Subcool's Super Soil
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Andy Botwin
Well-Known Member
High gorp! I'm from your neck of the woods as well, QC, and have gone thru some of the same issues as you have described. Although, instead of getting into it with Customs and Border Services, I just called Aurora Innovations (Roots Organics manufacturer) and Import Canada and after about 3 or 4 phone calls realized it would be more trouble than it's worth to attempt getting Roots soil across the border. You sir are a ballsy dude...
So, to answer your question, I used BioBizz as Sub has suggested, as well as a Canadian product, out of BC, called Sea Soil. It's slightly higher in Nitrogen so I adjust the Blood meal accordingly. I use Sea Soil Container Mix and Potting Mix with Coconut Coir, in equal amounts. Make sure it's the Coco Container and Potting versions, NOT the usual mixes with peat or the original (orange bag) recipe. That's the base soil to use here in Canada. Then follow everything else as SubCool has outlined.
Azomite can be found for a nominal cost at wheatgrasskits.ca
Humic/Fulvic are easily obtained via Ebay.
And Sea Soil can be obtained through reputable gardening centres and hydro shops that deal with the distributor Greenstar. Without a doubt, it took some effort, but it was alllll worth it.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to answer a question that has come up (again). Water your plants in SuperSoil just before they wilt. When you go to water the plants, wet the soil initially with a small amount of water, let it distribute itself over the course of about 30 mins or so and THEN return to completely saturate and finish watering your garden. This will ensure a better hydration and more even uptake. Don't worry so much about the run-off (unless you're interested in testing it), but rather focus on the weight of your pots when completely dry and completely hydrated. This is an important aspect of container gardening, that Sub has already indicated, and it helps the grower learn the intricacies of their garden's water requirements.
I've also noticed something interesting about pot sizes and lighting intensity. If you are not using 1000-watter like Sub does, then the game changes. 7-10 gallon pots with a 1/3 to 2/3 of super soil is the general guideline for 4 plants under a 1000 watts in a 4x4 footprint. If you are using lower wattages, or cramming in more plants, or growing in a larger areas, then modifications have to be made.
Basically, we all have slightly different growing conditions and the SubCool Super Soil method has been refined for Sub's environmental factors. Use his words as framework, change as little as possible, but when slight alterations are introduced, just take the time to make some observations and determine what tweaks are needed to ensure Super Soil success.
You can thank Chernobyl for the rant.
Love ya guys, hope y'all are growing good!
Stay up-
- Andy
nathenking
Well-Known Member
Whats your dogs name bro??ok ,
i have read this entire thread , , Great read and info!
bottom line ... . Subcool should just bag up his SS and sale it to us all
hehe
subcool
Well-Known Member
Andy gets an A !!!High gorp! I'm from your neck of the woods as well, QC, and have gone thru some of the same issues as you have described. Although, instead of getting into it with Customs and Border Services, I just called Aurora Innovations (Roots Organics manufacturer) and Import Canada and after about 3 or 4 phone calls realized it would be more trouble than it's worth to attempt getting Roots soil across the border. You sir are a ballsy dude...
So, to answer your question, I used BioBizz as Sub has suggested, as well as a Canadian product, out of BC, called Sea Soil. It's slightly higher in Nitrogen so I adjust the Blood meal accordingly. I use Sea Soil Container Mix and Potting Mix with Coconut Coir, in equal amounts. Make sure it's the Coco Container and Potting versions, NOT the usual mixes with peat or the original (orange bag) recipe. That's the base soil to use here in Canada. Then follow everything else as SubCool has outlined.
Azomite can be found for a nominal cost at wheatgrasskits.ca
Humic/Fulvic are easily obtained via Ebay.
And Sea Soil can be obtained through reputable gardening centres and hydro shops that deal with the distributor Greenstar. Without a doubt, it took some effort, but it was alllll worth it.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to answer a question that has come up (again). Water your plants in SuperSoil just before they wilt. When you go to water the plants, wet the soil initially with a small amount of water, let it distribute itself over the course of about 30 mins or so and THEN return to completely saturate and finish watering your garden. This will ensure a better hydration and more even uptake. Don't worry so much about the run-off (unless you're interested in testing it), but rather focus on the weight of your pots when completely dry and completely hydrated. This is an important aspect of container gardening, that Sub has already indicated, and it helps the grower learn the intricacies of their garden's water requirements.
I've also noticed something interesting about pot sizes and lighting intensity. If you are not using 1000-watter like Sub does, then the game changes. 7-10 gallon pots with a 1/3 to 2/3 of super soil is the general guideline for 4 plants under a 1000 watts in a 4x4 footprint. If you are using lower wattages, or cramming in more plants, or growing in a larger areas, then modifications have to be made.
Basically, we all have slightly different growing conditions and the SubCool Super Soil method has been refined for Sub's environmental factors. Use his words as framework, change as little as possible, but when slight alterations are introduced, just take the time to make some observations and determine what tweaks are needed to ensure Super Soil success.
You can thank Chernobyl for the rant.
Love ya guys, hope y'all are growing good!
Stay up-
- Andy
Way to pay attention.
Andy Botwin
Well-Known Member
Trying to Sub, tryin'...
