Best Soil and Nutrients

[Jgray766]

Another great thing to add for excellent root health is hydrogaurd...awesome awesome awesome stuff!! And it doesn't take much...

 

[MichiganMedGrower]

I always toss some extra pearlite and took the big bag I have and mixed it up good. It always seem to be the bigger bags I have problems with. The small ones are fine. Soil is PH at 7.0, runoff is 6.5ish. I do like it and it works well with my nutes. I have a couple of hydro stores near by and there always trying to get me into Pro mix or Royal gold basement mix. They carry every boutique soil and medium I can try.

I don't have the time and space to experiment, I want to measure twice and cut once

I tried different mediums and nutes my first year but it is better to stick with a system and practice over and over. I have no plans to change anything. I still get gains in the same pots and pure blend pro as needed. I did add a 315 LEC lamp to the room that has made a positive difference.

 

[MichiganMedGrower]

When you say mix, you mean like I fill it up with 75% the one soil, 25% of the other and actually mix it the best I can to make it have equilibrium right? Not just layers of one with the other? Sorry if it sounds nubish but I used the same exact soil Jgray used on that plant with all the crisp leaves (hence why I think mine did that) and havent mixed soil before. These are the first plants of any kind I've tried to grow outside of like 5th grade when we grew flowers and I'm going to school for engineering not biology lol

Mixed all together. But it is real important to break up clums. They make hot food spots for the roots to burn in.

Watering technique is the most important part to get right. The plants need their dry days for their roots to search and fill the pot. I wait for the pots to be 3/4 dry down. Then water/feed.

No questions are noobish. Questions are learning.

 

[MichiganMedGrower]

I dumped my whole bag of FFOF into a wheelbarrow and mixed it up adding pearlite.

I use a huge Rubbermaid bin in the spare bedroom that has my veg tents. I squeeze all clumps with my gloved hands.

 

[Jgray766]

I just mixed up my 3 gallon smart pot for my WOS akr that just passed thru customs and is now on her way here. I really hope she pops correctly I even got some rapid rooters and gloves to give her the best possible chance of survival. Never had an issue until WOS akr...but I will conquer!!!
FFOF
1/4 cup Pelletized dolomite lime
Perlite
Black gold top soil 0.5 - 0-0
Ran tap thru it to activate. She is sitting nicely in the tent...I have her a couple inches off the ground too. Awesome.

 

[Digital Chronic]

So what do you guys think the max I could get out of the next grow would be if I did everything right like described in this thread? I heard a 1 g per watt but I'm not very confident I'll get 400 grams. Doyou think at least 200 grams is realistic? I really want enough to last me like all winter lol

 

[Kevin Pickford]

I just mixed up my 3 gallon smart pot for my WOS akr that just passed thru customs and is now on her way here. I really hope she pops correctly I even got some rapid rooters and gloves to give her the best possible chance of survival. Never had an issue until WOS akr...but I will conquer!!!
FFOF
1/4 cup Pelletized dolomite lime
Perlite
Black gold top soil 0.5 - 0-0
Ran tap thru it to activate. She is sitting nicely in the tent...I have her a couple inches off the ground too. Awesome.

YES!!!

 

[Kevin Pickford]

So what do you guys think the max I could get out of the next grow would be if I did everything right like described in this thread? I heard a 1 g per watt but I'm not very confident I'll get 400 grams. Doyou think at least 200 grams is realistic? I really want enough to last me like all winter lol

400 watt should be able to cover 4 descent size plants and if you get 100 grams per plant ( definitely a fair goal) that's almost a pound.. have clones going to bring them in the last 4 weeks of flowering close as you can get them to the other plants directly under the light.. and they will be ready shortly after the first harvest and you'll be smoking all winter and spring

 

[Jgray766]

So what do you guys think the max I could get out of the next grow would be if I did everything right like described in this thread? I heard a 1 g per watt but I'm not very confident I'll get 400 grams. Doyou think at least 200 grams is realistic? I really want enough to last me like all winter lol

I never found exactly what seeds u are sprouting...photos? Autos?
Soak seed. Place taproot down in a rapid rooter. Leave in the dark alone. Once popped
I sould start them out under some 6500k cfls like 3 inches under. Let grow about 3 nodes and place under the HID. Once she gets 5 or 6 nodes, top her. Secure ur base and then tie down to get more mains. Top them too. Keep low and let veg for 8 weeks and man oh Man U will have a qp at least. I only keep two photos at a time but only if I have too. More light less plant big yeild. Nutes...easy on em. The less the better. Don't give but teeny amount when first set of serrated leaves are seen. As she grows, up your nutes. Unless u are using doc farms ocean soil then u do as I had said and Kevin said...add half 0.5-0.0-0.0 top soil perlite dolomite lime PELLETIZED only and some hydrogaurd to keep those organisms happy. Run water thru pre plant to activate lime so your ph won't be too low. If u check runoff and is too high or low u can add some ph to next water. Water as much as u want when totally dry. Give 5 days between waters if using big pot. Smart pots are good buckets are good just drill lots of holes. Never transplant in flower. Defol with care.

