• Home
  • Forums
  • Medical Cannabis Cultivation
  • General Indoor Growing
  • Organic Soil
  • Finally going organic, please critique my soil mix

Finally going organic, please critique my soil mix

  • Thread starter Thread starter legaleyes13
  • Start date Start date Jul 5, 2014
  • Tagged users Tagged users None

Finally going organic, please critique my soil mix

legaleyes13 Jul 5, 2014 34 Replies 5,239 Views
Page 2 of 2 · Replies 21–35 of 35
Prev
  • 1
  • 2
First Prev 2 of 2

Thoth

Posts
446
Reactions
481
Joined
Feb 26, 2012
Points
63
Jul 7, 2014
#21
legaleyes13 said:
The gypsum is for calcium and ph. No real reason why I went with gypsum over dolo lime, I just kinda did. If I'm low on mag, I'll just add some epsom salt to my tea recipe.

Thanks for the suggestion.
Click to expand...

Gypsum is also a source of sulfur.
 
Reactions: Seamaiden and CBGB
Quote Reply

Dirty White Boy

Posts
884
Reactions
947
Joined
Aug 12, 2009
Points
93
Jul 7, 2014
#22
Powdered gypsum is great stuff. Used it more for boomers then ma dope though. I always dug me sum Sul po mag. It's works fantastic as a foliar as well. Add a pinch of kelp and you got yourself a pretty nice bug/mold preventive. Really gives the taste n smell a kick too.
 
Reactions: legaleyes13 and CBGB
Quote Reply

Cjgrow

Posts
25
Reactions
43
Joined
Apr 29, 2014
Points
13
Jul 7, 2014
#23
Where are you located? Getting a good compost source is pretty important.

Add some oyster shell to that mix and it's perfect
 
Reactions: CBGB
Quote Reply

legaleyes13

Posts
347
Reactions
162
Joined
Jun 7, 2013
Points
43
Jul 8, 2014
#24
CBGB said:
Good worm castings/compost is key. I usually have good luck on craigs list if I have to out source. Its easy to make very productive worm farms and the best part is you know exactly what's in them. Most castings I've bought from stores is lacking in minerals and micro life.

I just read through my post my fault. I mix up to 1tbs of kelp and at max 2tsp sul-po-mag per gallon of compost I'm using for the top dressing. Once mixed I top dress with a 2" layer over the pot. For best results cover the compost top dressing with green leaves especially cannabis leaves for the plant specific micro life growing on them and biodynamic acclimators such as comfrey and stinging nettle leaves. Though covering it with anything is better than nothing. It might seem somewhat overwhelming the options but your mix is solid and will only get better and better the more time you run it. No til is great because you don't disturb the soil food network by recycling. Microlife wants to be undisturbed. After a while your soil will literally be moving with life.

You might have mentioned this already. What size pot are you using?





At low amounts I think most things are ok but in his mix I really think its unnecessary. I'm just a soil freak and avoid as many X factors as I can. If it looks like I'm running short on anything I bubble 1/4 kelp meal with a TBS of molasses for a few days and all issues should be taken care of.

Well at least we agree on something lol. Insects are great their so underappreciated. I bet you have some happy chickens. Really if we cared more for our planet we would cut out 90% of beef and replace it with insect protein. But I don't know very many who would be cool with that.
Click to expand...

I'm using a 4x4 geopot bed, and I'm perpetual so running my own worm farm that I'll have to harvest every 18-20 days is more work than I'm willing to take on. I have no real idea how much worm castings it would take to top dress up too 2'' in a bed that size.

I won't have any problem sourcing good compost, but everything I've heard suggest topdressing with worm castings or at worse vermicompost.

Thanks again for your help.
 
Quote Reply

legaleyes13

Posts
347
Reactions
162
Joined
Jun 7, 2013
Points
43
Jul 8, 2014
#25
Cjgrow said:
Where are you located? Getting a good compost source is pretty important.

Add some oyster shell to that mix and it's perfect
Click to expand...

I can get good compost, just not worm castings in particular.
 
Reactions: Cjgrow
Quote Reply

Myco

Posts
718
Reactions
2,944
Joined
Sep 25, 2013
Points
243
Jul 8, 2014
#26
legaleyes13 said:
Thanks man, no dolo it is. Oyster shell instead...

If you don't mind me asking, do you have your own worm farm? I don't and don't wanna deal with the extra hassle of maintaining and harvesting fresh castings... So I'll either find a worm farmer or use store bought... I really don't wanna use store bought.
Click to expand...
Good choice!

No sir... if I had more free time I would consider a worm farm... but until then I have a couple friendly worm farmers where I can source quality EWC, by the yard ;)

I used store bought castings years ago back when I was mixing smaller batches. But $40-50/cu ft. for the hydro shop EWC is outrageous. Though I was also able to source better deals through a couple feed/farm stores... I suggest checking craigslist for local worm farmers, feed stores, etc. I'm sure you can find good deals somewhere...

Good luck!
 
Reactions: legaleyes13
Quote Reply

Cjgrow

Posts
25
Reactions
43
Joined
Apr 29, 2014
Points
13
Jul 8, 2014
#27
Get some worms and feed the compost too them or you could just use the compost. It's a really good idea to have some worms around tho cus they are good to add to your bed.
 
Quote Reply

Tnelz

Posts
4,053
Reactions
13,904
Joined
Oct 29, 2013
Points
263
Jul 8, 2014
#28
legaleyes13 said:
The gypsum is for calcium and ph. No real reason why I went with gypsum over dolo lime, I just kinda did. If I'm low on mag, I'll just add some epsom salt to my tea recipe.

