Recycled Organic Living Soil (ROLS) and No Till Thread

[Midwest Weedist]

That is about 2 cubic feet of soil. I'd say thats perfect. I would leave out rock dust. Coot said to add that only once.

He's also running 15s. I've noticed that smaller no-till planters will eat through available amounts of certain amendments if they're in the first couple of cycles especially if they're pretty long term. I know if I'm running less than 10 gallons I have reammend certain amendments heavier or I'll see deficiencies. For example I have a 15 gallon planter that 8 months ago wouldn't have gotten anything through flower without issues, now it's some of the best soil I have as the nutrients have had ample time to cycle and become available again in amounts necessary for a blooming cannabis plant.
This is also just my experience, our souls *edit("..our Soils.." Lol had to leave that in there for laughs)* will always be different as well as our environments so he may very well not have to add any rock dusts back into it.

 

[Midwest Weedist]

NEEM!!!!

Holy cow, I can't believe I didn't think of that! Talk about a necessary gardening staple.

 

[GreenSanta]

dont over do the neem as it will affect the taste of your flowers, not talking about spraying just the soil amendment

 

[Midwest Weedist]

dont over do the neem as it will affect the taste of your flowers, not talking about spraying just the soil amendment

Never seem to run into this myself. In your experience what does it do to the flavor? I find the idea of terpenoid production being hindered or altered by something like neem interesting. Aside from adding amendments to alter the brix levels, I haven't found that an amendment can alter flavor.

 

[bizfactory]

Thanks for all the responses! Might go with the Kelp, Crab and then add in the Neem/Karanja 50/50 mix from BAS. How much should I use to avoid the bad taste @GreenSanta?

Also up in the air about minerals, if you had to choose 1 source, what would it be? Does gypsum count?

 

[Mohican]

Copper changes flavor.

 

[Midwest Weedist]

Thanks for all the responses! Might go with the Kelp, Crab and then add in the Neem/Karanja 50/50 mix from BAS. How much should I use to avoid the bad taste @GreenSanta?

Also up in the air about minerals, if you had to choose 1 source, what would it be? Does gypsum count?

If I'm remembering correctly Coot recommends basalt as his only rockdust. Glacial rock dust is a good stand alone. Gypsum is mainly a ph buffer as it's an organic calcium carbonate (I don't remember it's chemical composition) and sulfur. I use both and more, but that's not necessary.

 

[Midwest Weedist]

Copper changes flavor.

How's that work?

 

[GreenSanta]

sorry for misleading, coze im not 100% sure on this. I did a run where I over did the neem thinking it would help with pest, even sprinkled neem on top of the containers (that some years ago...) and it just seems like the weed was harsher and also kinda burnt my tongue as I smoked ,... so just to be cautious, you should never too much of any one thing anyway, except compost!!

 

[Midwest Weedist]

sorry for misleading, coze im not 100% sure on this. I did a run where I over did the neem thinking it would help with pest, even sprinkled neem on top of the containers (that some years ago...) and it just seems like the weed was harsher and also kinda burnt my tongue as I smoked ,... so just to be cautious, you should never too much of any one thing anyway, except compost!!

I would imagine if you had a bit of an N tox at any point in flower that could have me to the harsh flavor. Perhaps a small amount of moisture was permitted to stay in the buds for too long during the drying process?
You'll have to pardon my skepticism lol. Its just had to swallow the idea that anything like neem could negatively affect flavor. If simply adding something with natural oils or what have you to the soil altered essential oil production in the plant via direct uptake or microorganism ingestion then uptake, then these kids burying their orange peels in their planters would either end up with orange bud or uber harsh bud, depending on your perception of how that would work. I mean I spray neem oil, soak my soil in it, topdress it in ridiculous amounts, you name it. I even blend up different herbs and spices for a foliar and have never noticed an alteration in smell or taste in any way.

In my opinion, those spreading this idea about neem have been misinformed by someone who was probably trying to sell them something. The neem tree is holy in India and has been used in their culture for 5,000+ years. I could be wrong, I often am, but I do very much think that after that much time a culture would have abandoned the practice of it wasn't pretty amazing in every way. But that's just my opinion on it.

