Is ffof too strong?

[Quitekeen]

Hi,

So I had some trouble with some seeds. I sprouted them in paper towel, they sprouted really fast (24hours). Then they went into a mix of Fox Farms Ocean (65%0 and perlite (35%). 3 days and no sign, dug around and found a little fella whose taproot had fattened and the tip turned slightly brown, the cotyl's were very yellow under the split open seed. Upon investigating the other pots the same result. I thought either too damp/clumped soil, or FFOF is too hot for young plants...

any advice?

 

[Clonex]

FFOF is normally good stuff , everyone i know who uses it are happy ...

 

[Desr]

i did some research on this a while back when i was just starting with ffof, and it seems some people can grow from it from day 1 and have no problems, and others cant..but my ffof is too hot for seedlings.. so i transplant into it at like 2 weeks..and that makes sense because there has to be a reason they make light warrior.

 

[ohmy]

I have done it in FFof, But should start in rockwool or jiffy pellet first so they do not burn if the soil is a little hot. I use FFOF right out the bag, just now put sand ontop encase there is gnats in there

 

[Humbleservantoftheplant]

Absolutely too hot!! I was just posting about this last night, actually. Ocean Forest is an awesome product, but I like to blend it in a 3:1 ratio with Roots Organic. Roots is nice very getting seedlings going. It's not too hot. I love the extra kick that I get out of Ocean Forest, but it's so hot that I usually put it on the bottom layer of my pot, and allow the roots to work their way into it through "cooler" soil--i.e. soil with less nitrogen in it! I'd replant the seeds (if you are able) into a Solo cup of Roots or something similar. Hope this helps!!

 

[Humbleservantoftheplant]

I also totally agree with ohmy's comment. The Jiffy Pellets are AWESOME for starting seedlings and for cloning. You can get a pack of 36 right now, with a neat little humidity dome for like $5 at WalMart.

 

[Clonex]

Every now and again , some new terminology comes into our world ,
This years seems to be "HOT SOIL"
then everybody jumps on the band wagon ,
it pisses me off ,

As ^^ Oh my said , started in rockwool or root riot cubes , you will have no issues, Fox's products are proven.
we sell bags of it weekly.

 

[ohmy]

I also totally agree with ohmy's comment. The Jiffy Pellets are AWESOME for starting seedlings and for cloning. You can get a pack of 36 right now, with a neat little humidity dome for like $5 at WalMart.

yup, Lol thats where my top of the line never lose a seed or clone in my 5 buck dome home depot for t5 2 bulb light that works perfect. I have less then 50 bucks in my clone,seedling starter kit

 

[Humbleservantoftheplant]

We run a similar set up, apparently! Those clone machines are pretty neat to look at, but I have 100% success with clones using a $5 product. Life's little successes, yeah?

 

[Quitekeen]

Every now and again , some new terminology comes into are world ,
This years seems to be "HOT SOIL"
then everybody jumps on the band wagon ,
it pisses me off ,

As ^^ Oh my said , started in rockwool or root riot cubes , you will have no issues, Fox's products are proven.
we sell bags of it weekly.

getting pissed off about evolving terminology is totally futile. I appreciate that its upsetting when people mis-use terminology and therefore any advice becomes less valid, but in the case of "hot" soil I think everyone is aware of the meaning. I know the product is sound as a pound, that is why I was willing to pay the $20 for 1.5cu/ft for it. I wasnt asking if it was a crap product, I was asking if I should use something less potent for starting seeds in.

 

[Clonex]

getting pissed off about evolving terminology is totally futile. I appreciate that its upsetting when people mis-use terminology and therefore any advice becomes less valid, but in the case of "hot" soil I think everyone is aware of the meaning. I know the product is sound as a pound, that is why I was willing to pay the $20 for 1.5cu/ft for it. I wasnt asking if it was a crap product, I was asking if I should use something less potent for starting seeds in.

You obviously have not been in as many stupid "hot soil" convo's then as i have ,
Your seedlings will survive for 1-2 weeks on nutrients provided by the seed,
You just need a inert clone medium,
and do not pot until roots are strong,
good luck,
don't moan @ me yeah , i put up with this junk everyday, my advice is sound,
Good luck.

