Six super soil variants run side by side

[Dunge]

It's the first day in the greenhouse, and these six Rock Candy clones are hardening off in preparation to go into six waiting pots.
The six formulations will need to wait till I have time to transcribe my notes.

 

[organicpanic]

I'm paying attention to this one for sure!Love the side by sides, especially soil concerned ones.

 

[kolah]

It should be interesting. Good luck!

 

[ssteely71]

Pulling up a chair. Very interesting.

 

[Seamaiden]

Taggin' along.

 

[Timmyahcomeon]

Cant wait to see how this comes out! Rock it brah

 

[Dunge]

I'm presently hardening them off, so it's good to have them so easily shifted about.
Walking with the flat is just right to put me in full smelling contact.
Lovely.
Seen here resting in the shade of the greenhouse.

But later I couldn't resist. So I put them with their soils.

Once they get going I'm thinking I should trim them up to make their branch load more even.
Lots of nice cuttings.

 

[Icristal]

Pulling up a chair to watch. I love to see how they come out.

 

[Dunge]

Warning: Images of pruning to follow.
I could have done this trimming earlier and would not have been faced with the personal weakness to try and root every Rock Candy I can.
Also had to balance up the starting point for the race.
So lets say GO.

New stadium V formation has samples listed 1 to 6, left to right.
They were just up potted into test soil, and watered in, then endured a 40 deg F greenhouse;
so maybe not the best time to cut on them, but time marches on.

Veg in the bucket should be seen again as soon as I get to them.
On tray is loss.

 

[ftwendy]

Science!

 

[Dunge]

Hormone powder and stick them into some starter soil.
(Promix and home made worm castings with worms.)
Going to leave them outside and see how strong they are.
She is a keeper, so anything that survives will be welcome.

 

[Seamaiden]

I have that same boot tray! Two of 'em, I use them, for all SORTS of things and honestly, I need more. They make fantastic plant trays. And tool trays, too. :D

 

[Dunge]

I was about to demobilize my soil mixing area and thought why not take a picture of all the inputs to this trial.
Local peat, Perlite, and Coco are only ones missing from photo.

This is the first step in reducing and replacing inputs.
My expectation is that I will not see any deficiencies through flower from any of these formulations, and the only place I test input levels is with the reduced blood meal batch. I also expect both soil refurb entrants to behave well.
So perhaps this will be just another flower round with six members of a well known keeper.
Could be worse.

 

[Dunge]

I'm paying for moving into the greenhouse too soon.
GH temps went to 28 F last night.
This has been a week that I wanted the roots to explore their pots, but cold has shut it down.
I haven't watered in a week, and the pots are still heavy.
And I'm being pushed about by tomatoes.

The girls are hanging in there.
If this thread had started next week, things would be different now; or then.

 

[OGkushistein]

I'm paying for moving into the greenhouse too soon.
GH temps went to 28 F last night.
This has been a week that I wanted the roots to explore their pots, but cold has shut it down.
I haven't watered in a week, and the pots are still heavy.
And I'm being pushed about by tomatoes.
View attachment 407105
The girls are hanging in there.
If this thread had started next week, things would be different now; or then.

try throwing a plastic bag over that clone pot to get the humidity up

 

[Seamaiden]

Not while it's so cold, brother.

I'm paying for moving into the greenhouse too soon.
GH temps went to 28 F last night.
This has been a week that I wanted the roots to explore their pots, but cold has shut it down.
I haven't watered in a week, and the pots are still heavy.
And I'm being pushed about by tomatoes.
View attachment 407105
The girls are hanging in there.
If this thread had started next week, things would be different now; or then.

They'll be fine, though those cuttings look rough. It's nothin' more than a hiccup, I'm sure. :)

But, wait... you're being pushed about by tomatoes, or tornadoes...? (I *may* have watched too many episodes of Tornado Alley last night...)

 

[Dunge]

Thanks for the concern over my cuttings.
They only exist because I couldn't stand to throw out so many cuts after a big trim.
Those that may survive will clog up my plans down the road, but these are good problems to have as I love this plant.
My GH is really just a tent over frame with poorly sealed ends.
So the soil in pots gets cold and doesn't warm up until late in the day.
The girls are taking it, so it's just cold weather.
Should be no surprise for Alaska.
Should be.

Tomatoes are under the protection of my wife.
I welcomed her into the greenhouse years ago, and she seems to have gained a sense entitlement that makes bench space look like trench warfare.
FWIW her garden is doing better the last few years as my organic amendments contaminate her weak ass soils.

Helper working the flies.

 

[HouseOfWojo]

Very cool, following along for sure. I have been trying different types of soil mixes lately but cant wait to see six done side by side!

 

[Smoking Gun]

I always enjoy a good side by side trial. Pulling up a seat.

 

[Dunge]

What tha what?

How did this log suddenly become a nine (9) plant (9) nine soil side by side?

Credit celestial allignment.

I was doing an inventory of mid sized plants and found three more of the same Rock Candy I like so much.
I remember going wild with taking cuttings of her, while reminding myself to “clone more of what you like.”
AND nine plants into flower perfectly overfills my flower space.

The original six have been braving the outside tent for two weeks.

The cold has been hard on them, with too many below freezing nights.
Tray on the right has the three new candidates. They look to have grown slightly more than the outdoor plants and they lack that 'roughed up" look that the cold has given them.

I got lucky with the weather and feel lucky still, so the new three are going outside today.

And the three new soils are:

7- “Three Little Birds” refurb. I got this from a large soil compilation. (https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=228020)
I like it because I need more refurb soil, and it calls for worm castings and rock phosphate, two things I have in abundance and want to use.
The full list is old soil, worm castings, rock phosphate, alfalfa, kelp, bone, diatomaceous earth, and dolomite.

8- soil 2 with rock phosphate replacing guano.

9- soil 8 with half blood meal.

In review:

I, 2, &3 are different base components.

4,5,&7 are soil refurbs.

6, 8, &9 are rock phosphate for guano substitutions with 6 & 9 testing lower blood meal quantities.

All nine are water only.

On the table are the cuttings that stood little chance of survival, but here they are, all alive.
I unceremoniously stuck them into ProMix with my worms added with some rooting powder.
Good cloner.

In the shade are another view of the three new plants.
They are already trimmed up and ready for a trial.
They look to me slightly bigger and in slightly better condition than the outsiders.