New Grower Advice needed

Every time I get a bag fungus knats fly out when I open the bag. Could be cause where I get it from but I'm finished with fox farm.

while you wait for the lime to activate and the soil to dry out, usually 2 wks... put the soil in a shed or closet and put a hot shot no pest strip... by the time the soil is ready to use all bugs will be gone..even mites. just my 2 cents
 
Yes, it has been reported by other members that FF has quality problems which results in inconsistent pH. I have experienced (VERY) low pH as well. I believe (just my opinion) that if you pre-treat the soil with lime and water it in ahead of time (takes 1-2 weeks to work if pulverized), you remove the biggest shortcoming of FF. Once a grower takes a possible/probable pH problem away from the start, IMO you're left with an excellent soil assuming care is taken with the hotness of FF OF. In spite of the pH problems, overall I've had good experiences with FF soil/nutes for three grows.

I am not a highly experienced grower, so you may want to weight the opinions above accordingly.
 
im not doubting that you can get good grows from it but after doing all that you may uswell use another brand, why buy something when its not suited to your needs and you have to alter it
FF fuckerys if you ask me lool
 
I guess I have a lot of reading to do, I didn't know the soil had to sit for two weeks before use
 
Here ya go fellas. I saw someone say whats lime for??sooo.

[h=2]Liming Amendments "CC"[/h]
Here's the deal on liming agents.
Calcium Carbonate Amendments
These are the 3 major forms of Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
Limestone - (this is what chemical reps refer to as Agricultural Lime) and will usually have a Calcium Carbonate level between 83 - 95% depending on which specific mine the product is coming out of. Limestone (Agricultural Lime) will also have a small amount of Magnesium (Mg) - about 3 - 5% depending again on which mine is the source
Calcitic Lime - this is pure Calcium Carbonate - usually around 95% and contains no traceable amount of Magnesium
Oyster Shell Powder - another pure form of Calcium Carbonate. This product is NOT from oyster shells from Happy Hour at Red Lobster. This is a specific product that is mined in the San Francisco Bay and has been since the 1920's. This is the product most often used by poultry producers, worm operations, etc. It carries a label showing 96% Calcium Carbonate
When figuring the amount of actual Calcium (Ca) when using the carbonate limes, take the total amount and multiply by 38.5% and that will (approximately) give you the actual Calcium levels.
Dolomite Lime - Calcium Magnesium Carbonate contains elemental Calcium (not Calcium Carbonate) so the numbers on the product will reflect the actual Calcium levels. The Magnesium Carbonate component is tightly bound to the elemental Calcium resulting in a much longer time period required for the Calcium to become available.
Gypsum - Calcium Sulfate Dihydrate contains both Sulfur Oxide and elemental Calcium. When broken down by microbes the sulfur releases Hydrogen (H) which will lower the pH (if necessary) and also contains Calcium which can raise the pH (again if necessary) - see Base Saturation and CeC
A typical liming agent used by organic farmers is something like this:
2x Calcium Carbonate
1x Dolomite Lime
1x Gypsum

Mix and add at the same rate if you were using a single agent.
At HomeDepot last night I looked at their products in the nursery section.
Soil Sweet - Dolomite Lime and it was less than $6.00 for 25 lbs.
Super Sweet - Limestone at around the same price
Gypsum - $8.95 for 50 lbs.
Choose your poison.
Prilled vs. Pelletized
Prilled soil amendments are coming and will eventually replace the powdered versions due to a finding by the Labor Department as it relates to worker safety. It will come to the retail market soon enough.
Prilled (as Dignan pointed out) is simply any agent that is coated with a clay thereby reducing the dust issue(s) which makes it far easier to apply to several hundred/thousand acres. The clay used for prilling processes is easily removed by water.
Pelletized is the same thing but the coating is applied thicker and a different clay is used which gives the farmer a longer source as it takes a couple of years to breakdown to the point where the actual amendment is NOW available to the soil biology to breakdown and use. You will never find this at a retail nursery.
CC"
soilfoodwebdiagram_thumb.gif


https://www.autoflower.org/f89/what-does-organiclly-grown-exactly-mean-31711.html

If i were you and you had that funky PH issue with the FF.Id add some lime ofcourse n lkeep it lightly moist and let it break down for a solid week then you can start using it as long as you wqait a short bit and use the plug styled planting imo. tier'd dont work as effective unless as well you prep a small plug under where you tier into either imo.but after ya sit for a week with it being moist you can soak your nbeans and prep you pots accordingly and you should be just fine at that point imho.hoep that answers a few questions for yaz..?
"AFN smoke out"​
 
I've moved away from the FF soil as well due to issues of my own as well as others I've seen. I make my own now but if I didn't I might consider some Dr. Earth or Black Gold soils.
 
Now that's how you answer a question right there...lol Right on Eyes on Fire!!!
 
My biggest issue with FF soils is the cost. if it were cheap alot cheaper id say better things about it. but for what it cost it should be the color of gold!

same goes ther there nutes should have much better results with something that cost that much ..
 
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