Help on quantity!?!?!

Purp.N.Poonani

Purp.N.Poonani

Active Member
Hi, planning on using biobizz mix which has perlite spag peat and a couple other useful things in, alfafa meal, kelp meal and worm castings. Two questions 1 is there anything i am missing out on and is necessary? 2 how much of these things would one need? Say if the bed is 9 X 6 ft? Bed has already had some potting soil dug into it and been turned up many times whilst adding rotting grass clippings and fermented nettle, any input would be aprechiated! Thanks!
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
There is no single right answer here, especially without knowing what your native soil is like.

Some native soil is fine as-is (nice loose sandy loam with some decent concentrations of organic matter), and some soil requires quite a bit of effort to prepare (clay).

If what you're trying to do is loosen up some tight clay-like soil, I recommend adding good compost, not potting soil.

Here's what I do to prep an outdoor veggie bed (same routine will work for MJ):

Step 1 - Mix/loosen up the native soil. (Double dig).

Step 2 - Lay down 2-3 inches or so of compost on top of the freshly loosened soil.

Step 3 - Mix this compost into the top foot or so of soil.

Step 4 - Evenly spread some soil amendments over the surface. Something like an organic "all purpose" fertilizer. The Fox Farms Happy Frog "All Purpose" or "Tomato and Vegetable" work well. Follow the recommended rates.

Step 5 - Scratch this fertilizer into the top 3-4 inches of soil.

Step 6 - Add another 3 inches or so of compost on top.

Step 7 - Add a thick layer of mulch. Straw works well outdoors.

Step 8 - Water this down thoroughly.

Then wait... At least several weeks. What you are doing is creating a happy habitat for worms, which will start tunneling up into your rich top layers and bringing nutrient-rich material down to the depths. All this tunneling will result in loose, crumbly, nutrient-rich soil.
 
Purp.N.Poonani

Purp.N.Poonani

Active Member
SpicySativa said:
There is no single right answer here, especially without knowing what your native soil is like.

Some native soil is fine as-is (nice loose sandy loam with some decent concentrations of organic matter), and some soil requires quite a bit of effort to prepare (clay).

If what you're trying to do is loosen up some tight clay-like soil, I recommend adding good compost, not potting soil.

Here's what I do to prep an outdoor veggie bed (same routine will work for MJ):

Step 1 - Mix/loosen up the native soil. (Double dig).

Step 2 - Lay down 2-3 inches or so of compost on top of the freshly loosened soil.

Step 3 - Mix this compost into the top foot or so of soil.

Step 4 - Evenly spread some soil amendments over the surface. Something like an organic "all purpose" fertilizer. The Fox Farms Happy Frog "All Purpose" or "Tomato and Vegetable" work well. Follow the recommended rates.

Step 5 - Scratch this fertilizer into the top 3-4 inches of soil.

Step 6 - Add another 3 inches or so of compost on top.

Step 7 - Add a thick layer of mulch. Straw works well outdoors.

Step 8 - Water this down thoroughly.

Then wait... At least several weeks. What you are doing is creating a happy habitat for worms, which will start tunneling up into your rich top layers and bringing nutrient-rich material down to the depths. All this tunneling will result in loose, crumbly, nutrient-rich soil.
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Thank you very much for the help and completely forgot to put it is nice loamy soil to start with! :) unfortunately i only have a couple weeks to prepare this plot it has already had a few bits done to it but the kelp and organic fertilisers i previously mentioned are on the way as we speak is this going to be a problem or will the native soil provide the girls wirh what they need whilst the microbes get to work on the newly added stuff, once again thanks!
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
The native soil (along with the stuff you've already added) may provide everything you need. If not, you an always top dress with with dry amendments or brew up a tea. Kelp and alfalfa both make great teas for use during the veg period.

Really, though, the compost is key. Use that shit liberally.
 
Purp.N.Poonani

Purp.N.Poonani

Active Member
SpicySativa said:
The native soil (along with the stuff you've already added) may provide everything you need. If not, you an always top dress with with dry amendments or brew up a tea. Kelp and alfalfa both make great teas for use during the veg period.

Really, though, the compost is key. Use that shit liberally.
Click to expand...
One other question when it comes to flowering do i need to add anything or would it be beneficial to utilise a flowering specific chemical fertiliser? Cant find much on the last stretch of organic growing, thats all i wanted to know, thank you very much for the help mate
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
It's NEVER a good idea to add synthetic chemicals to an organic grow.

If you feel like your plants need more phosphorus, you can give them some guano (tea or top dress), or some fish hydrolysate.
 
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