Autos, place in rapid rooter then in activated dried pre mixed soil and only water around the seeding to keep from drowning. 3 gallons great u good yeilds. I add bud candy or Koolbloom towards the end then flush. GOOD LUCK!!

 

[mauricem00]

Ok guys so I'm starting my second grow and I want to make sure I'm doing everything right this time cause I only got a half oz from my first one. I used Miracle Grow and didnt add any nutrients at all or check my Ph in the first grow, just would run water from the tap and have it sit over night before watering my plants. I wanted to try to do things minimalistically so I know what I should be guaranteed if I grew properly so now I know no matter what I do I should get at least a half oz. I'm really shooting for at least a qp this time so I'd like to know what the best soil to use would be and where to get the best nutrients. Keep in mind I'm on a budget and thats why I'm using soil again, when I get more money for my third grow I will try hydroponics for the first time.

I have been using this with 25% perlite added for a few years now http://www.homedepot.com/p/Kellogg-Garden-Organics-1-5-cu-ft-Patio-Plus-Premium-Outdoor-Potting-Mix-681/100160888 I use MG plant food and bloom.and have had no problems with my grows. I'm not the only home depot grower here but im sure a lot of people will criticize me for not using more expensive hydro store soil and nutes but my grows produce 8 ounces using a 6 bulb T5 ho.and that is enough to keep the medicine bowl filled with good quality medicine.I have a test kit that test PH and nutrient levels for 3 different nutrients but I only used it once 3 years ago when my girls developed a problem I could not diagnose.I talked to horticulturalist and garden center and green house managers when I want to know something about growing and I grow cannabis the same way that I grow my outdoor trees fruits vegetables and flowers. cannabis is not much different than any other flowering plant. trying to force it to grow faster will only reduce quality. it has been growing for 1000's of years without our help.your plant will tell you what it needs if you are patient and learn to listen to it. this chart may help

 

[mauricem00]

So what do you guys think the max I could get out of the next grow would be if I did everything right like described in this thread? I heard a 1 g per watt but I'm not very confident I'll get 400 grams. Doyou think at least 200 grams is realistic? I really want enough to last me like all winter lol

average is 0.56 GPW. expert growers may be able to get 1gpw with the right strain and good genetics but as a new grower just bringing your crop to a successful harvest is an accomplishment.200 grams from a 400 watt light is a reasonable expectation.once you learn more about growing and find a good high yield strain to grow you may do better. longer veg times and aggressive training will increase your yield but it will take time to develop those skills. learn to walk before you try to run

 

[Strocat]

I can tell you somethings about the nutes i used plus some soil amendments I've used that has worked.


I''ll start off by saying my favorite soil out there on earth is fox farm ocean forest .. I use it right out of the bag with no added perlite.


For a basic soil with amendments that u only have to use light nutes.

Cheap organic potting soil (harvest brand from lowes)
black kow composted cow manure
dolomite lime
bone meal
perlite
vermiculite

mix cheap soil with 30% perlite / 10% vermiculite/1 Tbsp lime per gallon of soil/ some bone meal (read bag) couple scoops cow compost mix soil well.



Nutrients I've used and had good luck with

Dyna Gro foliage pro + dyna gro bloom (complete grow for less than 20$)

6 Part fox farm line grow big / big bloom / tiger bloom / beastie bloomz / open sesame/ cha ching

General Hydroponics GO Box

 

[Kevin Pickford]

I never found exactly what seeds u are sprouting...photos? Autos?
Soak seed. Place taproot down in a rapid rooter. Leave in the dark alone. Once popped
I sould start them out under some 6500k cfls like 3 inches under. Let grow about 3 nodes and place under the HID. Once she gets 5 or 6 nodes, top her. Secure ur base and then tie down to get more mains. Top them too. Keep low and let veg for 8 weeks and man oh Man U will have a qp at least. I only keep two photos at a time but only if I have too. More light less plant big yeild. Nutes...easy on em. The less the better. Don't give but teeny amount when first set of serrated leaves are seen. As she grows, up your nutes. Unless u are using doc farms ocean soil then u do as I had said and Kevin said...add half 0.5-0.0-0.0 top soil perlite dolomite lime PELLETIZED only and some hydrogaurd to keep those organisms happy. Run water thru pre plant to activate lime so your ph won't be too low. If u check runoff and is too high or low u can add some ph to next water. Water as much as u want when totally dry. Give 5 days between waters if using big pot. Smart pots are good buckets are good just drill lots of holes. Never transplant in flower. Defol with care.

