Good deals on organic medium?

[pontiac]

Hey ic, i'm planning on doing a 100% organic grow sometime in the future and i need some good deals on organic potting mix. Right now i'm looking at this site and their deals are pretty damn awesome: http://www.horticulturesource.com/

 

[BurnOne]

pontiac-
No need to pay for shipping on organic mixes when you can make your own cheap. These mixes are just as good or better than the ones you can buy. Check out the STICKY at the top of this forum "Organics for Beginners" for a good starting point.
If you have any more questions, just ask.
Burn1

 

[pontiac]

Cool thanks, i'll PM you if/when i have any questions. However, i still wanna keep things simple and use retail mix's for my first medium based grow in years (i've been a hydro grower for a loooong time). I'll jump into custom mixes when i get a little more adept in organic medium growing. Thanks again.

 

[BurnOne]

However, i still wanna keep things simple and use retail mix's for my first medium based grow in years (i've been a hydro grower for a loooong time). I'll jump into custom mixes when i get a little more adept in organic medium growing. Thanks again.

That may not be a good idea. Retail mixes don't have the dose of dolomite lime and humates you'll absolutely need in this type of growing. Drainage will also need to be added in the form of perlite. You'll need compost or worm castings as well. If you start with a bad foundation you will never be able to find where your problems are. For example, I started my first grow with a recipe I copied from Lavender Cowboy (LC). I stuck to the recipe faithfully and grew awesome plants the first time. I used blood/bone/kelp for nutes. I never had a problem until I varied from the instructions. I had some nitrogen burn when trying alfalfa meal instead of dried blood. And I had an infestation of spider mites. And that's the only problems with my garden I have ever had. So, choose a plan and stick with it for the results you want.
Burn1

 

[pontiac]

Nice advice man thanks, now i'm convinced. So do you know a good site where i can get the ingrediants like bone meal, shrimp compost and all the other good stuff? Thanks again man, i'm learning alot already.

 

[Guest]

Pontiac I'm not sure where you are , but I use Fox Farm happy frog straight from the bag. I add nothing and it works just fine. The best part is it's only $9.00 per bag.

Good luck
GCG

 

[THCzr]

organic sunshine mix, is 15$ for a 2.5 CF bag, can't beat that imo. is 100% organic including the wetting agent.... i was learned about this stuff recently.

THC

 

[BurnOne]

pontiac-
Just about any home and garden store will have Canadian Sphagnum Peat (peat moss) and perlite. Check my sig line for worm castings. Powdered or pulverized dolomite lime (dolomitic limestone) may be harder to find. Use your phone book to call local upscale nurseries and agricultural supply houses. Make sure the dolomite is powdered or pulverized so it will release fast and mix completely. That's it. You have your mix.
I have used Espoma brand Dried Blood, Bone Meal, Kelp Meal and Greensand. You can find a retailer near you (if you're in the USA) by going to www.espoma.com and searching their dealer locator.
By far, powdered dolomite lime seems to be the hardest thing to find for most new growers. Home DePOT and Lowes have it sometimes. K-Mart and Walmart too.
Burn1

 

[vonforne]

The only thing at HD or Lowes now, as far as lime is "Garden Lime" it is a combo of Calcitic and dolomite. 90% calcium and 10% Mg. a little lopp sided. I used it once in a pinch. It would be better to find an online source.

Home Depot is carrying liquid worm poop now. Its by Terracycle and it comes in recycled coke bottles. They also sell 3 cubic feet of perlite for 10.00.

Lowes carries a peat mix by Farfard called Majestic Earth. Dolomite lime, peat and perlite. They also carry Mushroom Compost and Garden compost.

Along with the complete Espoma line as B1 stated.

Good luck.

V

and I love you DIY Link-o-Rama. :smile:

 

[3BM]

Hey Pontiac,

I applaud your interest in organics. You got some great advice here, I know you will do well. You wrote that you were interested in beginning with a bagged soil. If that is your intent a great crop can result from quality bagged soil. Just cut it 50/50 with mushroom compost and add enough perlite to allow easy penetration with your hand. Look for a feeding type soil: FFOF and Shultz garden safe are two I have used with success. From there supplement with liquid fertilizer as needed.

Either way you go, custom mix or bagged soil, just make sure you can plunge your hand easily into the mix. If it feels like you are hitting something solid then continue adding perlite until its light enough to recieve your hand. Feed once a week, and use a chlorine free water source. Best of luck!

 

[pontiac]

Wow! this is some amazing advice! You guys are the best! I'm truley inspired to do an organic grow now. Rep+ to you all!!!

So how long can organic medium feed the plant before its time to add some nutes?

Btw, can i use hydroton grow rocks instead of perlite? I have a ton of this stuff just laying around.

 

[BurnOne]

pontiac-
The mix has no nutes in it. But, the seedling won't need any for at least the first two weeks. Then you'll need to add them.
Burn1

 

[3BM]

If you work with seedlings make sure any potting mix containing manure is cut heavily with perlite. Tender seedlings will need very little in the way of nutrition, water is their primary need. Assuming you have some larger plants to transplant or at least rooted clones to start with, you can plug into soil straight away. Hydroton does not hold enough air to replace perlite in soil, however a buddy of mine places a 2" layer at the bottom of his pots to ensure good drainage. Try that out and see how you like it, just use it on a few plants and not on the rest. Best of luck!

 

[Guest]

Pontiac like it was said above go with a light soil mix for seedlings and just rooted clones. I use the soil straight from the bag and don't add anything to it . So once my plants have estabished a good rootsystem and start to grow in veg I start fertilizing once a week and never stop until the flush. Even when I transplant to bigger pots I never stop feeding my plants.

My2cents
GCG

 

[jaykush]

So how long can organic medium feed the plant before its time to add some nutes?

there are amendments to add that will last the whole grow so you only add water. although i like a good tea myself, they do there job well. sometimes you just have to be lazy and imo some strains prefer soil feedings instead of teas.

 

[Supacalabala]

The only thing at HD or Lowes now, as far as lime is "Garden Lime" it is a combo of Calcitic and dolomite. 90% calcium and 10% Mg. a little lopp sided. I used it once in a pinch. It would be better to find an online source.

I bought some espoma organic traditions garden lime at home depot , if I remember correctly it was about $2.78 it was on sale.

 

[pontiac]

Thanks again everyone!

 

[vonforne]

I bought some espoma organic traditions garden lime at home depot , if I remember correctly it was about $2.78 it was on sale.

Hello Sup, what I was refering to about the lime was not the price but the portions of Calcium vs. Mg. It has a really high calcium content with a low content of Mg. Dolomite has a more balanced Ca to Mg. ratio which is ideal for the type of plant we grow.

The cost for a 25 lb bag of pulverized dolomite is about 5.99. It gives one a peace of mind for the extra 2.00.

 

[Supacalabala]

Hello Sup, what I was refering to about the lime was not the price but the portions of Calcium vs. Mg. It has a really high calcium content with a low content of Mg. Dolomite has a more balanced Ca to Mg. ratio which is ideal for the type of plant we grow.

The cost for a 25 lb bag of pulverized dolomite is about 5.99. It gives one a peace of mind for the extra 2.00.

And I was tring to tell you that HD doesn't only carry the lime you described.

ESpoma
21% cal
10% mg

 

[vonforne]

In my area they do. Must be a different product line up. I have 2 lowes in my area....one carries Mushroom compost the other doesn't. I guess HD does the same thing. Might be our different Geographical areas.