Looking to purchase a soil for my 2nd grow
Hey guys,
I am in a bit of a debacle. I have been doing some research on here and the internet and am having trouble deciding what soil I should start with. Last summer, I planted a Big Bang auto outside in the middle of a heat wave in August and it didn't end well. This time I am determined to grow however, I will do so indoors this time.
I recently purchased a higher quality LED Grow Light (it wasn't cheap) I researched the optimal light spectrums for cannabis and the optimal nanometer for each color for growing cannabis and purchased an LED light that matched those specs. (it becomes apparent that companies fib about their numbers particularly the cheaper LED light companies..)
Anyways, I am looking for an idiot proof soil. My brother is helping me grow this time and will be able to tend to the plant everyday. However, I do not want to over load him with too much worry with feeding the plant liquid nutes. I would like to find a soil that we could basically just water the plant with a PH balanced water for the rest of the plants life if possible. I am ok with having my brother feed it some nutes but nothing too crazy where it would be easy for him to screw up. I did like to avoid spending a sh*t load of money in the grow shop too.
We will be growing a Big Bang Auto flower from Green House Seed Co.
I've been looking into Fox Farm's Ocean Forest but, I have to drive an hour and a half to my nearest grow shop with all the common cannabis brands to get it. So I want to ask you guys for some advice before I drive all that way to the grow shop.
So what soil should I get? Being a noob, is it worth the time to go to the grow shop or should I just go with like a Miracle gro or something more generic?
I do live in a pretty rural area with farming supply stores around. I also have an hydroponic orchid place nearby but, dunno if I want go into a place like that as a noob. lol.
Any advice is appreciated :)
Looking to purchase a soil for my 2nd grow
Looking to purchase a soil for my 2nd grow
I was going to tell you how to make your own soil, but PP got it covered. :smokin:
Looking to purchase a soil for my 2nd grow
Thanks for the reply! Definitely a help.. I think I am going to take a look in the local farming stores around here. Something tells me I can get the low fert soil and the Dr. Earth ferts there or something similar there.
If I can get a soil-less medium like pro-mix at the local farm shop do you think that would be better? And mix a fertilizer in with the soilless soil? Or am I getting way in over my head with that stuff for a newbie..
Thanks for a the links btw.. I think with a little more reading on this I will be able to mix my own. With all the farms around here I should be able to find what I need.
Do you know or know where I can find out the best NPK that cannabis likes? I can't seem to find what the NPK is for Fox Farm.. Probably a best kept secret or something. But it would be nice to know what im shooting for as far as that goes. Cuz all I know is that Miracle grow is high at like 21.14.7 or something like that.. but what is like a good range of NPK to have in my soil for my plant?
Thanks again for all the info.. I am definitely going to stear away from Miracle gro this time and try to mix my own.. I think Miracle gro killed my last plant :(
Looking to purchase a soil for my 2nd grow
A good quality potting soil will be fine. Don't use LillyMiller powder fert as there is no bacteria added to it. Only Whitney Farms or Dr. Earth.
Why would you think you're in over your head? It's not hard.
Pretty much any NPK that is for flowering. Dr. Earth has many different ferts but the one that is something like 4-8-3 should work. So will 5-5-5.
Looking to purchase a soil for my 2nd grow
Good to know.. Worst case I will just order the ferts on amazon, I think I saw Dr. Earth on there last night.
I am just worried since my last plant freaking died like mid veg :( and there is so much info and so many techniques out there it makes growing sound like a form of art lol.
Wow.. that's a much lower NPK than Miracle gro.. No wonder my last plant died.
Awesome info, thanks so much! I'll let you guys know how it goes. :) I'm going to try and do a grow log on here. Hopefully it will help catch any issues before they become fatal...
Looking to purchase a soil for my 2nd grow
Quote:
Originally Posted by TrickySticky
Thanks for the reply! Definitely a help.. I think I am going to take a look in the local farming stores around here. Something tells me I can get the low fert soil and the Dr. Earth ferts there or something similar there.
If I can get a soil-less medium like pro-mix at the local farm shop do you think that would be better? And mix a fertilizer in with the soilless soil? Or am I getting way in over my head with that stuff for a newbie..
Pro Mix is an excellent medium to use! And; Most good farm supplies have it in stock or can get it for you.
Thanks for a the links btw.. I think with a little more reading on this I will be able to mix my own. With all the farms around here I should be able to find what I need.
Ican give you 2 or 3 ways to make medium or soil. I use several methods around the farm. You also may be able to buy direct from an Ag Supply, bypassing the middle man. I buy all my minerals and chelates from a Regional Ag Supplier who delivers.
