Skunk Qabbage-AKbeanbrains-Earth Boxes-Living organic soil

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Why 10% water? When I filled the res below I filled it and I keep it full now that it’s full of roots! I never gave it 10%, where you getting that from?

Just from the videos. He also says, in living soil, with compost, which is not what the Earth Box makers recommend, to let the res go dry each time and not keep it constantly full, like the earth box instructions say. The res will get filled each time it’s empty.

 

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The soil also says on the bag 10-20% WARM water to activate. I know from experience into the 3 gals 20% is too much for this blend. I’m going to stay at 10, 5 just now and 5 in the morning and see how it is early afternoon. If good to go, I’m in. No water in the res until I know roots are moving. Transplant shock shouldn’t really happen if done correctly. He’s had plants growing next day. I will shock them a bit I’m sure but I don’t think a week or two worth. It didn’t happen out of the happy frog, or even in the summer when the dude ripped them from the bags. Maybe a couple days. I don’t know why I got so concerned. Sure, if I damage them they could take a while. I’m hoping not too.
These current gals have been in the soil just over 4 weeks (have to check) and have had nothing but a small top dress because I was paranoid about pot size. No PH of course etc. But also just spring water. I think it’s going to be fine. I just have to keep following this process. Now that the boxes are set up and I know these 3gals are history I feel better already. Guess we will see.

 

[stp]

Just from the videos. He also says, in living soil, with compost, which is not what the Earth Box makers recommend, to let the res go dry each time and not keep it constantly full, like the earth box instructions say. The res will get filled each time it’s empty.

Yeah, I remember seeing that but got worried when I didn’t know how long the roots had been hanging out in the dry res. Since the one time I keep it full because it goes dry quick and I can’t even take a vacation unless I commit to auto watering but I don’t have hose bib source so this run it’s all hand watering. Two plants in one box could be sucking them dry faster as well as depleting the nutrients in the soil faster, that’s why I’ve been adding stuff to my water. My fear about adding things to the water would be that there is no flushing like a hydro system can, so if you add chemical nutrients you could get a salt buildup that could be catastrophic. That’s why I’m using only Organics Alive soluble nutrients (local Carlsbad, north county of San Diego company), peach ferment, occasional Aloe flakes, occasional coconut powder, and a tiny bit of Gen Hydro’s CaliMagic cal mag. Ideally the plant gets all the nutrients from a good balanced soil and top dressing, and my soil is full of so much shit that I got from BAS website directly, I won’t even begin to list it. Even then, I saw early signs of wanting more food or actually wanting cal/mag, so I started adding stuff to the water. Before I was just doing plain RO water to the res. Someone suggested I should be using some natural water like spring or tap so I’d get those trace minerals I am missing in the RO water. Our tap is shit, I wash and shower with it, but I won’t even boil my pasta in it. I’m not giving that to my plants. After adding cal/mg a few times, I saw a need for some N, but it was about time to flip, so I made a special mix of top dress which had N in the compost and castings and some kashi, and a few other things, but more P&K products to carry though flower. But like everyone, I figured let’s add some food to the water next time, then I’d add peach, then some Rootwise, I was mixing the plant cocktails every time I added water and I still am. Light mixes, keeping the variety coming.

 

[stp]

The soil also says on the bag 10-20% WARM water to activate. I know from experience into the 3 gals 20% is too much for this blend. I’m going to stay at 10, 5 just now and 5 in the morning and see how it is early afternoon. If good to go, I’m in. No water in the res until I know roots are moving. Transplant shock shouldn’t really happen if done correctly. He’s had plants growing next day. I will shock them a bit I’m sure but I don’t think a week or two worth. It didn’t happen out of the happy frog, or even in the summer when the dude ripped them from the bags. Maybe a couple days. I don’t know why I got so concerned. Sure, if I damage them they could take a while. I’m hoping not too.
These current gals have been in the soil just over 4 weeks (have to check) and have had nothing but a small top dress because I was paranoid about pot size. No PH of course etc. But also just spring water. I think it’s going to be fine. I just have to keep following this process. Now that the boxes are set up and I know these 3gals are history I feel better already. Guess we will see.

Im excited for you. When I set my boxes up, I had worms that needed food, so I planted cover in both boxes and grew them halfway, they got rough chopped just the way Jeremy showed when setting up earth boxes. Trick at keeping worms from jumping out is having enough food for them. Food is the decaying roots and things I’ve added like gnarly barley and the kashi. I still have work loss and my tent sometimes stinks from dead worms jumping ship and dying.

 

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Yeah, I remember seeing that but got worried when I didn’t know how long the roots had been hanging out in the dry res. Since the one time I keep it full because it goes dry quick and I can’t even take a vacation unless I commit to auto watering but I don’t have hose bib source so this run it’s all hand watering. Two plants in one box could be sucking them dry faster as well as depleting the nutrients in the soil faster, that’s why I’ve been adding stuff to my water. My fear about adding things to the water would be that there is no flushing like a hydro system can, so if you add chemical nutrients you could get a salt buildup that could be catastrophic. That’s why I’m using only Organics Alive soluble nutrients (local Carlsbad, north county of San Diego company), peach ferment, occasional Aloe flakes, occasional coconut powder, and a tiny bit of Gen Hydro’s CaliMagic cal mag. Ideally the plant gets all the nutrients from a good balanced soil and top dressing, and my soil is full of so much shit that I got from BAS website directly, I won’t even begin to list it. Even then, I saw early signs of wanting more food or actually wanting cal/mag, so I started adding stuff to the water. Before I was just doing plain RO water to the res. Someone suggested I should be using some natural water like spring or tap so I’d get those trace minerals I am missing in the RO water. Our tap is shit, I wash and shower with it, but I won’t even boil my pasta in it. I’m not giving that to my plants. After adding cal/mg a few times, I saw a need for some N, but it was about time to flip, so I made a special mix of top dress which had N in the compost and castings and some kashi, and a few other things, but more P&K products to carry though flower. But like everyone, I figured let’s add some food to the water next time, then I’d add peach, then some Rootwise, I was mixing the plant cocktails every time I added water and I still am. Light mixes, keeping the variety coming.

I’m just going to follow the plan as long as I see it’s working. If and when they “need” something they aren’t getting is when I’m really going to need all of you, badly!! I’m going with 2 in these 3 gals, so I’m going to have to anyway. It’s another great reason that I found your thread. The products you mention above, aside from the build a soil ones, a few of which I have and as we discussed, 2 on the way from reading your experience. You’re way ahead of me on the boxes and the plants. I just need to strictly follow him and come to you all with problems that arise. I get what you’re saying about the box drying out and you not being home. That’s not likely to happen and there’s someone here to take care of it…I’d remind them constantly. So I will be able to let it dry, most of the time. If you know it’s working, and you know I can see it is, I wouldn’t stop whatever it is. Regardless of what someone else says on a video. You are doing, he is making videos to teach basics. I’ll take your advice. Like, immediately buying two of the products I’d decided to go without the first run. I don’t have the gnarly barley. Of course I wanted it just for the name (of course the benefit) but when I got on the site to order it there was a warning that only experienced growers should use it because it could germ and sprout etc, even milled (crazy and I’d not have known something like that). I didn’t order it.

 

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Im excited for you. When I set my boxes up, I had worms that needed food, so I planted cover in both boxes and grew them halfway, they got rough chopped just the way Jeremy showed when setting up earth boxes. Trick at keeping worms from jumping out is having enough food for them. Food is the decaying roots and things I’ve added like gnarly barley and the kashi. I still have work loss and my tent sometimes stinks from dead worms jumping ship and dying.

Your worm suicide story will be with me all my days. Really . I’ve told a few people now. Dying!! Because of what you said, and just starting, I may not add them now, there’s not a ton for them to do quick enough for me to get benefit from them now is my thinking. I’ll get some casting etc. I’m a bit angry with myself because I spoke to a BAS rep about the worm ordering thing in the winter and he gave me a castings brand that comes loaded with eggs, and I can’t remember what he said. No, I can’t call back and ask . They can hatch and start on their own. After the grow, when I’m amending and growing cover, I’ll add them. I hope to get these boxes to where you are. If you asked me 12 weeks ago if I could do it, I’d have said no, but I’m buying this stuff to try anyway. Everyone keeps saying my plants look great. I do see minor issues, but when I look them up, they turn out to be nothing. I thought I must have a bug in the tent, looked like a leaf had been chewed. It was the plants closest to, and leaf closest to the fan. That did it. Tip burn from the too early top dress on one plant, 4 leaves etc. Some tip burn from forgetting to raise light. I still have no idea what I’m even doing with the thing. I’m just leaving it set where someone here recommended a while back when I started veg in the 3’s. They seem to love it.

I hate the word sodium. I have no idea what to do. My water has way too much of it. We also do not drink it, but we do cook with it, it’s not that horrible. But I can’t irrigate them with all this sodium. It’s a friggin issue. I don’t want to use RO (even though getting because we use too much plastic), and have to add shit back that should be in the water. It’s the only way for me to get it out though. I’ll go broke buying water. BAS sells a treatment. It’s $160 for 2.5 gals. Directions say one to two ounces per gallon. I’ve got heavy sodium so it’s probably 2oz per gallon….or, about $1 a gal. I’ll just buy it at that point. It’s the last piece. I need a solution.

 

[stp]

I’m just going to follow the plan as long as I see it’s working. If and when they “need” something they aren’t getting is when I’m really going to need all of you, badly!! I’m going with 2 in these 3 gals, so I’m going to have to anyway. It’s another great reason that I found your thread. The products you mention above, aside from the build a soil ones, a few of which I have and as we discussed, 2 on the way from reading your experience. You’re way ahead of me on the boxes and the plants. I just need to strictly follow him and come to you all with problems that arise. I get what you’re saying about the box drying out and you not being home. That’s not likely to happen and there’s someone here to take care of it…I’d remind them constantly. So I will be able to let it dry, most of the time. If you know it’s working, and you know I can see it is, I wouldn’t stop whatever it is. Regardless of what someone else says on a video. You are doing, he is making videos to teach basics. I’ll take your advice. Like, immediately buying two of the products I’d decided to go without the first run. I don’t have the gnarly barley. Of course I wanted it just for the name (of course the benefit) but when I got on the site to order it there was a warning that only experienced growers should use it because it could germ and sprout etc, even milled (crazy and I’d not have known something like that). I didn’t order it.

When a random weed plant pops up if you already know which plant is yours, you yank any that come up. It’s only hard if you load up the soil at the same time you plant seeds…that can be a problem. Wait until your seeds pop, mark them, then scratch in gnarly barley.

 

[stp]

Your worm suicide story will be with me all my days. Really . I’ve told a few people now. Dying!! Because of what you said, and just starting, I may not add them now, there’s not a ton for them to do quick enough for me to get benefit from them now is my thinking. I’ll get some casting etc. I’m a bit angry with myself because I spoke to a BAS rep about the worm ordering thing in the winter and he gave me a castings brand that comes loaded with eggs, and I can’t remember what he said. No, I can’t call back and ask . They can hatch and start on their own. After the grow, when I’m amending and growing cover, I’ll add them. I hope to get these boxes to where you are. If you asked me 12 weeks ago if I could do it, I’d have said no, but I’m buying this stuff to try anyway. Everyone keeps saying my plants look great. I do see minor issues, but when I look them up, they turn out to be nothing. I thought I must have a bug in the tent, looked like a leaf had been chewed. It was the plants closest to, and leaf closest to the fan. That did it. Tip burn from the too early top dress on one plant, 4 leaves etc. Some tip burn from forgetting to raise light. I still have no idea what I’m even doing with the thing. I’m just leaving it set where someone here recommended a while back when I started veg in the 3’s. They seem to love it.

I hate the word sodium. I have no idea what to do. My water has way too much of it. We also do not drink it, but we do cook with it, it’s not that horrible. But I can’t irrigate them with all this sodium. It’s a friggin issue. I don’t want to use RO (even though getting because we use too much plastic), and have to add shit back that should be in the water. It’s the only way for me to get it out though. I’ll go broke buying water. BAS sells a treatment. It’s $160 for 2.5 gals. Directions say one to two ounces per gallon. I’ve got heavy sodium so it’s probably 2oz per gallon….or, about $1 a gal. I’ll just buy it at that point. It’s the last piece. I need a solution.

Do you have Instagram or Facebook? I messsge them on IG and they answer all my questions. Have you tested your water for ph and ppm at least? Ph will fuck up a plant faster than you think and it creates problems you can’t figure out easy because it’s locking out uptake of certain nutrients and it’s a domino effect that you can easily mis diagnose and mis treat.

 

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When a random weed plant pops up if you already know which plant is yours, you yank any that come up. It’s only hard if you load up the soil at the same time you plant seeds…that can be a problem. Wait until your seeds pop, mark them, then scratch in gnarly barley.

Haha. When they said, “corn could grow” I got a bit paranoid. I’ll add it in next run. Unless you say I need it, then I’ll just order it. Haha. Half joking. I do have stuff and and newly most excited about the peach ferment. I’m excited to give it to them since you said they love it so much.

 

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Do you have Instagram or Facebook? I messsge them on IG and they answer all my questions. Have you tested your water for ph and ppm at least? Ph will fuck up a plant faster than you think and it creates problems you can’t figure out easy because it’s locking out uptake of certain nutrients and it’s a domino effect that you can easily mis diagnose and mis treat.

I did a home kit. It’s not reliable. I’ve read the annual report and spoken to the treatment manager. The only thing I need to and can’t get out without RO, is the sodium. I even bought a carbon filter to just take gallons a week from my sisters place. The modern faucet is my enemy, and their outside access point freezes in winter so it’s off. And in 2021, for some reason, all these people have these stupid modern faucets. I mean there’s one in all the rooms with sinks in this house but can’t anyone have just one old access point?

I will be sending the soil out when this run is over for a test. Will see where I’m at with water at the time and send that too if applicable. Not if I’m buying spring water. Now, I know the entire grow world disagrees, some angrily. Like, very angrily! Haha. But the maker of my soil, and if I’m not mistaken, BAS too, say skip the PH. The soil will buffer it. I haven’t PH’d one watering since I’ve been in the soil. I think it’s 5 waterings now. I have it written, it’s even in the phone notes, but I’m too lazy to look.

in the living soil 4 weeks, 2 days, 5 waterings, no PH.

 

[stp]

Haha. When they said, “corn could grow” I got a bit paranoid. I’ll add it in next run. Unless you say I need it, then I’ll just order it. Haha. Half joking. I do have stuff and and newly most excited about the peach ferment. I’m excited to give it to them since you said they love it so much.

Yeah, whatever grows aerates the soil and then you chop it and stuff it into the topsoil or just lay it on top. The worms eat the roots and the decaying matter. With these mulch covers, if you had a cover crop you would just chop the tops off everything, and put the cover on with your plants.

 

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Yeah, whatever grows aerated the soil and then you chop it and stuff it into the topsoil or just lay it on top. With these mulch covers, if you had a cover crop you would just chop the tops off everything, and put the cover on with your plants.

I’m excited for that when it’s time and then to watch it all break down and decay. Am I sick and twisted? Ha

I mean, it’s only exciting because I know the girls that come in and out of my life will love all that crap.

