Soil mix and nutrients

[AMP]

Im currently growing in a 50/50 mix of fox farm ocean and coco coir with perlite. I use advance nutrients. Im curious , what do you grow in and what do you use. I have been researching organic for months but who knows what is truth and what is “opinions” id rather use worm poo and the likes if it makes a difference in the end. Hope everyone had a great weekend and my NY neighbors kept cool in this hot mess of a summer

[ductwizard]

hey amp, i'm a dirt farmer. 5 gal. pails filled with really well composted black, full a worms dirt. no added nutes just whatevers in the compost..coffee grounds, scraps, leaves, all that crap. just tap water. my plants do better when i leave them alone. hope this helps

[AMP]

Lucky duct! I need to learn how to compost and get that going. Ny seasons might keep me from it but I’m going to figure it out. Thanks wizard

[AMP]

hey ductwizard ,If you ever get a surplus and want to sell some hit me up neighbor

[crucialbunny]

I've been growing in 100% natural soil for better than 4 years now and I'll never go back to anything else. There are many benefits to this method but for me the number one reason is that with all natural growing PH becomes a mute point. The beneficial bacteria breaks down all the nutrients and in the process brings the soil to a natural PH balance. (You can research this in Google Scholar if you don't believe me.) I reuse my soil year after year. Almost as soon as I harvest I take all the soil and put it in 40 gallon trash cans and add castings from my worm bins, leaf litter, kelp, oyster shell, Epsom, dried anchovies, and coarse playground sand. Then I let it develop until it's time to plant again. Molasses dissolved in water and added to the soil periodically keeps the bacteria happy and the compost moist. I grow in 35 Gallon cloth bags and there's never a need to fertilize until late flower when I will make avocado and banana teas to give that final PK punch. It's really nice not being a slave to PH and just letting my plants grow. After reading the Hazard Warnings on PH up & PH down, along with many of the off the shelf nutrient ingredients, I decided this was the way I had to go. Don't get me wrong, petrochemical nutrients do a slam bang job of growing big beautiful plants . . . . but at what cost? If i have to wear gloves, goggles, and a respirator to apply them, I question whether or not I want to burn them and inhale it. It's just my own personal mind set and I'm not trying to criticize those who use them.

[ductwizard]

i've never and have no way to check anything. all i know is i have black, 20 yr long composted earth that big fat worms love. like i said i think my plants do better without my so-called help.

[AMP]

Thanks for sharing and caring enough to reply! You guys have sold me on going organic and I’m working towards that now . Getting the “recipes” from trusted sources here is really helpful

[Franklin]

I'm 100 percent organic now, I grow in soil in the largest fabric pots that will fit in my tent for the number of plants I'm growing each round. I think I started with some of the fox farms bags but as my pots got bigger and multiplied I made some of own soil. I now have more than enough and simply add fresh homemade worm compost each run, sometimes mixing it in, sometimes just top dressing like a no till method. The only store bought amendments I ever use is rootwise mycrobe complete, but that's just because I have a bag that I bought years ago and it's still sitting around. I also sometimes use blood meal if my nitrogen is low. I suggest you get your soil tested every 2 or 3 runs, I use a mail-in soil tester called mysoil, you can get it on Amazon and it's fantastic.

By the way, you can have your own worm bin even if you live in an apartment, and if you do it right, it doesn't smell. Google around. There was even a gwe user who made a little video about his in his apartment maybe 8 or 9 months ago, I can't remember who it was, but if you search on the site you might be able to find it

[AMP]

Thank you Franklin!!! Great info and I’m more motivated every reply. Thank you thank you🫶🏼

[golfnrl]

I grow in autopots using a 50/50 blend of coco coir and perlite in 5 gallon fabric pots. I use CX Horticulture nutrients. CX are mineral based nutrients. I use their full line related to coco. I started off in soil but saw the autopots and have been using this system exclusively for about 6 years. The autopot system is a bottom feeding wicking type watering system. This system appealed to me for its flexibility and ability to be away from my plants for a few days. I don’t have that need anymore but like the system and still use it. I like the idea of composting and using soil only but don't see myself changing anytime soon.

[AMP]

Thank you golfnrl🫶🏼

[Allotrope1000]

Hi, AMP..
After four years of successfull greenhouse grows using 50/50 coco/ perlite in 7 gal fabric pots and GH Trio nutes per GWE, I finally tried growing a couple plants in soil, in the 110°F metro Phoenix summer.
I dug down 18" x 5' diameter in a shaded area of an existing veggie garden. Broke up the dirt, added store bought planting soil, my own compost, coco, perlite, sand, kelp extract and granular, slow release 15-15-15 generic fertilizer. Added mychorrizae to root balls. Watered in each layer well with Miracle Gro. Sprinkled DE and coffee grounds around plants to deter pests. Covered soil bed with landscape cloth and two inches of lawn clippings. Put remay around plants under shade screen to protect from totally brutal sun.
After 5 weeks in ground, two 10", one gallon seedlings (Herbies Head Shop "Apple Betty" photos) are now 5' and 4' tall. Doing GREAT, no bugs, no heat damage.
Care is so easy. Simply water every four days or so.
Go with your organics. Years of veggie gardening and this new cannabis experience tell me to just put them into well prepared ground, protect them and they will GROW.

[AMP]

Hey allotrope, AMAZING! Great job! Cant wait to hear how they turn out