Do you know or know where I can find out the best NPK that cannabis likes? I can't seem to find what the NPK is for Fox Farm.. Probably a best kept secret or something. But it would be nice to know what im shooting for as far as that goes. Cuz all I know is that Miracle grow is high at like 21.14.7 or something like that.. but what is like a good range of NPK to have in my soil for my plant?
Basically; you need a balance dfert to begin veg like a 10-10-10, then you want a higher level of P, and K in flower.
Let me know if you don't find local help.
Looking to purchase a soil for my 2nd grow
Reading string reminds me why I like my compost pile
Looking to purchase a soil for my 2nd grow
Found a nice organic soil at my local farming supply. Thanks guys! My plant is 2 weeks old and we just moved her into her grow room in a closet. She seems to be doing good :)
Looking to purchase a soil for my 2nd grow
our local farm co-op store has two varieties of Dr. earth soil. You need to look around.
Looking to purchase a soil for my 2nd grow
I've heard good things about Dr. Earth products. I will see if they carry it. For now she seems to be doing well in what we have her in. If I don't like the results I will invest in a soil like Dr.Earth or Fox Farm. What do you guys think of Schultz soil products? I was in Tractor Supply the other day and bought a bag for my other plants. Ever since my epic MG fail last year I wont even plant my Basil and Tomatoes in MG lol. Seems like the NPK of Schultz is lower/different than MG. I read someone on here was using it, I forget who it was though.
I will be starting another plant in the next week or so. However, the seeds are from a friend and I do not think they are an auto flower. So the timing right now should be fine for an already growing Auto and a reg seedling to share a grow spot for a little while. But, I need more soil for that grow anyways so if one of my local stores has Dr. Earth i'll buy it. I am slowing learning which of the local stores has good soil. I am trying very hard to steer clear of the Big Box stores.
Looking to purchase a soil for my 2nd grow
the soil may not be as important as picking a good quality fert. having said that, I'm not a botanist or soil chemist or anything like that. But I've learned that methods of the past, meaning 5-10 years ago, tended to be no good because people were buying liquid ferts and not using them properly. Picking a fert like Dr. Earth means that you have to give more time to the growing, but it's less worrisome for the grower. There will be no more questions about pH and you shouldn't have much in the way of deficiencies. If you do just a quick shot of an additive should solve the problem. The companies that make liquid ferts have come out with feeding schedules in an attempt to help growers know how much to feed, but even then people can screw things up. There are many Dr. Earth ferts and you'll only need one. It might be smart to get a fert with micro nutes as well, like boron, sulphur, etc. as I don't think the Dr. Earth ferts contain everything. Perhaps the best thing to do is contact the company and see what they say, if micro nutes are something that needs to be purchased separately. the value to dr. earth is that it mimics natural fert processes, using bacteria and fungi, and once in the soil you don't have to guess as to how to fert anymore. I've noticed that over the last six months or so, not very many people come to this forum looking for help. It used to be that there were at least 5 new posters every day with problems coming here wanting help only to be put on a circle-jerk. One rule to follow in investing is not to through good money after bad, meaning if your investment isn't working, throwing more money into it is probably a waste. Same things can said about plants. If the fert method you're using isn't right, pumping in more fert will just make it worse.
Looking to purchase a soil for my 2nd grow
Thank you for your very well put response. You make absolute sense! Since explaining my situation to you guys on here and talking to you and Shovehandle about my soil dilemma, I am sold on the Dr. Earth's. I will look intensely around here. Hopefully one of these farming/garden places will have it. Dr. Earth's sounds pretty idiot proof too. That is exactly what I need. Like I said above.. My brother is helping me with this grow and I don't want to over complicate things for him since he is doing the watering's.
You are absolutely right about getting caught in a circle on here. When I first joined to research soils and nutes on here, there was soo much info and soo many opinions it makes growing seem impossible for a noob like my brother and I. I just want to keep it simple and successful. I'm not growing to have a warehouse full, I just want to enjoy it. However, I don't want to completely jeopardize quality either.
I'll keep a look out locally for Dr. Earth's products. If I don't have any success locally I will just order it online.
Quick question.. Is Dr. Earth's like a pretty generic grow product? Its not something that's specifically aimed at growing weed right? I just figured I'd ask because if it is, the nearest place for me to buy weed oriented grow products is like an hour and a half away...
Looking to purchase a soil for my 2nd grow
I don't think there are ferts designed for your plant specifically, however, it's a particular delivery method that has been developed by the owner. I think he's a chemist named Milo Shamas. Just google search and you'll see. Ferts are developed for three different types of fert methods. The powder ferts, the crystals, and the liquids. Crystal ferts and liquids tend to provide a lot of nutes per smaller unit, meaning they tend be strong. Powder ferts are really active until they're in soil and hit with water which is when the bacteria come to life and start breaking things down.