- Thread starter
- #101
Emilya Green
Well-Known Member
(flower, day 21) [lights at 10.5/13.5]
Today we have started a whole new phase of this grow, now armed with much more information as to how an organic grow is supposed to go. I received The Rev's book, True Living Organics, and totally devoured the information contained there on my first pass through, and realized some major mistakes that I have made so far in this round.
I have learned that I have certainly ruined the 20 gallons of soil that I am now using, but that is ok... I have another 30 gallons of super soil cooking in the other room. Not knowing what to do, I saved my plants from starvation using synthetic nutes, but now it is clear that the downside of that action is that salts are now a part of the container environment. Since there is salt in there, as soon as the soil begins to dry out, the salt effectively dries out all of my microlife too, and with each wet/dry cycle, my entire microherd dies.
It seems however, that this problem is not insurmountable. I can save this current grow, and finish it out as an organic grow... I just have to realize what has happened, and with each watering, replace the entire microherd. I have ordered a strong air pump to be able to brew my own compost teas, and with the last watering last night, I started to be a lot smarter about what I am doing.
First of all, I changed my water. Tap water is no longer going to work, and no longer is allowed in Emmie's garden. Purified water is now being shipped in, without any chlorine products in it that kill off my beneficial bacteria and microlife. I have also learned that FoxFarms BigBloom is very good stuff, mostly bat guano and worm castings, and meeting OMRI standards. I used the last of what I had on hand last night in my watering, along with a good dose of molasses to feed the herd. I am also already brewing more of this mix for the next watering, and will continue to do so, adding new (alive) microlife with each watering till the end of this grow. The clones and new seeds being prepared in the other tent will never see a synthetic nute and from now on no more chlorine. As soon as the pump arrives, they will also be getting their first injection of active microlife.
Last night I also top dressed my containers with some good 2 month cooked supersoil. This morning, it was clear that the plants liked what they got at their virtual sunrise. Here is what I saw when I got up this morning, right after lights off:
Things are definitely progressing in Emmie's garden and I am learning fast about this organic thing. I think I am even going to start up an indoor worm farm eventually to help feed this living soil that I am creating. I am also going to buy another big gallon of Big Bloom, probably the only commercial nute that will ever hit my plants again.
Be well everyone, may your garden be an interesting one.
Today we have started a whole new phase of this grow, now armed with much more information as to how an organic grow is supposed to go. I received The Rev's book, True Living Organics, and totally devoured the information contained there on my first pass through, and realized some major mistakes that I have made so far in this round.
I have learned that I have certainly ruined the 20 gallons of soil that I am now using, but that is ok... I have another 30 gallons of super soil cooking in the other room. Not knowing what to do, I saved my plants from starvation using synthetic nutes, but now it is clear that the downside of that action is that salts are now a part of the container environment. Since there is salt in there, as soon as the soil begins to dry out, the salt effectively dries out all of my microlife too, and with each wet/dry cycle, my entire microherd dies.
It seems however, that this problem is not insurmountable. I can save this current grow, and finish it out as an organic grow... I just have to realize what has happened, and with each watering, replace the entire microherd. I have ordered a strong air pump to be able to brew my own compost teas, and with the last watering last night, I started to be a lot smarter about what I am doing.
First of all, I changed my water. Tap water is no longer going to work, and no longer is allowed in Emmie's garden. Purified water is now being shipped in, without any chlorine products in it that kill off my beneficial bacteria and microlife. I have also learned that FoxFarms BigBloom is very good stuff, mostly bat guano and worm castings, and meeting OMRI standards. I used the last of what I had on hand last night in my watering, along with a good dose of molasses to feed the herd. I am also already brewing more of this mix for the next watering, and will continue to do so, adding new (alive) microlife with each watering till the end of this grow. The clones and new seeds being prepared in the other tent will never see a synthetic nute and from now on no more chlorine. As soon as the pump arrives, they will also be getting their first injection of active microlife.
Last night I also top dressed my containers with some good 2 month cooked supersoil. This morning, it was clear that the plants liked what they got at their virtual sunrise. Here is what I saw when I got up this morning, right after lights off:
Things are definitely progressing in Emmie's garden and I am learning fast about this organic thing. I think I am even going to start up an indoor worm farm eventually to help feed this living soil that I am creating. I am also going to buy another big gallon of Big Bloom, probably the only commercial nute that will ever hit my plants again.
Be well everyone, may your garden be an interesting one.