Hey boss, first best of luck on the next grow!

My personal process is I start my seedlings in 1/2 gallon fabric bags with fox farm happy frog with some diatomaceous earth mixed in. This will get me into veg.

I then transfer them into 3 gallon fabric pots with 100% Ocean Forest with diatomaceous earth mixed in.

This will have enough nutrients in the soil that I only have to water for the first 30-45 days.

After that I start introducing my fox farm nutrient line up. I use Big Bloom Omni, Grow, Bloom and their salts (Open Sesame, Beastie Bloomz and Cha Ching). I start with 1/2 dosage and work my way up to full dosage if the strain can take it. I also do not pH the solutions, the soil buffers it for you. I use RO water so every watering I introduce Calmag until near the end of flowering.

Hope this helps!

Lots of people have success vegging in Happy Frog and then flowering in Ocean Forest. In terms of amendments, they're both pretty hot soils. Especially OF. You really don't have to feed many times if you time your transplants well. I'll start in peat plugs, then veg in 1 gals of HF. Transplant to 3 gals of OF for flower. If you monitor the ppms/EC of your runoff, you can get a pretty good idea of what's left in the pots. It's not uncommon to feed for the first time in week three or four of flower, assuming veg went well. I've run General Hydroponics nutes with the Fox Farm soils, but you can use whatever is available and cheap. Nutes all work, as long as you don't over-feed.

I dont know the reason for this but I got better tasting bud from fox farm's salamander soil.
I switched to ocean forest for a few seasons and the bud is always a little harsh.

I mix ocean x happy 50/50 as a base

SchwiftyGrower said:

Hey boss, first best of luck on the next grow!

My personal process is I start my seedlings in 1/2 gallon fabric bags with fox farm happy frog with some diatomaceous earth mixed in. This will get me into veg.

I then transfer them into 3 gallon fabric pots with 100% Ocean Forest with diatomaceous earth mixed in.

This will have enough nutrients in the soil that I only have to water for the first 30-45 days.

After that I start introducing my fox farm nutrient line up. I use Big Bloom Omni, Grow, Bloom and their salts (Open Sesame, Beastie Bloomz and Cha Ching). I start with 1/2 dosage and work my way up to full dosage if the strain can take it. I also do not pH the solutions, the soil buffers it for you. I use RO water so every watering I introduce Calmag until near the end of flowering.

Hope this helps!

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Is the DE to keep the nats down? I used those sticky things and let the soil dry out and seemed to work.

weed420420420420420 said:

I dont know the reason for this but I got better tasting bud from fox farm's salamander soil.
I switched to ocean forest for a few seasons and the bud is always a little harsh.

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I thought OF might be a bit too hot so I went with Coco Loco and mixed in just a small amount of OF in the 3 gallons. The HF looks like it has a bunch of junk filler mixed in. Stuff that looks like small bits of shingles like WTH is that?

You guys are using just 3 galling pots for Photos indoors?

Budclarkson said:

Is the DE to keep the nats down? I used those sticky things and let the soil dry out and seemed to work.

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Helps with staging your soil to kill any bugs in the soil and also helps with silica uptake. I amend my soil with that and also use sticky traps just in case

Budclarkson said:

I thought OF might be a bit too hot so I went with Coco Loco and mixed in just a small amount of OF in the 3 gallons. The HF looks like it has a bunch of junk filler mixed in. Stuff that looks like small bits of shingles like WTH is that?

You guys are using just 3 galling pots for Photos indoors?

Click to expand...

Happy frog is just base soil, not really much nutrients. Thats why it’s good for seedling and into very beginning of veg.

I wouldn’t recommend starting seedlings in OF, but after a couple of weeks, I haven’t had any issues running 100% OF. I did run a 50/50 mix but had to introduce nutrients sooner.

I reuse my soil. I have both HF and OF in my soil mix. Also in the mix are earthworm castings, perlite, rice hulls and coco coir. I add nutrients when I mix soil for a new grow.

I grow photos and am currently using 5-gallon fabric pots because they fit better in smaller tents. I use larger pots in my big tent, but I'm not using that tent right now.

