New Grower Mixing Soils

[wg]

Well where I live the only place for any growing stuff is called " Texas hydroponics" and the guys that work there are clearly potheads and they're really helpful when I ask them stuff..that's the only place that has any good supplies, other than that its Walmart and Lowe's which obviously has nothing really.

As far as the floranova i had it for years so it was past shelf life it was time for more so I got the ff nutes.

And I really don't want to switch as ive always grown with ff but I mean if the bags I'm going to get aren't gunna be any good I'd rather switch then deal with bad soil but I don't really want to switch I'm just concerned.

Edit: I think not mixing lime in the soil in the beginning is what's hindering my grow..
Cause basically if I don't add the lime then I have no way of keeping my soil ph in check unless I water with perfectly ph'd water right?

Correct! Your plants look good dude minus the few issues, but it's because you're getting dialed in - so why mess it up? I think if you added a bit more LW and some lime to your mix you'd be set brother. I think a lot of people would be happy if their plants looked like yours, don't get me wrong - I have a great appreciation for your desire to grow even bigger and better plants - but that's when you start looking at the small things and getting dialed in, not changing something as big as your media and starting over. If you really don't want to switch then why even think about it brother? Think of ways to make your current solution better, not change it completely.. Every time you change something you'll take a small step back because you need to get it figured out 100%. Some times you'll hurt your grow, some times you'll help your grow.. but one thing is for sure, changing something as key as media will require rebuilding your knowledge.

In Texas brother, I'm telling you ... google you zip code and garden center and google your zip code and "seed and feed".. Even the major cities have seed and feed places which are abundant in soils and amendments.

 

[fweedom]

Correct! Your plants look good dude minus the few issues, but it's because you're getting dialed in - so why mess it up? I think if you added a bit more LW and some lime to your mix you'd be set brother. I think a lot of people would be happy if their plants looked like yours, don't get me wrong - I have a great appreciation for your desire to grow even bigger and better plants - but that's when you start looking at the small things and getting dialed in, not changing something as big as your media and starting over. If you really don't want to switch then why even think about it brother? Think of ways to make your current solution better, not change it completely.. Every time you change something you'll take a small step back because you need to get it figured out 100%. Some times you'll hurt your grow, some times you'll help your grow.. but one thing is for sure, changing something as key as media will require rebuilding your knowledge.

In Texas brother, I'm telling you ... google you zip code and garden center and google your zip code and "seed and feed".. Even the major cities have seed and feed places which are abundant in soils and amendments.

Thanks man would u prefer happy frog or ocean forest? How is happy frog different?
I agree man I don't want have to start over with another media but is happy frog that much different? Is it just less hot? I'm not saying I'm going to go get some I'm just curious, thanks for all the help by the way man

 

[Mr Piggy]

It is less hot and had less diverse ingredients than OF.

 

[Mr Piggy]

Hey dude. Fox Farms has had some quality issues in the past several months. Apparently Scott's(The Co. that owns Miracle Grow) bought them out and have sub-standard methods of storing their mix, so they have had bug and other issues. It seems to be hit or miss you, up to you.

Once again I need to nip this rumor right in the bud. Scotts has not bought fox farms, and there have not been bugs in the mix. People like to blame soil companies because it sounds better than "I brought pest in on my own due to carelessness and don't want to admit to it" Fungus gnats in the mix are either a result of the grower themselves or improper storage tech by the grow shop/nursery that sold you the soil. First tip, don't buy soil from shops that store it outside. Second, don't believe things you read on the internet without some kind of proof. Lips flap, rumors fly (especially on forums like icmag). Fox Farms released a statement claiming no ties to scotts and denying root aphids in their soil. Seeing as they've been supplying a quality product for a long time and good business practices I'm inclined to believe them.

I use OF, HF and ROOTS. I get more issues from the roots than anything else, but I also mix my own soil and all three have been blended together over time along with many organic nutes. There is a thread on soil mixing in the organics section already that is stocked with proven mixes. They have all the right ingredients in all the right portions to make a balanced mix. Soil mixing isn't something you want to wing. Here's a link, https://www.autoflower.org/f89/tlo-super-soil-recipes-10566.html

Squiddy and everyone else are totally right about the dunks. I haven't had gnats in about three years, since I started using them. Just make sure to use dechlorinated water as the chlorine will kill the beasties in the dunks that do the big killing. No, the bacteria in the dunks cannot harm you or your plant in any way.

