foxfarm conspiracy or not?

Hello all, I hear these awful rumors that foxfarm soil is not what it used to be. I have been using it for years and haven't noticed a difference visually but we don't know if the ingredients or recipe changed. I'm sure the competetion would agree that foxfarm is garbage. They may even have been the ones to start this. The acidity and productiveness in my opinion is still the same as 5 years ago. Until we have an independent scientific testing done there is no evidence of a lesser product being made. Just wanted to defend the soil that has helped me so much. Shamus

WidowShamus said:

Hello all, I hear these awful rumors that foxfarm soil is not what it used to be. I have been using it for years and haven't noticed a difference visually but we don't know if the ingredients or recipe changed. I'm sure the competetion would agree that foxfarm is garbage. They may even have been the ones to start this. The acidity and productiveness in my opinion is still the same as 5 years ago. Until we have an independent scientific testing done there is no evidence of a lesser product being made. Just wanted to defend the soil that has helped me so much. Shamus

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Shamus,

I know my profile says I'm a newb -- which, to the forum, I am, but I have used and continue to use Fox Farms products somewhat myself, so hear me out;

I read last year on some other forum that Fox Farm has changed much of their ingredients. After much deliberation and arguing between know-it-alls on said forum (not rollitup, don't worry haha), I contacted Fox Farms myself. Here's what I concluded:

They said that none of their products have changed, and I believe them. Their nutrients still have the same ingredients, HOWEVER I also agree with other Fox Farm customers that the Grow Big and Big Bloom do seem more watery and maybe lighter in color, so that may not end speculation (perhaps they're the same ingredients, just diluted and more cheaply-manufactured?) I didn't notice any differences in results from the lighter nutes, but I also don't use them anymore either though, so. . . . Also, FYI Tiger Bloom is NOT organic -- the packaging says it is made with organic material, but it has other chemical additives as well, which may or may not affect microbes in the soil.

Now, onto a more interesting subject: the soil.
I still occasionally use FF soils, and when I had someone with FF on the phone, I did get them to admit that their soil processing plant did indeed move to a different part of the country, and the manufacturing process has inevitably changed as well. Same ingredients, different process and location. Now, what that means for us is, if the soil is produced in an area with more extreme temperature, humidity, and air exposure, then the viability of the end product -- regardless of what it's made with, how it's made, or whose name goes on it -- will be affected. Fox Farm has built a reputation, particularly among cannabis growers, but they are still a company. Changes do happen. I would say, if you're a hardcore FF guy and have used the a lot and know them well and know how to make them work for you, then continue to do so. If you see your results have waned, then the proof's in the pudding buddy. Hope this helps!

J.W.

this one is easy look on the back of the bag of dirt, or bottle of nutrients, it has the ingredients right there, bam! not that hard and if you have a problome with foxfarms and think it changed stop using it if you want, but i doubt that they did change it, and if they did probably for the better

JW hit the nail on the head about the soil. It is now made on the east coast in South Carolina I do believe. Much hotter, more parasite, humidity ect..... And as a long time user of Ocean Forrest I sadly say the quality has dropped dramatically. Their nutrients though are still as effective as ever.

ive been useing ff ocean forest for a year now and i have not had any problems with it. my grows have all been successful, and see no reason to change. now i did use a bag of happy frog and the grow was fine but i think the ocean forest was better.

fox farm is good shit! You're confused. I decided to go with cheap soil this grow.. and wow do i regret it.. Fox farm is some of the best shit on the market..

At the risk of getting verbally abused on this forum, I have to express my opinion on soil brand loyalties. I say this clearly and concisely: if you are using ANY commercially-manufactured soils without modification, maintenance, additives, treatments, and pH regulation, and think that there is nothing wrong with your end product or that it couldn't be much better with some modification, then you are kidding yourself. There is not a brand of soil out there -- excluding locally made/organic/independent mixes -- that grows Cannabis to its full potential as a stand-alone mix straight out of the bag. Will Cannabis grow? Of course. Will it be good??? Possibly, if the grower knows what they are doing. Will it be top-shelf AAAA?? Not a chance. There are too many limiting factors and too many variables in a Cannabis plant's life to say that the ingredients in a bag of soil carried around the country have all the provisions necessary. The bottom line is this: if you say that a brand of soil is the sole reason that you grow super-quality Cannabis, then you don't actually grow super-quality Cannabis. 'Nuff said.