Budclarkson said:

The HF looks like it has a bunch of junk filler mixed in. Stuff that looks like small bits of shingles like WTH is that?

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It's most likely wood chips. They're organic and will decompose slowly, and as they do they help support microbial life. A problem with wood in the soil is fungus gnats like it.

I would strongly recommend KokoBop from FF. It’s a mixture of coco & Forest products and is quite heavily amended.
It will be much harder to overwater, yet you won’t be babysitting it everyday.
I’m not sure how it would be for a seedling but I’ve had terrific results with my plants after moving from solo cups of a different mixture into 1 gal, then 5 gal pots of KokoBop. It’s already amended but I added some extra perlite, worm castings, myco, and Bokashi pro gro.
You should get about a week of nutritional support per gallon of mix.
I moved my plants from 1gal to 5’s about a month ago and flipped to flower 10 days ago. I’ve given nothing but water and ReCharge (every 10 days)…..I will top dress a dry organic fert in another week or so……I PH my water to 6.0-6.2….
So far it’s been a good run. Photo is a couple days ago, right after I watered, so they’re drooping a bit.

Bullmark69 said:

I would strongly recommend KokoBop from FF. It’s a mixture of coco & Forest products and is quite heavily amended.
It will be much harder to overwater, yet you won’t be babysitting it everyday.
I’m not sure how it would be for a seedling but I’ve had terrific results with my plants after moving from solo cups of a different mixture into 1 gal, then 5 gal pots of KokoBop. It’s already amended but I added some extra perlite, worm castings, myco, and Bokashi pro gro.
You should get about a week of nutritional support per gallon of mix.
I moved my plants from 1gal to 5’s about a month ago and flipped to flower 10 days ago. I’ve given nothing but water and ReCharge (every 10 days)…..I will top dress a dry organic fert in another week or so……I PH my water to 6.0-6.2….
So far it’s been a good run. Photo is a couple days ago, right after I watered, so they’re drooping a bit. View attachment 2085422

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Didn’t have Kokobop so going to be mixing HF, OF, and LC to some degree again. I have 2 of the same plants so will try different mixes for them.

I guess I will go with General Hydroponics Flora series trio. Seems to be tried and true.

How does this Recharge you speak of fit in?

LoveGrowingIt said:

I reuse my soil. I have both HF and OF in my soil mix. Also in the mix are earthworm castings, perlite, rice hulls and coco coir. I add nutrients when I mix soil for a new grow.

I grow photos and am currently using 5-gallon fabric pots because they fit better in smaller tents. I use larger pots in my big tent, but I'm not using that tent right now.

Click to expand...

Reuse seems to be not recommended on reuse. I have been throwing mine out. I have a few left with the rootballs still in. Maybe I should save it??

Budclarkson said:

Didn’t have Kokobop so going to be mixing HF, OF, and LC to some degree again. I have 2 of the same plants so will try different mixes for them.

I guess I will go with General Hydroponics Flora series trio. Seems to be tried and true.

How does this Recharge you speak of fit in?

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By “LC” do u mean Koko Loco?
I’m sure u can mix up those 3 and get along just fine. Just be aware of how much each is amended. HF is much lighter than OF…..and Koko Loco is closer to OF I believe.
You should get a month or so of adequate nutrition levels to support the plant, without adding anything. Although I’d add some extra perlite & about 10% of worm castings. That’s in a 5 gal pot. You’ll get more or less depending on what size u use.
I’d let them get situated and see how they respond before giving any additional nutes. You’ll likely need some level of cal mag too. I’d start with 2-3ml per gallon of water.
Anyway, ReCharge is a supplemental microbial catalyst in a powder form. Simply mix w/ water and give it to your plants every 10 days or so. Trust me, the plants will love it.
Some form of microbial support is needed for me as I use all organics. I’m not familiar with the line of nutrients you’ll be using, so I’m not sure if it’s organic or synthetic. Regardless, ReCharge will be beneficial in either instance.
As opposed to bottled nutes, which are generally synthetic, I’ve found it much easier to mix in dry organic ferts with my medium and then give only water. My grows started becoming much more predictable and problem free when I tossed the 20 different bottles of this and that into the trash can.
The one thing I’ve learned over the years is that a cannabis plant can grow, be healthy and produce a good yield with very few inputs. They don’t “need” as much as you think…..or as much as many would like you to believe.
On the other hand, the more variables you introduce, the greater the chance for a problem to occur.
So if you’re sold on using a line of synthetic nutes, start off very lightly.
If your plants are thriving in the HF/OF/KL mix, you might consider simply top dressing more of that same mix and giving them more of what they’re already acclimated to and loving.
Sorry to ramble….I’d be happy to share more anytime you like.
Good luck.