Thanks for the suggestion.
Click to expand...
Hey brother mix sounds great. I'm sure u will get these comments or already have but gypsum is a good additive for a calcium and sulphur source but it's pH neutral. I'd add a cup of dolomite lime per cubic foot. Maybe a tad more to be safe. I think u should rock though bro. I'm subbed. Have a mix I just put together myself that I'll be putting some girls in in another week or so. Good luck!
 
Reactions: legaleyes13
Quote Reply

Seamaiden

Living dead girl
Posts
23,594
Reactions
34,048
Joined
Apr 13, 2010
Points
638
Jul 8, 2014
#29
:)
CBGB said:
At low amounts I think most things are ok but in his mix I really think its unnecessary. I'm just a soil freak and avoid as many X factors as I can. If it looks like I'm running short on anything I bubble 1/4 kelp meal with a TBS of molasses for a few days and all issues should be taken care of.

Well at least we agree on something lol. Insects are great their so underappreciated. I bet you have some happy chickens. Really if we cared more for our planet we would cut out 90% of beef and replace it with insect protein. But I don't know very many who would be cool with that.
Click to expand...
Hey brother, that's the thing, I think, about organic cultivation methods--it allows a great degree of what I will call artistry.

I would be all over the invert protein IF it came in the form of garden snails. I flippin' LOVE escargot and know how to clean out wild-caught snails. And, of course, where I live? NARY a single garden snail, nary a single one!

Try playing around with other sugars. ;)
legaleyes13 said:
I can get good compost, just not worm castings in particular.
Click to expand...
Then start up a small colony of mealworms for their frass, perhaps? They're damn near carefree. In fact, my granddaughter has a "new" colony because she wanted a pet while she's visit. I just grab a plastic container, a carrot, some wheat bran, oatmeal and dig out some bugs and we're off to the races. If you order online you pretty much only get the juvenile worms, so you'll have to feed those and wait for them to pupate into adults, let those reproduce, but within a couple or three months you'll have a self-sustaining colony of DRY bugs, not wet. Feeding them is different from worms, though, because you only use 'dry' veggies, never wet veggies.
 
Quote Reply

Cjgrow

Posts
25
Reactions
43
Joined
Apr 29, 2014
Points
13
Jul 8, 2014
#30
Tnelz said:
Hey brother mix sounds great. I'm sure u will get these comments or already have but gypsum is a good additive for a calcium and sulphur source but it's pH neutral. I'd add a cup of dolomite lime per cubic foot. Maybe a tad more to be safe. I think u should rock though bro. I'm subbed. Have a mix I just put together myself that I'll be putting some girls in in another week or so. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Oyster shell or cac03 is mo bettah than dolo
 
Quote Reply

Seamaiden

Living dead girl
Posts
23,594
Reactions
34,048
Joined
Apr 13, 2010
Points
638
Jul 8, 2014
#31
Cjgrow said:
Oyster shell or cac03 is mo bettah than dolo
Click to expand...

Why is it better?
 
Quote Reply

Tnelz

Posts
4,053
Reactions
13,904
Joined
Oct 29, 2013
Points
263
Jul 8, 2014
#32
Cjgrow said:
Oyster shell or cac03 is mo bettah than dolo
Click to expand...
Don't disagree. Better product overall I suppose but also harder to get. Not saying it's hard to get but harder than dolomite lime. Good suggestion though.
 
Quote Reply

Tnelz

Posts
4,053
Reactions
13,904
Joined
Oct 29, 2013
Points
263
Jul 8, 2014
#33
Find the lime works perfectly well though.
 
Quote Reply

Seamaiden

Living dead girl
Posts
23,594
Reactions
34,048
Joined
Apr 13, 2010
Points
638
Jul 8, 2014
#34
Why is oyster shell flour any better than dolomite lime?
 
Quote Reply

Cjgrow

Posts
25
Reactions
43
Joined
Apr 29, 2014
Points
13
Jul 8, 2014
#35
The ratio of mag/cal isn't very good, unless you have a soil test that shows you need more magnesium. You need much more calcium than magnesium. Personally I've tried both and much prefer straight calcium carbonate/osf
 
Reactions: Seamaiden
Quote Reply
Page 2 of 2 · Replies 21–35 of 35
Prev
  • 1
  • 2
First Prev 2 of 2

Thread info

Replies 34
Views 5,239
Started Jul 5, 2014
Latest post Jul 8, 2014
Starter legaleyes13
Forum Organic Soil

Latest posts

  • itscheese`s cheese thread
    • Latest: Oldchucky
    • 1 minute ago
    Introduce Yourself
  • Best way to cure large quantities
    • Latest: GNick55
    • 8 minutes ago
    Cannabis Harvesting & Curing
  • Eternal Sun 2026 outdoor garden grow
    • Latest: grayoldnproud
    • 9 minutes ago
    General Outdoor Growing
  • Cpurola's Outdoor grow in Southeast Michigan 2026
    • Latest: EternalSun
    • 17 minutes ago
    General Outdoor Growing
  • 2026 Outdoor Grows! let's see em!
    • Latest: Derelict999
    • 22 minutes ago
    General Outdoor Growing
  • Home
  • Forums
  • Medical Cannabis Cultivation
  • General Indoor Growing
  • Organic Soil
  • Finally going organic, please critique my soil mix
  • Contact us
  • Terms and rules
  • Privacy policy
  • Help
  • Home
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2026 XenForo Ltd.
Menu
Log in

Sign up

  • Home
  • News
  • Classifieds
  • Forums
    • What's new Featured content New posts New Articles New articles New products Latest activity
  • Social
  • Strains
  • Live
  • Learn
  • Brands
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?