Have fun and good luck on your grow!

 

[fweedom]

Once again I need to nip this rumor right in the bud. Scotts has not bought fox farms, and there have not been bugs in the mix. People like to blame soil companies because it sounds better than "I brought pest in on my own due to carelessness and don't want to admit to it" Fungus gnats in the mix are either a result of the grower themselves or improper storage tech by the grow shop/nursery that sold you the soil. First tip, don't buy soil from shops that store it outside. Second, don't believe things you read on the internet without some kind of proof. Lips flap, rumors fly (especially on forums like icmag). Fox Farms released a statement claiming no ties to scotts and denying root aphids in their soil. Seeing as they've been supplying a quality product for a long time and good business practices I'm inclined to believe them.

I use OF, HF and ROOTS. I get more issues from the roots than anything else, but I also mix my own soil and all three have been blended together over time along with many organic nutes. There is a thread on soil mixing in the organics section already that is stocked with proven mixes. They have all the right ingredients in all the right portions to make a balanced mix. Soil mixing isn't something you want to wing. Here's a link, https://www.autoflower.org/f89/tlo-super-soil-recipes-10566.html

Squiddy and everyone else are totally right about the dunks. I haven't had gnats in about three years, since I started using them. Just make sure to use dechlorinated water as the chlorine will kill the beasties in the dunks that do the big killing. No, the bacteria in the dunks cannot harm you or your plant in any way.

Have fun and good luck on your grow!

Thanks Mr.piggy that makes me feel a lot better about sticking to fox farms

I'll be sure to check the link out as well thanks for clearing that up for me :smokebuds:

 

[bawse103]

Is this the diatomaceous earth, and will this be enough for my 3 gallon pot? How much should I add to my soil mix? http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Wisdo...ds=Nature's+Wisdom+Food+Grade+DE+(D.+E.)+1+lb. And is this the right dunks? http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mosquito-Dunks-6pk/16794599 Can I mix these two together in my soil mix and not have any problems with my ph levels? My soil consists of OF with perlite and lime in my 3 gallon pot. SQUID, I know you dont really fuck with , but do you have any idea ,or could anyone else who has posted in this thread explain how many parts to use of each? For Example: Heres what I had in mind. 2 to 3 parts OF, 1 part LW, 1 part perlite, all mixed together. With the recommended amount of dolomite lime. Also a separate layer of LW around my seedling. I am staring my seedling in a 32 oz plastic cup, mixed with perlite and LW, and doing the tier method like you said SQUID. I will transplant in 2 weeks, and by that time my OF, perlite and Lime will be good and rockin' by the time I transplant it!!! Thank you to everybody for posting on this thread, and giving your professional opinion on what we all have in common, and thats WEED!!!!!:group::grat: P.S. this is the part of sprockets when we dance!!!! :dance::dance:

 

[The Squid]

Thanks for clearing that up, Piggy. Sadly, now I remember you telling me that a while back. Damnit! Thanks dude. I will make sure I keep that straight from now on.
I knew you used the stuff so I was waiting on you to chime in, I should have just hit you up first. Aaaaaaannyways...

Sorry folks!

 

[bawse103]

Ok, heres the $1,000 dollar question! Everyone says something different, but for optimal results should you use Ph balanced Tap, Spring, Distilled, or Mineral water????????? I was planning on using 6.3 ph balanced Spring water, before I start my grow. Thanks!!!!!

 

[InHumboldt]

If your trying to play it safe then RO or distilled. Anything else and you can have a too much of any number of minerals-- or a carbonate precipitation may drop your Ca and Mg out. Then again you might have great tap water were your at but best to know it is such. Around here we all know that there is too much carbonate in our tap water-all our grocery stores have a RO gismo in them.

 

[Scott817]

OK here goes...

Distilled if you like buying water. Its the only one with known values and most consistent as its pretty much devoid of everything. You can also get RO/Di filter for pure water and then you need to add you calcium and stuff back into it and do it at home.

Spring water would be good but you have to know what your values are in like calcium and ph and such as they could be different from one batch of water to another.

Mineral water I am not even sure whats in it so no comment.

Tap water you have to bubble out the chlorine and it does have other things in it you have to be aware of. I use this as it has calcium and iron and other stuff the plants dig.

All water should be checked for pH in my personal opinion.

I like rain water the best though when it rains I gather as much as I can