Please enlighten me as I am trying to learn

[OrganicNerd]

Hello everyone. I'm a rather seasoned grower (been growing since HS and am now in my early 30s; well-versed in soil/soil-less, hydroponic, and outdoor growing), but am finding myself running into a brick wall as of late.
Ok so here's my deal. I'm sorta new to the organic growing style of cannabis cultivation, with minimal experience, but lots of research. However, I am need of some serious schooling, because I've yet to come across a full answer to my situation. And that is this:
I am using Pro Mix BX with Roots Organic potting mix. Both contain mychorrizae, but the Roots Organics contains: "bat guano, premium earth worm castings, fish bone meal, feather meal, green sand, mycorrhizae, glacial rock dust, soybean meal, humic acid, and many more. Already blended with correct proportions of perlite and pumice for excellent drainage and a vigorous root system." (http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-Roots-Organic-Potting-Soil-1.5-Cubic-Feet.asp)
Now with this mixture, along with the mychorrizae, do I need to feed nutrients to my plants? I occasionally use Stump Tea with this mix, but only when transplanting and after my cuttings show roots. Is that sufficient enough? Because for awhile, I was also using General Organics Go Box with this setup. But I ended up using the majority of it with my hydro setup (as I believe the website said it is acceptable for both hydroponics as well as soil/soil-less mixes), and now I'm out. Everything is looking nice still. I haven't fed the plants anything but RO water for the past 2 weeks, as I'm unable to afford nutrients for awhile (possibly another 4-6 weeks. Damn mortgage!), and they are still green with no burnt tips, no signs of N deficiency, or any other signs of nutrient deficiency.
So, can I get away with just feeding water, during the rest of veg and during flower, or am I going to need some more nutes? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[foreverflyhi]

From experience, i had always run into problems when using nothing but ro water in that kind of mix ur using. Eventually u will need to supplement, especially cal mag. I think keep it up with the teas, i kno u said money is tight but try to invest or search or make worm castings and compost. This will greatly help you get by. Make some dank worm compost teas. Soil microbes love that ish. If u do decide to keep doing what Ur doing, u will need to invest in cal mag or mix some tap water with ro water and air bubble it, this will add some cal mag to ur water.
From what i got from everything u said, i suggest u build ur own soil, or start off with subcools super soil recipe. This makes this organics much easier with less to worry about, one maybe two teas and u will be good for the whole cycle. Look into books like teaming with microbes, soul of soil, or true living organics. Eventually u will find the secret to success for organics. And that is to feed the soil, keep the microbes, fungi and others happy and alive, everything else nature handles.
btw i suggest u add mychroizzal during transplant, i wouldnt trust the bags of potting soil to contain mychorizzal, just my two centavos.

 

[TheOrganic]

I agree with above post.
I ran across a article awhile ago and ro water was the worst water you could use with organics.
Tap came out better because of cal mag in it. But keep in mind if your pumping your own well the water will be harder cause of build up of cal and lime so keep that in mind.
The best water was ditch water after a rain. Hands down.
Were I come from wild ditch weed will grow 15ft tall so go figure.
I used to mix 75 ro to 25 well tap and it seemed to help.
If you can get a few 5 gal buckets full of ditch water after a rain that is golden.
But make sure your not getting that ditch water after any herbicides have been sprayed or dry fertilizer spread for crops, cause this is salt based synthetics that they use.
Find gravel roads with grass pastures to scoop up water out of ditch that haven't been sprayed or fertilized of any sort.

 

[TheOrganic]

If you use this cheap recipe you can feed till harvest.
1 cup EWC
1 cup Alfalfa meal
30ml Molasses..........I use hi brix molasses with a bacteria mix I get from ebay but Alfalfa meal and ewc should have enough mics in it to brew a tea.
Get panty hose and tie off EWC and ALF. in it and put in 5gal bucket with 2.5 gal of good water (not all RO) and bubble with air stone for 24hr and you should have decent tea to use for under 35bucks to feed organic.

 

[Rrog]

RO water = rain water, assuming you don't have pollution. That's my position after looking at available lab data.

I'd also recommend building your own soil at some point, especially if you're already an experienced grower. And consider a worm bin at some point also.

 

[psychoholic22]

Wait I thought RO was reverse osmosis?

 

[Rrog]

It is Reverse Osmosis. You hear people talking about how great rainwater is and how bad RO is. Holdover from chem hydro dialog.

 

[psychoholic22]

ohh ok so rainwater is bad or your just saying it really don't matter? thats what i'm using I don't think we have that much pollution here in KC Mo.. ehh oh well...

 

[Redbird1223]

the nutes in roots soil with last about a month if it's a fresh bag. you will need to add cal/mag eventually if using r/o water (i use half tap and half r/o because of high tds and city chems)

I did a run once with the bio canna lineup, since then i've been using the bio flores (2-2-5, $30) at 50% for deficiencies in a pinch. can be used in veg or flower.

