now thinking wtf have I done and should I just go to the store and get some pre made but then again I don’t want to just Chuck in the towel but fuck knows man
My initial soil mix was a nutrient depleted screw up, because it was too lightly amended and the plant starved. I didn't throw the soil away as I knew it had some good amendments in it and I didn't want to waste it.
The next time I treated it as a base soil and I re-amended it, but it was still too lightly done.
I then repeated the process again bringing the amendments to where I estimated they should have been to bring them into line with the quantity/proportions of the original instructions, and not surprisingly, I got a much better result.
I have introduced a few more things since inspired from Coots' mix and elsewhere, I feel I have it about right, so adjustments from here will be smaller. I am currently getting some lower leaf yellowing but it is in the period of senescence and there is probably only a month to go and still probably plenty of colour left in the leaves. So until harvest time, I won't be able to say whether I have judged this run about right or whether I should have adjusted a little more before now.
Another thing with soil, letting it cook/rest/settle after it's been amended is helpful.
And worms, what I like about them, I assume if they're happy my plants will be happy, a bit like the miner who is happy when his canary is happy! So this part is all about the soil mix, that it is balanced, and letting it cook/rest as appropriate to it's components (as I am sure a good recipe would state clearly in the instructions). I doubt many people bother with worms, and quite probably won't be suitable for indoors, but it's horses for courses, and worms have seemed fine for my circumstances.
If I was you, I would revise whatever plan you started with, and ask yourself whether you feel you followed the instructions, and if not, adjust your soil with those differences in mind to bring the soil balance into line with the instructions, then rest/settle/cook as per instructions, and that's your soil done. I would imagine unless your input water is badly out in pH, that you wouldn't have to worry about it in a soil that follows a tried and test recipe but as noted it's certainly worth checking. I use tap water that I rest overnight to de-gas, often with a cup of worm wee chucked as a brew additive, and occasionally I use water straight from the tap.
And as
@Weaselcracker and
@bluter just noted, if there is excessive or deficient temps, watering or lighting, then even if your soil is brilliant, if those factors are out of the ideal range, then they can/will make a major negative impact on your grow.
for posting and and redirecting me to it.
