Tutorial Organics for Beginners

[Mikell]

Very good to hear.

B1 or another can give a better answer. I have only used blood and bone at minimal rate (less than a 1/4 total of recipe 1) but found even with N heavy (5%+) plant based amendments, the soil produced signs of N toxicity on sensitive varieties.

 

[Boss Cocky]

Very good to hear.

B1 or another can give a better answer. I have only used blood and bone at minimal rate (less than a 1/4 total of recipe 1) but found even with N heavy (5%+) plant based amendments, the soil produced signs of N toxicity on sensitive varieties.

Cheers, mate. Interestingly, I saw some commercial organic potting mix the other day that had blood and bone and extra blood meal in it. They described the N in the blood meal as fast acting and the N in the blood and bone as medium acting. If this is true, the blood and bone may be a better choice for me than getting the blood meal and bone meal alone. Otherwise I might have to start growing some lucerne to make lucerne (alfalfa) meal.

Does anyone know how to process the alfalfa into meal for nutrients?

 

[xmobotx]

you can top dress w/ fresh cut alfalfa, make teas, shred & dry it or even use it as an N source in the compost pile

 

[Sluicebox]

Nice thread, very helpful.

 

[VERMONSTAH]

When i first started i was a hydro stores fave custy.....circa 2002.......
then i listened to my elders......I make my own with kitchen scraps for the most part now. Great thread though, has anyone read all 500 pages? I made an attempt and gave up!

 

[Abja Roots]

I'm looking to convert some measurements into dry weight. The recipe I've used before measures everything in cups. When I made my last mix I measured out 3/4 cup, weighed it, and then calculated the total amount I needed to add per cubic foot. Is there any way to figure out how much some of these weigh without buying single bags and weighing them individually? If I could find a local store near me that had these I would weigh them myself to come up with the number. Wish I'd written those weights down the last time I did it.

3/4 cup fishbone meal
3/4 cup Fish and crab meal
3/4 cup bone meal
3/4 cup kelp
3/4cup jersey green sand
3/4 cup alfalfa

 

[Boss Cocky]

you can top dress w/ fresh cut alfalfa, make teas, shred & dry it or even use it as an N source in the compost pile

Thanks for that info. I'll start growing some and experiment with it on my plants in veg as well as my tomatoes etc.

 

[VERMONSTAH]

So i got access to my god fathers compost pile.....3 years old never been touched just had stuff stacked on top for 3-4 seasons in a little backyard black 4 foot composting bin made out of some sort of thick black plastic. Now ive noticed ants and other critters moving about, lots of worms too along with pumpkin seeds lol guess they take longer to breakdown it seems.....
Should i be concerned about the critters?

 

[Sourbear]

When i first started i was a hydro stores fave custy.....circa 2002.......
then i listened to my elders......I make my own with kitchen scraps for the most part now. Great thread though, has anyone read all 500 pages? I made an attempt and gave up!

I'm 85 pages in since a week or two ago

lots of downtime at work :3

I can't wait to use the 3 little birds method and rebuild some of my old soils
Using just teas/water will be so much easier than what I am currently doing with salts.
I can't wait to have a stress free grow

 

[velvetu]

Hi folks! I decided to give an organic grow a try.. I think I have a pretty good handle on how things work. I just gotta get everything started.

I have what seems like a silly question but i've searched quite a bit and havent seen any concrete answer.

The house i live in uses a water softener and does not have a tap 'before' the softener. This is a system that uses brine to flush the tank after it regenerates. I've read conflicting reports of how much of that brine actually makes it into the 'softened' water. Some say it's very minimal, others say forget it!

Is anyone here using softened water without a problem doing an organic grow? I'd rather NOT install an RO system if I dont have to.

My plan was to use LC soiless mix #1 and recipe #1 (nutrients) as a starting point..

Thank you!!

 

[VERMONSTAH]

Organic magnum habaneros grown w recycled cannabis soil!!!!

 

[Microbeman]

Nice cat...nice peppers.

 

[VERMONSTAH]

Its amazing what organics can do for you if you allow yourself to learn, organic recycled soils are truly a gift.

 

[Shovelhandle]

So i got access to my god fathers compost pile.....3 years old never been touched just had stuff stacked on top for 3-4 seasons in a little backyard black 4 foot composting bin made out of some sort of thick black plastic. Now ive noticed ants and other critters moving about, lots of worms too along with pumpkin seeds lol guess they take longer to breakdown it seems.....
Should i be concerned about the critters?

Yes, I have a 115 gallon composter outdoors I am afraid of bringing in unwanted bugs. So that compost is just for the garden. Or one could use the compost to make tea and hope nothing comes through to the indoors. Folks have also 'cooked' compost in black plastic bags in the sun to kill off bugs but that may kill off some goodies too. I compost my used soil indoors in 55 gal totes and I will add kitchen scraps when I begin. I alternate my soil each grow (six months) and add Promix, humus and composted manure/guano maybe every other grow. .02

 

[VERMONSTAH]

Yep these pricks got meh nervous....went in to turn it over to piss em off and they are SUPER AGGRO VARIETY LOL, not camp lejeune fire bastard ants but regardless they are nasty lil pricks that i will more than likely have to just use as tea's like you suggested, Microbeman pointed out i was kinda wasting my time using airstones id found at random free piles while i scoped out yard sales with my uncle.......yeah i guess in my family when ya hit 55-60...its off to yard sales with whomever in the family is willing to go with ya lmao. I remember waking up on the farm and hearing my grandpa on WDEV on the morning trading post bartering with his vermont farmer buddies in a tongue only they understood lmao! I guess ill need glass bonded type airstones, and a better pump, so i guess ill be redoing ALOT this go round...im not complaining.........i enjoy upgrades!

 

[Abja Roots]

Does anyone know what rate I should add Neem Cake to my amended soil mix at? I'd like to figure out how much to add per cubic foot. Thanks

 

[Midnight Tokar]

Does anyone know what rate I should add Neem Cake to my amended soil mix at? I'd like to figure out how much to add per cubic foot. Thanks

When I re-amend my used soil I use 1/2 cup per 20 gallons, double that for new soil.
1 cup equals 16 Tablespoons
1 cubic foot is approx. 7 gallons

I use approx. 1/2 Tablespoon per gallon
so, using my amounts you would use about 3 Tablespoons.

 

[Hygrow]

Hey guys I have a GSC x OG kush in a 10 gallon container, using the soilless mix #2 with the food recipe #1. Vegged for 5 weeks and now starting second week of bloom I am noticing it is starting to lighten up in the green a bit on the top canopy. Should I be concerned? Should I feed with a tea? I am new to organics and this is my first organic grow so any tips would be appreciated, thanks !

 

[VERMONSTAH]

In soilless i try to keep the feedings i do with fish emulsions or hydrosylates during bloom. For example the alaskan brand at amazon is 5-1-1 i believe and works wonderfully, then towards weeks 5-6-7 they have a 1-5-5 i believe that will focus on flowering ladies needs. Just a though that may help. Btw a gallon of these is like 20. bucks american.
https://www.amazon.com/Alaska-Ferti...rd_wg=kY0BG&psc=1&refRID=9QT9GFVZWFA46JKK5BT3

 

[Midnight Tokar]

You could also make a EWC, Kelp and Molasses tea and feed as necessary.