My soil mix, your opinion

[vonforne]

I have recently returned to growing and I was looking for some input on my soil mix. Here it is...I mix in 5 gallon buckets
2 parts Ocean forest
1 part Big and chunky perlite by FF
1 part peat
I add my nutes by Tbls in 2 gal. containers
2 tbls FF Peace of mind grow
2 tbls FF Peace of Mind Phos.
1/3 cup wiggle worm
and have recently discontinued the dolomite and adjust my PH at water level
I wet the mix and let it stand for 2 wks.

Here is what i water in in the veg stage:
per gallon of water that has sat for 48 hrs min.
I areate my rez with fish areator
1 cap full Maxi crop Liquid Kelp
1 tbls FF grow
1 tbls FF Big bloom
1 tbls Liquid Karma (just started to use)
1 teas ephson salt
and after 3 wks I top feed with more nutes
1 tbls castings
1 tbls FF Phos.


So, if you all would be so kind and give some input on how I could add or take away from this It woud be great.
And by the way I now adjust my nute PH to 6.0 after I had a slight problem with a lock out and loss of a couple of plants in the seedling stage.

There are alot of new things these days that we did not have 10 years ago. Like this web site It used to be just books and Ask Ed. HaHa

 

[vonforne]

thanks all

 

[sproutco]

You might not need to discontinue the dolomite lime just use a lower rate if your ph is too high in the mix initially. If you use a low rate of dolomite lime or none, you should add calcium and magnesium to your water. I suggest 1/4 teaspoon(1.25ml) powdered gypsum (calcium sulfate) + 1/4 teaspoon (1.25ml)epsom salts(magnesium sulfate) per gallon (3.8L)of water along with your regular ferts. This would give you about 30ppm magnesium and 70ppm calcium. This is not really a whole lot but can boost your levels and can be used everytime you water. It would also supply sulfur. 1 teaspoon epsom salts you mentioned that you were using or planned to use...is that per gallon (3.8L) of water? That is probably too much. That would add 120ppm magnesium. You want your cal/mag to be in a ratio of about 2-4:1 in soil and water. Both gypsum and epsom salts are naturally occurring in nature. Calcium nitrate does not occur naturally but could be substituted for the gypsum at the same rate of 1/4 tsp (1.25ml).

I am sure you have seen this thread on nutrient profiles of ferts. It does not list calcium levels but does list mag. You can get an idea of what others are using for mag levels. http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=21119

Edit: Check to see if your ferts don't already contain calcium and magnesium. You don't really need a double dose. Looks like your adding alot of phosphorus from various sources. Remember plants don't need a whole lot of phosphorus to grow or bloom. Not compared to nitrogen or potassium. Too much phosphorus can lead to deficiencys of other nutrients like zinc especially.

I hope this babble is of some use to you.

 

[vonforne]

sproutco, i have read many of your posts and do not consider any of them babble. thanks for your inpout and I am showing some sort of def. in some new sprouts like lite green in the leaves. I will cut back on the phos. I use Ephson salt in my tea mix. I was just trying to get some opinions on what I was using. Like to much or to little. I read constantly but might be trying to hard to do the "Right" thing. Thanks. btw my Durban Posion can take all the ferts i give them and probably more with no signs of burn.

 

[vonforne]

Looks good to me.. The only ? is why not go with coir instead of peat moss. I adj water and use a little dol lime in my soil. I see no problems with your mix

Yes, I have been looking into the coir but have not studied it enough yet and I will have to change my nuts to do so. I had a slight ph problem recently and i knew peat is very acidic. Where coir is netural or there abouts. I will do a small test here before long. I do not want to jump the gun. I guess it comes with age to be careful. If you have a tried and tested mix containing coir I would like to see it and would try it in my next grow. Thanks for the input.

 

[sproutco]

btw my Durban Posion can take all the ferts i give them and probably more with no signs of burn.

You probably won't see a burn with using 1 teaspoon epsom salts in a gallon of water because plants can tolerate alot of it. What you will do is throw off your balance of nutrients. You want a ratio of maybe 4:2:1 potassium, calcium, and magnesium. This ratio could be up to 8:4:1 In importance: potassium>calcium>magnesium. These 3 compete with each other because they are positively charged. This is called cation antagonism. Not only do these 3 compete with each other but also other cations like the micronutrient manganese are affected in their uptake when alot of a macronutrient cation like mag is present. Bottomline, you can overdo it with the mag.

 

[vonforne]

thanks I will adjust to a lower ratio of E salts. so what you are saying Less IS better...right

 

[sproutco]

Yes, less is better. You can use the link I posted before to see what others are using in their ferts for mag and recommended levels for mj. Just as a reference, in hydro a common range is 30-50 ppm. You should take into account all your sources of mag like dolomite lime in your soil or already in your other ferts. when deciding how much extra to add.