Bullmark69 said:

By “LC” do u mean Koko Loco?
I’m sure u can mix up those 3 and get along just fine. Just be aware of how much each is amended. HF is much lighter than OF…..and Koko Loco is closer to OF I believe.
You should get a month or so of adequate nutrition levels to support the plant, without adding anything. Although I’d add some extra perlite & about 10% of worm castings. That’s in a 5 gal pot. You’ll get more or less depending on what size u use.
I’d let them get situated and see how they respond before giving any additional nutes. You’ll likely need some level of cal mag too. I’d start with 2-3ml per gallon of water.
Anyway, ReCharge is a supplemental microbial catalyst in a powder form. Simply mix w/ water and give it to your plants every 10 days or so. Trust me, the plants will love it.
Some form of microbial support is needed for me as I use all organics. I’m not familiar with the line of nutrients you’ll be using, so I’m not sure if it’s organic or synthetic. Regardless, ReCharge will be beneficial in either instance.
As opposed to bottled nutes, which are generally synthetic, I’ve found it much easier to mix in dry organic ferts with my medium and then give only water. My grows started becoming much more predictable and problem free when I tossed the 20 different bottles of this and that into the trash can.
The one thing I’ve learned over the years is that a cannabis plant can grow, be healthy and produce a good yield with very few inputs. They don’t “need” as much as you think…..or as much as many would like you to believe.
On the other hand, the more variables you introduce, the greater the chance for a problem to occur.
So if you’re sold on using a line of synthetic nutes, start off very lightly.
If your plants are thriving in the HF/OF/KL mix, you might consider simply top dressing more of that same mix and giving them more of what they’re already acclimated to and loving.
Sorry to ramble….I’d be happy to share more anytime you like.
Good luck.

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Yes I meant KL for LC, the nutty names drive me crazy. Searched for Koko Bop and I go Shimi shim Coco bop music video and the Asian dance group LOL

Your just adding worm castings and Rechage to KB with a little extra perlite? How are doing “Top Dressing”?

The GH Flora looks like synthetic liquid nutrients and used mainly for hydroponics but also used in soil at different schedule. Supposedly better than the Fox Farms product. I really want to keep it simple and avoid over feeding.

LoveGrowingIt said:

It's most likely wood chips. They're organic and will decompose slowly, and as they do they help support microbial life. A problem with wood in the soil is fungus gnats like it.

Click to expand...

Also in order to decompose wood chips pull nitrogen from the soil

Budclarkson said:

Reuse seems to be not recommended on reuse. I have been throwing mine out. I have a few left with the rootballs still in. Maybe I should save it??

Click to expand...

I save mine in totes to top dress my outdoor vegetable garden in the spring typically.

Is this the Recharge stuff you speak of?

How much you need? Can get a little pricey.

https://www.realgrowers.com/product/recharge/

Budclarkson said:

Yes I meant KL for LC, the nutty names drive me crazy. Searched for Koko Bop and I go Shimi shim Coco bop music video and the Asian dance group LOL

Your just adding worm castings and Rechage to KB with a little extra perlite? How are doing “Top Dressing”?

The GH Flora looks like synthetic liquid nutrients and used mainly for hydroponics but also used in soil at different schedule. Supposedly better than the Fox Farms product. I really want to keep it simple and avoid over feeding.

Click to expand...

