Organic Feeding 101.

SouthernSoil*

Well-Known Member
SS, I don't have enough experience adding it in this way to really give you a good answer. My experience with adding the meal is, if you don't let it break down a while before planting into it, your plants can burn. If I need N a quick botanical tea or EWC top dressing usually does the trick. I tend to err on it's easier to add in later then take out later.

Does that mean you shouldn't use it? I have no idea. Someone could be doing it with great results, but it ain't me lol!

Peace!
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I understand what you mean man, the mix im using calls for this meal or rabbit pellets but originally it calls for compost although instead im using EWC in my mix so im not sure if the alfalfa and ewc will have a shitload of N ? im definitely going to let it sit for 4-5 weeks though before using it though, Regards & Thank you
 

SouthernSoil*

Well-Known Member
I ended up blending the hay lol , came out pretty fine so i just added about 2 cups seeing as its not in powder form, all mixed sitting in the pots now, should i water heavily ? maybe half a gallon in each ?
 
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st0wandgrow

Well-Known Member
I ended up blending the hay lol , came out pretty fine so i just added about 2 cups seeing as its not in powder form, all mixed sitting in the pots now, should i water heavily ? maybe half a gallon in each ?
Water until it's evenly moist, not wet.

Do you have any seeds that you can lay down as a cover crop? Clover, Vetch, etc?
 

SouthernSoil*

Well-Known Member
Appreciate the reply bro, seems pretty moist, i didnt however water while mixing it up though, the peat was already wet as i had done it the day before, i have vetch seeds ( vicia villosa ) although they are for winter growth apparently, ill have to order clover online if it wont do, another thing is im still trying to dial in my tent because its reaching about 80-85f during the day, unless i veg during the night which will keep temps more in line. Peace :peace:
 

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
I believe most people use approx 1/2-1c of alfalfa meal per cu ft.


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I tend to agree with you, alfalfa is some potent stuff, I hesitate to use it at that rate, but i'm a lil extra careful with alfalafa, manures, and molasses... so I use my super scientific measuring application is a light palmful per 2 cubic feet, my guess is a palmful is about 1/8 of a cup.
But I don't use anything as a primary nutrient, I mix a WHOLE bunch of different stuff together in small amounts, then mix the dry nutes together and go from there, I like to look at it like a diet, your body does better with the nutrients being sourced from a broad type of foods, and I use that theory and apply it to my ladies
not saying you MUST do it that way, just that I find it much harder to get a deficiency if you are using a broad range of organic nutrients
 
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greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
Appreciate the reply bro, seems pretty moist, i didnt however water while mixing it up though, the peat was already wet as i had done it the day before, i have vetch seeds ( vicia villosa ) although they are for winter growth apparently, ill have to order clover online if it wont do, another thing is im still trying to dial in my tent because its reaching about 80-85f during the day, unless i veg during the night which will keep temps more in line. Peace :peace:
if your concern is that they are at 80-85 degrees a day, I wouldn't sweat that, as long as you aren't tryin to clone in that heat, an established plant will be fine, course some varieties may be sensitive but I've never ever seen any problems from heat, under a hundred degrees, and even then, I've grown hundreds of plants outside with temps regularly getting above a hundred and they did just fine, as long as you HYDRATE.
don't sweat it my friend, unless you see wilting or something like that, but honestly, i'd be surprised if you have any problems from 85 deg weather.
 

SouthernSoil*

Well-Known Member
I tend to agree with you, alfalfa is some potent stuff, I hesitate to use it at that rate, but i'm a lil extra careful with alfalafa, manures, and molasses... so I use my super scientific measuring application is a light palmful per 2 cubic feet, my guess is a palmful is about 1/8 of a cup.
But I don't use anything as a primary nutrient, I mix a WHOLE bunch of different stuff together in small amounts, then mix the dry nutes together and go from there, I like to look at it like a diet, your body does better with the nutrients being sourced from a broad type of foods, and I use that theory and apply it to my ladies
not saying you MUST do it that way, just that I find it much harder to get a deficiency if you are using a broad range of organic nutrients
Thank you greasemonkey, i guess i added about a cup to each cf. which i thought would make up for the little bit of missing EWC, i got the mix from mad hamish but didnt ask how much alfalfa i should add, in anycase he's been using the mix & the all purpose tea with no deficiencies so i rate im pretty set.

I am however a little worried cooking the soil in the pots however, i will keep it moist but to turn or not is the question ? pattahabi mentioned clover seeds will be good, i was thinking if i could keep the clover vegging in the main pots while the babies veg in the smaller pots, you think its a good idea ?
 

SouthernSoil*

Well-Known Member
if your concern is that they are at 80-85 degrees a day, I wouldn't sweat that, as long as you aren't tryin to clone in that heat, an established plant will be fine, course some varieties may be sensitive but I've never ever seen any problems from heat, under a hundred degrees, and even then, I've grown hundreds of plants outside with temps regularly getting above a hundred and they did just fine, as long as you HYDRATE.
don't sweat it my friend, unless you see wilting or something like that, but honestly, i'd be surprised if you have any problems from 85 deg weather.
I understand what you mean by plants growing fine outside, i also had a outdoor once that took those kind of temps with no problem, i was however thinking that possibly they grow at a much quicker rate when dialed in around 26 or not ? Will keep them very well hydrated lets just hope i dont overhydrate them lol.

Would you think i have a higher chance of hermies if i have lights on at night though ? My room gets insane sun during the day, it hits 91 f during the day and 77 f at night, so it kind of balances out the temps then, i wont be able to study in my room if i actually hit lights on during the day, it will swelter my balls off ! lol there's no other option night lights it is !
 

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
I understand what you mean by plants growing fine outside, i also had a outdoor once that took those kind of temps with no problem, i was however thinking that possibly they grow at a much quicker rate when dialed in around 26 or not ? Will keep them very well hydrated lets just hope i dont overhydrate them lol.

Would you think i have a higher chance of hermies if i have lights on at night though ? My room gets insane sun during the day, it hits 91 f during the day and 77 f at night, so it kind of balances out the temps then, i wont be able to study in my room if i actually hit lights on during the day, it will swelter my balls off ! lol there's no other option night lights it is !
honestly, and this is a lil inflammatory to some, i'm not sure much has to do with hermaphroditism, I've done some insanely stressful things to my plants and haven't seen issues with hermies, but also my strains don't have that issue anyways, sooo, my answer may not be helpful, but I ALWAYS flower my plants at night and give them the day for darkness. In the winter I reverse that, to keep them warm. BUT if your plant has hermie issues to start, then any little tiny thing may lead it to popping pollen.
Long answer, sorry.
 

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
Thank you greasemonkey, i guess i added about a cup to each cf. which i thought would make up for the little bit of missing EWC, i got the mix from mad hamish but didnt ask how much alfalfa i should add, in anycase he's been using the mix & the all purpose tea with no deficiencies so i rate im pretty set.

I am however a little worried cooking the soil in the pots however, i will keep it moist but to turn or not is the question ? pattahabi mentioned clover seeds will be good, i was thinking if i could keep the clover vegging in the main pots while the babies veg in the smaller pots, you think its a good idea ?
hmm, a cup a cubic foot is a lot of alfalfa, not to mention it'll take a while to break down, i'd cut that soil when you pot them, maybe a third by weight? You might be ok, but it'd be a bitch to have to wait a month after planting to find out, and it's not easy to fix afterwards (being non-soluble, mostly).
I know I keep sayin it, but molasses, manures, and alfalfa are the easiest organic amendment that you can overdo on, and all three can lock your plant out, and piss her off.
Don't get me wrong I LOVE all three of those amendments, but ya got use a lil.
 
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SouthernSoil*

Well-Known Member
hmm, a cup a cubic foot is a lot of alfalfa, not to mention it'll take a while to break down, i'd cut that soil when you pot them, maybe a third by weight? You might be ok, but it'd be a bitch to have to wait a month after planting to find out, and it's not easy to fix afterwards (being non-soluble, mostly).
I know I keep sayin it, but molasses, manures, and alfalfa are the easiest organic amendment that you can overdo on, and all three can lock your plant out, and piss her off.
Don't get me wrong I LOVE all three of those amendments, but ya got use a lil.
I hope it should be okay dude... i put 2.19 ounces in each 4 gallon container.. got my lacto b ready so im going to bubble it and add i rate.. Thank you dude
 

Pattahabi

Well-Known Member
I absolutely run my lights at night to conserve power/reduce heat. Imo weak/sick plants hermie much quicker then healthy ones. The slightest little light leak can set them off, but with strong healthy plants they don't seem to skip a beat.

my 2¢,
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greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
Throw a cheap plant form home depot or something in the soil first before you put your ladies in there. I've learned the hard way (more then once) it pays to test it out.

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damn good advice, anything I do that is a new experience or an experiment and I do it on my houseplants first, just try to test it on a plant with similar growth and "diet". in other words, a fast-growing, nitrogen-loving, neutral ph-liking, high drainage-needing plant.
I have used multiple bamboo, roses, tomatoes, lavender and a tree dahlia for this purpose. I'd say the roses, tomatoes and the dahlia are the best representations of being similar to cannabis
 

SouthernSoil*

Well-Known Member
Throw a cheap plant form home depot or something in the soil first before you put your ladies in there. I've learned the hard way (more then once) it pays to test it out.

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Lol i think it would be fine bro, i guess if i put a little more alfalfa than what was called for it shouldnt lock my plant right out? cause like i said it wasnt powdered. Good tip to test out future mixes though ! Respect
 

SouthernSoil*

Well-Known Member
I absolutely run my lights at night to conserve power/reduce heat. Imo weak/sick plants hermie much quicker then healthy ones. The slightest little light leak can set them off, but with strong healthy plants they don't seem to skip a beat.

my 2¢,
P-
Thank you for clearing that up bro, makes way more sense, ill be keeping the tent light proof at all costs.
 

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
Electricity is cheaper here at off peak hours, makes way more sense : ) I wanted to ask do you guys filter your intakes at all ?
yes I filter all air going into my rooms, I use an engine air filter for an old 5.8 liter ford engine, i think the truck 5.0 liter fits too, not the stang 5.0, or the conical filter for many of the diesels. it's cheaper lasts forever and pretty sure its better for everything.
 

Pattahabi

Well-Known Member
Lol i think it would be fine bro, i guess if i put a little more alfalfa than what was called for it shouldnt lock my plant right out? cause like i said it wasnt powdered. Good tip to test out future mixes though ! Respect
Hey SS! Alfalfa, although on the box it says meal, is not a 'meal' the way other products are. Ie, neem 'meal' is made from the left over material after the neem seed is pressed for the oil. Where as alfalfa is the raw plant material. Basically you are going to distract the microbes from doing the job you want them to do. So, if it helps, whether it is 'powdered' or not, it can still cause plants to burn if not properly broken down. A quick way of getting around this is to use it in the compost pile.

Thank you for clearing that up bro, makes way more sense, ill be keeping the tent light proof at all costs.
I find light leaks to be the #1 cause of hermi plants (with being weak/sick ofc). However, remember any stress can cause a plant to hermi. the plant thinks it's dying and it is doing what it can to procreate.

Electricity is cheaper here at off peak hours, makes way more sense : ) I wanted to ask do you guys filter your intakes at all ?
I don't intake from the outside in, but from the inside out. Are you worried about bugs?

Peace!
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