will my mix burn if i plant too soon?

[irie-i]

hey folks... if you check the link to my mix at the bottom of my post here, you'll see what went in and when. it was wednesday and today its saturday. it turns out my clones are coming today! but i wasnt expecting them. does anyone think if i plant in my mix too soon that it could burn my babies?

 

[3BM]

Hey Irie,

By burn do you mean temp or nutrient? I'll take each one in turn.

As far as temperature goes, yes you can burn them. Just stick your hand deep into the soil, if it feels warm it may be too hot for tender roots. Your soil mix has plenty of organic matter and a strong micro-herd ... together their metabolic activity should be high. The first week after the initial mix temperatures can rise to 180F, but your results may vary. Soon after this initial rise, the temp should cool off. I like to let it sit at least a week, preferably a month. Just keep checking the dirt, and when it "cools" it is safe to plant.

As far as nutrients go, yes again. Your mix is pretty rich as they go. The longer the mix sits the more available those nutrients will become. Tender cuttings may show stress at that level of fertilization, but your results may vary. It really depends on how far along the babies are, but I would err on the side of less nutes and transplant them into a richer mix as they go. I might misunderstand the exact volume you work on, but off the top of my head it seems short on perlite. For cuttings and seedlings I use 50% perlite in my mixes. To ensure a hospitable environment for the infants, just cut your mix by 60% soil to 40% more perlite. You really cant add too much perlite for little guys. Just be sure to water them more often, since a light mix dries more quickly. If you see any over fertilization this run, cut the mix even further next time. Generally for seedlings and cuttings I use ProMix 50%, Perlite 25%, Verm 25%. I do not add any nutrients or compost. I feed them only through solubles. This helps me get a handle on their individual needs before hitting them with a full fertilization scheme.

Well I hope this helps. Your mix seems well thought out, and I know you will have success.

3BM

 

[irie-i]

thanks 3BM, finally an answer, and from a reputable source! my question was more along the line of nute, becuase temp, of course, i can feel myself.

this is a mix ive used for 2 cycles with success, although the plants seemed a little short of nutes a little too early. of course i watered all along with compost tea. so i enriched it a little, and i added a little extra lime becuase the cottonseed meal is acidic.

i used promix BH but usually like HP so i added about 5 gallons perlite, which makes it at least 25%.

i only veg about 7 days and i dont like to transplant more than once. they'll go right in those 2.5ish gallon containers and stay till the end.

the girls are very well rooted, for the most part, so maybe not too tender

 

[3BM]

Hey Irie:

Very clean looking setup! With that level of care you will surely succeed. You say that the mix shows deficiencies earlier than you would like? With your level of nutrients I would expect to get 2-3 weeks out of a 2.5gal container. When you move the little ones into flowering hit them with a good one-time dose of fertilizer. I aim for a balanced ratio of N-P with a good shot of K as well. For example ...

Transplant Tea:
1 Tbsp Alfalfa Meal
1 tsp High P Guano
1 tsp Molasses
1 gal water

Brew this like any other tea, and water as needed when inducing flowering. This dose of N and P will help to accomodate the foliage and root development during any stretch. Alfalfa adds a growth stimulant and B vitamins to ease any stress. I usually give them pure water for 2 weeks after that, then ease back into nutrients slowly during the third week. By the 4th week Im into full strength feeding 1-2 a week. This is only one of many combinations of nutes you could use, but it seems good given what you use. This sort of transplant tea can help the nutrients in the soil last a bit longer.

Supplementing the soil with solubles can help to provide the plants with anything the soil does not. Then you can add more of anything they lacked during the next soil remix. Also, keep in mind that reused soils will build up a base of slow release nutrients. Insoluble fertlizers (like fossilized guano, cottonseed meal, alfalfa meal, rock phosphate, etc) become available to plants very slowly over their life. A typical dose of these elements will not get completely used during a plants life in the soil. Adding the same amount during the next remix will provide the same amount plus the holdover from the last mix. This will develope a base of nutrients your plants can draw on, and will help the soil nourish your plants longer without adding soluble fertilizers. In other words, you may find that remixed soil will feed longer than fresh mixes.

Hope that helps. Enjoy those little ones, they grow up fast!

3BM

 

[irie-i]

thanks 3BM, i'll follow your advice