 

[Midwest Weedist]

Also, India was the doorway to the introduction of cannabis as a medicine in to western society in the early 1800's. Indica means of or from India, traditionally. Native Indians have been using neem and cannabis together longer than most cultures have been waging war, food for thought ;]

 

[GreenSanta]

hey, I am not against neem I use neem, its known as a great amendments for flowers in general, all I am saying is in my opinion you should not get carried away with it and use more than whats needed.

 

[Mohican]

Yes, sulfur is important too. Epsom is magnesium sulfate and seems to do a great job providing both to the soil.

Copper probably works as a catalyst for an enzyme. I use human supplement pills and dissolve one in a 5 gallon bucket of pH 5.7 water (like rain) along with any other carb amendments and feed once during early flower.

 

[Midwest Weedist]

hey, I am not against neem I use neem, its known as a great amendments for flowers in general, all I am saying is in my opinion you should not get carried away with it and use more than whats needed.

I completely agree, and I think that rule is a good general rule for everything we add to our soil. My only reason for being so long winded was to help those who are maybe new to the organic world understand how amazing neem is and avoid any misunderstanding of the plant. I've just seen and heard a lot of bad press (not saying at all that you were giving it such) about neem distributed to the unaware that scared them away from it completely.

 

[Mohican]

When I bought my neam flour, the Indian store owner said his father would make a tea with it and spray it on his plants.

 

[calliandra]

dont over do the neem as it will affect the taste of your flowers, not talking about spraying just the soil amendment

hey thanks! -- really cool you mention that!
I was topdressing during veg and got the feeling my plants started smelling strange - thought it could be the neem meal -- so yes,probably it was!!

 

[calliandra]

I would imagine if you had a bit of an N tox at any point in flower that could have me to the harsh flavor. Perhaps a small amount of moisture was permitted to stay in the buds for too long during the drying process?
You'll have to pardon my skepticism lol. Its just had to swallow the idea that anything like neem could negatively affect flavor. If simply adding something with natural oils or what have you to the soil altered essential oil production in the plant via direct uptake or microorganism ingestion then uptake, then these kids burying their orange peels in their planters would either end up with orange bud or uber harsh bud, depending on your perception of how that would work. I mean I spray neem oil, soak my soil in it, topdress it in ridiculous amounts, you name it. I even blend up different herbs and spices for a foliar and have never noticed an alteration in smell or taste in any way.

In my opinion, those spreading this idea about neem have been misinformed by someone who was probably trying to sell them something. The neem tree is holy in India and has been used in their culture for 5,000+ years. I could be wrong, I often am, but I do very much think that after that much time a culture would have abandoned the practice of it wasn't pretty amazing in every way. But that's just my opinion on it.

In my case, the plants smelled harsh, almost disagreeable. They stopped when I stopped using the neem meal.
But then, that was also the point where I raised my lights more.
So maybe that is less far fetched? my plants stink until I raise the lights for them??
LOL
I'm just having fun here, not trying to push any theory over another let alone settle the question of neem meal's oleofactory effects on the plants, K!
There has to be some mystery after all

 

[Mohican]

Observe and record. It is the scientific way!

 

[Midwest Weedist]

hey thanks! -- really cool you mention that!
I was topdressing during veg and got the feeling my plants started smelling strange - thought it could be the neem meal -- so yes,probably it was!!

Are you sure you weren't just smelling the neem decomposing?

In my case, the plants smelled harsh, almost disagreeable. They stopped when I stopped using the neem meal.
But then, that was also the point where I raised my lights more.
So maybe that is less far fetched? my plants stink until I raise the lights for them??
LOL
I'm just having fun here, not trying to push any theory over another let alone settle the question of neem meal's oleofactory effects on the plants, K!
There has to be some mystery after all

Lol maybe they decided to have a terpene strike until you have them less light ;P cannabis can be a fickle lady

 

[Midwest Weedist]

Yes, sulfur is important too. Epsom is magnesium sulfate and seems to do a great job providing both to the soil.

Copper probably works as a catalyst for an enzyme. I use human supplement pills and dissolve one in a 5 gallon bucket of pH 5.7 water (like rain) along with any other carb amendments and feed once during early flower.

Copper catalyzing an enzymatic reaction actually makes sense to me, I need to google this more.