Ayokiwi717
Well-Known Member
so had issues with the ocean soil last time, this time trying the happy frog. Im also going to add perlite, should I add 30% perlite to it? I heard happy frog is the better choice for autoflowers
Fox farm happy frog
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Ayokiwi717
Well-Known Member
I just heard its better with aeration. I had tons of issues with ocean forest causing damping off. It may be due to the high nitrogen levels. I wanted to add perlite to air out soil better.
Maggs707
Well-Known Member
I have to be honest with you, I dont think it was the Ocean Forest that caused the damping off. FFOF is really good stuff and it's one of the most popular potting soils out there. If it caused damping off it probably wouldn't sell at all. Did you possibly put a tiny plant in a big pot? Did you maybe water a little too frequently and not let your soil dry out almost completely between waterings? I'd look more at those issues than the brand of potting soil that you used. Happy Frog is great though. No extra pearlite necessary.
Ayokiwi717
Well-Known Member
I am using a big pot for auto flowers. Idk. If you look on some forums fox farm is terrible, look on others its wonderful. Many say to add perlite to it, now somebody is telling me not . Idk what to fucking do, there is no right way.
Lockedin
Well-Known Member
FFOF ( Fox Farms Ocean Forest ) made Simple - Autoflower
This thread was created to help those who seem to overthink the ease of use of this highly ammended bag soil. I see many growers both new and experienced seem to post “ issues “ when trying to run this medium. I am merely showing a simple no frills method of container / bag grows for autos...
rollitup.org
Maggs707
Well-Known Member
Hey, there's nothing wrong with adding some pearlite. Most people hate of Ocean Forest because it's overloaded with nutrients and tends to burn young plants. It runs "hot". Start your plants in a 4" pot, move up to a 1 gallon from there and then once it fills that pot out, put it in the final pot. But, if you're using autoflowers I don't see any reason to have them in a bigass pot. I'd say 7gallon would be more than sufficient, and you could probably get away with a 5 gallon. You don't want a pot so big that the roots never fill it out. This will cause root Rot/damping off because the pot will never dry out. How big of a pot are you in per plant?
Richard Drysift
Well-Known Member
Problem is people don’t know how to use hot soil. They can’t wait to start dumping nutrients in it when ocean forest works pretty well with just plain water. Somebody finds a gnat and thinks the soil is “bad.”
Adding more perlite will not hurt. At all; it is inert. I’m fact I agree more aeration is better than less. Keep in mind more drainage comes less moisture retention; so you maybe you will need to water more often. Not a big deal
Adding more perlite will not hurt. At all; it is inert. I’m fact I agree more aeration is better than less. Keep in mind more drainage comes less moisture retention; so you maybe you will need to water more often. Not a big deal
Maggs707
Well-Known Member
I think we can both agree that FFOF is not a "muddy" mix that would promote damping off.
Richard Drysift
Well-Known Member
No but any soil can be overwatered. I always add extra perlite to the mix when I amend it because:
A) it breaks down pretty fast
B) has lots of nooks and crannies that microlife can colonize
quirk
Well-Known Member
Light, fluffy well draining mix with plenty of air pockets for root development. Equal potions FFOF/FFHF and perlite, amended with an organic dry granular fertilizer, fits the bill for my auto grows, giving water only, consistent 0 defect results. This is my sweet spot developed through experience.
Organic soil auto grower.
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Organic soil auto grower.
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I use mg now half the price. But i always added perlite to stretch the soil out. Wont hurt. FF is a good soil. I tested it. 6.7 ph plenty nutes. Maybe low in ca a bit. Aphids and gnats come with it. In a big pot you gotta becareful watering. You may think you need to water because you haven't in weeks or so but dont give a plant nothing its not asking for. Leaves droop water. If not leave it alone.
The 1st time you over water in a big pot the plant will be fine continue to grow. You get bored water again before the plant signal its thirsty it will start to show overwater signs then you can only rescue by potting in dry medium. Which will cut some yield back.
Ayokiwi717
Well-Known Member
How much perlite? I'm thinking of doing mabe 20-30%. Will adding lime help?
Ayokiwi717
Well-Known Member
My soil isnt even soaked and it gets problems. Just personally had bad experiences with it at this point.
I use to measure to an exact science long time ago from here. I use to add 2 gallons of perlite to 10 gallons of soil. which is 20% I think.
Now I just dump it in until it look right. The plants gonna grow.
I wouldnt add lime because 6.7 is good. I mixed castings for calcium and it took the ph to 7.2 no big deal but why must with 6.7 ya know? Your gonna be feeding calcium im sure with whatever your gonna feed.
What nutes are you going to use?
Ayokiwi717
Well-Known Member
Fox farm trio. When do I start feeding? Week 3 is what I heard
I think there is some calcium and mag in some of those.
Back when I did that stuff I followed schedule. I had the trio with beasty cha ching and open seasme.
I havnt used it in a very very long time. 3 weeks could be fine. what size container? larger the pot the longer you can wait to feed.
best yields I ever had was with those nutes
Ayokiwi717
Well-Known Member
How do you plant your seeds as well. Do you water pot until you see run off, then plant seedlings?
SBBCal
Well-Known Member
I use FF Happy Frog and mix with Mother's coco/perlite. About 60/40 hf/m
Coloradogrower710
Well-Known Member
i disagree I've had FFOF burn plants with no nutes added its not great tell your plant has developed a little bit. I would never start seeds or put small plants in it. i recommend new growers use root organic soil its not as hot but still great.