Inconsistency with FFOF ?

[ChaosHunter]

been using Fox farm and lately I'm getting very inconsistent bags. One will be beautiful, dark moist. The next will be dry, grayish and looks like it was scrapped from the bottom of the pile ? Also does not retain moisture as well. Has anyone noticed this ? Is there anything that is more consistaint ? I don't mind paying for better quality and due to the fact I only do a couple plants at a time it's not worth it for me to make my own.

 

[Budzbuddha]

Funny this post popped up ....

Here something a bit different and surprisingly good.

I jumped off the FFOF train a couple months back and followed a grow by @CptNemo ,
His grow was my inspiration to try . It is a CRF mix ( controlled release fertilizer ) and started from rapid rooter to present on WATER ONLY.

Fantastic growth - very aerated and no drama.




Original mix : 50/50 mix of both in lower half or third of your container then topped remainder with the garden soil .

My Mix : 50/50 mix as listed but added 25-30% chunky perlite - for more drainage and aeration.
I chose a layered mix - first the bottom " super " soil mix with perlite then 1/2 cup Light Warrior with Myco. Then topped with final Garden Soil mix with a bit of perlite.

You can leave the light warrior out , i used because i got bags of that stuff.

So far so good ... It is not very expensive and from LOWE's .





I added NOTHING to the soil for feeding and am on tap water only.
BTW i'm following your Quantum board thread and pulled the trigger on some.
*Thumbs Up

 

[Bugeye]

You just need to go the most expensive grow store in town and ask for their most expensive soil.

 

[Willy_Santos]

I'd take it up with whomever you bought it from first. If it's your local hydro store, they will probably just replace it and deal with FF. If it's online you might be SOL.

 

[ChaosHunter]

Thanks guys! I have a local hydro store that I use.

 

[Richard Drysift]

The problem with FFOF is simply that it's not always mixed properly; there can be pockets of N that can burn tender young roots. If you dump it out into a tote bin or something & chop it up with a shovel and add in some extra perlite that will usually help even it out. You can always add in coco coir to cut it down if you plan to drop young clones or seedlings in it.

 

[Willy_Santos]

The problem with FFOF is simply that it's not always mixed properly; there can be pockets of N that can burn tender young roots. If you dump it out into a tote bin or something & chop it up with a shovel and add in some extra perlite that will usually help even it out. You can always add in coco coir to cut it down if you plan to drop young clones or seedlings in it.

I think almost every person that's used FFOF to any extent does something along those lines, so there must be something to it. I think perlite is huge for FFOF since it has such a tendency to clump and get compacted without it. I add Vermiculite to help out with this