master shake
Active member
I don't think it's sold at those places, not here at least... Is there only one hydro shop in your area? Check here for retailers:http://foxfarmfertilizer.com/buyfox_consumer_map.html
to each their own I am a 30%er!! 17.99 a bag is not worth it to me especially when I am paying for art work and the word "humboldt". A good soil is a good soil, It is easy to make a good soil much more cost effectively than FFOF. For a ready to go grab a bag it is pretty high priced, although good results can be had...I have found that for ready to go potting soils nurseries and such are much better priced. Example : Ednas best made by EB stone is 7.99 a bag, with added coco 2.99 a brick, perlite, dolomite, and dry ferts you are pretty much good to go with 2 plus cubic yards of soil for about 10 bucks.
There are even cheaper ways however.....
Not knocking Fox farm, just stating my humble opinion.
I'd highly recommend happy frog soil over the ocean forest any day. In my experience with it, ocean forest has always been too hot for seedlings and stunts their growth significantly (after a while they pick up the pace). Happy frog is lighter on ferts, has some guano but contains mychorrizae or however it's spelled and none of that dead marine life. Ocean forest works for starting but not near as well. I'd consider using OF after 3-4 weeks, but would definitely have to find some mycho to add.
I haven't done a side by side but have used same genetics and can see the differences within.
21 days from seed in HF:
about same age in OF (smaller ones, the bigger plant is a mom and even she thought it was too hot):
Fuck happy frog, i got a bag a few weeks ago, maybe a good month, and now i got fungus gnats, NEVER had a problem with ocean forest and I havent brought anything in from outside or acquired any clones or used any other soil!.
On the positive side, with the mosquito dunks and perlite ontop of the soil they seem to be under control, wont know for sure for another 2 weeks or so.
Sounds like the Happy Frog is holding a higher percentage of moisture for you in your mixture, perhaps?
If you think it's directly related to the mixture itself, I'd write or call FoxFarm and ask them about it. In the very least, they'd probably send you either coupons or some free replacement soil. Perhaps the gnats got into that particular bag at the nursery or wherever it was shipped/stored before ending up with you?
Sorry to hear you had that experience.
Peace,
P.957
Its definetely related to the soil... there is a whole thread from 2007 on here about it, kinda sad i would think they would get it under control, i'ma bump it now just to see if anyone else noticed this.
So the moral of the story is the FFOF issue seems to entirely depend on what strain you're growing. It works perfectly for some strains right from seed and others it will burn the crap out of and totally stunt their growth.
I'm hoping my El Nino makes it through!