to all experienced growers...please list your soil type and additives......

[vindiesel]

i'm in last stages of planning...trying to decide on which soil to use. i'm pretty set on either FFOF and/or Pro mix HP. promix also has bx and another which i don't remember w/ added calcium and magnesium. when i started thinking about which type, miracle grow came to mind, yet i see very little people using it. don't know why. they're reputable and been around forever...alot like FFOF and alot like pro mix. those who switched from FFOF to PM, most say they will never go back. yet FFOF users who never used PM, love FFOF. so w/ either of those 2, i figure u cannot go wrong. i'm leaning towards a mix of about 50% PM and 50% FFOF, w/ alittle extra perlite w/ some added bone and blood meal. in late veg and flowering, i will be using superthrive, FF big bloom, pure blend grow fert, pure blend bloom fert and earth juice bloom fert. those nutes i just listed are recommendations as per bog's book. i didn't come up w/ all that on my own. they will all be used sparingly and i may not use all since i feel it seems like alot. he also used a feeding type soil, don't know which he meant. anyway, looking to hear from experienced badass growers and what they use/like, and why. please list exact ratios and any extra additives. i'm a thourough mofo, and i research my ass off on anything i do, as u can see for last years on and off...thanks.
vin

 

[Guest]

This must be about your 4th thread on this.... so Im not sure what you are learning....

You dont seem to be posting anything different this time...

FFOF doesnt need extra blood or bone...

Promix with the addition or blood and bone has zero potassium....

Bog used something that worked because he understood this....

He used a ferted walmart brand soil which contained potassium...

further he ferted with pureblend which has very high potassium....

and it all works out...

What you feed is whats in the soil and whats in the nutes....

You should find a mentor on IC mag not named BOG and do like they do....

not find someone who works within your expectations.....

 

[vindiesel]

no, the difference hear is i'm asking to hear from experienced growers, and ur right, i haven't learned alot on the soil thing, but i thought that learning is what part of this forum is for... the difference hear, is i'm saying now what i plan on using, and want to hear what others use.

 

[Guest]

You are making this so very complicated...

buy some promix some dolomitic lime, perlite and a bottle of flora nova bloom....

thats all you need.....

 

[vindiesel]

yeah i think i am thinking too much. when i get into something i get alittle silly.
so this is all i need. this is whats in PM HP:
Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss (65-75 % / vol.) Macronutrients
Extra Perlite — horticultural coarse grade Micronutrients
Dolomitic & Calcitic Limestone Wetting Agent

the flora nova bloom is started when?

 

[sirgrassalot]

I'm doing some recycled soil & some Pro-Mix when the soil is done I'll never see dirt again. Pro-Mix BX or HP I don't add anything. I water & feed than harvest.

 

[Guest]

Follows is a sticky thread by lucas comparing a few different strategies....

mainly pure blend and general hydros flora 3 part and the newer flora nova series....



http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=21119

 

[Guest]

Here is what is used ..... but start off the plants a little easier..... go about 5 for small plants and build to 8 .....every time you water




8 fnBloom
n 124
p 108
k 180
Mg 62


This thread can help you with several well tested nutrient programs....


Here is what lucas said...

At this stage of my learning, out of all the possible systems and nutrients, Im inclined to recommend Ebb Flow with Flora Nova nutrients. I remain loyal to GH because of the simplicity of using no additives, and now also because the Nova series has everything in just one bottle.


You might try a PK booster in flower like kool bloom.....

 

[vindiesel]

just called the hydro shop by me, he don't stock PM HP, but does stock BX. it has:
Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss (75-85 % / vol.) Macronutrients
Perlite — horticultural grade Micronutrients
Vermiculite Wetting Agent
Dolomitic & Calcitic Limestone (pH adjuster)


PM HP almost same except no vermiculite:

Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss (65-75 % / vol.) Macronutrients
Extra Perlite — horticultural coarse grade Micronutrients
Dolomitic & Calcitic Limestone Wetting Agent

i'll just add alittle extra perlite to the BX.

when is it advisable to start adding ferts/nutes to plants grown from seed?

 

[Guest]

There is some contention about when to feed....

Here is what I would do....

feed once using a tspn per gallon(when they have their first set of leaves)....(promix hasnt any nutes in it)

then use water until the cotyledons begin to yellow....

then feed every time from then on until the flush.....

 

[ThereIsHope]

I like to keep things simple with soil. The simpler, the better (and usually more cost effective).

Start out with any potting soil that has dolomitic lime in the mix. This is a PH buffer and if it has dolomitic lime, it is probably pretty good shit.

Then, I use 5-1-1 fish emulsion during VEG from LOWES at $10.00 per gallon. I use this at half the recommended strength (one shot glass per two gallons of water) or half a shot glass per gallon every watering (around once a week). No need to do it at full strength because you are basically wasting your fish emulsion (no added benefit).

