First organic grow

Hi all! New to the site, figured I’d throw my first organic grow out there and see how she looks. First two grows were coco and synthetic nutes.

This grow I made my own soil a few months ago and is the following:
- 1/3 Sea Soil organic compost
- 1/3 peat moss
- 1/3 lava rock
- Gaia Green dry amendments (80% 4-4-4, 20% 2-8-4)

Activated it with de chlorinated water with molasses and liquid kelp. Added in Mycorrhizae.

let the soil “cook” so to speak for 45 days, started seeds in just that soil mix without the dry amendments as the seedlings don’t require it.

Strain is Strawberry Cough from Rocket Seeds (purchased through Crop King Seeds out of Vancouver).

Followed the VPD chart perfectly and the girls seem to be thriving. Did one compost tea May 29th. As of today June 2nd they’re 39 days from breaking soil. They’re from cell pots right into 6.3 gal fabric pots but only about 5 gal of soil. Added red clover for a cover crop as well. Topped once a few weeks ago and a second (last time) today. Popping into flower in 2.5 weeks so that’ll be 8 weeks total.

3.5’x3.5’ grow tent (pushing it for the plants but it’ll work) and lights are QLED. There’s 7 of them at 3’ lengths. I believe they say 37W per light which seems low but any grows I’ve done or have seen they do quite amazing!

going to trellis right before popping into flower to even the canopy.

Lastly I have been ph-ing my water down with an organic powder as I water supply is crazy high at 8.5. Even after it is dechlorinated with the bubbler for 24hrs.

I think thats all I can think of at the moment, feel free to let me know what you think, take in mind first organic grow and only third ever..

Well Done! They look super happy!

I use Gaia green, the dry amendments you mentioned are great.
I suggest you add some dolomite lime next time.
Also, some strains seem to be pigs on Cal-Mg-Fe you may want to source those out and top dress.
Additionally, some silica in the form of rice hulls.

Thanks! Add dolomite lime to stabilize the soil ph, and not naturally ph down?
I’ve heard great things about silica as well. My plan for the top dressing was to go 50/50 4-4-4 and 2-8-4 at start of flower, then one last top dressing 4 weeks later (around start of 5th week) at 25% 4-4-4, and 75% 2-8-4. The stretch early flower should want the nitrogen and later stages P,K.

I’ve also heard organic corn kernels, after they’ve soaked in water, grown tap roots their length, blended and strained into the dechlorinated stored for watering is a huge enzyme boost. Can't confirm this but will try!

You can get barely already professionally sprouted, smells like cereal instead of animal feed.

Ok, thanks LinguaPeel I’ll look into that! These girls are growing quick lol. Making my trellis setup as we speak for start of flower. Doing 4” squares and using ABS pipe for the structure. I’ll follow up with pictures.

Nice looking plants! Dolomite is for the soil too keep it buffered at 7.0 ph. Keep using your ph down for teas and watering.
Def gonna watch this

Is the red clover a legume? Does it put nitrogen back in soil like alfalfa?

Yeah I use an all natural PH down for my waterings, as the water here in Alberta where I’m at is 8.5! It’s called TNB down. Don’t want any chemicals (not organic and it’ll kill all the beneficial microbes) and this stuff is working great so far.

I heard dolomite lime takes quite a while to buffer the soil?

Not a legume that’s I know of but don’t quote be on that one. From what I’ve read, just a very good cover crop that helps with moisture retention, along with keeping the soil from getting hard. Both I can attest to at this point! Lastly it adds nitrogen to the soil by pulling it out of the air.

fabbed up an ABS pipe structure to use as a trellis. Drilled holes so I can reuse the pipe every grow. Legs aren’t glued so I can cut pieces and adjust for different grows.

I dont know about that but I def would use it.

You can use lime juice for down if your in a pinch. All that bag is you got there is citric acid crystals

If it puts nitrogen in soil it's a lugume.

Yep I’ve used the lime/lemon juice before and it worked well. I know soil in theory buffers ph to a point, but I’m guessing water at 8.5 is way too far out. Could be wrong but don’t want to gamble lol.

Update since Tuesday. Girls are going crazy. Since the second topping they’re coming in nicely. Cleaned the bottom of the plants and dropped in for a green mulch. Watering 2L every 3 days seems to be working well. Still no added amendments since making the soil.

Should I pop the trellis in sooner then the start of flower? I only want one trellis not two. Flower starts two weeks tmrw. Tallest already 20” from top of dirt, shortest is 14”. I feel I can pop these back out to clean up and lollipop on the counter instead of trying to reach in there. That will be the last time they’re moved around.

Girls on cruise control for now. Getting close to flipping to flower. Next sat (June 20th) is 8 weeks in veg, but I’ve filled the canopy space, so may switch earlier. They’re showing signs they’re ready to flip. Front left was shorter then the rest so I lifted it 2-3 inches closer to the trellis. Still no signs of deficiencies that I can see. Plan is to give its first top dressing at start of flower. Excited to see this trellis filled over the next few weeks!

Gussy85 said:

Girls on cruise control for now. Getting close to flipping to flower. Next sat (June 20th) is 8 weeks in veg, but I’ve filled the canopy space, so may switch earlier. They’re showing signs they’re ready to flip. Front left was shorter then the rest so I lifted it 2-3 inches closer to the trellis. Still no signs of deficiencies that I can see. Plan is to give its first top dressing at start of flower. Excited to see this trellis filled over the next few weeks!

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Looks awesome man, cant wait to see your plants in flower. I just flipped some plants last weekend and plan on topdressing them with some fresh ewc/some other goodies just not sure exactly what I'll use at this point yet though.

Best of luck with continued success though sir.

Thanks man! Flowers the most fun for sure lol.

Officially now into flower. Dropped the lights slowly this week (over 4 days from 18/6 to 16/8 to 14/10 and lastly to 12/12, instead of the usual quick flip.

top dressed each pot with 4 tablespoons of 2-8-4, and 2 tablespoons of 4-4-4. Premixed these Gaia Green amendments first with 1 litre of compost and 1 litre of peat, then added it to the topsoil and watered in. Also dropped some red clover seeds onto the top soil to see if they’ll sprout enough over the next 8-9 weeks to keep the topsoil soft and retain some moisture (canopy may not allow light through but whatever, well see.

Lollipopped more undergrowth. Girls are getting tall and it’s tough keeping the humidity down in there... It was pushing 60% today (id like to see it in the high 40’s or low 50’s for the VPD. I dont have room for a dehumidifier either as this tent canopy is packed lol.

Really still no deficiencies to date, so this first organic grow has been a treat! We’ll see how she goes in flower but damn, no complaints yet!

will post every Saturday for progress!

Tent was too small haha. Humidity was 70-75%... I stripped the tent shell off, and added two more 4ft lights on either end. Humidity down to a respectable 52%. These girls are going wild and praying upwards. Still zero deficiencies in site. Over 3ft tall now from base of stem to tops. They’ve grown about a foot in just over a week to start the stretch. Currently day 3 of week two. Starting to see the white hairs and bud sites doing their thing.

would love to see 1lb dried, and have never had plants this size so here’s hoping.

Day 21 of flower today, girls are looking fantastic! Can’t say enough good things about going organic. Soil is on point. Framed a wall up and added reflective 5/8” insulation on every wall to make a sealed grow room. Cut a 6” hole for fresh air intake and have the in-line fan and filter dumping outside off the old bath fan exhaust lol. VPD has been perfect, starting to see some trichs and getting that strawberry smell. Stretch is over so the buds should start making big gains!