UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GSC

Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

And I got here just as they turned the key to lock up :laughtwo: I guess this should have been more first-thing than I made it, eh? LOL
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

Not to hijack your thread UncleC but seeing Sue's post/query I thought I would comment.

Sue, I agree with you on having worms in your soil even though I have yet to incorporate that into my own grows. I have no idea what you have available to you for sources of amendments and bases etc, but if you are interested, I am willing to sit down and see if we can't develop a recipe for you using things you can find locally that will suit your needs and allow you to have your worms ;)
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

TheCelt said:
Not to hijack your thread UncleC but seeing Sue's post/query I thought I would comment.

Sue, I agree with you on having worms in your soil even though I have yet to incorporate that into my own grows. I have no idea what you have available to you for sources of amendments and bases etc, but if you are interested, I am willing to sit down and see if we can't develop a recipe for you using things you can find locally that will suit your needs and allow you to have your worms ;)
Click to expand...

Thank you for the kind offer TheCelt. It's the kit soil that won't support worms. My LOS no-till is a veritable worm farm. The growing matrix used for the Kit is Promix, perlite and wiggleworm EWC. I can't see much in there that would keep worms interested, can you? It's a bare-bones matrix designed to be so, because all the goodness comes from the drenches and foliars, which have been engineered to work at super efficiency. Quite frankly, the matrix will not support a plant through vegetation without the application of the drenches and foliars. If I add anything to it, like the things that would make it a what I consider true living soil, it's no longer the kit.


You can appreciate the conflict this would cause someone who champions the wonders of living organic soil. I'm mesmerized by what's going on, but it frustrates me that it's not what I would consider living soil. As best I can figure the process requires the continual reintroduction of biota for some reason I haven't yet been able to determine.
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

Interesting, Sue. I'd assumed somehow that my growing method, with Sunshine mix and 'organic' bottled nutrients -and your Kit grow were miles apart- but now that I think about it more- they're not.
UncleC I still haven't had time to read back on your whole journal so don't know what you get up to. I am away all the time and have gotten used to the concept. It's crazy somehow- being away so much and expecting everything to keep on ticking- but it does. No real disasters yet, anyway. knock on wood... Absence makes the heart grow even fonder, and it's always nice (knock on wood very hard) to come home and see all the changes.
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

SweetSue said:
Thanks for clarifying high Brix in cannabis cultivation. I should have caught that. :battingeyelashes:

I have yet to find a kit grower with worms. I've asked, more than once, for a show of hands, because that concerns me. They seem disinterested in the subject.

It has occurred to me from the beginning that the results offered by our organic grows match the HB grows so closely in quality that we're talking differences so small as to be inconsequential. It becomes obvious then, that the advantages lie with organic soils. Here's one no one thinks about. What happens to your kit soil if you suddenly can't purchase from Doc anymore? What hoops do you have to jump through to secure another source, and how long will your plants survive without the Kit ingredients? These are questions organic growers laugh at. I can run a whole grow with comfrey alone.

I should do that. Run a plant in LOS adding nothing but comfrey. :hmmmm:

Having said that, Carnival is blowing me away. I'm new to this game, but this is no average plant. Something's going on here and I, for one, am intrigued. I have a Jamaican Dream coming up behind Carnival in the same soil, so we'll see what she does.

I exist in conflict about the Kit, but I'm pressing on.

How nice. Visiting with you made the bus trip for coffee beans a more pleasant experience. Thank you for adding to the joy of my 420 mag. anniversary day. :hugs: I'll be spreading happy hugs all day. Here - have another. :hugs:

Wow! I posted at the same time and Damn! You take such pretty pictures. So many good reasons to visit here. Travel safely. We'll send protective energies their way. I'd offer to watch them for you ,but you know how hard it'd be to get them to leave the spa after a taste of SweetSue. :battingeyelashes:
Click to expand...

Nothing has been clarified by me regarding brix as it relates to MJ.
I have lots of questions but few answers yet other than a very basic understanding of brix as it applies to produce and agricultural crops.
Short answer as it applies to agriculture would be an organic grow method using non genetically modified plant stock which encourages high mineral content in the final product resulting in improved shelf life, flavor, and higher overall nutritional value.
High brix readings are the ultimate goal, with a higher brix reading as per the brix tables equating to mean high mineral content in the final product and a resulting higher perceived quality.

(This may have been what Doc meant when he told you that the onset of trichome degradation is delayed. Based on the brix principles this could be happening as a result of high mineral content....ie longer shelf life.)

Back in the 80's we actually used a refractometer on the farm to check sucrose content of different crop areas to determine optimum harvest time. But we were not using brix farming practices and I didn't know of any local farm operations that did either.

What's really piqued my interest is what Conradino mentioned about the vast reduction of phosphorus that is needed during bloom without much if any detrimental effects and possibly even improvements.
This goes against everything that I've been taught but remember that at one time the Earth was thought to be flat.

