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- #421
Did you have algae when using the Pondzyme?
I'd mix the H202 about 1:4 with water.....unless you have the 35% food grade stuff....I don't know how to use that off the top of my head.
DocBud's Next Medical Grow
- Thread starter Doc Bud
- Start date
Did you have algae when using the Pondzyme?
I'd mix the H202 about 1:4 with water.....unless you have the 35% food grade stuff....I don't know how to use that off the top of my head.
- Thread starter
- #422
A few salts won't harm microbial life one little bit. And, I'll be adding compost teas, guano tea and other living stuff. The soil will remain alive and well.
Barry Manilow
New Member
I haven't really been using the pondzyme but I will from now on. I can't really tell about the algae too well without untaping the 2L's, I've noticed some around the holes but that's been it.
I just gave them an h2o2 drink, I'm going to fix the light problems next.... thanks once again Doc!
Looking great Doc. I think you're right about incorporating OC+ into your grow again. I think the combination between organics and OC+ is a good one...aside from the girls taking longer than expected.
Intresting, but how do you know how much would be ok, and if you are in fact killing off the soil life? I'm not doughting you, I just wonder how much would be too much, if a little is ok.
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- #426
I don't know how much would be too much....but I do know that I've been using Osmocote in the vegetable garden for years, and there are lots of happy earthworms in there.
Also, Fox Farms and many other nute companies sell products that mix both chem and natural ferts together.....shoot, even hydro guys grow bacteria in their reservoirs.
I imagine you could probably use AN's full line in soil and still have a microherd of some sort....especially if you feed the soil. Not a good idea....but you could probably do it.
I don't think there's any problem at all mixing a bit of chem ferts into a good organic mix....no problem at all.
LadyLore
New Member
People have been combining organic, natural, and synthetics together since all of it's been around. I see no reason why the cannabis growing culture is under the impression that it has to be one or the other, while the majority of backyard gardeners utilize both compost, as well as commercial fertilizers, to their own benefit and have been doing so for decades.
Really looking forward to how you incorporate those factors into your future grows
Something I've been turning over in my head is whether or not there would be anything of merit to growing hempy style but with a 30-50% soil medium combined with perlite. I should like to entertain the notion that there is a balance, a best of both worlds approach. Do you have any thoughts on it?
Really looking forward to how you incorporate those factors into your future grows
Something I've been turning over in my head is whether or not there would be anything of merit to growing hempy style but with a 30-50% soil medium combined with perlite. I should like to entertain the notion that there is a balance, a best of both worlds approach. Do you have any thoughts on it?
Giantsfan24
New Member
People have been combining organic, natural, and synthetics together since all of it's been around. I see no reason why the cannabis growing culture is under the impression that it has to be one or the other, while the majority of backyard gardeners utilize both compost, as well as commercial fertilizers, to their own benefit and have been doing so for decades.
Really looking forward to how you incorporate those factors into your future grows
Something I've been turning over in my head is whether or not there would be anything of merit to growing hempy style but with a 30-50% soil medium combined with perlite. I should like to entertain the notion that there is a balance, a best of both worlds approach. Do you have any thoughts on it?
I just finished an experiment just like that in a hempy bucket. She is still curing and although I harvested her early, it's VERY stony and cerebral. I'm not an experienced grower but I was surprised how well it turned out.
I used 50% soil to 50% perlite.
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- #429
A well drained medium will grow lovely cannabis! But there is a point where ability to drain and ability to hold moisture cancel eachother out. If you want to to constantly water, roots can be in air....the best draining medium.
Or, you can use a soil that hold lots of water and water less often.
Both will grow plants. For indoors, with our weak lights and small plants, a fast draining medium is best. I think most of the better soils work just fine straight out of the bag.
To me, the amendments are where it's at. The microherd takes all these amendments and feeds the plant a very rich, very complex diet which really brings out the taste and complexities of the strain.
So far, everyone who has tasted my latest crop talks about everything having a caramel flavor to it....very pleasant. Everything smell mild in the bag, but very pungent when you grind it up, and the smoke is subtle and sweet. The effect is very strong and interesting.
My, how the market has changed! And that change is taking place in the Cannabis world, right before our eyes.
