Good cheap soils?

JiuJitsuToker · May 13, 2014

Is there any soil out there that is cheap readily available and good for growing? I've been using the miracle gro because I get it 9.99 for 2 cubic ft. I would love to use FFOF but 20 bucks for 1.5 is a little more than I want to pay. Anyone else got ideas?

Torch1 · May 14, 2014

Pro Mix 3.8cu ft.~$38
#3 perlite 10qt bag~$5

...btw nothing is wrong with what ya got now-- don't fall for the canna-hype

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DemonTrich · May 14, 2014

been running FFOF for 15 months now. I pay 11.00 a bag from 8 different stores. if you get in good with the store workers, normally they cut you discounts, some stores offer discount/membership card perks, or buy in bulk (I buy 4-8 bags at a time on occasion). and I buy the huge, huge bag of perlite also (13.00). I can go to 8 different stores to get the same pricing.

ghgou812 · May 15, 2014

I use FFOF... and Like DemonTrich, I can find it for $13 a bag and sometimes as low as $10 a bag.

When you mix it 1/3 with perlite it really goes a long way. I also add 1 TBSP of lime per gallon.

Now... the cool thing is, I start my seedlings in 1 gallon pots, they get no nutes as the soil has plenty. When I transplant them to my 5 gallon containers, once again the nutes in the FFOF mix is enough to feed them for another 2 - 3 weeks. So I'm 6 - 8 weeks before I feed them any nutes. Then its only 1/2 strength to get a read on how much the girls want/need.

So, the way I look at it, you can put out a few extra dollars for your soil, or pay considerably more in nutes.

Just my 2 cents....

Good luck and keep us posted.

Po boy · May 18, 2014

i buy potting soil from a local ornamental nursery that they mix themselves. low cost and excellent soil with dolomite included. no need to check ph.

MonkeyGrinder · May 18, 2014

Po boy hit the nail on the head. Also check your local CL. Depending if you live close to any farming communities you may be able to find some pretty awesome compost for super cheap.

crazyhazey · May 18, 2014

po boys suggestion would probably be best, if not id compost your own with earth worms, add old fruits/vegetables, dead leaves, any organic matter that isnt meat or dairy really, and a lot of sugars are good for feeding microbes. my base soils usually some black kow or ff light warrior, promix is also good. if done right youll end up with more soil than you started with, and likely much more rich.

polo the don · May 18, 2014

I run soilless.

Pro-Mix. 4cf bail. $40.

Huge bag perlite. $14.

40lb. bag dolomite lime (enough for a lifetime).$10.

DynaGro. $cheap.

Having complete control and strong, healthy, productive plants? Priceless.

LIBERTYCHICKEN · May 18, 2014

Cheap soil

Homemade compost and some local dirt or sand , Home made compost or leafmold can usually be found for free where ever people dump grass clipings and leaves

Pumice is alot cheaper than pearlite , and has some advantages as well as disadvantges , but you cant argue with a #50 bag for 10. $

TheHazeNKushSmoker · May 18, 2014

Cheap soil has really great chance to give cheap results

crazyhazey · May 18, 2014

TheHazeNKushSmoker said:
Cheap soil has really great chance to give cheap results

not exactly, if you actually put effort into compost you can get better results than anything on the market. remember soil you buy has probably been on the shelves for months, has lost most of its microbes and could even have irregular pH. the value someone put on soil doesnt exactly speak for how good it is, kind of how you can buy a $200 bottle of nutes that are specifically for mj or get the same results with a $20 bottle, or better yet make your own nutrients for even less.

TheHazeNKushSmoker · May 19, 2014

crazyhazey said:
not exactly, if you actually put effort into compost you can get better results than anything on the market. remember soil you buy has probably been on the shelves for months, has lost most of its microbes and could even have irregular pH. the value someone put on soil doesnt exactly speak for how good it is, kind of how you can buy a $200 bottle of nutes that are specifically for mj or get the same results with a $20 bottle, or better yet make your own nutrients for even less.