Autos, place in rapid rooter then in activated dried pre mixed soil and only water around the seeding to keep from drowning. 3 gallons great u good yeilds. I add bud candy or Koolbloom towards the end then flush. GOOD LUCK!!

I have gotten some flack for using the plastic bag paper towel (I leave it next to the heat register for 48 hrs and then its Christmas!) and had 8 pop first day out of 9 (9 popped but looked ugly so i just let it go) all 8 i took to trays with our ocean mix we both using right on top the soil.. And sprinkle enough soil to cover them 3/8 in and 24hrs later...Boyioing!! Blue dream on the way!

 

[Kevin Pickford]

I can tell you somethings about the nutes i used plus some soil amendments I've used that has worked.


I''ll start off by saying my favorite soil out there on earth is fox farm ocean forest .. I use it right out of the bag with no added perlite.


For a basic soil with amendments that u only have to use light nutes.

Cheap organic potting soil (harvest brand from lowes)
black kow composted cow manure
dolomite lime
bone meal
perlite
vermiculite

mix cheap soil with 30% perlite / 10% vermiculite/1 Tbsp lime per gallon of soil/ some bone meal (read bag) couple scoops cow compost mix soil well.



Nutrients I've used and had good luck with

Dyna Gro foliage pro + dyna gro bloom (complete grow for less than 20$)

6 Part fox farm line grow big / big bloom / tiger bloom / beastie bloomz / open sesame/ cha ching

General Hydroponics GO Box

Fox Farm with Dyna!...I want some picks of those heavy ladies before you harvest! Lovely!

 

[Jgray766]

Shoot I just soaked that afghan kush Ryder for a bit and popped it in the rapid rooter in complete darkness with a dome. If it doesn't pop this time I will never buy this strain again!!!

 

[mauricem00]

I have gotten some flack for using the plastic bag paper towel (I leave it next to the heat register for 48 hrs and then its Christmas!) and had 8 pop first day out of 9 (9 popped but looked ugly so i just let it go) all 8 i took to trays with our ocean mix we both using right on top the soil.. And sprinkle enough soil to cover them 3/8 in and 24hrs later...View attachment 3892489Boyioing!! Blue dream on the way!

I use paper towel germination and get very close to 100% germination rate. nothing wrong with that approach. seems like some people think there is only one way to grow and if your not doing it their way your an idiot and growing wrong

 

[Digital Chronic]

I never found exactly what seeds u are sprouting...photos? Autos?
Soak seed. Place taproot down in a rapid rooter. Leave in the dark alone. Once popped
I sould start them out under some 6500k cfls like 3 inches under. Let grow about 3 nodes and place under the HID. Once she gets 5 or 6 nodes, top her. Secure ur base and then tie down to get more mains. Top them too. Keep low and let veg for 8 weeks and man oh Man U will have a qp at least. I only keep two photos at a time but only if I have too. More light less plant big yeild. Nutes...easy on em. The less the better. Don't give but teeny amount when first set of serrated leaves are seen. As she grows, up your nutes. Unless u are using doc farms ocean soil then u do as I had said and Kevin said...add half 0.5-0.0-0.0 top soil perlite dolomite lime PELLETIZED only and some hydrogaurd to keep those organisms happy. Run water thru pre plant to activate lime so your ph won't be too low. If u check runoff and is too high or low u can add some ph to next water. Water as much as u want when totally dry. Give 5 days between waters if using big pot. Smart pots are good buckets are good just drill lots of holes. Never transplant in flower. Defol with care.

Autos, place in rapid rooter then in activated dried pre mixed soil and only water around the seeding to keep from drowning. 3 gallons great u good yeilds. I add bud candy or Koolbloom towards the end then flush. GOOD LUCK!!

I used sour diesel last time, this time doing super skunk cause they are supposed to have a higher yield. They arent autoflowers, they're feminized seeds where I have control over when they flower.

 

[MichiganMedGrower]

I use paper towel germination and get very close to 100% germination rate. nothing wrong with that approach. seems like some people think there is only one way to grow and if your not doing it their way your an idiot and growing wrong

I use a coffee filter in an open Baggie. The seed does not stick to the filter. Just a tip I learned.

 

[Kevin Pickford]

I use a coffee filter in an open Baggie. The seed does not stick to the filter. Just a tip I learned.

See.. there's always a better way out there! thank you MI med for the one up I'll be using it next week.. sounds flawless!

 

[Jgray766]

After flunking out with peat pellet I went back to rapid rooters..not saying u won't succeed or be a Moron if u don't use it...I don't think any way is moronic unless u just throw it on the ground lol