What I'm trying to do is get the supreme taste in an easily, consistently reproducible manner, and also have a decent yield. Yield is not the number one concern, not at all. But the realities of electricity make it a factor.
However, my all organic crop, while very good, isn't that much better than my OC+ crops, which yielded more. So, like I've been saying.....we're hunting for a happy medium.
Or, you can use a soil that hold lots of water and water less often.
Both will grow plants. For indoors, with our weak lights and small plants, a fast draining medium is best. I think most of the better soils work just fine straight out of the bag.
To me, the amendments are where it's at. The microherd takes all these amendments and feeds the plant a very rich, very complex diet which really brings out the taste and complexities of the strain.
So far, everyone who has tasted my latest crop talks about everything having a caramel flavor to it....very pleasant. Everything smell mild in the bag, but very pungent when you grind it up, and the smoke is subtle and sweet. The effect is very strong and interesting.
My, how the market has changed! And that change is taking place in the Cannabis world, right before our eyes.
What I'm trying to do is get the supreme taste in an easily, consistently reproducible manner, and also have a decent yield. Yield is not the number one concern, not at all. But the realities of electricity make it a factor.
However, my all organic crop, while very good, isn't that much better than my OC+ crops, which yielded more. So, like I've been saying.....we're hunting for a happy medium.
I keep hearing that using synthetic ferts kills them off, it would definately make things easier if I could use a little bit here and there. I've even heard that tap water can kill off your microbial life. I didnt think that it sounded right, but it worried me, I didnt want to kill off what I had been trying to build up, you know?
I do know that my 100% organic grow that I just finished up smells and tastes so much better than previous grows. Their was a loss in yeild, but it wasnt too drastic, its worth it to me, much better quality.
Thanks for the help bro,
Peace,
NEPharmer
- Thread starter
- #431
I promise you can use salts judiciously in organic soil and not hurt anything. Keep feeding your soil, as usual, and add salts when needed. Simple. No worries.
Barry Manilow
New Member
Doc I've heard differing opinions on if the chlorine in tap water will kill or hurt the microherd in soil... what say you?
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- #434
In larger containers, chlorinated water isn't a problem. Many of our supplements have chlorine in them, and plants actually need a little bit of chlorine.
However, in small containers, the chlorine could have a detrimental effect. 2 gallons or more....no problem. Just think backyard vegetable garden, front lawn, flower beds, etc. Most are watered with city water, chlorine and flouride. No problem.
Hobby MJ growers seem to be some of the more superstitious folks around! There are so many myths and half-truths that seem to have taken hold of the collective consciousness of growers.
Giantsfan24
New Member
I have to agree with you there...as a hobby grower myself I sometimes get in the habit of over thinking what's going on. I'm only growing a couple 2 or 3 plants and just don't want to fuck anything up too much or beyond recovery.
I know this, with more experience I'll be less and less apt to fall into that mode for future grows. I've learned so much from this grow and I'm sure that won't slow done with successive grows.
That's why having veteran growers like yourself around is more than helpful. A small dose of reality goes a long way.
Thanks for all the good info Doc..
- Thread starter
- #436
I have to agree with you there...as a hobby grower myself I sometimes get in the habit of over thinking what's going on. I'm only growing a couple 2 or 3 plants and just don't want to fuck anything up too much or beyond recovery.
I know this, with more experience I'll be less and less apt to fall into that mode for future grows. I've learned so much from this grow and I'm sure that won't slow done with successive grows.
That's why having veteran growers like yourself around is more than helpful. A small dose of reality goes a long way.
Thanks for all the good info Doc..
No problem.....and remember, you can always let the water stand for 24 hours and the chlorine goes away, or you can buy a garden filter.
I don't have chloramine in my water, but I understand that is nasty stuff and could indeed cause problems.
Hi Doc, on advise, I've been reading your journals, great stuff. I have a quick question, a couple pages back, you refer to "monsoon watering", and I wondered how much water you use.
I'm growing in 3 gal. geopots with soil and OC+ and put a gallon of water in, with about 20-25 oz. run-off and then put another 1/2 gallon in for good measure. Is this enough to move some of the nitrogen out or should I use more.
Just for the fun of it, I weighed them before and after watering and have a 6.5-7 lbs. weight gain with the retained water.