Well i mean if you go at walmart and buy some miracle you will probly have more problem then if you try to go around in every grow shop to find some foxfarm you know what i mean? but personally i live in a place where their is toon of farmers so i asked one of them to make me a soil and he did ^^ Never had any problem with it yet and my crops are wonderful! here an update of mine that i just took day 58 flowering

I know that the soil doesnt do everything but i think it help alot

Anesthesia pyramid seed

BlueDream Hso

tekdc911 · May 19, 2014

i use perlite ,the pro mix or coco , and heavy black loam ,dolomite and worm castings
all are found easily in the small town i am in

crazyhazey · May 19, 2014

TheHazeNKushSmoker said:
Well i mean if you go at walmart and buy some miracle you will probly have more problem then if you try to go around in every grow shop to find some foxfarm you know what i mean? but personally i live in a place where their is toon of farmers so i asked one of them to make me a soil and he did ^^ Never had any problem with it yet and my crops are wonderful! here an update of mine that i just took day 58 flowering I know that the soil doesnt do everything but i think it help alot

Anesthesia pyramid seed

View attachment 3156732

BlueDream Hso

View attachment 3156733

yeah, MG has given me problem for sure, never with FF though. thats the way to go, local farmers usually have great soil for the low, would be buying all my supplies from a farmer if i could but its not so easy to come across in central FL. gals look nice though, and the soil helps for sure, you gotta remember microbes are a huge factor in growth.

Cobnobuler · May 19, 2014

I've been pickin up FFOF for $16 a bag at a little landscaping shop I found on the way to the grow supply store that charges 22 a bag. As mentioned cut with 30 % perlite its well worth it.
I'm finding some smaller shops are willing to move a little bit on price.

tyke1973 · May 19, 2014

JiuJitsuToker said:
Is there any soil out there that is cheap readily available and good for growing? I've been using the miracle gro because I get it 9.99 for 2 cubic ft. I would love to use FFOF but 20 bucks for 1.5 is a little more than I want to pay. Anyone else got ideas?

I use b and q soil but i do something that might sound mad but it works,i sifted the soil to get any lumps out un broken down stuff like wood,I also do something that i have all ways done and that is i put seedling soil in a plastic tub and microwave the soil just in case any insect life has taken up home in there.Some might think this is going a bit far but i have had spider mites,and i just do not want them again some of my strains are 6 yr old now and i don't know any one else with them,so its the reason i do the best i can to prevent any bugs.But that is if i need a small amount of soil and have a bit around that we use for veg,for bigger jobs i just buy from a hydro shop and a soil that has all ready been heat treated i like bio bizz or canna

tyke1973 · May 19, 2014

If i lived in the warmer part of the states then i would make my own just from the old root balls and any other garden stuff you can get your hands on,and just top it off with a bit of spag moss worm castings pot ash,along with a few bags of compost shop bought. .

I would not even bother with indoor growing i would just do out door grow 's big plant 4/5 lb beasts trees with nothing other than organic feed,replicate the super soil subcool and his crew use.

I like my soil to be a blank sheet with nothing in it,i like to know whats going into it and reading every so often whats comeing out the run off.

But like i say if we had the sun and the law on our side like some part of the states i grow big and pratice tlo true live organics

tyke1973 · May 19, 2014

Nothing i would like more than doing 10 tree's knowing i am in my legal limit,and i know that one grow would give me oil for a good amount of time,the leaf and bottom buds would go into hash and sift/butter buds into oil

tyke1973 · May 19, 2014

TheHazeNKushSmoker said:
Well i mean if you go at walmart and buy some miracle you will probly have more problem then if you try to go around in every grow shop to find some foxfarm you know what i mean? but personally i live in a place where their is toon of farmers so i asked one of them to make me a soil and he did ^^ Never had any problem with it yet and my crops are wonderful! here an update of mine that i just took day 58 flowering I know that the soil doesnt do everything but i think it help alot

Anesthesia pyramid seed

View attachment 3156732

BlueDream Hso

View attachment 3156733

lovely looking nugs dude whats the strain

tyke1973 · May 19, 2014

looks haze like,just seen it blue dream

Good cheap soils?

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