How to boost supersoil/organics during bloom

[GodAmJT]

So I'm pretty new to growing organics, and I use a very similar recipe to subcool's supersoil, so I hadn't really thought about what else to add, thinking I didn't really need anything. I use Botanicare's Pure Blend Tea, at roughly 3ml/gal every 2 weeks w/ a TBS of molasses, and then on the in-between week, I use a Heisenberg tea recipe at rougly 8-10oz per plant, a day before/after watering.

So here's my set-up to give you some ideas, for those who have never checked out my grows (which I'm guessing is quite a few of you guys).

Base soil: Roots Organic
Supersoil: Subcool's recipe w/ a few modifications
Lights: 2x Mars II 400w (eqv.)
Active air circulation

I tend to water every 3rd-4th day, depending on my RH, which sits relatively stable between 40-55%. I've done a couple foliar sprays w/ General Hydroponics Floralicious+, at 1ml/qt of tap water, and my tap water is at roughly 140ppm-ish on a 0.5 scale.. Not sure if it's doing much, but I was trying to do those weekly, per their instructions; just at a lower concentration than they recommend..


So my question; what could I do to amplify bud growth/development? I was thinking a foliar spray of some type of bloom nutes, but I don't wanna throw off the supersoil/great pH and health of the plants so far..

 

[Eyes on Fire]

yeah I can tell by how your feeding your plants LOL most of what you have is good imo,except some things need to be put on the back burner for a spell which are your foliage spray and bottled feeds. you have grown a lotta chems I take it with all the ppm and EC which are pretty much the same thing actually,and that chem styled feed and grow thinking is backwards in a natural grow just like chems or organic friendly additives which many claim to be friendly but in fact are far from being friendly really. but small doses can be managed alright. living tea boosts and biology and pro biotics should be added and some teas to start with. but thats my take on it from reading your post bro. not trying to be a dick man, just saying what Im thinking really LOL

 

[GodAmJT]

The only bottled stuff I'm using is the Floralicious+ which is mostly humic acid, and the Botanicare Pure Blend Tea, which is a similar product, but all plant-derived, at least from what the label said (I think it even has the "certified organic" seal on it). As for the Heisenberg tea, all it is, is 3-4gal water, Great White mycos, Botanicare Hydroguard (bacillus colony), molasses and a heaping scoop of General Organics Ancient Forest, bubbled for 48hrs, strained and applied.

Here's the info on the Botanicare:

http://www.botanicare.com/Pure-Blend-Tea-P193.aspx

http://www.botanicare.com/Hydroguard-P194.aspx


I think where I was heading with this was more of a, "what works for you guys?" I know some guys use foliar sprays to boost their bloom a little, and I feel like there must be something, whether it be an epsom salt/guano/emulsion solution, or some sort of top dressing. My worry is that even adding a little of something, may throw off the balance I have going on in there.. None of my plants show any deficiencies thus far, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.. Maybe my lights are not living up to my expectations, thus why I only get 2-3oz per plant?? I know a couple of the strains I've grown, some of the guys on here have got well over 100g/plant by just watering their organic grow, so I'm trying to kinda narrow down what I need to fix because I'm getting to the point where I don't want to have to do anymore upgrades to my hardware lol

The hands-free approach is what really drove me to try organics because my job has a tendency of sending me away for a week or 2 at a time, and hydro just isn't friendly with that (the wife isn't much of a grower, nor does she care to mix up nutes and check pH/TDS)

Thanks for the advice!!!! @Eyes on Fire I figured you'd be one of the people to talk to, as I've seen a few of your grows and am more than impressed!!

 

[Eyes on Fire]

yeah the acids need to be treated with little bit of the kid gloves especially when using a foliar and a tea. less tends to be WAY more as a rule..

but with the soil so far I would imagine it will do fine for most if not the whole grow imho. its just when using bottled stuffs even a more organic friendly source or not,its a concentrate and needs(IMO) to be used in a balanced tea system for proper use, fed and alive.

if your using the Sub cool deal thats fine. if you have no burning or pure green grow thats great. and a cpl ounces or more a pop with essentially with water only aint bad man,especially if the quality it top top shelf. many organic stamp have essentially been paid for through some companies.

well with a leaf spray with autos is only an early thing for the first cpl weeks at best umless your using a small samll finger pump sprayer with an overspray catch of sorts for the pistils,since wetting them freaks them out,especially if you do it unchecked and over and over again. autos are unique when it comes to foliage sprays imo.

ad its all about a proper balance,and what works for you would most likely be a slightly larger container. a true 3 - 3.5 gallon pot. a [HASHTAG]#5[/HASHTAG] pot with proper aeration and natural tea and life boosts is what I can do if I really try. hell I had an HBBSS that had literally maxed out the canopy in my 6'11" gorilla tent LMFAO!! short of the LED hanging up tight to the roof LOL in a pot. TM3 fabric areation pot from vivgrow. and you could achieve that too. aeration and balance. and life and foods but with your recipe have you done a squeeze test? that will give youa solid idea on what your aeration and built soils texture consists of.

once thats achieved its all about finding the pot size. TRUE 3 gallons are best. trade gallons are a bit smaller and harder to max out for large plat since soil IS food. and the life balances it out with a mellow feeding recipe. and there it is.