The use of phosphorus is not friendly to the environment in more ways than one so if I'm able to get improved flavor with a corresponding yield reduction of say 10% or so this would be enough for me to consider modifying my grow methods by incorporating some or all of the brix practices.
THC content improvement is not a rabbit trail that I'm not interested in following regardless of the grow method. I'm quite happy and content with my weak ass MJ.... LOL!!

The kits are great stuff and results in some really fine cannabis grows but it does have it's drawbacks as you've mentioned. My suggestion to you would be to gradually phase out your kit grows. You've already learned how to grow without the use of mystery products and instructions.
I won't go any further as I ruffled lots of feathers with several friends last time I leaked my opinion about Doc's Kit.

By the way, Happy 420mag Anniversary!! You're the life of the party here. What would we all do w/o SweetSue?
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

TheCelt said:
Not to hijack your thread UncleC but seeing Sue's post/query I thought I would comment.
Click to expand...

Feel free to jump into the pool anytime that you'd like Celt. Don't ever feel that you're hijacking the thread in any way. I think all of us here welcome your input.
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

Alibongo said:
Wow that gardens awsome. Sure itel be fine while ur gone :-)

Iv been a grower for around 10 yearbook on and off and iv started reading about brix a few times and always got sidetracked but I think I'm guna look right into it now
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Thanks for the compliment Alibongo. I do hope that you are right about the garden being fine while I'm away. Unfortunately I've inherited some really cheeky garden gnomes that only come out of hiding when I'm away.
If you ever see Garden Gnome repellant anywhere please let me know. I need a case or 2 to add the my wall of goodies. LOL!
:thumb:
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

1,515 total watts from the wall.
4 each Mars-Hydro Sun Series (300 wall watts each)
1 each Mars-Hydro Reflector Series 144x5 (315 wall watts)

That equates to approximately 47 watts per square foot.
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

SweetSue said:
Thank you for the kind offer TheCelt. It's the kit soil that won't support worms. My LOS no-till is a veritable worm farm. The growing matrix used for the Kit is Promix, perlite and wiggleworm EWC. I can't see much in there that would keep worms interested, can you? It's a bare-bones matrix designed to be so, because all the goodness comes from the drenches and foliars, which have been engineered to work at super efficiency. Quite frankly, the matrix will not support a plant through vegetation without the application of the drenches and foliars. If I add anything to it, like the things that would make it a what I consider true living soil, it's no longer the kit.


You can appreciate the conflict this would cause someone who champions the wonders of living organic soil. I'm mesmerized by what's going on, but it frustrates me that it's not what I would consider living soil. As best I can figure the process requires the continual reintroduction of biota for some reason I haven't yet been able to determine.
Click to expand...

Good morning Sue and UncleC

I guess I didn't realize the "kit" was such a sterile soil and thought it a LOS type. In my mind, the kit resembles the soilless bottle feed that many use although a better system as you are creating your own "living" feed rather than bottled nutrients. I think I need to look deeper into the kit to get a better understanding of the theory behind it. With the minimal understanding I have at this point, it conflicts with my idea of LOS and organics and seems lacking.

Time for MORE research LOL when I get a better understanding of the kit and my thoughts organized, I will share :) Maybe I will set up an experiment with my ideas and journal it for all to see and add input. I have 4 clones scheduled for my next indoor grow, all from Big Mamma. With 4 plants of the exact same genetics, it should really show the differences of different soils and methods :)
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

Top of the morning to you as well Celt.

You're correct.
Worms need organic matter to feed on otherwise they will either die or high tail it for greener pastures. The way that brix is being utilized for cannabis cultivation does not allow for the required organic food source to support the worm colonies.

Worms like damp but not overly wet or saturated soil conditions.
Could it be that the multitude of drenches that are required as part of the brix method would contribute to an unfavorable environment for worms?

Worms cannot live in their own feces so they must constantly be on the move for new food sources as well as to not sleep where they shit.
This alone would make maintaining more than a few worms in an indoor potting medium rather difficult no matter what the medium or grow method may be.
Those that are supporting active worm colonies in indoor pots should give themselves a pat on the back.

You are also right about the brix method having some similarities to bottled nutrient grows in soil less mediums.
This is one of the reasons that brix relies so heavily on drenches and foliars.
The specialized drenches and foliars along with other key components of the brix growing methods help the plant to "super absorb" the high levels of nutrients and minerals that is so often talked about when using high brix.
:peace:
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

Hey UncleC

I agree and think that there has to be a simpler way, I won't say "better" as there are many routes to the same destination, to achieve "high brix" in our favorite plant. One that utilizes an organic approach as opposed to sterile soils needing to be regularly fed. Regular feeding doesn't work for some like you an I that can't rely on being around at the proper time.

I love challenges and as usual, my mind is now a chaos of swirling puzzle pieces just waiting to be put together into a greater picture and solution to the goal I have set myself LOL
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

TheCelt said:
Hey UncleC

I agree and think that there has to be a simpler way, I won't say "better" as there are many routes to the same destination, to achieve "high brix" in our favorite plant. One that utilizes an organic approach as opposed to sterile soils needing to be regularly fed. Regular feeding doesn't work for some like you an I that can't rely on being around at the proper time.

