Soil VS. Soilless

I have been growing for quite a few years and have alwys used top grade soil. More recently, I have found gnats in Fox Farm soil and soil lice in another. I decided to go with sunshine #4 for my next garden and control the nutes. I am about to repot my current garden which is in FF soil now.

After learning more about the soilless mediums it occured to me that I really don't need to use FF soil because it is loaded with higher N-P-K and I really don't need the Nitrogen in my flowering stage.

Any thoughts on this?
I decided to go ahead with FF anyway so I don't shock the plants with different soil.

Does the fresh N have any effect on the flowering?
Would it have been better to find something with low N and higher P-K?

I definetly see the advantage to soilless mediums for complete control...
Also, Id' really like to hear from those who are experienced in soilless growing!

What say you?

i believe i saw this in another thread, i myself have had no problems with ff. further i use nitrogen all through flower. i read that recent studies actually say that N is still needed during flower. i dont really flush at all, maybe last couple of feedings and the taste is always great. whenever you change tactics though, there is a learning curve, so be wary.


meded is a hell of a drug

Iʻve had no issues with using FF, in fact i actually had a slight N deficiency at about 2 weeks into flowering.

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Originally Posted by FlyinPolynesian

Iʻve had no issues with using FF, in fact i actually had a slight N deficiency at about 2 weeks into flowering.

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if your speaking of soil, then 2 weeks is when you start adding nutes after a fresh transplant.


meded so you can mededicate to mededitate

with soil (FF or OF), I use half strength nutes (I add 50% water to my soilless mixture then readjust ph) every other watering. very unscientific, but it works. If you are really all about soil, you need to test your soil for nutrient levels. kits are pretty cheap at any garden store, though you may need to go online as the season is off.. and, only in flower. I may lightly fertilize once mid veg, but that's about it.. (my veg is always ahead of my flower, so I am not in a rush to get them big in V)

As for soilless... I found Sunshine4 to be a pain in the ass. its great until the last couple weeks of flowering, then the ph goes all over the place and I get crispy leaves. I run nutes at 80% or less of manufacturer recs, and every 3 or 4 waterings use plain water. add 30% perlite to help protect from over-watering symptoms.

Have you tried coco yet? I'm just about to start flowing some in coco for the first time. So far, I am very impressed. there are some little flying bugs that come in the coco, but they seem to go away on their own and have no effect on the plants. It's like all the massive growth of growing in hydrontin /aero/bubble yet your shit isn't dead in hours if something breaks. you can water 4 times a day, or they can go with 3 days without watering. If you fuck up, it's easy to flush. unlike sunshine4, FF, or OF soils.

Like FP, I find that the N tanks in ffof as they go into flower, and needs a substantial boost to make it to the end... they def. use A LOT of N through flowering.

I add dry ferts to the soil and fine tune things with liquid nutes when I water... I think if you don't you'd need to use more liquid nutes which generally cost more.

I have found gnats in most soil mixes from time to time, just use some nematodes and yellow sticky traps and they will be gone...

I have went totally soiless (coir mix) in the past and ended up going back to soil. I could go into the multitude of problems I had, but suffice it to say that I had no increase in yield, used alot more nutes, and ran into weird deficiencies/overfert conditions.


As far as I concerned there is only one soil to use, Fafard 3B. It is the gold standard for greenhouse growing (not just reefer, most plants). It is also alot cheaper than fox farm, sunshine, promix, etc. It contains processed pine bark which makes for an incredibly soft and light mix.

My $.02

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Originally Posted by asscore

I have went totally soiless (coir mix) in the past and ended up going back to soil. I could go into the multitude of problems I had, but suffice it to say that I had no increase in yield, used alot more nutes, and ran into weird deficiencies/overfert conditions.


As far as I concerned there is only one soil to use, Fafard 3B. It is the gold standard for greenhouse growing (not just reefer, most plants). It is also alot cheaper than fox farm, sunshine, promix, etc. It contains processed pine bark which makes for an incredibly soft and light mix.

My $.02

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yep anytime you delve into the soiless world youll find that it takes more attention to the little thing, ph being one of them. ive used both with success i guess i just prefer soil. never heard of fafard 3b where can one find it?


meded, superior organics

It's usually sold at small greenhouse garden centers.

Retail Locator : : Fafard

I know they have it at American Clayworks as well, but you must have an account there.

Its usually around $15 for a 2.8 cu ft bag.

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Originally Posted by asscore

It's usually sold at small greenhouse garden centers.

Retail Locator : : Fafard

I know they have it at American Clayworks as well, but you must have an account there.

Its usually around $15 for a 2.8 cu ft bag.

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fox farms ocean forest has been going for $18 but i believe thats 1.5 cu ft


meded for life...its ok were taking it back

I have taken this under very close consideration and I am convinced that growing these expensive Sensi Seeds Northern Lights would be best grown in soil as I have always done in the past. Perhaps I'll use my Sunshine mix to start clones until they enter veg state...

These little soil lice are really pissin' me off though. I keep fighting with neem oil spray, and many die but not all! They like to hang out on the vein of the fan leaves. They eat away on the leaf until the leaf dies or I kill the lice. I'm considering putting these plants in my green house tent with a heater. Maybe a few nights of 50* will slow em' down. Plus, they should flower beautifully under natural sun! Then I can install the flooring in my room and paint. Hopefully the next crop will be clean!

Anybody grown F1 Northern Lights?
How is it?

I have taken this under very close consideration and I am convinced that growing these expensive Sensi Seeds Northern Lights would be best grown in soil as I have always done in the past. Perhaps I'll use my Sunshine mix to start clones until they enter veg state...

These little soil lice are really pissin' me off though. I keep fighting with neem oil spray, and many die but not all! They like to hang out on the vein of the fan leaves. They eat away on the leaf until the leaf dies or I kill the lice. I'm considering putting these plants in my green house tent with a heater. Maybe a few nights of 50* will slow em' down. Plus, they should flower beautifully under natural sun! Then I can install the flooring in my room and paint. Hopefully the next crop will be clean!

Anybody grown F1 Northern Lights?
How is it?

Sounds like thrips.

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Originally Posted by Zedleppelin

Sounds like thrips.

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Uh, upon further review... You are exactly right!
They are THRIPS!
Pesky SOB's but I'm maintaining...
Now I learn a new chapter!

Spinosad is the most effective treatment for thrips, such as this....

Monterey 1 Pint Monterey Garden Insect Spray Ready-to-Use - LG6130 at The Home Depot

Spray once every 3 days 3 times should do the trick. Although they claim its safe to eat fruit and vegetables a day after applying I wouldnt spray it on your buds, IMO.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FlyinPolynesian

Iʻve had no issues with using FF, in fact i actually had a slight N deficiency at about 2 weeks into flowering.

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this normal though, you dont need it like in veg but you still need it. drop it to 1-3N, then the last week ditch it. except for synthetics then flush at 2 weeks.



meded, synthetic free:thumbsup:

Sprayed once with Spinosad, and no trace! I just followed the directions on the bottle (1/4 tsp. for 16oz water) and the plants look great! No bugs to be found anywhere... Thanks!

Been using sunshine for over a year now... no ph problems here. Four grows in a row came out every time. Just have to careful with measuring the nutes; I use AN with molasses during flower. Seems to drain really well - I have not had any overwatering issues. Sunshine seems to me to be the most painless method, maybe that is just what I am used to. Still chuckling over someone I know who was bragging about how 'hydro is the only way to go"- he went and spent a couple thousand $$ and six months later still has not one bud to show for it :D