Help me understand Organic vs. Chemical grows.

LoveBudz420

LoveBudz420

Active Member
I started out trying organic, so I have a pile of stuff like Azomite, Glacial Rock Dust, Basalt, EWC, and Bat Guano.
If I switch to using GH Flora Series or Jack's 123, does that make all of the above useless for a chemical fertilizer grow?
If I start some seedlings in a mix of Coco, EWC, and Azomite, then later (week 2) I start using GH nutes,

a) Does the GH mineral salts kill all the "life"?

b) Would 2 weeks of EWC/Azomite along with Myco and Azos actually be of any benefit?

c) Am i risking some kind of micronutrient overdose by having the Azomite in the mix?

d) Is there any sense and benefit in adding any of those to the Coco/Perlite when I up-pot?

I am growing mainly Photoperiods.
 
Tayloman

Tayloman

Active Member
LoveBudz420 said:
I started out trying organic, so I have a pile of stuff like Azomite, Glacial Rock Dust, Basalt, EWC, and Bat Guano.
If I switch to using GH Flora Series or Jack's 123, does that make all of the above useless for a chemical fertilizer grow?
If I start some seedlings in a mix of Coco, EWC, and Azomite, then later (week 2) I start using GH nutes,

a) Does the GH mineral salts kill all the "life"?

b) Would 2 weeks of EWC/Azomite along with Myco and Azos actually be of any benefit?

c) Am i risking some kind of micronutrient overdose by having the Azomite in the mix?

d) Is there any sense and benefit in adding any of those to the Coco/Perlite when I up-pot?

I am growing mainly Photoperiods.
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I was in a similar situation as you. All I can tell you is what I did. When I switched gh flora I stopped amendeding with organic nutes. I did not see he point. Adding earth worm castings I think is still a great addition though.
 
ismann

ismann

Well-Known Member
Salts will kill the microbial life. If you start a grow organically and then supplement with salts, you're basically doing a salt grow at that point.

Either microbes break down the organic matter into the chemicals the plant needs, or you bypass all of that and use the man-made chemicals. There is no difference in the end. The only difference is you have less control over organic grows and rely on microbial life to do its thing. If the plant wants more food it has to wait (slowed growth). Compost teas are an attempt to speed the process up, but may as well use salts at that point -- less work, less stench, same outcome.

I don't know if all salt fertilizers are created equal though. Obviously, you want to use the highest quality you can to avoid unwanted byproducts. But it also doesn't mean high price = higher quality.
 
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Billy the Mountain

Billy the Mountain

Well-Known Member
ismann said:
Salts will kill the microbial life. If you start a grow organically and then supplement with salts, you're basically doing a salt grow at that point.

Either microbes break down the organic matter into the chemicals the plant needs, or you bypass all of that and use the man-made chemicals. There is no difference in the end. The only difference is you have less control over organic grows and rely on microbial life to do its thing. If the plant wants more food it has to wait (slowed growth). Compost teas are an attempt to speed the process up, but may as well use salts at that point -- less work, less stench, same outcome.

I don't know if all salt fertilizers are created equal though. Obviously, you want to use the highest quality you can to avoid unwanted byproducts. But it also doesn't mean high price = higher quality.
Click to expand...
Nope
 
xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
ismann said:
Salts will kill the microbial life. If you start a grow organically and then supplement with salts, you're basically doing a salt grow at that point.

Either microbes break down the organic matter into the chemicals the plant needs, or you bypass all of that and use the man-made chemicals. There is no difference in the end. The only difference is you have less control over organic grows and rely on microbial life to do its thing. If the plant wants more food it has to wait (slowed growth). Compost teas are an attempt to speed the process up, but may as well use salts at that point -- less work, less stench, same outcome.

I don't know if all salt fertilizers are created equal though. Obviously, you want to use the highest quality you can to avoid unwanted byproducts. But it also doesn't mean high price = higher quality.
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No they don't.
 
Blue brother

Blue brother

Well-Known Member
ismann said:
I stand corrected. Apparently, fertilizers even promote microbial growth. I figured it would wipe them out. If that's the case, what's the point of even using organics?
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Why not work with nature? Microbes take care of the most part of it, but if you find yourself lacking in something specific you don’t need to be shackled to using only organic sources.
 
ismann

ismann

Well-Known Member
Blue brother said:
Why not work with nature? Microbes take care of the most part of it, but if you find yourself lacking in something specific you don’t need to be shackled to using only organic sources.
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Outdoor I can see organic working fine. But indoors? Indoor organic doesn't make much sense to me.
 
LeastExpectedGrower

LeastExpectedGrower

Well-Known Member
ismann said:
Outdoor I can see organic working fine. But indoors? Indoor organic doesn't make much sense to me.
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Either organic or standard salt-based nutrition are viable options indoors.

...I personally think that the 'organic' label and attached industry preys on the lack of education of consumers in a few directions. This thread highlights a single aspect of that (aka 'organic vs chemical') where 'chemical' is a scare-word (organics are chemicals too) and feed into the naturalistic fallacy that drives the industry.
 
Friendly_Grower

Friendly_Grower

Well-Known Member
LoveBudz420 said:
I started out trying organic, so I have a pile of stuff like Azomite, Glacial Rock Dust, Basalt, EWC, and Bat Guano.
If I switch to using GH Flora Series or Jack's 123, does that make all of the above useless for a chemical fertilizer grow?
If I start some seedlings in a mix of Coco, EWC, and Azomite, then later (week 2) I start using GH nutes,

a) Does the GH mineral salts kill all the "life"?

b) Would 2 weeks of EWC/Azomite along with Myco and Azos actually be of any benefit?

c) Am i risking some kind of micronutrient overdose by having the Azomite in the mix?

d) Is there any sense and benefit in adding any of those to the Coco/Perlite when I up-pot?

I am growing mainly Photoperiods.
Click to expand...
The first thing I see is that your list of materials reads like you are doing chemical but calling it organic.

Start simple with compost and simple things.
Organic can be chemical according to the Federal Government but purists will tell you that if it isn't a living soil it isn't organic.
So adding "stuff" is not a thing unless it is in terms of chemical.

I recommend Guinea Pig Manure Compost. It is what I grow in.

Lastly it takes time to learn about being a "Farmer John" while people will want to sell you the elixir of whatever as long as you give them money.

It's up to you to learn what the Soil Life cycle is and how to use and benefit from soil amendments.

If you want instant results go chemical and enjoy that flavor.

Soil Food Web
 
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