Growing plants without using fertilizer

[pago5165]

Ive got a rather newbie question, so I guess this much be the perfect place to ask. Ive heard a lot of people in my area growing their plants without using fertilizer and only using epsom salt as an additive to the water for plants. I know the perks of not using fertilizer give you a more organic cannabis, but how does your plant get the efficient nutrient that are needed in the vegetative stage. All of the people I have heard using this method have been growing indoors and in soil, as am I.

[Firstsecond]

Well, It is not exactly possible to grow without feeding the plant, if you don't want to feed nutes througout the entire grow, you need a pretty proper soil for that, rich in organic - at least to some extent composted - matter and microbe or proper fungi life to make the nutes available for plant as it grows. (I found that out the hard way, as some people here know ;P)

From my understanding epsom salt itself has a pretty narrow nutrient composition, but it can help break down the substances in your soil to make them available for your plants...

In either case, if you decide to not add ferlitizers, especially mineral ones (as in non-organic), you probably should not count on yelds as big as they otherwise could be.
If you are looking to organic grows, you should also probably consider if the epsom salt has been mined or maybe even where...
It depends how organic-crazy are you

All your local fellow growers, what are their results with soil and dilluted epsom? Where do they (and you) get your soil?

Curious for other replies too.


Cheers!

[Weed Pharma]

Yes you can!
I currently have 3 different strains doing well and in the final month of flower- all without fertilizer (mostly- I'll explain).
For each grow I am using a Roots Organic Original amended with dolomite, epsom salts and diatomaceous earth.

Sativa (heavy feeder)was grown with multiple transplants - solo cup for 2 weeks- then a 1 gallon container for 3 weeks and then a 3 gallon container just before the flip.
Sativas are heavy feeders and began yellowing at the start of 12/12- lower leaves (but this has a long flower period of 10 weeks)-so,I added 1/4 flowertabs (organic- Nirvana Shop) and gave a very small dose of dyna-gro bloom to help before the flowertabs could kick in.
I then added another 1/4 about 14 days later. Next grow- I will use 1/2 flowertab with 30 days between because the flowertab would be used after about 6 weeks (I assume as Nirvana hasn't returned my email concerning the duration of action for the flowertab).
The Sativa was heavily LST/HST as it grew too large while I was on vacation.

Indica (average feeder)- the seed was planted directly in a 2 gallon container- (using a germination bag) and was doing fine, but I decided to add the low dose of flowertab 1/4+1/4. LST only to break apical dominance. water only

Auto (light feeder)- same as the Indica- except it is a light feeder and the flowertab (organic) full dose is 1/2 tablet and was added once pre-flowers showed. LST only to break apical dominance. water only

I do use Protekt, and General Hydroponics pH UP on all grows
I added 1 feeding of epsom salts to the Sativa.
I keep Dyna-gro foliage -pro and bloom on hand should a deficiency show up- but only used 1/2 ml of bloom on the Sativa.

With this set up there is no need to flush the plants for harvest and I have not run into any pH problems-

I like Dyna-Gro as I "could" use it and it does not need to be flushed - regardless of the low dose that I had to use- once.

[Green75]

How long have you been in flower?

[Weed Pharma]

in flower:
Indica- 4 weeks
Sativa- 5 weeks
Auto- 10 days

[Weed Pharma]

UPDATE- Nirvana got back to me on the time frame for flowertabs- and soiltabs too<--I don't need soiltabs as the soil provides enough, so far.
"The longevity of the tabs depends on how much you water the plants. if you are in a very hot climate and you need to water daily, the tabs will disintegrate quicker. But generally the Soiltabs keep for about 6 to 8 weeks and the Flower tabs should hold for about 10+ weeks. " -AJ/ Nirvana-

[Green75]

I have seen this topic come up a few different times I am not sure why people use organic soil or super soil and all those other products because they don't really know what's in it and how it's going to affect the plants why do people use these things why not use just a neutral medium and then add your nutrients to that so you know what they're getting and what amounts they're getting my personal opinion Organix should be left for fruits and vegetables we are growing weed here people I would think you would want the very best possible every Harvest I would think you would want to be in total control of your nutrients not knowing what's in your soil causes a lot of problems I've been reading..... to each their own in every case just my opinion

[Wattze]

A great one at that! Absolutely true! You put all this time and effort into them, you want the best possible outcome, right?? I want those babies to be fat and dense! Incredibly potent! lol I just wanted to say I agree with ya, green!

[Firstsecond]

Why wouldn't you want absolute best harvest from fruit and vegetables?

[kingfish]

I have seen this topic come up a few different times I am not sure why people use organic soil or super soil and all those other products because they don't really know what's in it and how it's going to affect the plants why do people use these things why not use just a neutral medium and then add your nutrients to that so you know what they're getting and what amounts they're getting my personal opinion Organix should be left for fruits and vegetables we are growing weed here people I would think you would want the very best possible every Harvest I would think you would want to be in total control of your nutrients not knowing what's in your soil causes a lot of problems I've been reading..... to each their own in every case just my opinion

I have to agree with you on this one Green. I keep my grow as simple as possible. Soil, Water, Nutes. A occasional supplement if needed. That's it. I don't like spending money on all that unproven stuff. Why reinvent the wheel. Experienced growers have already set a pretty good standard.
KISS (keep it simple silly)

[insomniaczzz]

I used a basic nutrient rich soil to start with. NOT one with time released nutrients like Miracle Gro) Got it at our local garden shop called Baccto. I did nothing by water the entire veg cycle, though you do have to keep an eye on pH. Ours was always perfect. When we transplanted from 2 gal buckets to 5 gal buckets for the bloom cycle, using the same brand of soil (new, not recycled except for what stayed attached to the root ball), we added no extra nuts until the buds had a good two week start. We then used a bloom nutrient(Kushy Kush) once a week, plain water in between. I did add molasses three times, but that is certainly optional. Kept it very simple.....no a little of this, a little of that.

We have beautiful buds and today and tomorrow we will be harvesting. I guess we won't know the quality until after drying and cured properly.

That's MY idea of KISS (keep it simple silly).

[Karlee]

I've seen people growing over a fish tank roots in the water with the fish and they grow great my idea would be having a 100 gallon tank and every 7 days ( i grow hydro) siphon 5 gallons off, fill my tub, and see what happens LOL

[dontknownuttin]

I've seen people growing over a fish tank roots in the water with the fish and they grow great my idea would be having a 100 gallon tank and every 7 days ( i grow hydro) siphon 5 gallons off, fill my tub, and see what happens LOL

with newts. mixed in I bet you will have dead fish just a guess on my part nothing personal. I have seen fish used though. They were in a separate res. and the waist material was used on the plants (in separate res.)

[Karlee]

You don't need nutrients you feed the fish and the waste has all you need to feed plants. I love fish to much to harm them in any way. I'd just use their water to feed my plants

[dontknownuttin]

[dontknownuttin]

Can you fit all that in your grow tent?

[Karlee]

LOL Nope that wouldn't fit ....I'd just need 5 gallons of water from the tank ..I'm in a basement I could have the tank close to the tent though.

[NebulaHaze]

In my experience, plants grown in well-amended living soil with no added nutrients have a more complex taste/smell. On the other hand, plants grown with liquid nutrients grow faster and buds can be more potent. They each have pros and cons