Useful Seeds

quiescent

quiescent

Well-Known Member
MustangStudFarm said:
I'll admit that I didn't understand the importance of micro nutrients until a couple of months ago, been growing for 8yrs. So, I really don't know if I am experiencing a lack of micros or lockout from P. My old soil test suggest that I was lacking Mn in almost every test. I started to use rock dust like basalt and glacial rock dust, but they might take too long to break down. I heard that Azomite has aluminum in it, but I don't think that it should keep me from using it. However, plants like comfrey, nettle, and borage will not carry heavy metals and replace the kelp that I have been buying.

I was stuck on the high P and I assumed that was my biggest problems, I could be wrong. I kept reading about a plant with high N/P will keep the roots from producing exudes and that will keep the myco fungi from growing also... I want to say that you are right about the P though because my last harvest was one of my worst and the soil test shown that P was not excessive, the micros were low. Talk about a shitty harvest though!!! I'll post some horror pics, it looks worse than a micro def huh. Anyways, I hope everyone is bearing with me. I'm happy with the answer that I got, so I'll leave it alone. I shouldn't be so scared of Azomite and start growing comfrey ect.

THE WORST HARVEST SINCE SWITCHING TO ORGANIC- I don't get it, I used an ass load of kelp and the only thing showing from it is Na???
View attachment 4186919

3 stages of growth:
View attachment 4186920
View attachment 4186923
View attachment 4186922
I'm embarrassed of these pics, but I hope that someone picked something up from this. Micro def looks a lot like N def because it causes chlorosis(fade). I hit a low point and decided to donate my hard to find packs of Bodhi seeds. I don't want people to think that I feel entitled to any special treatment though. I'll stop clogging this thread with soil banter. I think that I am G-T-G!
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Don't worry about the aluminum. It's the most common metal in soil. Go dig some dirt out of your yard, it for sure has aluminum in it. The plant won't absorb it in excess.

Most basic thing can be the root of all evil so let's start with your water. Do you know the pH, ppm or even better mineral content? Is it treated with a water softener, on a well?

What soil recipes are you using? Any teas? Following a tried and true well known mix can make all the difference (coot or gascanstan at icmag are good starting points). How many cycles have you recycled and amended? Compost is good but earth worm castings are definitely better. Think locally if possible, maybe even in your own garage/or in some of your finishing up compost?

Might be time to just start with a new mix altogether if this is something you've been having an issue with. Mucho calcium mucho importante. Don't use dolomite if possible, go with oyster shell, gypsum, azomite and some local rock dusts if available, if not just double up on the azomite and oyster shell. Mineral mix will be at 4 cups per cubic foot. Crab, kelp and neem meal should basically be non-negotiable, 1/2-3/4 cup each per cubic foot, more will not help you out as you're seeing here. Add some alfalfa and fish bone meal at 1/2 cup per c.f. if you're so inclined.

Make a compost tea once a week, here is where having some earthworm castings are pro. If you've got some guano follow the 3 little birds recipes to get you through flower.

I got lazy for a few cycles many moons ago and used earth juice with some earth worm castings to feed my mostly water only soil once a week. Their micro juice was good stuff, not too heavy on the pocket book either for a bottled nute. I'm sure you could figure it out with just locking down your recipe and a tea regiment.

If you're already following these methods and recipe ideas there's something more complex hampering you. If you don't feel like carrying on here, feel free to pm me man.
 
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MustangStudFarm

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
quiescent said:
Don't worry about the aluminum. It's the most common metal in soil. Go dig some dirt out of your yard, it for sure has aluminum in it. The plant won't absorb it in excess.

Most basic thing can be the root of all evil so let's start with your water. Do you know the pH, ppm or even better mineral content? Is it treated with a water softener, on a well?

What soil recipes are you using? Any teas? Following a tried and true well known mix can make all the difference (coot or gascanstan at icmag are good starting points). How many cycles have you recycled and amended? Compost is good but earth worm castings are definitely better. Think locally if possible, maybe even in your own garage/or in some of your finishing up compost?

Might be time to just start with a new mix altogether if this is something you've been having an issue with. Mucho calcium mucho importante. Don't use dolomite if possible, go with oyster shell, gypsum, azomite and some local rock dusts if available, if not just double up on the azomite and oyster shell. Mineral mix will be at 4 cups per cubic foot. Crab, kelp and neem meal should basically be non-negotiable, 1/2-3/4 cup each per cubic foot, more will not help you out as you're seeing here. Add some alfalfa and fish bone meal at 1/2 cup per c.f. if you're so inclined.