For bloom, use any type of tomato ferts.

It is cheaper and basically the same shit you spend mega bucks on at the hydro stores.

For transplanting, I use granular micorrizzahe (beneficial fungus).

When all this is dialed out, add CO2 which is monitored and metered.

Control temps and smell (DIY CO2 scrubbers are the shit) and you are in fat city.

 

[kbc2007]

You are making this so very complicated...

buy some promix some dolomitic lime, perlite and a bottle of flora nova bloom....

thats all you need.....

I wish I read and followed this 2 months ago.

Seriously, all you need is,
Promix
1 tablespoon per gallon of dolomite lime
Perlite (add whatever, 20-30% is good)
Flora Nova grow, bloom ( I also bought the Floralicious Plus and Liquid KoolBloom)

That's it, that's all. SIMPLE.
Nothing more to worry about.
Since I made the change to the above my girls have exploded and all I'm doing is giving them nutes every 2nd watering.
I don't even have to mess around with ph anymore. The Flora Nova is Ph balanced.

Again, I wish I did this two months ago.
Live and learn though, this is my first grow after all.

 

[Guest]

I wish I read and followed this 2 months ago.

Seriously, all you need is,
Promix
1 tablespoon per gallon of dolomite lime
Perlite (add whatever, 20-30% is good)
Flora Nova grow, bloom ( I also bought the Floralicious Plus and Liquid KoolBloom)

That's it, that's all. SIMPLE.
Nothing more to worry about.
Since I made the change to the above my girls have exploded and all I'm doing is giving them nutes every 2nd watering.
I don't even have to mess around with ph anymore. The Flora Nova is Ph balanced.

Again, I wish I did this two months ago.
Live and learn though, this is my first grow after all.

I had to go read your first few posts to see what you were doing....

I found a thread in the infirmary and your mix???

promix bone and blood..... was the base..... no potassium source.....

Im certain that you will be much happier with your new methods.....


You must be a fast learner....

you seem to be right on it within your first grow..... nice job...

 

[kbc2007]

Yeah, I've worked out all the kinks (fingers crossed).
Going into 12/12 tonight and I couldn't be happier with the state of things.
Thanks.

PS, I got my original (organic) soil mix from Red.
He seemed to have good results with it. It just seems to be too finicky a process though. I'm happy with the Flora Nova, it's not 100% organic but whatever, I'll be flushing at the end.
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=31605&page=2&pp=15

PPS, "You must be a fast learner...."
Thanks to my friends here!

 

[vindiesel]

just went to hydro shop and bought my soil. i bought:
pro-mix BX
perlite
grow plugs
cal~mag supp
dome for seedlings
i will start w/ just promix and perlite, and add when/if needed later...
i'm set. just have to install my fans and i'm ready.

 

[Guest 18340]

This is what i use. Every home improvement store carries it, (Walmart, Lowes, Homedepot, etc). Its cheap as hell and i never add anything (perlite, vermiculite, dolomite, etc) I dump it into my 5 gallon buckets, plant my clone and water. Theirs enough nutrients in it that i only have to give the plant ferts once they go into the flowering phase, the stuff has plenty of Nitrogen and p & k for vegging. I've used three diferent FF soils and loved them all but...
You're gonna get diferent answers from everybody so its gonna boil down to $$$, availability, and ease of use. At least thats what it came down to for me

 

[vindiesel]

You'll get varying opinions....but I would still add dolomite lime at 1-2 Tbls/gallon to ProMix BX.

The data sheet (see link) indicates BX is 75-85% by volume of Canadian sphagnum peat moss...acidic at a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. They do add Dolomitic and Calcitic limestone for a "pH adjuster". However IMO you won't hurt anything by adding more. This will pretty much assure that you won't have problems down the line.

ProMix BX data sheet link
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/hort/facilities/downloads/proMixBX.pdf

I realize some don't add more lime to ProMix BX and that's why you'll get other opinions.

And the best of luck to you on your grow!!!!!!

pedro
"

pedro

thanks.
do u test the PH of your soil or just add the extra dolomite lime?

 

[vindiesel]

thanks.
i'll b using RODI water for watering. basically 0 TDS, plain as can be water. no anything in it. only supp i bought was bionacaire cal~mag. do i use this in beginning, especially since my water has 0 in it. i will check PH also of water. if needed, should i add PH up or down right from beginning...?
thanks again...

 

[facelift]

I started with MG potting soil, added MG Tops soil, some bone meal and some manure. I also add the fan leaves and trimmings from all the female plants after harvest. For nutes which are added when the plants are flowering is also MG Bloom Booster 10-52-10.

All this stuff was laying around the garage, so the net cost for everything was nil.

 

[vindiesel]

i just checked my RODI water. it's PH is 8.10. i guess that sounds ok. TDS 0.