High gorp! I'm from your neck of the woods as well, QC, and have gone thru some of the same issues as you have described. Although, instead of getting into it with Customs and Border Services, I just called Aurora Innovations (Roots Organics manufacturer) and Import Canada and after about 3 or 4 phone calls realized it would be more trouble than it's worth to attempt getting Roots soil across the border. You sir are a ballsy dude...hello again, one and all...
so, i went down to vermont to buy some roots organics soil, was reassured by everyone i talked to i should be able to bring it across the border...only to get rejected coming back into canada (illegal to bring soil into canada) and then threatened with 5 years in jail by the american border crazies. they refused to let me back into the country to return it to the store (actual quote; "this is my country. you're not getting back in here."). they forced me to dump 10 bags of it behind the border lobby. o...i also got interrogated and frisked. i also was repeatedly called a "canadian pot cultivator" in the lobby for everyone to hear. great fun!
anyway... there must be canadians out there trying to use this recipe and haivng the same problems i am.
has anyone found a tested work-around? what are canadians using for soil? i'm in quebec.
if you're using promix or something like it, are you adding anything to it to make a more complete base soil, then adding subcool's recipe to that to make the super soil? if so, what are you adding?
thanks
have fun
Whats your dogs name bro??ok ,
i have read this entire thread , , Great read and info!
bottom line ... . Subcool should just bag up his SS and sale it to us all
hehe
Andy gets an A !!!High gorp! I'm from your neck of the woods as well, QC, and have gone thru some of the same issues as you have described. Although, instead of getting into it with Customs and Border Services, I just called Aurora Innovations (Roots Organics manufacturer) and Import Canada and after about 3 or 4 phone calls realized it would be more trouble than it's worth to attempt getting Roots soil across the border. You sir are a ballsy dude...
So, to answer your question, I used BioBizz as Sub has suggested, as well as a Canadian product, out of BC, called Sea Soil. It's slightly higher in Nitrogen so I adjust the Blood meal accordingly. I use Sea Soil Container Mix and Potting Mix with Coconut Coir, in equal amounts. Make sure it's the Coco Container and Potting versions, NOT the usual mixes with peat or the original (orange bag) recipe. That's the base soil to use here in Canada. Then follow everything else as SubCool has outlined.
Azomite can be found for a nominal cost at wheatgrasskits.ca
Humic/Fulvic are easily obtained via Ebay.
And Sea Soil can be obtained through reputable gardening centres and hydro shops that deal with the distributor Greenstar. Without a doubt, it took some effort, but it was alllll worth it.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to answer a question that has come up (again). Water your plants in SuperSoil just before they wilt. When you go to water the plants, wet the soil initially with a small amount of water, let it distribute itself over the course of about 30 mins or so and THEN return to completely saturate and finish watering your garden. This will ensure a better hydration and more even uptake. Don't worry so much about the run-off (unless you're interested in testing it), but rather focus on the weight of your pots when completely dry and completely hydrated. This is an important aspect of container gardening, that Sub has already indicated, and it helps the grower learn the intricacies of their garden's water requirements.
I've also noticed something interesting about pot sizes and lighting intensity. If you are not using 1000-watter like Sub does, then the game changes. 7-10 gallon pots with a 1/3 to 2/3 of super soil is the general guideline for 4 plants under a 1000 watts in a 4x4 footprint. If you are using lower wattages, or cramming in more plants, or growing in a larger areas, then modifications have to be made.
Basically, we all have slightly different growing conditions and the SubCool Super Soil method has been refined for Sub's environmental factors. Use his words as framework, change as little as possible, but when slight alterations are introduced, just take the time to make some observations and determine what tweaks are needed to ensure Super Soil success.
You can thank Chernobyl for the rant.
Love ya guys, hope y'all are growing good!
Stay up-
- Andy
Trying to Sub, tryin'...Andy gets an A !!!
Way to pay attention.
i would start with 1/2 super soil, then add in a few scoops of regular base soil, mix those scoops into the top inch of your super soil.... then place your baby in there and fill in the rest with base soil.... good luck my man...ok iam first time grower thats gonna use the super soil recipe...iam gonna use 5gl buckets because iam limited on space....if iam not correct 3/4 full of ss and rest base soil...when transplanting make hole for plant and just add a hanfull of base soil so that the roots dont directly touch is correct...100% super soil on the bottom and just base soil on the top ??????
Thanks Nate! After watching the first Season of Weeds, I couldn't help but love the 'Uncle Andy' character. I am registered on various forums (except 420rag of course) under the same screen name - it's a good onelove the name and avatar bro..
It has started and I believe the 3rd episode is coming up. The Botwins are on on the run again. They had to flee Cali/Mexico after Shane killed Pilar (Esteban's political influence in Mexico) by the pool with a croquet mallet...anyone for a round of 'Clue'? Hahah.I think that season starts up soon
That is an Advanced Nutrients microbiotic product. They added that humic acid to their own product to improve the interactions between the substrate, the roots and the microbiota. wiseman, I suggest getting some of what munch box linked to above.Ok, the only humic acid I can find is a powder called tarantula, its 3% humic acid. Is this good enough?? Last run we poured some humbolt liquid humic acid in, im about to use it, is that okay?
That's exactly where I get mine from. I've been experimenting with a mix from them consisting of the following:I justt bought some of this humic acid on ebay wiseman. I hope it works. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350281768747&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT