Organic Growing: An Introductory Guide

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
My problem is deciding what amounts to re-ammend with regards to all amendments.
Kelp and oyster shell flour are the only things I reamend with at full strength.

And this is a practice Im getting away from even.

I do neem seed meal at half strength...
Crab Shell Meal and fish bone meal at quarter strength...

I only add mineral stuff every other grow...I've got a couple where I haven't added minerals in over five cycles now...

I don't bother adding anything nitrogen heavy, all the composts, with the neem...Plenty of nitrogen.
 

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
i do have neem oil :) i have been readin on this extensively, a couple of the plants i chose are know to increase oil production in neighboring plants(chamomile, Yarrow), some have good pest control properties, and some are good for living cover crops. I didnt know about dill but what i just read on it has convinced me to throw some of that in with them too

i wish i would have found more info on pump before i bought it, i would have gone with the element air pump. i unfortunately went with this one:
https://www.amazon.ca/Hydrofarm-AAPA45L-Active-Commercial-Air/dp/B002JPRNOU/ref=sr_1_6?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1482535510&sr=1-6
That one should be fine for making up five gallon batches!
 

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
oh nice!! i thought it may be a bit under-powered
Make sure all your tubes and connections are solid. I've seen decent pumps run shitty because of poor tube placement, poorly attached equipment, and even shitty air stones.

As long as you got steady, consistent air flow, you're good.

If you want to see more bubbles add some yucca extract...That shit will be bubbling over onto the floor lol.
 

bassman999

Well-Known Member
Kelp and oyster shell flour are the only things I reamend with at full strength.

And this is a practice Im getting away from even.

I do neem seed meal at half strength...
Crab Shell Meal and fish bone meal at quarter strength...

I only add mineral stuff every other grow...I've got a couple where I haven't added minerals in over five cycles now...

I don't bother adding anything nitrogen heavy, all the composts, with the neem...Plenty of nitrogen.
I think I went N heavy with my amendments this cycle adding coffee grounds, Neem meal, alfalfa and guano.
Ill add less or none next time, will I wont omit the neem meal because I think it helps wit pestpevention
 

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
I think I went N heavy with my amendments this cycle adding coffee grounds, Neem meal, alfalfa and guano.
Ill add less or none next time, will I wont omit the neem meal because I think it helps wit pestpevention
Neem is great not just for the nitrogen, micronutrients, and pest management it brings to the soil. But also for what it does to the nitrification process in the soil. It keeps nitrogen in plant usable form in the soil for longer (nitrogen turns into a gas overtime otherwise).
 

Vnsmkr

Well-Known Member
Went and acquired a bit of soil today for some new starts and forgot the fkn neem, shit. Gotta go back for that soon.

Yeah I havent added "amendments" here in ages. I just keep recycling adding more mix, compost, rotating veges around, adding cover crops, & leaf mulching. I got some alaska fish to add from time to time and that should be it.

Thinking I am going to foliar everything with LAB along with watering it in. Anyone see any issues with blending up some comfrey and aloe and using them together with LAB?

Also need to mix some pepper spray for bug control; pinch of superhot chili powder, clover of garlic, & aloe blended up with water.
 

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
Went and acquired a bit of soil today for some new starts and forgot the fkn neem, shit. Gotta go back for that soon.

Yeah I havent added "amendments" here in ages. I just keep recycling adding more mix, compost, rotating veges around, adding cover crops, & leaf mulching. I got some alaska fish to add from time to time and that should be it.

Thinking I am going to foliar everything with LAB along with watering it in. Anyone see any issues with blending up some comfrey and aloe and using them together with LAB?

Also need to mix some pepper spray for bug control; pinch of superhot chili powder, clover of garlic, & aloe blended up with water.
I'd be interested to see what LAB does to the comfrey break down process. Especially if you're trying to get the liquid.

The pepper spray works great! I can never make it without getting some in my eyes! Lol. Plants are pest free and I look like I just got done watching the end of Homeward Bound!
 

Vnsmkr

Well-Known Member
I'd be interested to see what LAB does to the comfrey break down process. Especially if you're trying to get the liquid.

