Super soil questions

Hey all. I've read about the different methods of using super soils. I'm interested in the concentrated soil at the bottom of the pot style and want to adapt that but as reserve for when I go into bloom.I want to build my soil to have a bottom layer for bloom and the rest filled with just a 3-2-2 fertilizer for veg. When it comes to adding the amendments do you add only the required amount per gallon of media used or for the whole pot? Like if I use a 3 gallon pot and use the bottom gallon as my food reserve do I only add the amount for just that gallon or for all 3 gallons even though it's all at the bottom?

In theory your idea sounds great.
a healthy plant will reach roots through the whole container within weeks if not less.

I know this isn’t your plan but my advise ( take it or leave it). Mix a proper soil suitable for the whole cycle. Don’t outsmart the plant. Your going for organic soil might as well let nature dictate the feeding. Go with 7 gallon minimum instead of 3. That way your plants can have a larger buffet of available nutrients and you can spread them out with less chance of funky soil swings.

maybe there are some people here still doing layers. I don’t know good luck and even if you go with layers make sure you “cook” or activate everything properly before trying to plant. You have a greater risk or burn when there are concentrated pockets of nutrients around the container.

green_machine_two9er said:

In theory your idea sounds great.
a healthy plant will reach roots through the whole container within weeks if not less.

I know this isn’t your plan but my advise ( take it or leave it). Mix a proper soil suitable for the whole cycle. Don’t outsmart the plant. Your going for organic soil might as well let nature dictate the feeding. Go with 7 gallon minimum instead of 3. That way your plants can have a larger buffet of available nutrients and you can spread them out with less chance of funky soil swings.

maybe there are some people here still doing layers. I don’t know good luck and even if you go with layers make sure you “cook” or activate everything properly before trying to plant. You have a greater risk or burn when there are concentrated pockets of nutrients around the container.

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In the book tlo by the rev he puts in layers and spikes. He essentially puts a sprinkle of all purpose at the bottom of containers then a layer of steer manure mix then puts his regular living soil then a sprinkle of all purpose dry amendment then another layer of living soil.he also uses spike with is poking a holes in your soil with a stake or something and fills it with dry amendments or ewc usually one of each flower amendments, veg amendments and etc or for big pots 2 of each
I tried it, everything but the steer manure, seemed to work ok

JustBlazin said:

In the book tlo by the rev he puts in layers and spikes. He essentially puts a sprinkle of all purpose at the bottom of containers then a layer of steer manure mix then puts his regular living soil then a sprinkle of all purpose dry amendment then another layer of living soil.he also uses spike with is poking a holes in your soil with a stake or something and fills it with dry amendments or ewc usually one of each flower amendments, veg amendments and etc or for big pots 2 of each
I tried it, everything but the steer manure, seemed to work ok

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I really appreciate the rev for making organics available and getting peoples feet wet. That’s how I transitioned to living soil.

but I do think he over complicates things. Snd the smoke is always very harsh. IMO. Too much feather bone and blood meal. And… not sure but I’m guessing he gets paid for all the commercial products that are endorsed in the book. Most of which should never be needed.

JustBlazin said:

In the book tlo by the rev he puts in layers and spikes. He essentially puts a sprinkle of all purpose at the bottom of containers then a layer of steer manure mix then puts his regular living soil then a sprinkle of all purpose dry amendment then another layer of living soil.he also uses spike with is poking a holes in your soil with a stake or something and fills it with dry amendments or ewc usually one of each flower amendments, veg amendments and etc or for big pots 2 of each
I tried it, everything but the steer manure, seemed to work ok

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I’m not trying to rag on this soil method. It does work. And much better than most “traditional” bottled fed programs.

I use the Rev's method myself, but I only use a High N layer on the floor and 3-4 flower spikes along the outside edge of the pot in my final transplant. The only other thing besides water only, is, in flower I include a floral tea every 2-3 weeks as my ladies ask for it. Organics rock...

It is much easier and I think at least as good to do as GMT suggested above. Build a quality super soil and use it start to finish. I do this and it does work great.

Transplant in veg and again before flower, leaving enough room at the top of the final pots to topdress repeatedly with same supersoil or your choice of amendments.

Each run improves as your soil mix gets fine tuned.

