Guess you are right about that & was thinking the same while reading Tevs book. When I say layering I guess I mean that I plan to recycle the soil currently in the pots for next run & put some added nitrogen/minerals at the bottom when I build my pots next time. The idea of layers I got from Revs book that apparently a lotta growers hated. I didn't plan on learning about TLO when I started this grow- had it my head I was just going to use ocean forest and bottled nutes forever because I didn't know a better way. I realize also that what is suggested in Revs book is not for everyone because he recommends using tiny ass pots which is why I think he suggests to add teas weekly. I can tell from the lighter sheen on the plants that the last wave of activity has subsided a bit so I'm gonna give em another shot of AACT & then just clean water for awhile. Thanks for chiming in I appreciate the advics
I haven't read his book, or any of his information, and i'm not saying it won't work, just that it's a lot of effort that I can't see being effective, meaning they often recommend a highly soluble nutrient at the bottom of a pot, so when I think about that, it doesn't make sense. If anything you'd want a meal-based nutrient that breaks down super slow like a fish bone meal or whatever, but I am a firm believer that the soil should be thoroughly mixed at the beginning, the roots blast down to the bottom anyways.
BUT... shit man, I have seen some insane results from supersoil and layered soils... but conversely I have seen awesome beautiful herb grown with damn near everything (kinda what I always say really)
I would highly highly recommend big pots though... big time. it's REALLY hard to control smaller pots, especially adding teas all the time..
I go 7 gallon minimum for small indicas, and 12s for anything that has some stretch in it. (a good rule is 2 gallon of soil per foot of growth, but I go more because I don't feed)
But I sorta have some weird techniques I like, for example I am a super light-feeder, I prefer to let them just have room in my amended soil and that typically keeps them super happy, I could probably milk maybe another 10-15% if I fed more, but honestly I prefer the smoke of a plant grown this way, works for me anyways.
And as always, my way, is just that, it's just mine, not the only way, nor the RIGHT way for everyone, just right for me. (don't wanna come across as preachy)
If you want to recycle their is some good information in the no-till section, you can kinda hybrid the two, as most can only go no-till for a yr or two before re-amending anyways, but it's useful information, I used to do bagged soil only because I my back isn't exactly 20yrs old anymore... so mixing wasn't an option for me really, but then I started reading more and more about no-till and thought i'd give it a shot, and it's worked super well for me, not only have I saved a bunch of money over the last couple yrs on soil, but also a LOT of sore-back-hours by not having to fuck with the soil.
Another thing to add, is simply looking/thinking of the soil more long-term has actually increased my overall product, and also had me adopting different (more effective) techniques also.
Course, I have adopted a bunch of other hobbies I didn't have prior, like my compost pile, my wormbin, my leaf-mold project, horsetail plants, comfrey, etc, etc.
Wouldn't change a thing though.
