If you read my first post on this thread, you would have noticed I said General Hydroponic Fert. aka thats why i use for cannabis. i.e. cannabis fert. thanksQuote:
Originally Posted by PlantHeadJ
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If you read my first post on this thread, you would have noticed I said General Hydroponic Fert. aka thats why i use for cannabis. i.e. cannabis fert. thanksQuote:
Originally Posted by PlantHeadJ
a double thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by anbesol
and to the guy asking about peat. a lot of soil is peat based, peat being a natural moss found in the earth, all decomposed,......it is much more acidic than cannabis wants.
the soil i use is peat based (trying new soil out) but has added dolomite lime to correct the ph of the soil. ill have to see how long before the soil starts changing on me and might add something organic to fix ph. if fixable.
brittanycamp:
May be time for transplant to a gallon pot. Likely rootbound and possible overwatering. (not enough soil in the cup, either) Are there drainage holes in the bottoms of the cups? Lack of drainage will cause root-rot, and stops nutrient uptake. Also, as stated above...a ph pen is very important. Using MG soil, it's likely best to go with half-strength nutes AFTER the first 3 or 4 weeks, especially for seedlings or clones. From previous experience, the nutes already in the soil should last for about a month, before needing supplimentation with veg nutes.
In regards to a couple of posts above:
I just don't get it. So what's up with all the bad advice being slung-around like it's gospel...?
Are there products better suited than Miracle Grow, and better places to buy, than Home Depot...? Sure. But even the products "designed" for cannabis need adjusting and practice.
Around five or six years ago, HD and WalMart were the only places around me where I could get garden supplies. For three years, the only soil I used was Supersoil or Miracle Grow Moisture Control. For ferts, I used Miracle Grow All Purpose (12-4-8) for veg, and some off-brands for flower. Never have I lost a crop to Supersoil or Miracle Grow. But just like "cannabis" ferts and soils...you still need to test, flush and watch your ladies growth habits.
Gets pretty frustrating looking at all the bullshit people spread. Miracle Grow works. But yes, it is a bit testy to work with. BFD...you make adjustments and learn from the experience. If all you can do is follow the package directions, without having the ability to make adjustments...then it really doesn't matter what soil or ferts you use. Your inflexibility will kill your plants.
Not too sure I even want to get into the bullshit about peat or peat based products. Been using them for MANY years, and I swear by them. Damn near any fricking product you use for your garden will have to be adjusted to suit your needs. If that includes occational flushes to leech salts or nute build-up, or adding extra perlite and/or vermiculite, then so be it. But patently accusing Home Depot and Miracle Grow of stunting ones plants...is flat-out bullshit.
I used half-strength Miracle-Grow for probably 20 years with great results, no burning,etc ... nothing wrong with it whatsoever, it's more 'how' you use it, than 'what' the name is ... plants don't read the labels, they just know nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium when they eat it :D ... I also had less than favorable results from the 'high-dollar' soils, the 'Ocean Forest' etc ... switched back to my old mid-priced brand, (Whitney Farms), much better results :jointsmile:
Thank you guys so much for all the help! The Hydroponics store nearby has a rediculous amount of pretty much anything we need so we went with FoxFarm Grow Big nutes [for vegetative stage only] and FoxFarm soil. Their prices are really good too so we will probably just stick with that for a while and see what happens!
if starting seedlings in the Fox Farm 'Ocean Forest' soil, don't add ANY nutrients for 2-3 weeks, wait and see how your plants are doing ... the soil is already so rich, it is easy to over-fertilize ... I don't care for the stuff, for young plants, OK for adults ... :smokin:
Good point ,IR...
The same caution (awareness) should be used for any pre-packaged soil mix. Finding a happy balance is not rocket science, but is part of the challenge of getting used to ANY of the techniques we utilize for cannabis growing. If paying attention to what you are doing, (a personal grow diary and measuring spoons help bunches) it shouldn't take long to zero-in on what nute ratios work with what's in your soil.
If worried about overferting youngsters with pre-ferted Scotts, Supersoil or MG, try rinsing (flushing) soil prior to use. :eek:
What is a cannabis fert? A fert designed for the specific needs of cannabis. It would be considered 'cannabis-specific'. You don't ASK for 'pot food' at the grow store; just assume that if the company advertises in freakin' High Times, yeah, that's a pot fert.
What is wrong with peat? It buffers naturally in the range of 4.5-5.5. This means that you can throw a lot of pH up at it and as soon as it is used up, your medium goes right back down again. You MUST add lime if you are making a home-made mix with raw peat moss. Store-bought mixes already have it.Peat products from the store (ProMix is very popular among growers, and I have been working with it lately with perfectly acceptable results) already have it if they are sold as potting soil. But you have to re-pot frequently to make sure that when the lime is used up (about 6-10 weeks from first wetting, depending on a lot of factors), you are providing fresh soil and not leaving the roots to sit in acid soil. Be prepared to monitor your pH.
Also, over time, the particles break down and change water retention. So extra perlite is a good call.
No fertilizers or pre-fertilized soil on plants that young, including FoxFarms media!!! Too hot! Use seedling starter mix from the farmers supply until they have ~4-5 nodes, THEN pot up.
I have had great luck with 1/3 Peat, 1/3 topsoil, 1/3 perilite as a media. I used this for years with mom's, breeding, and outside cultivation. I have been using hydro indoors for quite some time, but still dirt farm some. I agree that peat is acidic, that is why I use it. I flush before transition and at the end. I would never reuse the mix. I have had superb luck with that blend. As for fert, my point was that any fert can be used, just don't give noobs the impression that there is MJ specific fert that we all use. True some are angled that way but I have seen compost flat out door Advanced N products recently. Anyway what do I know, I just want people to understand that there are a million combinations to use and I'm sure they all work if tinkered with. Oh yeah I also add peanut shells to my soil mix.
You might want to print that F Farm feed schedule out and consider following that, it's pretty easy. Good luck!!
Miracle grow soil,Miracle grow bloom,Superthrive,Expert bloom booster,Omri fish emulsion,....are all products i've been using from Walmart.I don't have much of an option (no hydroponic stores for many,many miles around).I'm a newbie grower,and most of what i've learned about cannibus growing came from sites like this.I've got tons more to learn,but miracle grow soil works ok for me,for now:DI'm also trying this soil from Big Lots called Black Magic.I've also had good results with the Expert potting soils.I like to try different soils,nutrients,etc...It's a learning experience.:D...Just keep researching and don't believe every post,because you'll be mixing rat piss and cat's hair if you listen to some of these "experts":D