This has been my normal routine in just mixing a blended amendment mix and have top dressed with rock phosphate and langbeinite before flipping, this recent grow two of my three must have depleted all the food before my flip, there still doing excellent. I just want to have a stockpile of bloom food and booster at the bottom to cook while I veg since what I use has a low P & K. I have had no issue with mixing a soil and directly planting with the stuff I use. The main answer I'm looking for this experiment is how much of said amendment? X amout for the bottom gallon or X amount for the whole container size?

blazebug65 said:

This has been my normal routine inView attachment 4947853 just mixing a blended amendment mix and have top dressed with rock phosphate and langbeinite before flipping, this recent grow two of my three must have depleted all the food before my flip, there still doing excellent. I just want to have a stockpile of bloom food and booster at the bottom to cook while I veg since what I use has a low P & K. I have had no issue with mixing a soil and directly planting with the stuff I use. The main answer I'm looking for this experiment is how much of said amendment? X amout for the bottom gallon or X amount for the whole container size?

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My 2c here is that transplanting to a larger pot with fresh soil and room to grow will create a better result than any attempt to grow it organically in the same pot from veg to finish. No doubt someone can do it and do an amazing job of it but it wont be as simple and sure as a transplant.

Have you looked at the website where they show how to use the supersoil at the bottom of the container? They have a nice clear guide on how to layer the supersoil below the main potting soil.

ComfortCreator said:

My 2c here is that transplanting to a larger pot with fresh soil and room to grow will create a better result than any attempt to grow it organically in the same pot from veg to finish. No doubt someone can do it and do an amazing job of it but it wont be as simple and sure as a transplant.

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I stopped doing the transplant thing a very long time ago. I go from seed to finish and have found the results much better IME. Even my poor little outdoor volunteer cannabis plants have far overtaken the ones that had to be transplanted. Transplanting adds stress, and it takes time for a plant to adapt to a new medium and establish itself. Annual plants just aren't adapted to being uprooted and put elsewhere several times in a growing season. Generally the mommy disburses their seeds, and where they germinate is where they grow in nature until the end-of-season when they have their own babies.

Other advantages is that it saves time and hassle, and that main root that shoots down from your popping seed is infected right away with mycorrhiza and microorganisms forming a proper rhizosphere that only becomes better and expands until harvest time. Plus I don't have to disturb my soil by digging a big hole for transplants (I'm doing no-till). My earthworms and shit would freak out if I dug a hole to fit a potted plant in my bed.

All my bottom roots live in straight water,seem to do fine.

Northwood said:

I stopped doing the transplant thing a very long time ago. I go from seed to finish and have found the results much better IME. Even my poor little outdoor volunteer cannabis plants have far overtaken the ones that had to be transplanted. Transplanting adds stress, and it takes time for a plant to adapt to a new medium and establish itself. Annual plants just aren't adapted to being uprooted and put elsewhere several times in a growing season. Generally the mommy disburses their seeds, and where they germinate is where they grow in nature until the end-of-season when they have their own babies.

Other advantages is that it saves time and hassle, and that main root that shoots down from your popping seed is infected right away with mycorrhiza and microorganisms forming a proper rhizosphere that only becomes better and expands until harvest time. Plus I don't have to disturb my soil by digging a big hole for transplants (I'm doing no-till). My earthworms and shit would freak out if I dug a hole to fit a potted plant in my bed.

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Im seeing killer results with my current first run notill. It’s amazing how fast and vigorous the plants are. With near perfect leaf color and zero deficit I won’t hijack this thread with any more no till nonsense but check out my new journal- it’s on my sticky. I’d appreciate your advice and insights! Always love your thoughts snd works!

If you're trying to make a Water-Only soil, that you won't need to feed or add to during the grow, add amendments based on the 3 gallon pot size. Plus a little extra to account for the feeding or top dressing that "regular" soil might need about half way through. Theoretically you'll be good to go!

In the past some guys had trouble using this ultra hot soil in the bottom of their pots. Even though it was down at the bottom,roots still reached the hot soil quickly. Sometimes this would cause twisted leaves or purple, stunted plants. Other times the roots would get burned up when they touched the hot soil and then only filled half the pot. This small root mass lead to weak plants.

Water only Super Soil was supposed to be easier, but it turned out harder.

Since then people have been using milder, more balanced soil that's doesn't blast their plants. Then finding some way to feed a couple times during flower.

Anyway, your plants look pretty good. It looks like you're doing well with the tip dress method. Here's one more piece of advice you didn't ask for. If your plants are depleting your soil, think about bigger pots with More amended soil. Instead of small pots with Highly Concentrated amendments.

Water only would be tough. Probably need a 50 gallon pot of well cooked soil or some crazy like that.

green_machine_two9er said:

Go with 7 gallon minimum instead of 3. That way your plants can have a larger buffet of available nutrients and you can spread them out with less chance of funky soil swings.

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I agree with the 7g. Even with 5g my plants seem to run out of energy.