Make a compost tea once a week, here is where having some earthworm castings are pro. If you've got some guano follow the 3 little birds recipes to get you through flower.

I got lazy for a few cycles many moons ago and used earth juice with some earth worm castings to feed my mostly water only soil once a week. Their micro juice was good stuff, not too heavy on the pocket book either for a bottled nute. I'm sure you could figure it out with just locking down your recipe and a tea regiment.

If you're already following these methods and recipe ideas there's something more complex hampering you. If you don't feel like carrying on here, feel free to pm me man.
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I'm following Clackamas Cootz and I am trying to set up a worm bin like his, but he uses 3yr old leaf mold. I'm sure that you saw pictures of my plastic pallet worm bin. The worms show up on their own, Euros and reds.

I'll PM you, this could go on for a while...
 
Useful Seeds

Useful Seeds

Well-Known Member
Not about seeds, but I want to share a lil little write up I did years ago. Potcolate!!! I think you will really dig this. The things on the table are just random ideas for your possible treats. But you do need chocolate and budder. I use 2 bags of hersheys chocolate chips to 4 oz of budder. The budder I make for this consists of 4 oz of close trim and popcorn nugs to 1lb of butter. Very potent. The outcome will depend on your budder strength. On with it then. ,start melting your budder. GO slow and low,till it looks like this Then pour in the chocolate chips and keep stirring until it is fully melted like this Now you are ready for the real fun part . Making your goodies,the possibilities are endless!!! See next post.
 
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Useful Seeds

Useful Seeds

Well-Known Member
Now your potcolate is ready,you get to choose the candies you want to make. Take little cupcake cups and add whatever you want you like Snickers ?? put a chunk in the bottom of the cup, peanut butter cups, almond joy, peppermint patties, reese's pieces, roasted peanuts and raisins like a chunky bar, anything you want. You can use anything you like. Mixed nuts, dried fruits, granola, crumbled pretzels, ect. The hard part is deciding what to put in the lil cups. Once you have decided ...take a spoon and pour your potcolate into your cups. SUPER EASY!!! I share em with friends and family and they constantly ask for more.Also , if you are not a fan of Hersheys chocolate you can use any that you do like. I have even used Dove dark choc. and a really tasty white choc. that the name escapes me atm. But I did that whole batch with macadamia nuts.....those were amazing!!! Any questions, just ask. I hope this gives some others a budder alternative use. I feel as if I am forgetting something I wanted to say. The potcolate really has kicked in.
 
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CoB_nUt

CoB_nUt

Well-Known Member
SmokeAL0t said:
http://www.dragonflyearthmedicine.com/ DEM Homepage

As for the potcasts- there's a gentleman from Australia that does a decent job interviewing and I listen to his shows regularly. In addition to Bodhi and Dragonfly Earth, he's amassed a nice list of shows, including Subcool (formerly of TGA), BOG, Duke Diamond, Bob Hemphill, Madd Farmer, Skunk VA, etc. etc. He's also interviewed some of the Build-A-Soil crew, seed vendors, etc.
For the time being, you won't find better canna entertainment (on the web).

His channel: https://soundcloud.com/user-928350579-16614181

Also - someone mentioned selecting fathers and traits to look for.... If you'll study more, you'll find that many breeders select different traits. Some (Subcool, for example) believe that males (typically) pass down certain traits and females pass down others (ie the male passes down structure and the female passes potency, etc.).... Through the massive lists of interviews that're available these days, you can learn what many of the top breeders look for these days and several of them mention the books/authors/mentors they learned from.

.... on a side note, I'd suggest taking notes, if you're serious, while listening to these clips.

Moving on - Josh and Kelly are a married couple from Canada that own Dragonfly Earth Medicine and their interview is episode 25 on the link above and the direct link is:
https://soundcloud.com/user-928350579-16614181/josh-kelly-of-dragonfly-earth-medicine

A little more about their story and SUPER PASSIONATE HEARTS can be heard here:

They encourage (and educate) others to create your own plant foods and soils from resources native to your area. They do sell a few products on their website but their goal is to educate others rather than sell them nutrients. If you have the better part of a day to research/stalk 'em, I highly suggest it. I've only ever listened to the Dunn show with Bodhi and Josh/Kelly because I kinda geeked out on learning from them when I found 'em.