I'll second that ^^^. I use straight soil and add NPK and minerals til my plants are healthy

I just started growing last month, so I don't have a frame of reference for comparison, but i am using FF Ocean Forest, with pura vida organic nutes, along with some organic B, and my papayas are crazy pretty. I got the FF because of reputation, and so far I'm pleased. I have some Grandaddy clones trying to root now, I'm anxious to drop em in some FF and see what happens!!! Maybe for sh*ts and giggles I'll try another brand next time- what are some reputed companies?

I have noticed ocean forest is acidic. One grow ago my ph got way out of wack. I tested my runoff using 6.7 ph water and my runoff was 4.3. I now use 1/3 OF, 1/3 light warrior, 1/3 promix bx, and some lime mixed in. best grow I ever had! 18 zips off 6 plants.

ive been using ocean forest 4 a yr and a half now every grow is better than the last although i havnt compared it to any other soil i started with it because of the reputation i did find in my grows that it was to strong for my bubble clones killed 15 of em and im sure that was the reason because i switched to old soil from harvested plants for the next batch of b. clones except for 1 i put in fresh o f and it died also all others survived just hit em with the ff grow big a little sooner when i was cloning in a dome i didnt have that prob right into fresh soil although it might have slowed the growth i dont know lot faster process now

Yeah, I use Fox Farm with my soil mixes, but only as parts, never straight. There are lots of great soils out there, many better than FF in my opinion for organic sodbusters like myself. FF is just available everywhere, but people should check their local nurseries and hydro stores for no-name organic soils with a good mix of ingredients. I've noticed that the only way to get FF soils to have the right balance is to mix a couple together (i.e. light warrior/ocean forest as stated above), and the ocean forest has water retention issues if not cut a little (another reason light warrior compliments it so well) . I also ALWAYS add worm castings, as FF tends to take care of flowering nutes, but could use a little oomph in the nitrogen dept imho. Seriously though, if I wasn't in the city, Fox Farm would be a last resort for me.

seems j.w knows whats up. my thoughts exactly

Where can i buy fox farm products im in the jacksonville florida area

JW and TY, yep, yep. I have always used it as part of a mix. Only because it was a consistant and trusted component. It no longer is. I still have one bag from the original west coast mix. Just hate to use it. Thinking it may just get mixed into the compost barrel.

i was thinkin it was a little strong j w and have been reading bout light warrior think i am gonna pick up a few bags of both this wk just transplanted into straight ocean forest so when next batch of girls r ready ill try the mix of both still kinda new also had to get the cloning and evrything else down now concentrating on nutes and and soil mixes tryin to tweek my shit

mrdrywall said:

i was thinkin it was a little strong j w and have been reading bout light warrior think i am gonna pick up a few bags of both this wk just transplanted into straight ocean forest so when next batch of girls r ready ill try the mix of both still kinda new also had to get the cloning and evrything else down now concentrating on nutes and and soil mixes tryin to tweek my shit

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Sounds good man. Might I recommend using a mix of mostly light warrior on top and mostly ocean forest on bottom if you grow from start to finish with one mix. If you transplant again, as you said, I'd instead recommend using straight light warrior and worm castings with whatever else you want for the starter pots and vegging, and then when you transplant for flower, put down mostly ocean forest with whatever else you like mixing into your flowering soils, and then buffering the hole that you transplant the root ball in your bigger flowering pots with straight light warrior alone. That way you won't burn those those energetic little veg roots and retard flowering. If done correctly, she'll never miss a beat and you'll be able to more accurately pinpoint flower finish from 12/12.

I have always used foxfarm solely, with no additives except foxfarm nutes after 2 weeks or so. I have grown monster plants with yields of 4 to 6 ounces of dry sensemilla per plant and the funny thing is that I dont even own a PH meter!!!

i was thinking about mixing ff,o.f. and w.m. nexts time, but to be honest here i ready have had no problems with it. maybe luck maybe not, iv grown an auto flower in o.f. and gave it no nutes what so ever and she flower just fine and never even showed signs of need any nutes. i just wanted to see what happens, and and the soil pasted with flying colors. talking to my hydro guy at the store and he said alot of people mix the two ocean forest and worrior. for the ultra mix as they call it. so ill try that next grow on a few plants just to see. im always about testing other things.

Foxfarm is still a good base soil, overall, but does need to be cut with either Light Warrior, or 30 % well rinsed coco to eliminate the issues with it holding too much water.
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I agree it is too strong to start most strains in straight. But works well after they're up and running (if cut).
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I do agree, it was better made a few years ago, but I'm still not kicking it out of my grows, until something better comes along.
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