I sprayed my soil very lightly with the light blue at very low strength in order to start fresh. I think I found my bug issue around my place and it will start by taking care of my rental homes yard first in oder for me to be able to attack them full on here indoors. So honestly I might be using the red SNS until I move or get a handle on my pest problems out side, it's hard when houses near are collapsing due to termites and ants!!!
oops*
Ohh no your In trouble now haha I've been smothering my skin in all sorts of nasty chemicals my entire life in lawncare. I'm still standing aahhhha ha! Thanks for this info though BakedARea I'm actually going to consider using this if you wouldn't mind. I started a compost pile outside a couple years ago but my direction in life tells me I won't be living here much longer to enjoy the pleasures so I've been actually just getting rid of the mess I started so that I can prepare the soil else where. Cheers my friendBefore I get into the seed update, I wanted to share a new seedling mix I made. I love playing/experimenting with different soil mixes for various plants and their needs.
Unfortunately, I don't do a good job of documenting the ratios. I honestly go by feel. I understand that does not help much but here is the estimated ratio based on what my brain is telling me to tell you.
Ingredients: Whitney Farms Organic Planting Soil (2 parts), E.B Stone Organics Worm Castings (2 parts), Sunshine Mix 4 (1 part), and Turface MVP (1 part)
I would greatly appreciate your insight about the ingredients, the consistency, and anything else you like or dislike about it.
Whitney Farms ingredients and nutrients, I feel it is a very good soil. I recently found it at Costco of all places. I tried one bag a few months ago on some basic annual flowers. They flourished! I decided to buy a bunch more and they have been "cooking" on my driveway for the past month and half. They do amend their soil with very little organic nutrients. I feel that little bit of chow for the microbes will assist the seedlings whenever they are ready to eat and I don't have to intervene or worry about them getting hungry until the @GeoFlora Nutrients gets broken down.
Anybody else use gloves like me?!
*read their warning...
Sifting ingredients with a 4mm plate. I try not to waste too much time breaking up ingredients with my hands. I break up larger pieces and that's it. The rest gets sifted and then thrown into a tub for my "all-in-one" mix. Basically, it's a mashup of a bunch of ingredients that I will use for landscaping transplanting or for whatever the hell I feel like using it for.
Also, I'm sure some of you may not be familiar with the product but I use Turface MVP for added drainage for bonsai and houseplants. It is a calcined clay product that assists with moisture retention as well as provide drainage. I have never tried it with cannabis so I figured I would give it a try at their most vulnerable stage in life. I will also be trying some DE (diatomaceous earth) granules in the future. Another very good soil amendment in my opinion!
I always pre-moisten my seedling soil mix too! Do yourself the favor of doing this folks!
I want the dampness of a well rung out sponge. I can squeeze it as hard as I can and nearly nothing comes out. A drop or two at most. I try to get it moist enough that I can squeeze and get nothing out. Again, I go by feel but I "know" it is moist enough to accept water easily when it comes time to water in the seeds. It is important to remember that some ingredients (coco and peat particularly) can become hydrophobic when they are dry. I store my promix in a large tub and it is bone dry. Last thing you want is a seed in a dry mix that won't accept water easily. So pre-moisten your soil mix!
You can see in one of the pictures where I scraped off the top 1/2 or so of the soil. Underneath it, it was almost completely dry. I use my hose on the mist function and give it a good amount at first (no exact amount...sorry). Then I mix it up with my non-gloved hands. Then I spray again and mix again. Then I spray some more and mix again. I keep doing that until I get the right consistency. Something which I can't really get a feel for with gloves on!
Seed update on the next post!
Much longer?
You say that because you have an expiration date or generally speaking?! I would prefer to read the latter of course because I could say the same. It will eventually happen for us all. Don't give up on your pile. You can speed it up by adding more nitrogen sources. You could potentially have some compost ready in a few months.
Nice write up Baked. I've been growing in hydro since it became legal here. I am going to grow in soil for my next grow. I may use your mix as a start and throw in a few of my own ingredients which is the fun part.Before I get into the seed update, I wanted to share a new seedling mix I made. I love playing/experimenting with different soil mixes for various plants and their needs.
Unfortunately, I don't do a good job of documenting the ratios. I honestly go by feel. I understand that does not help much but here is the estimated ratio based on what my brain is telling me to tell you.
Ingredients: Whitney Farms Organic Planting Soil (2 parts), E.B Stone Organics Worm Castings (2 parts), Sunshine Mix 4 (1 part), and Turface MVP (1 part)
I would greatly appreciate your insight about the ingredients, the consistency, and anything else you like or dislike about it.
Whitney Farms ingredients and nutrients, I feel it is a very good soil. I recently found it at Costco of all places. I tried one bag a few months ago on some basic annual flowers. They flourished! I decided to buy a bunch more and they have been "cooking" on my driveway for the past month and half. They do amend their soil with very little organic nutrients. I feel that little bit of chow for the microbes will assist the seedlings whenever they are ready to eat and I don't have to intervene or worry about them getting hungry until the @GeoFlora Nutrients gets broken down.