I'm growing in 3 gal. geopots with soil and OC+ and put a gallon of water in, with about 20-25 oz. run-off and then put another 1/2 gallon in for good measure. Is this enough to move some of the nitrogen out or should I use more.
Just for the fun of it, I weighed them before and after watering and have a 6.5-7 lbs. weight gain with the retained water.
- Thread starter
- #438
I'm not saying YOU should do this.....but this is what I did up until about the 6th week of bloom:
On watering day, crank up the humidity to 80%, about 6 hours prior to lights on. When the lights come on, crank DOWN the RH to normal 50% and water each pot with 2-3 times the volume of the pot. In your 3 gallon pots, that means 6-9 gallons of water.....massive run-off.
Basically, it's a flush every time you water. I was able to grow very large, healthy plants in small containers.
Now, with all organics, I don't flush every time I water, but about every 3rd. time. I always add organic matter back in, depending on the plant's needs, so the nutrients aren't totally leeched out.
But with OC+, let 'er rip! You can always modify the monsoon technique....maybe do it every other watering, and alternate compost tea, vermi tea, molasses/sucanat in between rainstorms.
2 tips with OC+: watering with cold water will release less nutes than with warm. So, if your grow room is getting hot.....find a way to use cold (60-65 degree) water.....this will keep a large amount of nutes from dumping and keep your roots happy.
Also, turning the temps down to a daytime high of about 72-73 will decrease the rate of release. These low temps, coupled with low humidity will increase resin production AND make a bit of purpleish coloring.....not a bad thing at all!
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- #439
This will be one of my last posts for awhile. Things are very busy for me, in a good way. Lot's going on in the world of growing, not to mention the more mundane aspects of life. Not my last post....one of the last for a while.
I got to the garden too late for pics...lights were already on. But hopefully these will help show what's going on.
Blue Dream
I'll try to get some pics tomorrow while trimming the Querkle, before the lights are on. These are some really gorgeous plants! Again, lots of resin, more than I've seen on this particular strain.
Querkle
Stupid with resin. Purple/yellow/green/red color.....amazing, fruity smell. I've smoked a bit and it's devastating for about an hour, then it lightens up and gives a strong stone, with good state of mind for another 3 hours. The taste, even uncured, is superb.
BTW, as the buds cure, I'm going to revise my statement a few posts up regarding taste difference between OC+ and all organic. The all organic buds are indeed tasting more complex and better than the OC buds.....but they smell different!
They smell less like normal pot, and more like plants with a pot smell. I don't know if that makes any sense, but that's the best way I can describe it. The bag appeal is great, but because of the different smell, when I show these buds off, I use a light and a magnifying glass. They don't smell exactly normal....not a bad smell, just not something I'm used to. But when you grind them up and smoke them.........mmmmmmmm. Superb.
I got to the garden too late for pics...lights were already on. But hopefully these will help show what's going on.
Blue Dream
I'll try to get some pics tomorrow while trimming the Querkle, before the lights are on. These are some really gorgeous plants! Again, lots of resin, more than I've seen on this particular strain.
Querkle
Stupid with resin. Purple/yellow/green/red color.....amazing, fruity smell. I've smoked a bit and it's devastating for about an hour, then it lightens up and gives a strong stone, with good state of mind for another 3 hours. The taste, even uncured, is superb.
BTW, as the buds cure, I'm going to revise my statement a few posts up regarding taste difference between OC+ and all organic. The all organic buds are indeed tasting more complex and better than the OC buds.....but they smell different!
They smell less like normal pot, and more like plants with a pot smell. I don't know if that makes any sense, but that's the best way I can describe it. The bag appeal is great, but because of the different smell, when I show these buds off, I use a light and a magnifying glass. They don't smell exactly normal....not a bad smell, just not something I'm used to. But when you grind them up and smoke them.........mmmmmmmm. Superb.
Oh no don't take a break yet Doc, lol
I have a question about temps.
When you refer to temps, are you referring to the temp right at the top of the plants, soil temp, or the ambient temp in the room?
I have a question about temps.
When you refer to temps, are you referring to the temp right at the top of the plants, soil temp, or the ambient temp in the room?