What soils NOT to use?

[Tom Swierzbinski]

OK, so Ive got a few more Lowryders on the grow and also a White Rhino. Theyre under a 250w HPS, and considering the Lows grow a lot faster than the WR... theyre a helluva lot smaller (considering one is the same age as the WR).
Now the only thing I can put this down to is the soil Im using, because before theyve been fine - good enough to pollinate a female for seeds, so that must be something. Buster was having some problems with Lowryders aswell, though I think that was down to germination.

Anyways, the soil. Before I just used 'potting soil' and they seemed to love that. Now Ive picked up a bag of John Innes soil. On the bag it says that 'it contains all essential and trace nutrients'. Im just wondering why the White Rhino seems to love this soil, but the Lowryders seem to hate it. They are extremely stunted and deformed. Ill post some pics later for you to have a look at. And yes, temps, humidity and watering is all fine - Im using the same water for the WR as the LRs, and Im only watering when the soil gets dry on the top couple of inches. Its just normal tapwater thats filtered with one of those Brita jobbies.

[bob bobbinson]

hmm weird. Sounds like u need a Weedologist. Which I am not yet. hehe

But seriously, grab foxfarms ocean soil next grow. I love it, and others swear by it.

[The Grim Reefer]

Damn you Bob, I want this soil. WANT IT! Does it contain pearlite? Or does it need assistance as far as drainage?

Interesting, Tom - Someone will bang out an answer in no time. Unfortunately, I don't have a clue as to what the issue could be.. without pics that is. :D

Do you have enough drainage holes in the pots? Are they big enough? Does your soil contain pearlite or some other drainage supporter?

[Tom Swierzbinski]

Wrote down whats in this soil. Its actually B&Q soil (the potting mix was B&Q stuff so I thought Id be safe going there again) :)

It has - sphagnum peat, rich dark peat, fine bark, vermiculite (I also add my own perlite, about 20 percent), added plant nutrients and John Innes compost. It says NOT to use it with acid loving/lime hating plants. The pH of soil is supposed to be 6.3 with cannabis, so I know that its not exactly acid loving... although it can adapt to grow in many different places! Im just not sure how one strain - White Rhino - loves this soil, but the Lowryders dont like it. Ive been using the same germination technique since Ive started growing, and that was placing the seeds in some moist cotton wool in an old baccy tin on the shelf above my lamp where it stays nice and warm. Out of 12 or so seeds, only 1 has failed to germinate.

What the hell is up? :confused:

White Rhino is at day 10
Lowryder1 is at day 10
Lowryder2 is at day 6
Lowryder 3 is at day 5

Edit: WR is a little droopy because of an erratic watering schedule. Thats now fixed - I just got lazy :o
And yep, theres more than enough drainage holes. Between 4 and 6 depending on the size of the pots, and I also made them a little bigger with me dads drill ;)

[LIP]

Maybe you should try and transplant to the soil you used before, if the low's liked it its gotta be good :)

JUst keep the WR in it cos it likes it and you'll be flying :0

[Tom Swierzbinski]

Wish I could Alex... thing is I had to buy more soil because I used all the rest up!
If they dont perk up soon, then next time I grow Lowryders (probably never, think Ill move onto Durban Poison next) Ill pick up a bag of cactus potting compost. If I do grow some Durbans though Ill get some decent soil, like that Canna Terra stuff.

[bob bobbinson]

GRIM REEFER. i believe it does contain perlite. and needs no help with drainage. my pots drain in llike 5 secs.
also they say, u dont need to fertilize plants for 30 days :} And I didnt and mine grew pretty good. towards the end of veg, i gave them minor ammounts of ferts, but they really didnt need em.

heres a link to ingrediants i think
http://homeharvest.com/pottingmixprefertilized.htm