Anybody else use gloves like me?!
*read their warning...
Sifting ingredients with a 4mm plate. I try not to waste too much time breaking up ingredients with my hands. I break up larger pieces and that's it. The rest gets sifted and then thrown into a tub for my "all-in-one" mix. Basically, it's a mashup of a bunch of ingredients that I will use for landscaping transplanting or for whatever the hell I feel like using it for.
Also, I'm sure some of you may not be familiar with the product but I use Turface MVP for added drainage for bonsai and houseplants. It is a calcined clay product that assists with moisture retention as well as provide drainage. I have never tried it with cannabis so I figured I would give it a try at their most vulnerable stage in life. I will also be trying some DE (diatomaceous earth) granules in the future. Another very good soil amendment in my opinion!
I always pre-moisten my seedling soil mix too! Do yourself the favor of doing this folks!
I want the dampness of a well rung out sponge. I can squeeze it as hard as I can and nearly nothing comes out. A drop or two at most. I try to get it moist enough that I can squeeze and get nothing out. Again, I go by feel but I "know" it is moist enough to accept water easily when it comes time to water in the seeds. It is important to remember that some ingredients (coco and peat particularly) can become hydrophobic when they are dry. I store my promix in a large tub and it is bone dry. Last thing you want is a seed in a dry mix that won't accept water easily. So pre-moisten your soil mix!
You can see in one of the pictures where I scraped off the top 1/2 or so of the soil. Underneath it, it was almost completely dry. I use my hose on the mist function and give it a good amount at first (no exact amount...sorry). Then I mix it up with my non-gloved hands. Then I spray again and mix again. Then I spray some more and mix again. I keep doing that until I get the right consistency. Something which I can't really get a feel for with gloves on!
Seed update on the next post!
I'm going to have to build a soil or grab some from a local Hydro store. But you have a pretty nice list down that looks like a healthy start to building one so I just might start with your blend.Of course! Which part are you considering?
If I can help, let me know.
Much longer?
That's the fun part of mixing soils. Adding and removing components as you see fit.
It should be a good soil. The planting soil can be easily subbed out with other comparable readily available options at grow shops or big box stores. Everything can be easily subbed out EXCEPT the worm castings! Always use high quality castings.
I'm going to be a complete noob using Geoflora nutrients so I'm planning on winging it and hope for the best but from what I've read everyones using it already so I'm in for a big challenge coming up! I have to read on the soil activator still that I got but I'm serious about taking your stuff to notes now so I don't plan on going large scale sale on ya haha. I've always used fox farm ocean forest and local Hydro store in house blends. I guess I have been lazy lol lost 55 pounds tho due to Jane so I guess I'm in for the mix a challenge.
I sure hope this includes some older ladies as well lmao then I'd actually pay money to have this 420 Magazine calendar in my cave alongside old torn off calendar dream girls that signed for me but never went home with me haha!I can already see a 420 Magazine calendar with a bunch of old dudes that are sweaty and dirty while mixing some soils! HOT & SEXY!
Well I can line up the photo shoot with some great characters but I'll leave the alone time with the camera for the brave and willing to try new things type of people haha. Sorry BakedARea I dont want to steal the show stay green Dano999 an BakedARea much love can't wait to watch these gscs come to life in flower. I believe I have a cookie pheno about to start flowering soon but I won't know 100% until I find something to give me a good strain detail.
Haa haa...nah man. I wouldn't take it that way. I would definently hope we get a calendar with some lady growers instead! My imagination is going wild thinking what your centerfold pic would look like. Quick question...are you a thong wearing kind of dude or speedo kind of guy?!
That is exciting! I hope it turns out for you.
Four plants in 7gals is ideal for a 5x5 tent. (Six plants, if in 7gal pots would be super-crowded.) I just grew 6 in 4gal pots and it was a good fit, and I've already decided that my next 5x5 grow will be four 7gals.
LOL. You won't let that happen. Just be mindful of the height of the tops of the plants in flower and the amount of space they can grow before reaching the light(s). Once the plant height is at or near the halfway point between the top of the plant and the light you probably want to flip. That way, if it doubles in height after the flip you still won't reach the light. (But in that scenario, you'd be very close!)
And I see from the tent pic that the side openings are not going to be much help for maintaining the plants. Be prepared for some contortions.
That might make for a good consolation prize for OTM contest losers!
Then again, maybe not!
Stoked to have you here GDB!
Thank you for confirmation on that. Much appreciated. I will focus on just 4 in the tent.
10-4
Absolutely!!! Haaa haaa haaaa
Just so we're clear I laugh reacted at the first part of this response before I even read the 2nd half.
It is all good Dick. I didn't take it the wrong way at all. I hide my stress and anxiety with humor. I would prefer you laughing with me versus being sad with me if that makes sense. I appreciate the kind words. My heart and soul are with her right now...just trying to keep my sanity for the sake of my kiddos. All we know is that she is battling some nasty bacteria in her blood most likely. Her blood pressure dropped to unsafe levels last night.
