as good as ocean forest

[michaelpeg]

can someone tell me a soil that is as good as foxfarm ocean forest or better? I thought i was going to be able to purchase some for around $60 but it turns out that is just for shipping. I am NOT paying $80+ for a bag of soil and i am 100% sick of attempting to grow plants in mediums with no nutritional value, so please no soilless medium suggestions unless you give me a list of things to put in the soilless that makes it suitable for cannabis and i mean exactly what is going in it, not just add some of this and some of that I need exact ratios because I am finished with "experimenting" and need a medium that is proven to work for cannabis. I have been growing for 2 years and my plants always end up looking like shit and i am fed up. Reading for days and days gets you nowhere if you cant get the supplies. sorry i am just really mad about the foxfarm ocean forest prices they are rediculous and i cant imagine why 90% of the places dont ship to canada and why it isn't in stores in canada.

[frostymcfailure]

Pro-mix after transplant but use a cooler soil for starts. I am a fan of ocean forest but its down right preicy when you can custom blend your own mix from the start. you'll be al iight :thumbsup:

[michaelpeg]

frosty, isn't promix soilless? i have actually tried pro mix both organic and the original and was not even able to finish the grow the plants just seem to stand at the same size for weeks yes i said WEEKS, I have not had a problem with burning them, they just dont grow, period. Honest to god if you were to see my plants before i started flowering at the age of 2.5 months you would guess their age to be about 3 weeks with no branching whatsoever with about 6 leaves on it most of which look extremely unhealthy. And this is PPP i am growing known for growing BIG. You would think i water them with a herbicide which obviously i dont.
What do you suggest for a custom mix if you have had experience with any?
frostymcfailure should be my name.

[axxxxe]

man thats a drag ff ocean 25 bucks 30 minute away I guess I am lucky. I have used black gold organic when I lived in oregon it work well needs about 20% perlite added.

[michaelpeg]

thanks axxxe, yes you are lucky, i was ready to pay $60 for it but it doesn't come that cheap. did you add anything to the black gold besides perlite? when do the nutes run out.

[michaelpeg]

hmm according to a couple websites this black gold is made in canada yet I cant find a place that will ship to canada so i guess i can cross this off the list of good soils available in canada (the list is now blank). im getting to the point where i am ready to dig into the soil in my back yard and use that rather than the garbage they have in canada. I cant believe people are actually able to grow here. Especially the beginners who are basically forced to use soilless or our version of soil (peat moss mixed with slow release ferts) LOL getting pissed im willing to pay up to $60 for a decent bag of soil and i cant find one.

[headshake]

what makes you think it's a soil problem? i use miracle grow or pro-mix soil and have had no problems what-so-ever!

i think people like a mix of 2 parts top soil to 1 part of pearlite. some prefere 2 parts top soil, 1 part perlite, 1 part vermiculite.

you can use any standard nutes from here.


-shake

[Weezard]

can someone tell me a soil that is as good as foxfarm ocean forest or better? ...
so please no soilless medium suggestions unless you give me a list of things to put in the soilless that makes it suitable for cannabis and i mean exactly what is going in it, not just add some of this and some of that I need exact ratios because I am finished with "experimenting" and need a medium that is proven to work for cannabis. I have been growing for 2 years and my plants always end up looking like shit and i am fed up. Reading for days and days gets you nowhere if you cant get the supplies. sorry i am just really mad about the foxfarm ocean forest prices they are rediculous and i cant imagine why 90% of the places dont ship to canada and why it isn't in stores in canada.

Aloha MP,

Pepper plants, full tropical sun, rainwater+

[attachment=o215477]

Coco on the left, Ocean Forest on the right.

The onions and beans are just as dramatic.
I'm sure you have a few questions. :)

1 tsp of "Dyna-grow" liquid plant food 7-9-5.
They also make a bloom formula 3-12-6
and 1 tsp CalMag per gallon of rain, or tap water.
shake some air into the water and apply 'til runoff.
That's it.
No Rhizo, myco, superthrive, or other bombastic bud bullshit. Just coco, water, and 1 simple fertilizer.
I use a hydro nutes because it gives me the proper PH for coco. 5.2 - 5.8
There's a lot of crap out there.

Of course, there's coco and there's coco.

I use Cocogro, by Botanicare. (Arizona company)
Comes in several sizes, I use 5 Kilo blocks that yield about 70 liters of soil 'cause I grow all my vegetables in it now.
Saves a fortune on shipping.
If your local store does not carry it, insist that they start.
Got more picture if ya wannem.

'zat help?

