what soil do u use?

[SmokyLungs]

I am currently using a mix of fox farm ocean forest and happy frog what are some other good affordable soil to buy?

 

[Richard Drysift]

Sunshine mix #4 is what I use.Has the same npk as FFOF but it's machine mixed so it doesn't have hot spots. Been recycling it too; on my 3rd run using this mix & it just gets better. IMO recycled mix gives you the most bang for your buck but you've got to add amendments and let it cook for 30 days before reuse.

 

[SmokyLungs]

Sunshine mix #4 is what I use.Has the same npk as FFOF but it's machine mixed so it doesn't have hot spots. Been recycling it too; on my 3rd run using this mix & it just gets better. IMO recycled mix gives you the most bang for your buck but you've got to add amendments and let it cook for 30 days before reuse.

By amendments u mean like worm casting and all that other stuff?

 

[Richard Drysift]

Yeah I add worm castings, blood meal, bone meal, feather meal, azomite, soft rock phosphate, gypsum, dolomite lime, oyster flour, some extra perlite & coco coir -among other things. I mix it all up with a rusty shovel & let it sit in a tote bin for a month or so & then reuse it. The total I have spent in soil amendments is much less than it would've costed to get more bagged mix and I probably have enough to last a few years. With a good recycled mix you won't even need nutrients either just add clean water. There's lots of soil recipes found in the RIU organic section but it's even easier to use bagged soil & just amend it after each use. Just trying to save ya a few bucks wish somebody told me about this when I was starting out. Good luck happy growing

 

[borbor]

I use Batch 64 moonshine mix, supposedly formulated for cannabis. Thinking of trying either batch 64's pioneer blend or roots organic.
I have friends that use a mixture of ocean forest and happy frog. I used it for my very first experience growing back in high school. I'm pretty much just trying not to use anything my friends use, since that approach so far is kicking the shit outta their buds.
I think next year I might buy a ton of ffof for the outdoor veggie garden though.

 

[SmokyLungs]

Yeah I add worm castings, blood meal, bone meal, feather meal, azomite, soft rock phosphate, gypsum, dolomite lime, oyster flour, some extra perlite & coco coir -among other things. I mix it all up with a rusty shovel & let it sit in a tote bin for a month or so & then reuse it. The total I have spent in soil amendments is much less than it would've costed to get more bagged mix and I probably have enough to last a few years. With a good recycled mix you won't even need nutrients either just add clean water. There's lots of soil recipes found in the RIU organic section but it's even easier to use bagged soil & just amend it after each use. Just trying to save ya a few bucks wish somebody told me about this when I was starting out. Good luck happy growing

Cool im intrigued but u have a long list what would u reccomend as must addings to buy for my recycled soil?

 

[dannyboy602]

Yeah I add worm castings, blood meal, bone meal, feather meal, azomite, soft rock phosphate, gypsum, dolomite lime, oyster flour, some extra perlite & coco coir -among other things. I mix it all up with a rusty shovel & let it sit in a tote bin for a month or so & then reuse it. The total I have spent in soil amendments is much less than it would've costed to get more bagged mix and I probably have enough to last a few years. With a good recycled mix you won't even need nutrients either just add clean water. There's lots of soil recipes found in the RIU organic section but it's even easier to use bagged soil & just amend it after each use. Just trying to save ya a few bucks wish somebody told me about this when I was starting out. Good luck happy growing

ever have probs with the hot meals? I don't add them anymore bc of that issue...also ive had claw bc of meals...so therefor I just don't use them anymore...everything else on ur list is great.

 

[Trippyness]

Sunshine mix #4 is the same as FFOF btw.
FFOF is a little HOT so it needs something added like ProMix.

Id suggest going with a FFOF with some Promix say 75% FFOF and 25% PromixHP.
Adding a bit extra perlite for better drainage for soil mate.

 

[Richard Drysift]

ever have probs with the hot meals? I don't add them anymore bc of that issue...also ive had claw bc of meals...so therefor I just don't use them anymore...everything else on ur list is great.

No but I do allow at least a month for it to cook down before use. Not like I'm using that much either maybe a tsp per gal of soil for the blood & bone meals. Others have told me that feather meal contains arsenic but it's good N and I got a big ol bag of it so I'm still using it.

 

[Richard Drysift]

Cool im intrigued but u have a long list what would u reccomend as must addings to buy for my recycled soil?

All this stuff I got over time but dry amendments have a long shelf life and are not that expensive. They do add up though so you can buy everything one at a time if you need to. First you need access to worm castings; they are not expensive though- a bag of unco costs like $11 but having a worm bin makes this cost next to nothing. You'll need to add some coco & perlite and then a fertilizers, minerals, etc. it helps to have a base of reference like a book or this website- True Living Organics by The Rev is a good primer into recycled soil methods but there are several sources of info out there on this including the organic section of RIU. Growing this way requires more wisdom than money but it's also customizable for your needs & budget.
There's a long list of options but basically after you add perlite, coco, and EWC you'll need fertilizers and minerals but exactly which is up to you. Chicken or cow manure is very cheap high N input. Azomite contains many of the minerals needed. Oyster flour helps regulate ph and adds calcium, etc. You can even make your own compost from a pit in your backyard to save even more. A light mix can easily be beefed up with organic teas that feed and add microbial life which makes plants happy. It's not easy to say you need this and not this because it's really up to the grower what is needed or not. Hope this helps you good luck & happy growing

 

[DannyBlaze2]

Sunshine mix #4 is what I use.Has the same npk as FFOF but it's machine mixed so it doesn't have hot spots. Been recycling it too; on my 3rd run using this mix & it just gets better. IMO recycled mix gives you the most bang for your buck but you've got to add amendments and let it cook for 30 days before reuse.

They have the same npk? Sunshine Mix 4 is nute free I started my seeds in it the ffof is hot some say it really hot. I use SM4 the first 2 weeks then the ffof . But I'm thinking of adding 25% SM4 to the ffof.

 

[Tim Fox]

ffof for me, and yes its been running hot