 

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Yeah, whatever grows aerates the soil and then you chop it and stuff it into the topsoil or just lay it on top. The worms eat the roots and the decaying matter. With these mulch covers, if you had a cover crop you would just chop the tops off everything, and put the cover on with your plants.

This was my question too. Since I don’t have a cover crop or anything to “mulch in” unless I get so heavy with top dress, I don’t need to cover them, do I? Should I anyway for moisture retention? Am I then missing other stuff I could be using that will break down naturally with just the water and light? The barley straw, rice hull etc?

Am I too young for a stairlift? I’m wrecked. It will be worse in the morning. Up and down, bending to water etc etc. I did sit but you still bend. Ha. Ugh.

 

[stp]

mine have been covered the whole time with the plastic “mulch” cover.thag comes with them. I would use them. But only with one plant per box because when you defóliate and top dres, you will have a much easier time getting this off to put the cut leaves on top.

 

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mine have been covered the whole time with the plastic “mulch” cover.thag comes with them. I would use them. But only with one plant per box because when you defóliate and top dres, you will have a much easier time getting this off to put the cut leaves on top.

Thank you! I wasn’t sure what to do with it but it even if not acting to help break things down, it will help keep it moist on top.

 

[stp]

Quick video tour from my clone attempt…they were rooting so I stuck them in the cups but they don’t look happy. Then a flyover in the real tent. As far as watering and not letting the res dry out between refills, I try not to. It’s happened, but here’s my biggest issue. I have a 12 hour window I can do stuff, that’s 5pm on to 5 am off….so if I don’t water them sometime in that window, I don’t really know how long they would sit dry and if that is good for the plant or not, but right now I’m not going to change anything. I think because I’ve got (2) plants in one box, I’ve got to feed harder and water more (my theory. They look amazing right now so you know the saying….

 

[Loudtreefarms]

Quick video tour from my clone attempt…they were rooting so I stuck them in the cups but they don’t look happy. Then a flyover in the real tent. As far as watering and not letting the res dry out between refills, I try not to. It’s happened, but here’s my biggest issue. I have a 12 hour window I can do stuff, that’s 5pm on to 5 am off….so if I don’t water them sometime in that window, I don’t really know how long they would sit dry and if that is good for the plant or not, but right now I’m not going to change anything. I think because I’ve got (2) plants in one box, I’ve got to feed harder and water more (my theory. They look amazing right now so you know the saying….

So ….. did you go from clone dome from 95% humidity to Dixie cups in a tent with 50-60% humidity ?

 

[Loudtreefarms]

Usually we harden them off a bit before we transfer them into soil (maybe u did maybe not)- We will slowly crack the clone dome to let the humidity drop for a week for clones to acclimate. Then remove them and transplant with high humidity environment (or matching hum level). And we just keep them under some low watt led not to induce stress but enough to grow up. If ya did all that and still have issues ….. then it’s your cut and rooting process or medium.

hope this helps a lil bit brotha

 

[Loudtreefarms]

And for your second question you could put a timer on a pump that sits inside a res with water and have it come on 1 or 2 times a day to keep the bottom of your earth box full. Even if it’s for 30 seconds to get 1/2 gallon while your at work.

I have not grown in an earth box but ….. does it really drain and drink in one day? I was thinking earth boxs we’re gonna be like a every 3 to 4 day refill thing

 

[stp]

So ….. did you go from clone dome from 95% humidity to Dixie cups in a tent with 50-60% humidity ?

First opened the dome vent, next day cracked the dome, few days later lid off but humidity was up, roots coming through so I moved them to damp soil and they have been chillin…like nothing seemingly going on. I’ve still got a heating pad under them but separated by silicone hot pads. The soil is not drying out…kinda looks like plants are damping off….i don’t know if there’s a fix, I’m leaning towards a warm air source to dry them out more maybe?