 

[Eyes on Fire]

also as a ready recipe too I like the 2.1 mix or even kind soil is what does it for me. but my soil is a lot of reused and re done soil and some new stuff added since I spread it around for OD flowers n such. mom gardens every year outside soo its always about texture and foods. but againn the Sub recipe would be fie you just need to find that aeration zone for your tent man. and a borderline aggressive feed ,thats why all these people are getting massive yields.slightly larger pots and a proper aeration mix. and if its not too aggressive simple bottle boosters can be used,and tha imho is what will help you in bloom bro. now boosting it what works for me are my teas. check out a good tea template here in organics.that will help too. but your soil should be right on point if its a true sub mix cut in half anyway.

 

[GodAmJT]

Yeah, the only differences from the current subcool recipe and what I'm using was the guanos and i added diatomaceous earth for mild pest control and micros..

I also think perhaps adding more of it to the bottom of the bucket because right now, I only fill it up a 1/3 of the way in an 18ltr nursery pot.. I added a bit more to the 5gal-eq airpot I had kicking around, and whether it be pheno or what, is my smaller of the plants lol I think I am gonna do a different tea for the next feed and see if it helps.. Regardless, i'm currently recycling/cooking the soil from my last grow that was used supersoil and base soil, mixed w/ worm castings, fresh soil, a few other things to revitalize it along with all of the leaf trim from the last plants I harvested.. I was going to mix it in a layer above the supersoil to see if that helps as well.


Thanks for all of the info!!!! I have a feeling that once the weather cools down, i'll be able to throw another LED panel in the area, and finish my DIY LED panel for more light..

 

[Eyes on Fire]

your approach sounds ,well...sound actually imo your just trying to do too much in the quick composting things for soils,wet leaves will take a touch longer to decompose than roots in my experience. not a lot but some, and unless your doing outdoors I would leave the DE out for now. use maybe an insect frass and blend with a few gallon early in the grow and top coat for pests if needed too.thats really effective OD too.inside all this is applicable too. DE especially unless your wrought with crawly things n the like LOL

5 gallons of that 50/ 50 or 60-40 lighter on the sub mix you should be able pot it up completely man and if its a smaller genetic and not stressed its gonna be smaller. but just plug the pot with seedling mix and/or tier into it with a seedling or very mellow mix. i think thats your sweet spot with that aeration I was yakking about

 

[GodAmJT]

For the aeration test, are you referring to when you squeeze it into a ball and flick it?? It crumbles a bit.. If that's not it, then i'll be checking when I get home!!!

As for the recycled soil, it's sort of an experiment that I was gonna try later in the year or sometime next spring.. The only reason I used the DE was because my landlord is cheap and doesn't listen to us when we say we have lots of bugs in the house; sort of an insurance policy, so I may definitely exclude it from the next round of supersoil I make..

Now that i'm getting into organics, I realize there is actually more to learn than with hydro!!! Lo . That's why I love this forum!!! Lots of knowledge and wisdom without the shitty attitudes!!!

 

[Eyes on Fire]

shitty attitudes? LMFAO!! yeah I can be that way but usually from narrowing points of view are what get me is all LOL naah man thats really not right really man, the reason i say this is because if you WANT or feel you NEED to learn it great,loads of shit for that and ill give ya a tour LOL

but if you want a simple soil like subs recipe you just really only need to understand one point.which is the fact that life remains king.pest control stabilization and so on. trust me I could go on LOL but pest short of a larger issue like an infestation or similar your soil and plant will be able to fight and WIN that battle in most all ordinary and many extraordinary grows and situations anywhere with a touch of help. plants are another story but it all begins with the soil LOL you can start here I guess if ya aint seen this



OH lol almost forgot,the aeration test is really a squeeze test and texture test,texture I cant teach cuz its feel test and sight test. but for basic aeration a binding of the soil structure is really in the sqeeze test and as long as it falls around 45% or 55% apart with little to zero help apart from letting go,and thats goo. Im sure there is good video of it around somewhere LOL

 

[GodAmJT]

This is like solid gold!!!! Thanks for the help!!!!! A bunch of my supersoil is outside, but we just got a drenching rain, so I may bring in a small bucket of it to dry out a touch, and try the test again.. My ultimate goal is to be able to revitalize my soil with my own amendments like eggs shells and old veggies/fruits/usable food waste, but that's far down the road because I'm still trying to fully understand the science behind organics.. I spent literally HUNDREDS of hours just reading and researching hydro, and I did okay with it, but like I said, I don't have the most reliable work schedule, so once the winter hits, I am probably gonna do a hydro photo grow in my tent that's collecting dust, and use up the rest of my LED panels.. Then, maybe I'll do a side-by-side of the photos with soil and hydro.. Always have something on the back burner!!!