Welcome chocolatesteven. There is likely alot of different opinions on this- so here is my personal outlook. Normal organic nutrients in soil usually need to be broken down by the balance of mycorrhizae and other little "good guys" living at the roots, while hydro nutes are chemicals already broken down and ready to be instantly usable by the plants- but in the end hydro nutes will grow plants in soil quite nicely. If you are doing a completely organic grow, then you'll likely stay away from the hydro nutes. I am not aware of any scientific proof that organics are any better than chemical ferts, but lots of people tend to claim there is a better taste and quality of the smoke with organics. I tend to think there are alot of variables, and some of the best I've ever tried happened to be grown in hydro conditions. The best thing I'd say is to play around with both, and see what works for you and your preferences, but again, hydro nutes will work fine in soil. Check out homebrewer's threads- he mainly does ebb/flow hydro, and has recently been very happy with dynagrow products, he also does some soil grows, watering with dynagrow, and has some beautiful pics/smoke reports to support. I would never debate that one is better than the other- as it's a matter of preference in my mind, and I don't see any reason one train of thought is better than the other- they are just 2 different approaches and both grow plants. FYI- I am building sterile aeroponic system and plan to use chemical nutes, but my vegetable garden- I do keep completely organic..
That's cool. I don't know if one is less time consuming than the other, but either way, go with this for now, and change it up in the future and compare your results. I wouldn't worry about the clouds too much. I've had some great product from Hilo- just look at all the other greenery flourishing there for evidence. I suppose constant clouds might slow down photosynthesis, but there is still alot of sun getting through that the plant can use. It will at least help the plant from not burning in the sun, which has been an issue in my neck of the sunny woods.
Just to be fair- I am not nearly as experienced as some of the other people in this thread, but I like to think I have good common sense, and have done alot of homework... No amount of research ever equals real life experience, however.
Sheck - Got them from Green Hands in town. I popped one bag and filled a few buckets and am baking in the sun with a drench of Azamax. trying a little experiment to see if this approach would/will work (for future reference). I'll take the others back as I'm sure their stock has probably been cross contaminated. Waiting for new shipment of FFOF at Organic Gardening in Waialua.
My results agree with yours Coot... I think the chlorine (Cl) is pretty low in our water... In fact I have let water sit a couple days and I have started to see a bacterial sheen on the surface... and it will usually dissipate over a longer period of time .
nice pile of dirt! did you have a semi truck deliver that to you....hahaha
Interesting! I wonder if I should up the potassium a little to compensate for the loss of potassium that is being bonded to the chlorine? Maybe add a little hard wood ash could be added prior to adding the amendments? An of course I can always bubble my water a good hour before adding any amendments and not have to really worry too much about it. Either way we’re lucky to live in a place that doesn’t have poisonous water. When I was a kid growing up in SoCal there is a little slice of Americana better know as “Riverside” and you could literally chew the water, as a matter of fact you still can I’m often reminded of that every time I visit my folks
Thanks for the info man! I suppose an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. My tea ingredients often have the same goodies in it as yours. The Kelp and Alfalfa are amazing! I’m growing a citrus hedge and I have a few lazy trees, I’ve been foliar feeding them with a mild tea consisting of Kelp Meal and Alfalfa and they’ve been responding with new growth. Can’t argue with results like that
I think your friend meant Cl2 (not C12) which is the native form of chlorine (Cl will form a covalent bond with another Cl forming Cl(2)) Cl+Cl =Cl(2)...
I never drank tap water before I moved here... It's good ! Should I be concerned?
You Blinded Me With Science! (Thomas Dolby)...hahahaI think your friend meant Cl2 (not C12) which is the native form of chlorine (Cl will form a covalent bond with another Cl forming Cl(2)) Cl+Cl =Cl(2)...
Chlorine (Cl) is never really on its own because once it is broken down from Sodium Chloride (NaCl), the solo Cl ion seeks out another Cl unless it bonds with another metal (like K or Na)..
In most cases the Cl ion will go for the covalent bond (where the bond is due to sharing a pair of electrons) before it will go for the ionic bond (based on electrical charge)
Cl ionic bonds..
Cl has a charge of -1 , so it will bond with elements that have a +1 charge (Lithium, Sodium (Na), Potassium (K) etc)
Cl(2) has a charge of -2, so it will bond with elements that have a +2 charge (Magnesium(Mg), Calcium (Ca)
Your friend put Sodium Thiosulfate in the water so that the Sodium would bond with the Chlorine... and it could become NaCl... that would be disastrous form of sodium for your plants....
Lol my first post-graduate degree is in Hydrogeology so I got a decent handle on chemistry
It's my understanding we have some of the best tap water in the nation, I drink it....but I drink from the streams too....
Ha! I spent the first 4 months of this year in North Cali helping all the med growers get ready for the season, along with taking care of my plants, I worked at my friends grow shop. Talk about going threw some frigging dirt like water..... I was working and this one guy came in and wanted 90 pallets of FFOF, I was like FUCK!, your gonna be busy!!!
Holy hell... That's a shot load of soil. Assuming they came from same place as mine. If so, wonder if you have critters too?