Top dressing is simply sprinkling the dry fertilizer on top of the soil, maybe scratching it in a little and watering.
Over several waterings the fertilizer will incorporate into the existing medium and be taken up by the plant.
It’s not a lot different than simply mixing a powder w/ water and pouring it into the medium.
I use Gaia Green in my grows. They have 2 primary products, their all purpose which is 4-4-4 and their bloom that’s 2-8-4. The 4-4-4 I use through veg and about halfway through flowering. I’ll begin to blend in 2-8-4 after flowering is underway.
I follow the recommendation on the label and use 3 tablespoons per gallon of medium for the initial mix. Then when I need to top dress, it’s 1 tablespoon per gallon.
I’ll usually need a top dress every 30 days or so.
Gaia Green is my choice and the results have been outstanding but there are quite a few other brands of dry organics that are just as good. Fox Farms has a line….I believe it’s called Happy Frog. There are many others as well. Dr. Earth is popular and available in every Lowe’s and wal Mart.
The concept is simple. There is an all purpose for the veg stage and a bloom mixture for the flower stage. The veg stage will always be close to equal N-P-K or a little higher N, because the plant needs more N during veg. Just in case u don’t know….a fertilizer will always express its makeup w/ a 3 number indicator. Gaia Green all purpose is 4-4-4. The first # is Nitrogen content, 2nd # is phosphorus and 3rd # is Potassium.
The bloom ratio is generally a bit lower N and higher P and K, as the plant needs more P & K in flower.
I will point out that my grows became much more problem free when I learned that the plant still needs a fair amount of N (nitrogen) during flowering, particularly in the first 3-4 weeks. I’ve attached a chart that I used as my Bible and clearly shows the plant needs during each step of the way.
If I was using your medium of those 3 substrates, I would add the all purpose (4-4-4 in my case) along w/ about 10% worm castings and some extra perlite or rice hulls and some Myco (there are many brands for this as well).
At that point you are pretty well set for a while, where all you do is water. I’d PH my water to 6.0 to 6.5. About every 3rd watering I’d add in ReCharge or some type of Microbial tea. Stump Tea is a brand that I’ve used and it works well.
I always follow the same steps of transplanting from small to larger pots.
My seedlings grow for a couple weeks in a solo cup. U don’t want the amended mix for a seedling. Plain old Happy Frog soil is good for seedlings.
Once my seedlings have gotten to a good place, I’ll transplant to 1 gal pots. The 1 gal pots have the amended pre-mixed medium. And boy is it important to gently and cleanly make the move and not disturb the roots.
They will stay in the one gallon pots for 3/4 weeks and need nothing but water and ReCharge.
Then I move them to 5 or 7 gal pots of the same pre mixed medium. From there, I’ll veg anywhere from 2-4 weeks, then flip to 12/12.
Once they’ve been in the 5 gal pots for 30 days or so, or 40 days for 7 gal, I’ll top dress. This is usually right about the time I flip or just after. With this first top dress I’ll use mostly 4-4-4, b/c the plant needs just as much N at the beginning of flower as it did while vegging.
The top dress amounts are 1 tablespoon per gallon of medium. So for a 5 gal, I’ll usually give 4 tablespoons of 4-4-4 and 1 of the bloom (2-8-4). I add a small amount of worm castings + myco.
This will bring the plants to mid flower or around week 5. At this point, I’ll do another top dress of 5 tablespoons of bloom + worm castings+ myco.
This will carry it to the finish line.
U wanna keep the plant fed, green and healthy as long as u can…..although a little fading in the last couple of weeks is to be expected.
No need to flush or any other silly bro-science nonsense.
I’ll use ReCharge until about week 7/8 of flower and then stop.
I’ve messed around and tweeked things over the years, but the method/recipe I’ve described above has yielded as well as any of my alterations.
I don’t mean to push my style of growing onto you or anyone else. I just know that I flew by the seat of my pants for a good while before I stopped piece mealing bits of input from many different growers.
Thanks to one fine fella on a different forum, I began to focus on one way of doing things and suddenly things fell into place.
There are many ways to grow top shelf stuff, as long as you have top shelf genetics. This is what has worked for me and maybe I can save someone the hassles of 5 or 6 grows that don’t go so well, before they finally figure it out.
So good luck and please reach out if u have any questions or need anything at all.
The pic is my last harvest….