Is it really Sunday night already?! Bull!
So I wanted to point out that you don't see much talk at all here in the way of nutrients or feedings or foliar sprays or teas. That simplicity is quite by design. The entire reason I chose to grow in soil in general was simplicity. The super soil I have provided our plants is designed to provide all the nutrients our growing girls need from veg right on through flower.
This was the recipe I used (it was a half batch of the old subcool recipe):
4 large bags of a high-quality organic potting soil with coco fiber and mycorrhizae (i.e., your base soil)
12.5 to 25 lbs of organic worm castings
2.5lbs steamed bone meal
2.5lbs bloom bat guano
2.5lbs blood meal
1.5lbs rock phosphate
3/8 cup or 6 tablespoons Epsom Salts
1/4 cup or 4 tablespoon sweet lime (dolomite)
1/4 cup or 4 tablespoons azomite (trace elements)
1 tablespoon powdered humic acid
I did have some problems late in the seedling stage with over watering and I'm uncertain if all the problem then were from that or there just weren't enough nutrients in the base soil. Another member has used her super soil (Either Amy or Emilya and I'm ashamed that I can't remember for sure) in the bottom 1/3 of her dixie/solo cup. I am considering that next grow though I do plan to pick up some cal-mag just in case. With the super soil I don't see much need for it but you never know.
So back to simplicity: I like it that way. It's a feature, not a bug. I don't really even measure out exactly how much water I'm giving. I do believe that scientific approach is valid and valuable, like sheet music - sure, I can do it but I'm an improvise and play by ear/feel kind of guy once we get the basics out of the way (mainly saxophone and guitar, I was in a band or two - should have known we'd never get far, oh but when I look back then, that summer seemed to last fore...oh, where was I? Haven't played much in years). I don't want to measure out nutes and water and make stinky teas and all the rest. Not saying I wouldn't - I just don't want to so I discovered that someone else had a method that is mostly mix up your soil, let it compost a couple of months, plants your seeds, and water. That's it!
And I love it that way. Put in the work ahead of time (prepare) and then get in tune with your plants and then let the magic happen. That's my style. So far it's mostly working. We'll know more about that later on.
I hope that this and future grows can be an example for others that although you can get all into the minute details or nutrients and water and control every complex aspect of growing cannabis, you don't
have to
if you put the work in up front. Growing cannabis
can be relatively simple. Good light, good soil, good air. Don't even pH your water!
It also has helped greatly having such good and knowledgeable people giving tips, advice, support, encouragement - this is the 420 Magazine way and I am so appreciative of all of you!
Finally, a buttload of pics (did you know a buttload is 48 bushels or 384 gallons?):
They have grown quite a bit in the last two days.
I did measure light distances from walls and adjust for better and more even coverage. I also raised the lights back up to 24 inches from 18 since the bigger plants were growing so much and raised the wattage to 315 watts x2 CMH lights. I do tend to obsess over those kind of technical details.
Had to change the filter on the humidifier. It was causing some struggle due to poor absorption of water onto the filter. Going to try to clean the other one and I'll need to buy some more.
Did I ever mention cannabis is a miracle plant?! Yes, I did. It is still working well for my son.
I think I finally convinced Mrs. Alafornia that the techniques I've learned about here, like bud washing and maybe the low and slow dry and cure, along with my growing methods should produce a flower that is an easy smooth smoke without so much harshness and terrible coughing. I hope one day she'll join up and chime in. Who wants Mrs. Alafornia? I do, but I said that once already long ago.
Well, that was a lot of info and a buttload (and now we know precisely what that means) of pics.
Thank you all for stopping in. You're great company.
). I do usually make a little plug of seed raising mix, or straight coco or peat, in the middle for the seed to sprout in. Or, recently I’ve been sprouting in a jiffy pellet and then straight into 1gal of soil as soon as sprout is up.
