A test in progress.... Miracle Grow soil vs. Fox Farms soil. Is MG really that bad?

mcpurple said:

they all look good to me. how do you plant on doing a taste test after a few weeks the buds on them will be very early unless you have another one already ahead in flowering

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Yeah man, check my link. Their parents are all in their 5th week of 12/12, and looking really nice.

Comparison, at 4 weeks old....


I had just noticed that today, that these babies are 28 days old, and thought it was worth mentioning. It's been 38 days since I took the cuttings from the parents, 6 days for them to take root, and another 4 days wasted, by me screwing around, and not putting them into soil right away.lol At only 4 weeks old, I'd say that the 'terrible MG soil', not only works, it works pretty damn well. Not only that,...I'm using T8 flouros, which are another thing that's not recommended to be good for growing. I attribute some of that speed, to going straight to final-sized pots, skipping the middle stage. I can't wait until I get the money to upgrade to MH, and knock another week off veg time, maybe even a little more. Speed is critical, to me, when growing perpetual....

They're almost ready for 12/12, and almost ready to take a few cuttings from, but I'm going to give them a few more days. Then, let the flowering begin!!!!

The first pics were taken on Oct 5th, and the last were taken last night.....

Wonderful results jawbrodt!

Would you mind taking a couple of closeup pics of the results of the "bending" you did to the tops? Its hard to see in the pics.

did you top them or anything?? also from seed i think there is a bigger difference.

jaw,

I've just had what I think might be a pretty good idea for finding out some more useful information about the chemistry of MG potting mix that I wanted to run by you.

I'm about 4 weeks or so from finishing up a grow and de-potting the plants. I'm thinking about sending a sample of this used MG potting mix from down in the container to the Texas A&M soil lab. For $15 they'll give you a soil analysis that will tell you it's ph and it's NO3-,P, K, Ca,Mg, Na, and S levels. Plus the levels of the micronutrients Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn.

As far as making up a cover story I'm just going to say that it's used potting soil mix that was used to container grow a tomato plant. If they want to think that I'm interested in reconditioning the soil to re use it for another tomato plant grow that's fine with me. All though I never re use my MG potting mix I think it would be interesting to know where it "ended up" after it's been used for a grow.

What do you think?

Jack

Thanks man, I'm quite impressed with the results, as well. I dug these pics up from September, from the mothers of these current plants. Some are a bit fuzzy, but I hope they show you what you're looking for......

jaw,

I hope you don't mind but I thought I'd post a couple of pics of what I've got going in MG potting mix. I think they ought to help show that good results can be had with it.

These plants are 117 days from seed and are getting close to harvest. I'm hoping to let them go another 2 to 3 weeks to increase the yield. I'll probably start harvesting the top colas first and giving the lower ones a little more time to fatten up. I found my first couple of "banannas" forming in the top of one bud yesterday (tweezed them out) so I know I'm getting close.



Jack

^Nope, no problem at all, it's more evidence in MG's defense. Those are beautiful, man. What strain? Lucky bagseed, or other?lol

Just curious but what do you guys think of the 5 dollar bags of Kellog potting soil they have at "Hemp" Depot? They are 3 cubic feet and i was gonna make up some of subcools super soil, and i was thinking of using it since its a lot cheaper than the MG is and since we are discussing soil in here thought i would bring that one up. Because money is a little tight right now if ya know what i mean.

jawbrodt said:

^Nope, no problem at all, it's more evidence in MG's defense. Those are beautiful, man. What strain? Lucky bagseed, or other?lol

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jaw,

Those pics are of a strain called Allegria (from Spain). It's suppose to be a 80/20 Indica/Sativa mix. Paid 35 Euros for 15 seeds at the Dampkring store across from the train station in Amsterdam back in 2008. The first grow with them I saved a male, collected the pollen and used it to selectively pollinate all the lower branches on the females. Got a 1000+ seeds from that grow and it's what I've been using to start all the other grows since then. I've been having a 95% + germination rate with them (usually in under 4 days). Of those around 65% turn out female.

And except for their tendency to produce those "yellow banannas" up in the top colas toward the end of the grow I haven't had any problems with them going hermi on me earlier in the grow cycle. Before I got these seeds all I grew from was what ever random bag seed I could get my hands on. I got quite a bit of experience with hermies screwing up a crop during that 5 year period.