...but after a few rips it becomes quite challenging!
How'd the publisher like the PDF file? Have you found the time to submit it?
nathenking
Well-Known Member
love the name and avatar bro..
chubbybuddy
Member
ok iam first time grower thats gonna use the super soil recipe...iam gonna use 5gl buckets because iam limited on space....if iam not correct 3/4 full of ss and rest base soil...when transplanting make hole for plant and just add a hanfull of base soil so that the roots dont directly touch is correct...100% super soil on the bottom and just base soil on the top ??????
nathenking
Well-Known Member
i would start with 1/2 super soil, then add in a few scoops of regular base soil, mix those scoops into the top inch of your super soil.... then place your baby in there and fill in the rest with base soil.... good luck my man...
chubbybuddy
Member
ihave probably a dumb question but here it goes....i going to be using a simple co2 system with tank and regulator in a seal grow box....i know that co2 speeds up the grow rate and the plants thrive off of it...now here wheres the question comes into play...when growing different stains and the harvest date from start to finish is 90 days.....does the co2 enviroment change the grow time to harvest as per strain and if so how do calculate it?...thanks
nathenking
Well-Known Member
co2 usually takes 5-7 days off of my bloom time... i think thats what your asking???
Andy Botwin
Well-Known Member
Sub-
I have a second question for you when you have a moment:
In one of your recent videos you mentioned that Jilly Bean is a strain in the TGA catalogue that requires 'selection'. Stating that, in a ten pack of seeds, it's likely to find one keeper, one mom, and that should be the objective when cultivating that strain.
I was wondering if you could give a brief breakdown on which TGA strains are considered 'stable' and which require more a diligent 'selection' approach?
Of course, all being grown out in Super Soil...
Thank you as always.
I have a second question for you when you have a moment:
In one of your recent videos you mentioned that Jilly Bean is a strain in the TGA catalogue that requires 'selection'. Stating that, in a ten pack of seeds, it's likely to find one keeper, one mom, and that should be the objective when cultivating that strain.
I was wondering if you could give a brief breakdown on which TGA strains are considered 'stable' and which require more a diligent 'selection' approach?
Of course, all being grown out in Super Soil...
Thank you as always.
Andy Botwin
Well-Known Member
Thanks Nate! After watching the first Season of Weeds, I couldn't help but love the 'Uncle Andy' character. I am registered on various forums (except 420rag of course) under the same screen name - it's a good one
It has started and I believe the 3rd episode is coming up. The Botwins are on on the run again. They had to flee Cali/Mexico after Shane killed Pilar (Esteban's political influence in Mexico) by the pool with a croquet mallet...anyone for a round of 'Clue'? Hahah.
In my opinion, the show, now in it's sixth season, has really gone downhill and completely lost it's path with the story and character arcs. There are, nevertheless, great comedic elements from Justin Kirk (Andy) in every episode. So far, Andy has claimed to be a master at living off the grid, and is guiding the family in the art of establishing new identities and starting over somewhere fresh. Although Alaska is apparently off limits, due to an unspeakable story involving Andy and a knife fight in a salmon smoke house!
The Botwins are now the Newmans. Get it, "new-man"...
And by far one of the best 'Andy' moments this season has been his selection of a new name/identity. Originally, wanting some majestic and powerful, he suggested "Eric Phoenix" and then "Clive Steed", yet not wanting to sound too much like a gay adult film star, eventually decided on the subtle, albeit ingenious: Randy Newman. Brilliant. Hahah.
Anyway, just a lil' blurb about Weeds to keep things interesting until Sub gets a chance to check in.
Stay up everyone-
- Andy
highstandards
Well-Known Member
Works fine in smart pots or Roots Pots homie.
thewiseman
Member
Ok, the only humic acid I can find is a powder called tarantula, its 3% humic acid. Is this good enough?? Last run we poured some humbolt liquid humic acid in, im about to use it, is that okay?
I justt bought some of this humic acid on ebay wiseman. I hope it works. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350281768747&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
Andy Botwin
Well-Known Member
That is an Advanced Nutrients microbiotic product. They added that humic acid to their own product to improve the interactions between the substrate, the roots and the microbiota. wiseman, I suggest getting some of what munch box linked to above.
That's exactly where I get mine from. I've been experimenting with a mix from them consisting of the following:
25%-Humic
25%-Fulvic
25%-Aminos
25%-Myco, Tric & other Bacteria
While mixing the SuperSoil, before leaving it to cook, I add twice as much as Sub suggests for Humic to at least make sure that I have those ratios covered. And I figure the Aminos and micro-beasties can't hurt. I'm thinking about incorporating some kelp as well, to further bolster the micro-life. But only a little kelp, I'm not really considering it for the Potassium or trace minerals, more for the hormones, vitamins and other phytochemicals that help diversify and "complete" the soilweb.
I recommend that everyone scope out the Ebay link munch box has provided. That seller has much of the hard to find stuff and more. If you've been on the hunt, invest in the zeolite, as well as the other SuperSoil essentials they offer.
thewiseman
Member
thanks guys
This guy says he can crush up some dry chicken shit into a powder and mail it to me for 4 dollars.What do you think? good or bad? http://shop.ebay.com/aminauction/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340 .
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