Weezard

[michaelpeg]

@ headshake: its not a soil problem its a soilless problem. Although i have been attempting to grow for 2 years, in total i have yielded 10 grams. This is supposed to be saving me money not wasting my money. Plants just dont grow in soilless unless there is something added to it. What that something is, i dont know. I always add about 1 part perlite+verm to 2 parts soil. My plants would only develop 1 set of true leaves if i dont fert them with ff grow big and would be at a 100% stand still until they eventually die. I've read that you shouldn't fert until they get into veg but if i dont fert THERE WOULD BE NO VEG just a seedling that looks like it came out of the soil. No matter how many times i hear it I refuse to believe that grow big is all you need in soilless even though it apparently has everything you need in it. I have been trying this for a long time and it obviously doesn't have everything you need because my plants look like garbage. I have seen your grow logs and they are impressive by the way.

@weezard: i actually happen to have some coco in brick form right now, have you tried using the coco with the one fert for cannabis? if so how was your yield and how problematic was it?

Thank you both for stopping in, im in a horrible mood so sorry if i come across somewhat of an ass just tired of the problems, i haven't seen a healthy marijuana plant in person yet after the 10 or so different soil/soiless mediums i have tried lol.

[michaelpeg]

also 1 tsp dyna gro per 1 gallon water?

[Weezard]

"weezard: i actually happen to have some coco in brick form right now, have you tried using the coco with the one fert for cannabis? if so how was your yield and how problematic was it?"

Yes, of course. Grow for veg, Bloom for flower.
Getting about 1 z .per plant 'cause I keep 'em short, (under 3 feet), and I use LEDs 'cause we pay dearly for electricitry here.
I gotta ask what you are using for light?

Weeze

[Weezard]

also 1 tsp dyna gro per 1 gallon water?

Yes, it's that simple.
I do need a little Calmag because our tap water is too pure.
120 ppm from the tap.

[michaelpeg]

ok i already got some calmag also, i am using a 400 watt hps

[michaelpeg]

Hopefully this will solve my indoor grow problems and if so, i owe you one. This year i do plan on trying outdoor and still need a soil that has some nutes because i probably wont be able to make it to my plants everyday or every week for that matter. I found a 16 quart bag of ffof for $47, expensive but i will buy it if nobody knows anything better for outdoor low maintenance soil.

[Weezard]

ok i already got some calmag also, i am using a 400 watt hps


I'm sure you already know that the HPS bulbs need to be replaced about once a year.
Once they start to dim, well, let's just say the drop in light is not linear.
After 2 years they are just about worthless.
Only other advice I can give on this is to start slow with the nutrients.
For clones and seedlings, start with plain, or just Calmag, water. 1/4 tsp. nutes after the first week or two, then 1/2 tsp. etc.
I really cant tell you exactly when to increase the nutes, but the plants will indicate their needs.
You just have to connect with their little green asses to figure out what they're whining about.:jointsmile:
Coco can look dry on top and still be too moist to water so lifting the pot is the best way to judge dryness.

Best of luck with it.
Wee Zard

[michaelpeg]

yeah i know about replacing the light and i always start with very low doses of nutes. will keep that in mind about pot weight and coco thanks for the help.

[frostymcfailure]

did you use appropriate fertilizer with the soil? Your right it is probably soilless. When i had the $ to play with id get one bag of ocean forest and mix that along with 2 promix bails, added perlite, vermiculite, coco fiber(for water retention) along with two bags of black gold bark-stuff mix and some peat moss. This soil would take any plant through veg and into flower without the need of ferts and if i were a plant id freaking love sleeping in it! If ferts were present in the water itd usually burn the plants. PH test your custom blend to ensure its around ph7.

[frostedwonder]

Hey fill out a grow problem form and people can help you. if your using a 400watter and can't finish with more then 10grams I would say its not the soil more factors are a muck. I do fine with just about any soil. What strain are you using? bagseed and crappy lights and ave soil produce more then what you have yielding, try to regroup and go over your setup and work things up a bit. outdoors can be fun, indoors can be tricky as I am finding but still 10g sux for a 400watter. any pics of what your doing?

[michaelpeg]

the 10~gram plant was grown under a 150 watter

[michaelpeg]

the 10~gram plant was grown under a 150 watter and the strain was Caramelicious (website states excellent for beginners) and currently i am growing Pure Power Plant . No camera, no pictures sorry. From how its looking right now I expect to yield around 2.5oz from my 4 PPP plants. Right now what i am doing is very simple no pictures needed, I am growing in seedling soil (same as any other peat based crap)I water them with foxfarm grow big in veg and tiger bloom in flower with every watering and flush bi-weekly water ph after nutes added 6.8-6.6. Plants are about 6 inches under the light because the light has no reflector and i have a fan on the plants at all times so temps are not that high at all. I have asked about my plants problems in that section but its hard to get help without a camera.

Anyways i will soon know if it is the medium or not as i have some foxfarm on the way for outdoor grow and I am gonna take weezards advice and try coco for my next plant.