Indoor Cookin' that soil? (need some advice)

[TokinNuggs]

I'm new to growing anything.

I am interested in organic soil growing and semi-super soils indoors, but I need to keep it relatively simple and small.

Can someone enlighten me as to what might be the best thing to do for a new organic-based soil mix, regarding "cooking" it? (I am still not sure what that means exactly)

Consider I grow auto's in a small box and pc case, in 1-2 gallon pots. I have some happy frog, Espoma potting soil, Jobe's organic plant food, Happy Frog Jump Start Ferts, some quality Perlite and Espoma Dolomite Lime pellets currently.

The two soil mixes (HF, Espoma and Jump Start) have pretty much all of the various castings, guano, bacteria and micro-nutes included, from what I understand and have read on their labels.

Again keep in mind I grow small, 12-20" plants at most and plan on rotating two in flower and two in veg a a time eventually, no more.

Should I be mixing-up my soil ahead of time into the extra 1-2 gallon pots, watering them down thoroughly, covering them (or not) and letting them sit somewhere for a period of time? Would just a week or two help a lot?

Does this make sense? While this may not be "cooking" them (or maybe it is) I'm under the impression organic-based/living soils may be better utilized from the start by watering them and letting them sit for a while?

How long? (if you don't have much time)

Should I let them dry out then water to run-off when they dry out?

Will even 1-2 weeks make a noticeable difference? Or is a 3-4 weeks minimal? Should they sit under lamps? Or will they benefit as well in a dark, room temperature setting, as long as they are being watered?

Should I be adding some worm castings, bat guano, bone and blood meal, and/or epsom salts to this mix, in addition to what it already has?

I would really appreciate any advice on this from experienced folks with living soil mixes or similar approaches.

 

[namvet]

I realy don't see any advantage to water the pots that far ahead,just do it when your planting your seed or transpant.As far as cooking the soil,where did you here that?Only thing i can think of is putting the soil in a oven for awhile to kill any weed seeds or unwanted critters.If you do that that you will kill all the benificial microrganisms in the soil whitch are needed to help process and make it easer for the roors to take in nutes.I wouldn't add any more worm castings bat shit bone mealepsom salts that you said was already in the mix.

 

[Torched]

'Cooking' it is only important if you are mixing you own soil. The individual components need some time together to be soil and establish microbial/mycroryzal colonies. Your dirt has had plenty of time in a bag together. Mix it all up and water when you are ready to plant. Some people water the pots the day before to make sure they are evenly saturated.

When you do 'cook' soil, warmer temperatures are better and I've seen cook times of up to 3 months if it's cold. Plenty of people just mix and go. Most of the things a plant needs early, are pretty easy for the plant to get and do not need the additional time to break down. When cooking you want to keep it moist but not saturated. Are you planing on providing nutes or doing a water only?

I have soil I mixed up and to me it seem the same months later as when I first mixed it up.

 

[TokinNuggs]

Thanks for the response - that's helpful. I am trying a new, simpler method for my femmed auto's (all I am able/going to grow now in small 1-1.5 gal pots).

I want to use Espoma as my soil/fert mix, and maybe look at adding just guano and castings possibly, and see how that goes for now.

 

[mr.sessemia]

also you may not want to put autos directly in super soil beacause it to hot for them....,i reccomend transplanting into your compost bake after the seedlings have reached 14/21 days after they have grown enough to handle the compost ....also i cant find the thread but J.M has a great compost bake for autos....i use it....ask him im sure he'll shoot you the link n.p...............welcome 2 a.f.n bro..

 

[TokinNuggs]

Thanks Sessemia - AFN's the most helpful board out there.

Sounds like something I may look into eventually. I have done a lot of research on this tonight - my posts are long-winded and kind of rambly stupid, so need to do my research and keep it short.

I think I just need to pick one of the Espoma plant foods that have a good ratio, the Garden Tone stands out (4-6-6), and need to decide if and when I want to add-in Castings and Guano to the mix - not real edumacated on those two yet.

Castings and Guano seem sort of redundant with the ferts, to me, but what do I know. The Castings at least seem to have beneficial effects on leaf health and warding off insects/pests, from what I gather.

Guano seems to be more of a Po additive that helps with blooming.

Maybe making a tea isn't such a bad idea for both, and applying them once a month? (castings during veg and guano during bloom, then putting the solids from it on top of the soil?

Autos' have such a short cycle, that I don't know how worthwhile the castings/guano are exactly for them, or if the soil and dry ferts are enough...

I also wonder if I'm mixing in these dry ferts properly - I suppose since my soils are mixed and relatively fert free except for the Jobe's, top-dressing the Garden Tone and watering it in next time I water would suffice.

W/O any experienced advice, I guess I will find out how well they do...but would appreciate any help - I'm keeping it simple remember, and only need "typical" yields from healthy plants of 24-42 grams or so for each plant if possible.

 

[mr.sessemia]

Thanks Sessemia - AFN's the most helpful board out there.

Sounds like something I may look into eventually. I have done a lot of research on this tonight - my posts are long-winded and kind of rambly stupid, so need to do my research and keep it short.

I think I just need to pick one of the Espoma plant foods that have a good ratio, the Garden Tone stands out (4-6-6), and need to decide if and when I want to add-in Castings and Guano to the mix - not real edumacated on those two yet.

I like Seaweed and/or Kelp also, because it keeps those nodes close together, not sure if I want to bother though, as a little stretching in small pots isn't a bad thing for light penetration.

I like the idea of teas, but don't think I want to go there yet either, need a few grows under my belt, and I'm not after super huge, maxed-out yields, just healthy, "typical" yielding plants for what I grow.

The GO Box produces quick, big results - but I am done with mixing liquids and dealing with def's and experimenting right now - a simple, organic solution should be all I need to yield what I want - 25-40 grams a plant, I think...

n.p bro......a.f.n is addictive so just roll one .....and have fun!!... its big rainforest out there!!.. pack lots of bowlz n surf where ever your mouse takes ya...........and great idea on taking it slow ......."the best sudent always make the best teachers"