 

[Quitekeen]

You obviously have not been in as many stupid "hot soil" convo's then as i have ,
Your seedlings will survive for 1-2 weeks on nutrients provided by the seed,
You just need a inert clone medium,
and do not pot until roots are strong,
good luck,
don't moan @ me yeah , i put up with this junk everyday, my advice is sound,
Good luck.

true story, I have been in 0 "hot soil" convo's, probably lucky for me. I dont discredit your advice at all mate. And I certainly wasnt moaning at you, in fact my response was directly related to my feeling "moaned" at.

Anyway, not being here to argue I do appreciate your advice, I will use the soil once my next round of seeds gets big enough. That first round was toast, especially after getting poked at by me.

Cheers!

 

[ohmy]

We run a similar set up, apparently! Those clone machines are pretty neat to look at, but I have 100% success with clones using a $5 product. Life's little successes, yeah?

lol its funny when ya do a few extra just encase ya lose a few and never do.My lil clone and seedling set up has saved me from having to even crack seeds anymore other then the few autos i run in the veg tent

 

[blimey]

I haven't had a problem putting germed seeds directly into ffof.

 

[Quitekeen]

It was the last bag the nursery had, I just thought, as they come stacked on pallets usually at least 10 levels high, and I live in the very wet PacNW, maybe moisture leached nutes from the bags on top of my bag so my bag at the bottom became more concentrated? Just a thought as I know the bags arent fully sealed water tight.

 

[Clonex]

true story, I have been in 0 "hot soil" convo's, probably lucky for me. I dont discredit your advice at all mate. And I certainly wasnt moaning at you, in fact my response was directly related to my feeling "moaned" at.

Anyway, not being here to argue I do appreciate your advice, I will use the soil once my next round of seeds gets big enough. That first round was toast, especially after getting poked at by me.

Cheers!

It's all good umbre , 5am here , no worries at all , I guess all soil is hot(lol) , unless it has nothing added, it aint the soil is to hot, more the seedling does not need it so soon,
Peace Umbre ,
Ohh 2000th post coming up , saving that for a sexy chick i know

 

[Humbleservantoftheplant]

lol its funny when ya do a few extra just encase ya lose a few and never do.My lil clone and seedling set up has saved me from having to even crack seeds anymore other then the few autos i run in the veg tent

Man, it's funny you mention that. A dear friend of mine was kind enough to give me 3 10 packs for my birthday last month. He hooked up some Eisbar, some Alphadawg, and some limited edition 2009 Cheddarwurst seeds he says have a pheno that tastes like cheesecake. All from Alphakronik seeds. I'm stoked as hell to pop them, but I have so much success running clones, and I'm growing only the strains that I love the most and have hand selected over the last two years... So it's like, when am I going to pop these things!?

I also laugh to myself when I take like 12 clones, knowing that my legal limit is 6, but I can't break the habit of worrying a couple just won't make it somehow... It works out in the end though. Medical patients always need clones. Teach a man to fish, ya know?

 

[ohmy]

YEah I know how it is, finally found one that I think will be a keeper lol, I wish I had someone next to me that wanted cuts, I hate having to kill something, messed up my last grow because i did not have the heart to kill a hermi , now I have thousands of seeds that I will never need. Got really high and orderd beans

 

[roidrage152]

I used to use FFOF for clones til transplant to Pro-Mix HP on the advice of a friend. I think the "hotness" is definitely more tolerant by certain strains. Everytime I would pot a clone in the stuff, it would take me 2 weeks to get any growth. I switched to Pro-mix seed starter (1/3 the price of FF) and 1/3 perlite and now my clones don't even seem to shock going from aero to dirt. I recently did my first batch of seeds as well, 14-15 seeds germed and are blowing up in this new mix. Since I know theres almost no nutes in there, using GH 3 part, I pretty much start feeding reccomended dosages early and often with good luck so far.

My friend seems to do OK with FFOF on his babies, but I never really paid too close attention to how they do for him. My first set of clones did survive and eventually grew up in FFOF, but I didn't know what to expect, so I assumed waiting 2 weeks to start growing was normal at the time. Figured transplant shock or something. If you're using it and having issues early, consider trying your luck in a lighter mix. Like me it could work out. If I was on a smaller scale I might consider using FFOF for adults to save on having to feed for a few weeks maybe, from what I hear it is a good balanced mix, just maybe too good for the young ladies.

 

[Clonex]

YEah I know how it is, finally found one that I think will be a keeper lol, I wish I had someone next to me that wanted cuts, I hate having to kill something, messed up my last grow because i did not have the heart to kill a hermi , now I have thousands of seeds that I will never need. Got really high and orderd beans

Padded post addressed envelope on it's way sir