My Mix, Experts: Advice Please! : )

[Guest]

Hello everyone,

I am loving all these discussions about organic soils. I used to grow hydro using purely liquid nutrients. The yields were great, however, I definitely noticed an improvement in the flavour and effect of the pot grown in organic soil.

A few questions as I am still new at the game. Please help me if you can.

1. I have heard that molasses is a good addition. If so, how and when should it be added? During veg or flowering? In the soil or added with water?

2. I have heard that the use of lime in the soil will stop the composting process. Is this true?

3. Where I live (in a far-off land) I don't have access to these wonderful organic products I read on this site. I do have access to, and use: black soil, cow manure, perlite, peat moss, chicken manure, bone meal, lime powder. How does this sound? Is there anything else I can add to make it even better? Keep in mind there are many things I cannot easily find in the gardening section of the local home supply store, but I can perhaps find things in their natural state or in other stores.

I humbly await your advice. Thank you!

"And you may see me tonight, with an illegal smile
It don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while
Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone,
No I'm just trying to have me some fun."

John Prine

 

[Guest]

Sorry everyone, I'm a newcomer to ICM. I got a little confused and ended up posting the previous message 3 times. My apologies. I think I've got the hang of it now...

I've searched a little harder to find additives for my mix. Now using:

(listed in order of largest to smallest quantity)

sterile soil
cow manure
perlite
vermiculite
sphagnum peat moss
chicken manure
powdered bone meal
powdered bat guano
powdered egg shells (been saving for months)
powdered lime
100% organic soil booster (P and trace elements)

I think I am covering all bases here, but maybe overdoing it. Will experiment and adjust accordingly.

Any thoughts? Thank you.

CK

 

[vonforne]

Be careful of the chicken manure. It will burn the hell out of your plants. You have to Ph adjusters in your mix. What is your guano...nitrogen or phosphorus? I don't like Vermiculite. Bone meal but no blood meal? I would use blood meal in place of the chicken shit. What are your mixing ratios? What size containers do you use? What is your soil booster? Kelp?

 

[Skunkenstein]

My Mix...

My Mix...

This is what I've been using with great success for years..Each gallon of soil broken down..3quarts Black Gold, 2cups Erth wrm castings,2cups perlite.I ammend with bone meal,kelp meal,greensand,hi-N bat...all at the rate of 1tablespoon/gal.I also add 1tsp of pwderd Mycho fungi to the mix. This mixture was'nt just pulled outta my ass either...it took many years of trial and error.I also must note...this is the Veg. mix.I always transplant into larger containers and the only change is the Bat..I'll then use a Belize hi=P.It must also be noted that these nutes don't last forever..it's then time to use the liquids, Botanicare,FF,Age old,ect,during the first quarter of flowering until the end.I don't belive there is one mix out there that will do the whole job without some sort of help..unless you're growing Haze or some light feeding sativa.I've been reading for years not to add Bat to the soil,,I'm just not buying it..Period !! When I'm standing next to a 9-10 ft tall plant ready to snap branches...tell me the plants don't use it !!! The other products I use religiously are Liquid Karma,Molasses,and Vit B-1. The one thing I would shitcan on you're list is...Chicken Doo-Doo.The stuff is Sooo hot it could be used as herbicide.(haha) What it really boils down to, is knowing you're strain and what it will tolerate..after many misguided years I have it down to a science..I know what my plants need...they tell me...Oh yeah...Forgot one more really important ammendment....EPSOM salts...1tbls/gal....Mary J really likes it...very important stuff...Well hope this gives you some insight...Everyone has their own cook book,but the main ingredients are still the same N/P/K,Cal/Mag/Sulph,micro's..good luck!!!

 

[Guest]

Thank you for your replies, very helpful. I will answer your questions, and ask you some more. Please let me know if you have any more advice.

About the chicken shit, I used only a very small amount, but I will probably cut it out all together. Having said that, since I transplanted my seedling into this mix 3 - 4 days ago, they have shown no signs of stress, and are actually thriving and continuing to grow.

Vonforne, I have been using agricultural lime (powder form) in the soil to neutralize the pH. The guano I am pretty sure is high in Ph and not N. I cannot get blood meal, but I can get bone meal.

My container size is about 5 L, and has very good drainage. I gave it a good 2 or 3 flushings after transplanting. This seems to mellow out the mix so as to not "sting" the newly transfered roots.

I don't knw the exact quantities of my mix. I spread newspaper out on the floor, and layer the ingredients by eye. I mix it with my hands until I get the right consistency. I'm not totally winging it, as I do have some other horticulture experience, but I have vowed to keep track of the amounts from now on.

I can say the main bulk of the mix is well-composted cow manure, mixed with a sterile, dark soil mixture (dirt and small ruffage).

The soil booster is a natural mixture mainly high in Ph, and containing trace amounts of iron, magnesium and others that I have not interpreted yet. (All the products I buy are written in a foreign language which makes it hard to know exactly what I'm getting. Working on it...) I don't know what the mix is made from.

I grind the eggshells myself, as otherwise they take a long time to decompose and release their calcium.

Why don't you like vermiculite?

Skunkenstein, your mix sounds good. Unfortunately for me I can't get a lot of those products, so I have to stick to basics. I am lucky to have what I have found so far! I might make a trip to the sea some time and collect some kelp. How do you add the molasses, during watering at flowering time? Will get some epsom salts. Thanks for the reminder.

Cheers, CK

 

[eVeR_Known]

Kirk,

Use the Molasses through soluble feedings. As for all these ferts you just dont' have access too..... use the internet buddy! Any of these gardening sites will ship you anything these guys have listed. Instead of taking a trip to the sea just order MAXICROP kelp, also Kelp meal for your soil. Also I suggest you look into GREEN SAND (acts as a PH Buff) and GYPSUM (ca/mag) for other soil benefits.

 

[Guest]

Thanks ever_known. I guess I'm a little bit paranoid of mail orders. Where I live, it's not illegal, but could easily draw someone's curiousity.

The molasses, add it during flowering?

 

[teddybud]

Well then get it sent to a friends house who is safe