I can't recommend these guys enough and anyone who listens to their interviews might stumble onto certain plants/teas/etc. that can fix your soils with PURE practices.

=]

Blessings!
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@SmokeAL0t The Australian guy does a great oodcast interview. I got a lot of insight to the personalities of the breeders and their ways. Definite great history as well as opened my eyes to some breeders/strains I'm interested in. (old skool)
 
D

DankDonut

Well-Known Member
I just wanted to chime in love the potcast! I've listened to many hours lovely conversations there. Learned some good things! And I tried checking out the Adam Dunn show with Bodhi and it was horrible. Was def rude. I needed to add my 2 cents :p I feel better now.
Dragonfly was a little over my head but def got some next level.. foliars and we'll everything I'm sure. Would like to be able to digest and use that knowledge one day as well! Very cool they are teaching people.
 
Shmozz

Shmozz

Well-Known Member
CCS x FC are frosting up and all three have a very sweet smell going on, like confectionery sugar sweet. I almost want to smell strawberry in it, but it's hard to say. Time will tell if I have any Chocolate Covered Strawberry leaners, but I'm really enjoying watching them grow!IMG_20180826_010032825.jpg
 
Useful Seeds

Useful Seeds

Well-Known Member
Shmozz said:
CCS x FC are frosting up and all three have a very sweet smell going on, like confectionery sugar sweet. I almost want to smell strawberry in it, but it's hard to say. Time will tell if I have any Chocolate Covered Strawberry leaners, but I'm really enjoying watching them grow!View attachment 4187433
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Heck yeah!!! I'd say she is frosting up for ya. Thanks again for the update, really appreciate it.
 
SmokeAL0t

SmokeAL0t

Well-Known Member
@MustangStudFarm I think you should consider making some hugelkulturs ("Hugo Culture" mounds). Instead of beating your head against the wall with ongoing fluctuations and hot soils, you can dig/countersink your mounds and bring in some clean medium to make the mounds (build a soil type of thought here; something you know is "right")... If you dig your beds large enough, they'll prevent the majority of "leaching" that will occur (from your native soils). It's not an immediate answer but a much quicker result (to creating a stable living soil) in the long run and the only sure-fire way to stop creating issues as you solve another. Don't over-think things and don't get discouraged. Don't be afraid to cheat (bringing in outside materials rather than sourcing from your land or HIRING someone to come help). Outsourcing might not be ideal but there's no shame in using outside sources, if you learn from it and keep your materials pure ("organic"). Once your beds are developed, you can sustain them with your materials and simply keep the beds fresh (as needed).

@CoB_nUt Potty McPotface (the interviewer from Aussie) is such a breath of fresh air for the canna community. Couldn't agree with ya more. It's amazing the things you can learn from these shows.

@DankDonut thanks for chiming in. DEM is such a resource to the canna industry and I think we're all Blessed to living and gardening in a time that they can help us optimize our practices. I expect it to take many years to get a full grasp of everything that goes with closed-loop, pure farming, but also believe the studying and time spent will pay off in the end. I just can't see gardening without seeing true expressions from plants and this is the only way I know to ensure such.

Everyone mark my word.... we will hear Useful on these shows by 2020-2022, if not sooner.....

=]
 
MustangStudFarm

MustangStudFarm

Well-Known Member
Useful said:
look up Josh Kelly of dragonfly earth medicine
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This was helpful! Josh Kelley kept talking about "Garden Giants" and I didn't know what he was talking about. He uses mushrooms to break down his compost! Not only are the mushrooms tasty and break down compost faster, but they pull a lot of phosphorus out of the soil!!! Excellent info!!!!!! Mushrooms are high in P, so I imagine that they do pull it from the soil. I connected the dots myself and I hope that it is a good assumption. I still have some reading to do to confirm it...
 
quiescent

quiescent

Well-Known Member
MustangStudFarm said:
This was helpful! Josh Kelley kept talking about "Garden Giants" and I didn't know what he was talking about. He uses mushrooms to break down his compost! Not only are the mushrooms tasty and break down compost faster, but they pull a lot of phosphorus out of the soil!!! Excellent info!!!!!! Mushrooms are high in P, so I imagine that they do pull it from the soil. I connected the dots myself and I hope that it is a good assumption. I still have some reading to do to confirm it...
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Super interesting, mushrooms are easy enough to cultivate it's worth a shot.
 
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