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3rd grow... new housing.... trying out foxfarm nutes and organic foxfarm soil... it seems like the foxfarm soil is very dry... especially next to the one that i used my own mix of soil that has worked great in the past.... also... i have sprouts in the reg soil and no sprouts yet from foxfarm soil... do they just take off? haha... for real though anyone with insight please...
lol im jusy finding all your threads. now lets talk soil a bit. what fox farms you talking about. i was using just ocaen forest and had a little problem with the ph in the soil getting on the low side, and it took just a little long for me to dry out. now im using two parts ocean forest and one part light warior this helps getting more oxygan in the root zone, im going to be checking the ph on this soil tonight. now besides that it has done very well for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by marcaka
You can be extremely successful using Fox Farm products. I believe Roots Organic makes competitive products as well. Use the Happy Frog for starting and the Ocean Forest for larger pots or for putting plants in the ground. The michoriza (sp?) will attach to the roots and will provide phenominal growth when compared with other brands of soil. Especially for the first soil the plant touches it is essential to have one like Happy Frog that attaches proper nutrients to the root system. Fox Farms also makes a seed starter soil that I have seen but never felt the need to try since the Happy Frog works incredibly well for starting seeds or clones. They also make a supplement that you can add to an equal amount of your own soil so you have twice the volume of treated soil as if it were all Fox Farms. Anyway good growing.
I love Fox Farm products, I use their fertilizer lines in both soil and hydro, exclusively :thumbsup: ... their soils, however, are another thing ... I've used them all, and don't anymore ... the Happy Frog and Light Warrior are decent soils, but, overpriced ... the much-touted "Ocean Forest' is good stuff for adult plants, but too hot for seedlings, in my experiences with it ... also, overpriced ... if you're in Northern California, I suggest a west-coast brand, 'Whitney Farms Potting Soil', I add perlite to 25%-33% concentration ... either 3, or 2 bags soil, to one bag perlite ... happy gardening :smokin:
Imagereaper, It makes a huge difference where you purchase your Fox Farms. I don't know what area you are in. In the South Bay, Cupertino, Santa Clara etc they want $13 or $14 a bag for Happy Frog or Ocean Forest. If I go to Friedman's in Ukiah the Happy Frog is $7.89 and the Ocean
Fores is about $1 more but I don't remember exactly. Also Hydro Pacific right around the corner had the Fox Farm seed starter for $8 a bag. The price for other Fox Farms products is higher at Hydro Pacific but still under $10 a bag. They also have a decent price on Roots Organic which I have been told is comparable.
If you are buying just one or two bags just pay the freight and get the good soil. It will give you a full return on your investment later on. However if you need 10 or more bags it may be worth a trip even if it is not in your area.
I actually have the happy frog soil which I am starting seedlings in and it just seems so dry... but my first one sprouted today in the happy frog soil. I also have the fox farm ocean forest that i wil use once I transplant. I appreciate all of the help and comments... now if I could just get the whole filtering and fan system to make sense I would be good haha
I was also noticing that I didnt even pack the soil too hard...just a fill and shake little pushing to fill pockets.. but when watering the water just stays on top... then it goes down about a minute later... but it def gets nowhere near the bottom.. does it need a good soaking? or just watered more?
I would prefer a dry soil str8 outta the bag over a moist dense mix. Seems safer to store and I have only ever had Fungus Gnats from weird off brands and Miracle Grow. Happy Frog and Ocean Forrest are 19 Bucks for a 2 cubic ft bag where I live. Love the big chunky Perlite Fox Farm sells by itself as well. And I water till it comes out the bottom and fills the saucer a bit.
10/bag! i pay $25 for happy frog at my local hydro shop. :(
i use a rock mulch and water 2/3 as often.
how much do u guys pay for a qt of big bloom or grow big up there in norcal?
