I am a noobie to the grow world and I am getting ready to start my seeds and such, I am reading a lot of different things about soil, nutes and PH so I figure I am going to use FoxFarm soil, what is the recomendation on nutes and how do I go about checking PH as the plants grow? Any helpful knowledge is appreciated.
Nutes and PH
- Thread starter warbird
- Start date
Ohsogreen
Well-Known Member
Warbird.... Foxfarm soils are excellent quality. If you are using Ocean Forrest, it would be a good ideal to cut it a bit. Since, it is mixed a little hot (full of good amendments - higher NPK numbers than average potting soil).
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Most growers, use either peat moss, coco coir or (Light Warrior) to cut Ocean Forrest. It is also a good ideal to add 20 percent Perlite, to this mix. So, Ocean Forrest 60 percent, Peat Moss 20 percent, Perlite 20 percent. The mixing ratios don't have to be exact.
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You can just throw in three shovels full of OF, a shovel full of PM and a shovel full of Perlite. Mix it up good and put into your containers.
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Since, the soil you are using is so well made, no fertilizers will be needed for he first three weeks. When you do start fertilizing, there are several real good, all organic ferts you can use. BMO ferts (Ebay), Earth Juice, BioBizz, Metanaturals, and Botanicare (online hydro stores) are all real good.
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If you are only growing a few plants, Botanicare makes a small sampler pack, that include the Pure Blend Pro Series Grow & Bloom, plus Liquid Karma for about $ 16 plus shipping. It's a great little starter pack, that doesn't cost allot.
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If you are a DIY (do-it-yourself) grower, read the thread Making Tea is EZ & Cheap... here is a hotlink....
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https://www.rollitup.org/organics/93913-making-tea-ez-cheap.html
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To check soil pH. You can buy a simple pH meter for soil, at most Home Depots, Lowes or Big Garden Centers. All online hydro store stock them.
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They cost from $ 10 upward. Or you can buy a small, soil test kit, for about $ 14. It has some small vials, you drop a pinch of soil into the vial, add the contents of a color coordinated capsule, then a drop of chemcial reagent. The soil / liquid mix then turns colors and you compare the color to the color chart, on the back of the vial. Pretty simple to use and fairly accurate.
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Hope this helps... & Welcome to the Organic Forum
Keep it Real...Organic....
.
Most growers, use either peat moss, coco coir or (Light Warrior) to cut Ocean Forrest. It is also a good ideal to add 20 percent Perlite, to this mix. So, Ocean Forrest 60 percent, Peat Moss 20 percent, Perlite 20 percent. The mixing ratios don't have to be exact.
.
You can just throw in three shovels full of OF, a shovel full of PM and a shovel full of Perlite. Mix it up good and put into your containers.
.
Since, the soil you are using is so well made, no fertilizers will be needed for he first three weeks. When you do start fertilizing, there are several real good, all organic ferts you can use. BMO ferts (Ebay), Earth Juice, BioBizz, Metanaturals, and Botanicare (online hydro stores) are all real good.
.
If you are only growing a few plants, Botanicare makes a small sampler pack, that include the Pure Blend Pro Series Grow & Bloom, plus Liquid Karma for about $ 16 plus shipping. It's a great little starter pack, that doesn't cost allot.
.
If you are a DIY (do-it-yourself) grower, read the thread Making Tea is EZ & Cheap... here is a hotlink....
.
https://www.rollitup.org/organics/93913-making-tea-ez-cheap.html
.
To check soil pH. You can buy a simple pH meter for soil, at most Home Depots, Lowes or Big Garden Centers. All online hydro store stock them.
.
They cost from $ 10 upward. Or you can buy a small, soil test kit, for about $ 14. It has some small vials, you drop a pinch of soil into the vial, add the contents of a color coordinated capsule, then a drop of chemcial reagent. The soil / liquid mix then turns colors and you compare the color to the color chart, on the back of the vial. Pretty simple to use and fairly accurate.
.
Hope this helps... & Welcome to the Organic Forum
Keep it Real...Organic....
ocen forest already has perlite added, and I agree with cutting it as well as I had some problems early on due to it being hot... I would add lime to the mix also, I'm still trying to find the ratio of lime/soil for OF.. so I'd say add lime and peat moss and be done, adding more perlite is over doing it when it already has sufficent amount of perlite already..