this mix the next time you build it, or even recycle it. Pay close attention.

 

[UtmostFire]

Awesome. Im in 3 gal smartpots vegging under t5, flowering under 2x 600w hps. I was planning on topdressing with espoma bulb tone in flower with ewc if i start to see any deficiencies, anyone ever use it before?

 

[Scrappy4]

Awesome. Im in 3 gal smartpots vegging under t5, flowering under 2x 600w hps. I was planning on topdressing with espoma bulb tone in flower with ewc if i start to see any deficiencies, anyone ever use it before?

I've used most of the espoma tone fertilizers and found very little difference between them but plant tone was cheaper. So that's what I mostly used.

I would add about 3 tablespoons per 3
Gallon pot as a top dress right when you change your timer. And you can add ewc anytime.

I haven't used espoma in a while but I still recommend it because it works and is fairly priced. I use other things in my soil mixes nowadays and feed with teas. And the results are better I believe as well. Just something to consider down the road. Best of luck.

 

[UtmostFire]

I've used most of the espoma tone fertilizers and found very little difference between them but plant tone was cheaper. So that's what I mostly used.

I would add about 3 tablespoons per 3
Gallon pot as a top dress right when you change your timer. And you

I haven't used espoma in a while but I still recommend it because it works and is fairly priced. I use other things in my soil mixes nowadays and feed with teas. And the results are better I believe as well. Just something to consider down the road. Best of luck.

With the espoma, should i expect a huge flavor difference from my usual gh flora series buds? My bud smells and looks awesome, but its missing that palate sticking flavor ya know? That was my basis for giving organics a shot.

 

[UtmostFire]

Oh and also, when i go to plant my clones in their first containers (6 inch square pots) can i just fill them with 1/2 the soil mix and half promix mixed well and expect them to be fine on plain h2o until transplant?

 

[Scrappy4]

With the espoma, should i expect a huge flavor difference from my usual gh flora series buds? My bud smells and looks awesome, but its missing that palate sticking flavor ya know? That was my basis for giving organics a shot.

If your just changing out bottles from one company to another organic or not. you might notice less difference in taste and smell. IMHO dry organic fertilizers are an good upgrade from that. Easy peasy too.

For an organic upgrade so to speak, make or get the best compost and or vermi compost (ewc) you can get. Not bags sitting in hydro stores for months, again think alive. Homemade is always the best. You want live soil, and compost including a properly made compost tea will give your soil that life. Good compost saves plants from growers all the time.

Then feeding plant teas like alfalfa tea, kelp meal tea, comfrey tea and others steps up things again.

So you see there are organics and organics. You can go down this rabbit hole as far as you want. Just know you've been warned, lol.

 

[CoastalKind]

You will likely need to supplement after a month for this or that. Be proactive. Spray the leaves once a week with a solution of 2 tsp of Epsom salt per gallon to stay on top of your magnesium. It's gentle and wont hurt your plants and gives them immediately available magnesium and sulfur. This way if you have a deficiency you can cross magnesium off the list and if you don't you will likely need to supplement magnesium as cannabis eats lots of it. Epsom salt is simply magnesium sulfate. It helps plants with photosynthesis and chlorophyll production.

 

[UtmostFire]

Coastal - Yeah im used to using epsom salt, ive been growing for years, im just making the switch to organics. You dont think the dolomite lime addition is gonna cover the magnesium?

 

[Scrappy4]

You will likely need to supplement after a month for this or that. Be proactive. Spray the leaves once a week with a solution of 2 tsp of Epsom salt per gallon to stay on top of your magnesium. It's gentle and wont hurt your plants and gives them immediately available magnesium and sulfur. This way if you have a deficiency you can cross magnesium off the list and if you don't you will likely need to supplement magnesium as cannabis eats lots of it. Epsom salt is simply magnesium sulfate. It helps plants with photosynthesis and chlorophyll production.

Really? I've never, ever sprayed magnesium on anything. Magnesium deficiencies are rare, and magnesium toxcities are common in this world. Throw the Epsom salt away, and learn how to compost. Your plants will reward you. Keep using it and you'll soon be a regular at the infirmary forum.

It's true plants need and use magnesium, but in trace amounts. Good organic inputs, and compost has all the magnesium ( and most other trace elements) your plants will ever need.

 

[Scrappy4]

Coastal - Yeah im used to using epsom salt, ive been growing for years, im just making the switch to organics. You dont think the dolomite lime addition is gonna cover the magnesium?

Your absolutely correct. And if you reuse the soil, and you should if you are using organic inputs, do not add more lime. Dolomite lime is calcium magnesium carbonate. Carbonates take forever to break down due to their molecular bonds. Dolomite lime should be a one and done ingredient, if you choose to use it or recycle your soil.

And why not recycle your soil? It's a great benefit to organic growing. My soil is now 5 years old and has been in continuous use most of that time. I recently moved 2.5 hours away and went through the effort to move that soil, that's how important it is to me.

 

[Scrappy4]

If anyone wants a first rate foliar spray that has plenty of beneficial elements and compounds including growth hormones try alfalfa. A 50lb bag of alfalfa meal cost me $12-14 per 50lb. Organic alfalfa costs more but still reasonable. Here is what alfalfa meal brings to your plants.

http://www.answers.com/topic/chemical-composition-of-alfalfa-1

To use as a spray, put 1-2 cups in five gallons of water and let it sit 1-3 days, strain and use foliar.
to use as feed put 2-3 cups in five gallons of water, and 1 teaspoon of molasses and bubble 30-36 hours then drench feed.

You can scale up or down as needed. As a foliar spray, I see new growth within two days, like clockwork. As you can see in the link one important compound in alfalfa is triacontanol. It's a potent growth hormone, along with many many other beneficial compounds and elements. Take your time with that link and research those listed compounds and elements and decide for yourself if it's worth using.