I'm getting the 2cu ft bag of Happy Frog for $20 here, & BB/GB is $14/$20.
around here (butte county) quarts of Grow Big, etc. about $13, if I remember right ... the Ocean Forest is usually around $16-18 a bag, but main reason I quit using it, is because it's just too 'hot' ... great for adult plants, but I'm sticking with the old Whitney Farms (they were bought out by 'Scotts/Miracle Grow' a year or so ago, so they may go nationwide, but also, may change its quality, I hope not :smokin:
If you are opening a bag of soil and it's dry...likely it's been sitting around a while. Lack of moisture kills-off the beneficial bacteria in the soil, but should be ok once re-hydrated. But if that's the case...watch for unwanted bugs.
Give yourself a chance for success. Were I just learning to grow...I'd likely start with the best soil (and nutrients) I could find, and learn while using that. Good products usually produce a consistent result. Buying soil that has been treated like dirt can often lead to inconsistent results. Having said that...I still buy the best I can find locally. (Dr. Q's Filthy Rich Potting Soil, and Fox Farms nutrient 3-pack)
I live in the desert and during the summer, ambient humidity and heat makes it unnecessary to add perlite to the mix. My plants need watering almost daily. But during the cold and sometimes moist winter, I have to add around 20% or so additional perlite to lighten the soil. Otherwise the soil retains too much moisture before it's time to fertilize again per my Fox Farms schedule.
The point being...get to know your soil. Instead of jumping around looking for the perfect mix. Not all mixes are cannabis-ready, and might need adjusting to suit your needs. When in doubt...add perlite. Especially in a moisture-control formula. Different seasons will create different conditions in your garden. <doh>
Man I am shocked to hear some folks pay $20 per bag for Happy Frog. I thought it was the further from Humbolt the more expensive but that does not seem to be completely true. If you need several bags of Fox Farms products try to go to Friedman's in Ukiah the Happy Frog is $7.89 and the Ocean Forest is about $1 more. They had the Light Warrior starting soil on sale at Hydro Pacific just across from Friedmans. I have not tried that product though.
Rusty my plot is at about 2500 feet in the forest so I get hot dry summer days and rain and snow in the fall going to winter. My soil is already pretty decent already since it is already mostly forest loam and I can easily find more to add. Also since my holes are reused the dirt looks like potting soil when you start. I will probably add the Happy Frog soil supplement 50/50 to the existing soil then use Ocean Forest around the fresh plantings. I am making 3 x 3 holes so need lots of soil.
Wow, I live in southern Oregon and I pay $10 for a 1.5cu. ft. bag of Ocean Forrest and $13 for 2cu. ft. Happy Frog and $13 for 1 cu. ft. Light Warrior. I also get a discount if i buy 10 or more. :silly:
I wonder exactly where Fox Farms is located. The soil should be cheapest the closer you get to the source. I think it is in Humboldt County.
I pay $14 a bag for FF Ocean Forest at a local nursery in the Bay Area, CA. My clones seem to like it, so I am sticking with it.
I'm going with the Fox Farm nutrient trio at about 1/3 strength every other watering. It's been working for me so far.
You'd have solid results using the FF weekly feeding schedule. (it's on the FF website) Using bottle directions, they assume you aren't using the other two in the trio, and it can screw-up your ladies if you are.
I personally feed twice a week, but at half-strength with each feeding. Same weekly totals as listed on the website, but it's easier on my ladies.
Soluables not recommended till you know what you're doing. (couple of dozen grows) They can easily overstress the ladies and have negative results if overused.
I don't even use the soluables.... save the extra money.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty Trichome
I have experimented, and found that mixxing the FF ocean forest 2 to 1 with light warrior with added moisture, and bag it back up and let it sit for about 6 months tends to take some of the heat out of the soil. I found using it right out of the bag was still a little hot early into the grow. I always toss a couple red worms into each pot, one of my best kept secrets. Download the calender from fox farms web sight, and never mix the liquids and solubles when you feed, alternate days, and you cant go wrong.