I like to veg with just water to use up the charge in the soil, then I use nutes and teas when necessary during flower (only when using a fresh bag, then I re-amend my way)

less is more in organics, start with less and watch your plants.

ditto on the worm poo, and a tea will help convert those nutes into a plant-usable form if she gets hungry

welcome to the party.

you could make a quick tea with a dash of molassas and a handful of roots soil if you don't have worm poo and kelp and all that yet.

 

[Rrog]

Rainwater isn't bad. It's just a mater of how you're growing. If you have soil with normal Ca sources you don't need to add CalMag, etc. If you're doing hydro, that's a whole other ballgame.

 

[OrganicNerd]

Thanks for the responses. I see y'all talking about worm castings and bat guano and such, but as I stated in my initial question, the Roots Organics contains that stuff. Not sure what the amounts are per 1.5 cu.ft. bag, but it's in there, along with fish bone meal, feather meal, and soybean meal (which are good for P,N, and N respectively). I am going to be starting a worm farm soon. I found a DIY setup that I can use in a Rubbermaid tote, so that's a big plus. So, do y'all think these things in the Roots Organics will eventually become depleted? I am definitely going to be investing in the materials needed for brewing teas (I don't want to use any of my existing hydro gear because I'm about to run another cycle in it), and start buying the ingredients needed. I was also told that you can use stinging nettles as well as dandelion root and petals, for making teas. Anyone else hear of this? Cause I know that my in-laws land has plenty of both. Anyone know of anywhere to find information on which plants you can use for brewing these teas? Or anywhere to learn brewing 101? Thanks in advance again y'all.

 

[mrCRC420]

The soil you buy will eventually run out of nutrients with which to feed your plants. At that point, you'll need to start with your Organic Tea Blend(s) happy growing

 

[mrCRC420]

I was also told that you can use stinging nettles as well as dandelion root and petals, for making teas. Anyone else hear of this? Cause I know that my in-laws land has plenty of both. Anyone know of anywhere to find information on which plants you can use for brewing these teas? Or anywhere to learn brewing 101? Thanks in advance again y'all.

Omg just google it dude, I'm into witchcraft but we've got the Internet now. #PutTheSpellbookDown

 

[OrganicNerd]

I've used Google many times with no avail. Google doesn't always lead you to good information. Many times it's a bunch of heresay and misinformation. I'd rather get a recommendation of a few good books that I can download. No need for the caddy attitude. And what is up with the witchcraft reference with Twitter hashtags? If you're frustrated with my questioning, don't bother jumping into the conversation. I'm asking for someone to point me in the right direction. Not Google. Might as well tell me to use a bed sheet for a parachute.

 

[mrCRC420]

Don't take it personally, just stonin around! As an apology, here's a link to a RIU thread from 2012... that I Googled... https://www.rollitup.org/organics/536869-stinging-nettle-tea.html

I miss reading posts from FDD, is he home yet

 

[Rrog]

I'd also vote to use these plants in the worm bin to compost, but that assumes you have one. The tea + time evidently "cools" the N to allow a direct dump.

At some point you'll want to look at Aloe or Coconut water or Barley sprout tea. These are just 36 hour bubbles and quick application. With the Aloe, there's not even that. These teas have some molecules that will degrade quickly, and so you can't buy this goodness in a bottle. Secondary Metabolites, Plant Hormones and Plant Enzymes are in high quantity in these simple and super-cheap teas. Excellent immune system building as well.

 

[OrganicNerd]

Thank you Rrog for that information. I received a PM from someone with links to free e-books with this information and more. So, I'm gonna use those in correlation with what I learned here. Also, a thank you to those who gave me the info about RO vs well water.

 

[Rrog]

Barley Sprout Tea:

2 tablespoons of seeds (1 oz.)
Soak for 12 hours. Drain that water and throw away. It’s full of growth inhibitors.
Add 1/2 gallon of water to the sprouts for a 48 hour soak.
Strain and use 1 cup of this to 1 gallon of water.

 

[youraveragehorticulturist]

I've never used the Roots Organic soil myself, so take this for what's its worth;

I feel like you should be able to top dress your plants with more of roots organic soil as the soil in your pot becomes depleated. When you water through it, the nutrents in the "new" soil should trickle down to the roots.

Its probably not going to deliver maximum results, but it should provide adequate and balanced nutrition to get you through flowering.

 

[OrganicNerd]

I've never used the Roots Organic soil myself, so take this for what's its worth;

I feel like you should be able to top dress your plants with more of roots organic soil as the soil in your pot becomes depleated. When you water through it, the nutrents in the "new" soil should trickle down to the roots.

Its probably not going to deliver maximum results, but it should provide adequate and balanced nutrition to get you through flowering.

Thanks for that. I was thinking the same thing. Just as a hold-over until I get some compost teas made. I gotta get a few new supplies, because I don't have any spare pumps, stones, or buckets (all hooked up in my hydro setup).