Tutorial Organics for Beginners

[vonforne]

I have to be honest. I have been reading the organic forum for many weeks now and it all confuses the hell out of me still. I wish their was a book or something that was simple to follow and doesn't dabble in pseudo science and just tells me this is how you do it and this is why it works.

What JK said .....but. Go to the 1 st page of this thread.

1. Make the soil and let it sit.
2. Don´t try and figure it all out.

I have done this for years and with all the new little things learned .......well it is a bit confusing. So, how I deal with that is.....KISS. I understand simple. You will learn with time and it is not so confusing.

In the meantime, grow some nice healthy plants.

V

 

[maryjohn]

I second second that. Just jump in the water is nice.

For basic science, don't ask a bunch of pot growers. The law constrains us so much that ideas and practices are hard to test. The cream does not necessarily rise to the top in that kind of system. Get on some regular gardening sites.

 

[mrred]

I have to be honest. I have been reading the organic forum for many weeks now and it all confuses the hell out of me still. I wish their was a book or something that was simple to follow and doesn't dabble in pseudo science and just tells me this is how you do it and this is why it works.

all you really need to do is read the first post and if you follow that to the t you shouldnt have any problems, so far i had no real problems with lc mix#1 and dry ferts #1 , and only water, no teas yet, works good

 

[Marquis de Sod]

i have been doing the same as above. mix 1, ferts 1, but i also screwed up and have been doing the worm casting tea as well on top of everything. every watering for the last two weeks. i will STOP! no ill effects yet tho, thank Buddah!

cheif, you out there?

 

[jaykush]

i highly and i mean highly doubt you can fuck your plants up from wormcastings tea ( that is if it is wormcastings tea not guanos, and all that extra) i have fed every water with a casting tea with excellent results.

 

[maryjohn]

It won't hurt anything but it isn't necessary.

 

[IE2KS_KUSH]

I can't wait!

 

[shallrelicme]

Using dry ferts seems to be easy enough but this part just keeps throwing me off.

Mix all the dry ferts into the soiless mix well and wet it, but don't soak it with Liquid Karma and water @ 1 tbs./gal. Stir and mix it a few times a week for a week or two so the bacteria can get oxygen and break down the bone meal and make it available. And don't let the mix dry out, keep it moist and add water as needed. It'll also have time to get the humic acids in the Liquid Karma going and the dolomite lime will be better able to adjust the pH of a peat based mixture too.

It says don't soak with liquid karma but then later says it needs time for the humic acids in the liquid karma to get going?

Also would it still be beneficial to use a bit of molasses every other watering with meals?

 

[h.h.]

Brain fart! You only wet it with LK, you don't soak it.

 

[BurnOne]

It says don't soak with liquid karma but then later says it needs time for the humic acids in the liquid karma to get going?

Also would it still be beneficial to use a bit of molasses every other watering with meals?

No, it doesn't say "It needs time...". It says "It gives it time". Humic acids buffer pH.

Liquid Karma has molasses in it.
Burn1

 

[ShamelessJames]

Would appreciate if anyone could help me out...

I'm trying to make a soil and end up finding these items in my local area.

Blood Meal 12-0-0
Bone Meal 4-12-0
Cottonseed Meal 6-2-1
Plant-Tone 5-3-3
Greensand 0-0-01
Gypsum
Earthworm Castings 0.5-0-0
Miracle Gro Perlite 8 qt
Miracle Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix 8 qt
Premier Black Earth Lite Way Potting Soil 32qt x2

I was hoping to find kelp meal but had to settle for kelp extract. I got greensand for reusing my soil. Got some gypsum off a hunch since I couldnt find any POWDERED dolomite lime.

I think the only thing I am lacking is bat quano and was unsure of what ratio to be going for. I believe I may be needing some more phosphate and pottasium in my mix. I found a bag of jamaican bat guano (1-10-.02) and bag of indonesian bat guano (0.5-12-0.2). Havent picked one yet but think either will do.

I was planning to mix the MG Organic Choice with the Premier Black Earth which also has spanghum peat moss mixed in. Considering some coco coir as well, want to see what the soil feels like first.

Basically, am I going in the right direction? I went off intution with acquiring most of these items armed only with a knowledge of items that make up most organic soils. Not sure if i'm hitting the nutrient numbers I need.

 

[maryjohn]

You need a buffer. Dolomite lime. Gypsum will not cut it. I threw a handful in my last mix but I may regret it. It was just lying around and I've taken it internally. But it should not be in porting soil. Put it outside if you have areas poisoned by road salt.

 

[ShamelessJames]

You need a buffer. Dolomite lime. Gypsum will not cut it. I threw a handful in my last mix but I may regret it. It was just lying around and I've taken it internally. But it should not be in porting soil. Put it outside if you have areas poisoned by road salt.

I've been led to believe by the back of my bag of potting soil that it is ph adjusted. Taking that with a grain of salt, I also found that apple cider vinegar can be used to adjust ph.

Is it even certain that my soil mix is going to need to be adjusted? I would much rather test it and add the dolomite lime if I find my soil wanting.

What's wrong with gypsum? I read some good and bag things.

 

[maryjohn]

Well in your first post you said you were making soil, which I took to mean mixing. Can't really help you with amending soil from a bag. Can you tell us the brand? If it is already buffered it may have lime already.

Like I said earlier gypsum is loaded with calcium and sulfur. It lowers ph in basic conditions. It's great for lawns where the soil is heavy clay and for salt damage. However the benefits go away after a few seasons. As fir what harm it does in potting soil, I'll let you know in a few months. There is no need for both of us to fuck up.

 

[BurnOne]

I've been led to believe by the back of my bag of potting soil that it is ph adjusted. Taking that with a grain of salt, I also found that apple cider vinegar can be used to adjust ph.

Is it even certain that my soil mix is going to need to be adjusted? I would much rather test it and add the dolomite lime if I find my soil wanting.

What's wrong with gypsum? I read some good and bag things.

Can you not follow the directions? If it was gypsum you needed then the recipe would call for gypsum! It has been sad hundreds of times in this thread alone that pH adjustment is NOT needed. The instructions have been laid out on a silver platter to you. Others have done countless hours of work to help you. If you can't follow the directions then write your own.
Burn1

 

[ShamelessJames]

http://www.sweeneyseed.com/Soils.html

 

[ShamelessJames]

 

[maryjohn]

Following burn1's directions is the best thing you can do first time around.

Also not being rude to him will go a long way with everyone else.

 

[BurnOne]

I'm sorry dude I think your mistaken i'm actually not following your directions and just came to get some help.

If you remember in my previous post I explained I got what I could available to me. Just looking to learn, mind teaching? I come with no gun.

Then post your questions in the open forum. You'll get a better response to your questions there. This thread is for people looking to find an easy method to start an organic soil grow. It looks to me like you want to do some research, which is perfectly fine and it's why we're here. You'll get more exposure to your topic elsewhere.
It's my job here to keep threads on topic and I always carry a gun.
Burn1

 

[ShamelessJames]