Jack

^^ nice man sounds like it turned out good hope my crosses turn out that good. I just gotta make sure i pick properly before i pop the plants cherry so to speak =)

looking good Jaw...i gave my FFOF plant to my buddy, whose doing a DWC for the first time and is absolutely hating it! i thanked him for trying it for the both of us so i didnt waste my time and i will just stick to soil lol...not that people dont have great results, but its not for us...anyway, my plant at his house is doing descent in the FF, no where near as good as mine in MG organic however...they are both bag seed but you can tell by looking at them there completely diffrent strains, as the FF looks like a big christmas tree and the Mg looks like a big ass bush!...all in all, i will never grow in FF again. Personally, for me the price being doubled is not worth it and especially because my mg plant is dominating my ff plant as well as his dwc plants...so thanks for making this great thread and i was glad that i got to do it with you...granite, its not over yet, my girls are both into flower as of a week ago and my mg plant is showing trichs everywhere and the ff is barly at all...oh and even though its at his house, i do all the work with it, i didnt bring my camera yesterday when i fed her but i do have some pics taken today of my mg plant in flower...she has grown 1 inch everyday so far! and the crowns are really getting ready to burst out! thanks again jaw

Honestly my only main issue with MG soil is the PH, which can be up to 8 in some of the organic products. Sometimes it comes packed with fungus gnats too, which sucks.

prot0n said:

Honestly my only main issue with MG soil is the PH, which can be up to 8 in some of the organic products. Sometimes it comes packed with fungus gnats too, which sucks.

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I've never had a PH problem with MG. After a plant has been in it for a few weeks, I top dress soil with lime to RAISE PH, because it has a tendency to get acidic. You are the first one I've ever heard report it get alkaline, that just doesn't make sense. Everyone will tell you it is on acidic side.

As for the gnats, that shit is heat treated before it is bagged. If you are finding gnats or bugs in your MG, take the shit back and ask for a NEW bag. Some places may not move through enough potting soil to have fresh on hand. If you go to a busy Lowes or Home Depot, you won't have bugs, especially if it is Spring or summer, because MG flies out of those places as fast as they get it. (makes ya wonder if it was so bad, why is everyone using it?)

i have NEVER tested the ph in my grow...ive used Distilled water the whole time...the ONE time i used tap when i didnt feel like going to the store, i noticed a slight diffrence, so i went back to distilled and havnt had a problem since...ive made myself a life long MG user after my own test, and seeing Jaw's just made me feel a little warmer inside haha

nobody has answers to my question regarding the cheaper kellog soil at home depot?

Kaptain Kron said:

nobody has answers to my question regarding the cheaper kellog soil at home depot?

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i dont know what kellog soil is bro...my partner just picked up a BIG ASS! bag of some descent looking soil for CHEAP at Lowes...

i posted a link but it had my "local store" with my city so anyway...its called jungle growth professional and i read the ingredients and it sounds promising...its 2 bucks for a big bag

Kaptain Kron said:

nobody has answers to my question regarding the cheaper kellog soil at home depot?

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Add 20% perlite, and it'll work great.

Kaptain Kron said:

nobody has answers to my question regarding the cheaper kellog soil at home depot?

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Never heard of it, but I'm starting to think jaw is right on the any soil will do as long as it drains well...At this point I'm not sure what I'm using for my next grow, but I'll have to say this test opened up possibilities to me. I am going to be trying out some of those dirt cheap soils, probab do a side by side this next grow with mg vs a generic brand. Either way jaw, you've made it easier to grow on a budget with confidence.

Kaptain Kron said:

Just curious but what do you guys think of the 5 dollar bags of Kellog potting soil they have at "Hemp" Depot? They are 3 cubic feet and i was gonna make up some of subcools super soil, and i was thinking of using it since its a lot cheaper than the MG is and since we are discussing soil in here thought i would bring that one up. Because money is a little tight right now if ya know what i mean.

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I have used kellogs potting soil for other vegetables and every single bag I have bought had bugs in it. One bag I bought must have had mushroom spores in it because it grew them profusely.