I love challenges and as usual, my mind is now a chaos of swirling puzzle pieces just waiting to be put together into a greater picture and solution to the goal I have set myself LOL
Click to expand...

I remember the first time that I ate a hydroponically grown tomato. It was one of the most beautiful tomatoes you'd ever want to see. It was huge, nice and red like it should be, and not a scar on it anywhere. When it was cut open it was a pale color, not like the tomatoes from the garden. Oh well...must be the variety.
The explosion of flavor that I was expecting......did not happen. It tasted like a tomato that had all of the life sucked out of it.

Same as tomatoes, there is a substantial flavor and smoothness difference between MJ grown hydroponically and MJ grown in a natural organic soil without any synthetic nutrients.
Maybe a similar difference exist between organic soil grows and high brix grows because of the higher mineral content that brix methods can offer. Maybe it's not just splitting hairs.

I prefer to grow more mother nature style if you will and like you I also have to be able to be away for days or weeks at a time without the need for precisely timed drenches or foliar applications.

There may be some brix principles that could be integrated into LOS type organic grows which could raise the bar a little. This is what I'm curious about.
What can we hijack from brix methods to up our LOS game other than optimizing nutrient and mineral balancing?
:MoreNutes::peace:
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

There may be some brix principles that could be integrated into LOS type organic grows which could raise the bar a little. This is what I'm curious about.
Click to expand...

I'm sure there are companies just itching to flood the market with cannabis versions of those tomatoes. Well packaged multicolored, multiflavoured, multi strength McBuds. It's like purchasing, as someone said, just 'the idea of a tomato'.
Not that prohibition did wonders for cannabis quality either- other than constantly breeding for 'stronger'. Microgroweries will always be the places to look for the good stuff.
I'm following these conversations closely cause I'll be switching to soil soon enough. Just trying to get my head around an ingredients supply. I've stuck with my 'Wonderbread Soilless Mix' for this long because I'm super stubborn and want to know that I can figure out how to grow well with the devil I know.
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

UncleCannabis said:
There may be some brix principles that could be integrated into LOS type organic grows which could raise the bar a little. This is what I'm curious about.
What can we hijack from brix methods to up our LOS game other than optimizing nutrient and mineral balancing?
:MoreNutes::peace:
Click to expand...

Exactly what I am thinking my friend :)
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

I'm definately of a mind that the LOS approach is piossibly the simplest way to go. I'm starting 2 new seeds now in mostly compost/coco/perlite amended with rock dust gypsum EWC ctushed eggshell and some crushed "organic" fert pellets... Bit of a cheat, and expect to have to feed 9the soil) again eventually but I'm confident it will work fine. I regularly find a couple worms in my potted plants when repotting so I'm fairly certain I'm on the right track.. Teas etc are used to revitalize soil and boost plants at the same time in my opinion... My rock dust and calcium additions i feel are investments in the future viability of the soil and that's it.. KISS. All plants like good soil, and I am using same soil mix for all my house plants.... So far so good....
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

Weaselcracker said:
I'm sure there are companies just itching to flood the market with cannabis versions of those tomatoes. Well packaged multicolored, multiflavoured, multi strength McBuds. It's like purchasing, as someone said, just 'the idea of a tomato'.
Not that prohibition did wonders for cannabis quality either- other than constantly breeding for 'stronger'. Microgroweries will always be the places to look for the good stuff.
I'm following these conversations closely cause I'll be switching to soil soon enough. Just trying to get my head around an ingredients supply. I've stuck with my 'Wonderbread Soilless Mix' for this long because I'm super stubborn and want to know that I can figure out how to grow well with the devil I know.
Click to expand...

If you've already decided that you will be switching to organic soil then I suggest that you get one or more compost bins going as soon as you are able to do so and not try to rush the process as I see others do so often.

There's lots of information available in the organic soil growing forums here at 420mag that can help you in your quest for ingredients selection. Celt has also kicked off a thread about soil science that has some good information regarding soil building.

Feel free to ask if you ever have any questions. I'd be glad to help you tame that devil of yours in any way that I'm able.
:peace:
 
Re: UncleC's Ganja Grove - Organic Soil - LED - SOG - La Chocolat/Vanilla Kush/LSD/GS

santb said:
I'm definately of a mind that the LOS approach is piossibly the simplest way to go. I'm starting 2 new seeds now in mostly compost/coco/perlite amended with rock dust gypsum EWC ctushed eggshell and some crushed "organic" fert pellets... Bit of a cheat, and expect to have to feed 9the soil) again eventually but I'm confident it will work fine. I regularly find a couple worms in my potted plants when repotting so I'm fairly certain I'm on the right track.. Teas etc are used to revitalize soil and boost plants at the same time in my opinion... My rock dust and calcium additions i feel are investments in the future viability of the soil and that's it.. KISS. All plants like good soil, and I am using same soil mix for all my house plants.... So far so good....
Click to expand...

I don't think that I will ever venture away from growing in organic soils. I enjoy playing with my soils and watching them grow and get better with time almost as much as gardening itself.
:peace:
 
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