New Grower Mixing Soils

[Mr Piggy]

No worries squiddo! Would you believe short term memory loss is a side effect of our hobby?

I'm not sure the DE will do anything for your pest management in the soil mix. I used to work for a pest control company and we only used DE in dry areas as it tends to loose it's killing prowess when wet. People put DE in mixes to supply silica, an essential plant micro nutrient. As far as water I prefer to use RO water, that way I get to choose every component that goes into it, no guessing what's already there. I prefer it to distilled, but have no good reason why. Remember, even if it starts at ph 6.3 you're going to have to adjust it to 6.5 after adding nutes, or to water with it plain.

 

[bawse103]

I just want to be clear on your last sentence piggy, so start off with ph balanced 6.5? I was using 6.3. I know everyone does it a lil different with which water they use, but you will still get a yield if you use any water as long as it is ph balanced 6.5, right? and your are feeding your girl the right amount of nutes, and so on. Thanks!!!!! Hambone.

 

[Mr Piggy]

6.3 will be okay, but 6.5 is what you should shoot for.

 

[*headpiECE*]

There's just way too much to go back and comment on.

Lot of good info...things that stick out in my mind...places like Wal-Mart and Lowes don't neccesarily suck...garden/feed supply stores are your friend...if you're going for organics, you really shouldn't even need to vivit the hydro store much nute-wise...maybe for bat guano. :thumbs:

Um...let's see...Pro-Mix is easy, yes and quite usable...I prefer it with a tbsp of lime per gal myself and perlite like was mentioned...however I think anyone doing organics side-by-side with an amended base soil w/castings, TLO etc vs. straight Pro-Mix will be a fan of the former.

I prefer to use RO water for control...

 

[The Squid]

No worries squiddo! Would you believe short term memory loss is a side effect of our hobby?

Hello no!

Glad you're here. You know organics and soils better. I'm a soil-less Squid.

As far as the water, Scott has solid info. I used to use distilled that I bought from Wally World and now I use the drinking water. I have used the spring water too. I'm sure one is better than the other, but I'm not certain. I do get pretty consistent Ph and Ppm from the water though. If I could afford it I would buy and RO System. Fairly cheap and easy to install, just not in the cards for me right now. I have to buy my water like I said because my tap water is so fucking acidic. Low 4s!

Lime in Promix, Headpiece?? Dang...I just find that if anything it needs to be bumped down some. Muddy and I have used sulfur before in the initial mix to bring the overall Ph down. I stopped using it, but not sure about him. And some of the biggest and highest yielding grows I have seen on here were done in Promix. I am mostly speaking of Jackal's Onyx grows.

But I know what you mean...A good, properly amended mix is wonderful. I like the idea of just feeding with plain Ph water and the mix does the rest. Feed the mix, not the plant. I wanna get into mixes like that one day, but I'll still use Promix as the base. :thumbs:

Thanks for all the help with bawse, guys.

 

[*headpiECE*]

Feed the mix, not the plant. Amen in organics...:thumbs:

Yeah...I'll add lime to my breakfast cereal...

With Pro-Mix more about Ca/Mg than pH...Mg deficiencies make me angry.

 

[Mr Piggy]

Yeah...I'll add lime to my breakfast cereal...

 

[*headpiECE*]

Delicious AND nutritious!

 

[bawse103]

...