In 1 Gallon of water:
1/4 tsp epsom salts= 30ppm magnesium
1/2 tsp " = 60ppm "
3/4 tsp " = 90ppm "
1 tsp " = 120ppm "

This is really the only nutrient that i am familiar with as far as teaspoon/tablespoons go. I don't know how much your other ferts would add as far as nutrients.

 

[Suby]

So your going to discontinue using dolmite lime which stabilizes ph and contributes plenty of Mg and Ca on its own and is BTW totally organic and replace it with epson salts which are not...?

Your soil mix sounds fine but use more EWC and skip the coco, it has it's place in hydro but peat is higher in humic acids naturally and self ph buffering in an organic soil grow is useless.

Your fertilizer routine sounds cocktailed and heavy, try to let the soil elements work for you in the beginning and have enough soil ammendments in your mix so you have to fert only 1 in veg and 3-4 times in flowering.

one last time: E salts are NOT organic

Good choice on the FF lineup, grade A organnic products!

 

[vonforne]

thanks, I have always liked them myself, even though others have said negetive things about them. Like, not strong enough or they did not like the results ect. but like a hard headed kid I stick with them. As, I told Mr. Wags lately....I stick to soil because of the taste and I think the FF line has EVERYthing to do with that. I read your post right before transplanting tonight. I am going to stick with the same soil mixture and I have added EWC 2 wks ago to my sitting soil(pre-mixed to activate) I add a little e salts to the water only. and will continue with the lime in the soil and I was looking at the coco for a new substrate. I ask in another thread you had posted where I could find more humic acid.......and I have found the answer here. Thanks. Its always nice to learn more new things as we go along in life isnt it? My AK-cheap seeds do show the signs of over feeding as you stated that it was a little heavy. the Grapefruit clones and the durbans dont...because they are clones. I was already thinking of cutting that back and adding more to my soil, mostly for their sake.

 

[Suby]

See I use blood and bone meal or guanos but they are more $, these sources are higher in nutrients and will better feed the plants with time.

That's what cool about organics, you can keep the nutrients dormant for a little while and then let them increase gradually as they plants grow and can feed more.
The trick is to use the right amount and not compost the soil mix (in veg only), then as the seedlings get bigger you hit them with a microbial tea and lots of molasses and humics or liquid karma, this will increse the microbes whch will increase the N produced.

God I love organics.

 

[vonforne]

yes, I love them more everyday. the more I use the more I love. BTW I was not totally going to cut the Lime because the FF OF has lime in it. But since I now cut that (OF) with peat I am still adding a little lime. But the thing I LOVE the most about Organics is TASTE,TASTE and TASTE. That and I'm kinda of lazy sometimes after work and the organics lets me be that way. And the feed store just got my 5 gallon bucket of Blackstrap in that I ordered.

 

[TBug]

High von! Ive been entertainig the idea of doing a 100% organic grow in soil/soiless. Maybe like a cabinate or smoething not really sure. I will start off with your recipe and go from there. Thanks and peace, TBug

 

[Fireface13]

I tend to stay away from blood and bone meal though. Can't stomach supporting the commercial lifestock industry and their practices. But that's me, eh?

Opinions are like ____, right?






Good luck von...

 

[Suby]

I can agree with not wanting to supourt the beef industry but I'm not a vegetarian so that would be rather hypocritical, besides it's either fertilizer or landfill....

 

[vonforne]

Tbug...thanks, I'm honored that you find my mix interesting enough to try. I hope it works out for you and that you are happy with it.
Fireface13, I'am a part veggie...in that I do not eat red meat for several years now. I do eat fish and when I feel the need (which is about 1 time a week) I will eat natural chicken for the protien. In my line of work I need it. Organic veggies and the such also. I grew up on a farm and know just what is done to the meat products before the get to us. I think that is what made me change my ways so long ago.

Hello Suby (my organic friend), good to see you again today. How are things this holiday?

 

[Suby]

It's been relaxing, I've been practicing my magic tricks, I'm hoping it will be a good replacement hobby for my growroom.
I replied on another thread, check that your using dolomite lime rather than calcitic lime, check the post or PM me.

 

[vonforne]

Ya I check all my post each day. I take a few hours to learn each day also, as I do for my garden. I have been building a new room as of late. And I work alot also. Thanks again for all the info. Organics is really where its at. I thought I new something until I arrived here. I have found it now and will learn everything I can. Brings back alot from my childhood so long ago on the farm. Something I thought I would never use again. The science of nature is better than the science of man for sure. Just it has been pounded into our heads for so long, all this advanced this and that. Its just organics ...right. Keep it simple, is what I'm trying to say.