The pepper spray works great! I can never make it without getting some in my eyes! Lol. Plants are pest free and I look like I just got done watching the end of Homeward Bound!
For a spray bottle (2 cups?) I was thinking of taking about an inch of aloe (leaf and meat), smaller leaf or even 1/2 a leaf of fresh comfrey, toss those in the blender/food processor with a 1/4 tsp of activated lab (or so) + water. Blend the shit out of it and spray immediately. Think the comfrey would add anything being fresh and not composted yet or is that a waste adding?
Good to hear confirmation on the pepper spray from other people, lol on the eyes, but not so much when it happens. I told someone other day to goggle and mask up before spraying ;)
 

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
For a spray bottle (2 cups?) I was thinking of taking about an inch of aloe (leaf and meat), smaller leaf or even 1/2 a leaf of fresh comfrey, toss those in the blender/food processor with a 1/4 tsp of activated lab (or so) + water. Blend the shit out of it and spray immediately. Think the comfrey would add anything being fresh and not composted yet or is that a waste adding?
Good to hear confirmation on the pepper spray from other people, lol on the eyes, but not so much when it happens. I told someone other day to goggle and mask up before spraying ;)
I'm still an amateur on comfrey use but @greasemonkeymann probably has a good answer for your question.

I wear the mask...I just always absent mindedly touch my face or eye while I'm making it or after when the residue is on my shirt it'll somehow get on me lol. Totally worth it though!
 

Chronikool

Well-Known Member
For a spray bottle (2 cups?) I was thinking of taking about an inch of aloe (leaf and meat), smaller leaf or even 1/2 a leaf of fresh comfrey, toss those in the blender/food processor with a 1/4 tsp of activated lab (or so) + water. Blend the shit out of it and spray immediately. Think the comfrey would add anything being fresh and not composted yet or is that a waste adding?
Good to hear confirmation on the pepper spray from other people, lol on the eyes, but not so much when it happens. I told someone other day to goggle and mask up before spraying ;)
Itz an interesting idea....I'm just wondering if you can whizz it up enough to break it down to get it through your sprayer..?? Itz pretty course...

Also ...it might leave a darker green dryness on your leaves as it dries..?

At least, Thatz my experience from whizzing comfrey with water and applying to the soil (simple pour out and covered with worm castings)

:)
 
hey i went down today to give my soil a good mixing and the soil is putting of some heat higher then room temp, is this normal? I have my beans in germinating right now and was planning on planting in the next day or so when they sprout, kinda worried i will harm them if i plant them in this stuff...
 

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
hey i went down today to give my soil a good mixing and the soil is putting of some heat higher then room temp, is this normal? I have my beans in germinating right now and was planning on planting in the next day or so when they sprout, kinda worried i will harm them if i plant them in this stuff...
Yeah that's the nitrogen you put in (probably the alfalfa) composting...its best to sprout seeds in a simple peat/perlite/compost mix. Your amended soil is best for clones or young plants. Not so much germination. Neem seed meal can actually prevent seeds from germinating. My bad I missed the part about you trying to start seeds in your mix! I would have advised against it!
 
luckily the seeds are in paper towel right now. i will mix up a bit of starter soil as per your recommendation, thanks once again! how old should my plants be before plating in my amended soil, third full set of leaves? Just dont wanna burn em...
 

Chunky Stool

Well-Known Member
luckily the seeds are in paper towel right now. i will mix up a bit of starter soil as per your recommendation, thanks once again! how old should my plants be before plating in my amended soil, third full set of leaves? Just dont wanna burn em...
There is no "perfect soil" because plants require more nutes as they get older. Too much, too soon is a recipe for frustration. Repotting is the perfect time to upgrade dirt with more nutes.
Ordinary potting mixes like Black Gold have trace nutes because people will use it for all plants, young & old. Seedlings do great, but mature plants quickly become deficient.
Hotter mixes like Fox Farms Ocean Forest (FFOF) will often burn seedlings, but they usually adjust. This soil is perfect for 1/2 - 3 gallon pots with medium-size plants (~12").
For final repotting of larger plants, hot custom mixes hit the spot. One that did really well for me last year was the simplest ever: FFOF mixed with SeaBat Guano Fusion. I didn't have to start supplementing with nutrient tea until week 5 (of 8 ). I need to order more of that shit. Love it!
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Greenbelt-Organics-Sea-Bat-Fusion-Guano-2-lb-Organic-Granular-Fertilizer-GB00561P2LBS/204583312
 

Jubilant

Well-Known Member
Seems pretty solid to me! I certainly wouldn't change anything. Lately I've been using and reccomending growers add Langbeinite to virgin mixes just cause I've seen small signs of potassium and magnesium deficiencies in the past and this seems to prevent that issue. Though depending on your compost, you could be totally fine...It's just a nice safeguard.
I can attest to some mag deficiency with the mix I have going, I have been correcting with some epsom salt in the feedings. I am now very curious about this Langeinite, maybe when I recycle the soil I can add some :hump:
 

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
luckily the seeds are in paper towel right now. i will mix up a bit of starter soil as per your recommendation, thanks once again! how old should my plants be before plating in my amended soil, third full set of leaves? Just dont wanna burn em...
Your soil should stop giving off heat in two to three weeks at the most. When it stops giving off that heat you should be good to transplant. But four to six inches in height is a good standard.
 
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