I'm glad to see others getting their soil tested. I used to get ridiculed for it on here lol. Yes, the soil tests are very hard to read w/o target values. I started hiring a soil agronomist for recommendations. Spectrum Analytic has a bar graph with their test, but most people use Logan Labs. It's $40 for a recommendation.
Thats pretty cheap compared to all the other costs to get set up.
I learned the hard way.
BAS seems like they sell products like a hydro store, like there is an unlimited amount of stuff that you are supposed to add and people buy ALL of their products because they don't know better, the hydro mentality... I still listen to Jeremy's podcasts, even if he's pushing products. I was let down when I bought their Comfrey FPJ because it was really JADAM and not FPJ. I dropped $1k on a pallet of their Oly Mnt mix V1 a few years ago and it wasn't any better than the nutrient lockout soil I had. I realized that you cannot buy soil that is actually balanced. However, there is now a store in OKC that has their soil tested. I just used their seedling mix and was impressed but I never got that from a store brand or even BaS.
I'm quoting a member here...
Switch that topsoil for promix and it's even better. Plants need to breathe.
Yup that’s what I do, use rice hulls for aeration.
Great book. I'm glad someone is actually buying his stuff. I cheated and downloaded a free copy.
I've gotten to the preface ..lol. Liking that it's in laymans terms. Last book I tried to read was a Bob Marley bio, got to chapter 3.. need to dig that book out. The only book I've ever read cover to cover was Star Wars. Best book ever.
People used to Raz me for using those tests, but I just ordered more today lol...
I remember, I always like seeing soil tests people have done. I got the idea to use soil savvy from your posts.
I'd razz you right now but, don't know much about it. Still don't get it. Test your soil to see if it's soil? We add amendments to it anyways, So is there a before and after test? and what's the best pH of a tested soil vs a non tested soil?
The next step is to hire a soil agronomist like Bryant Mason and have your stuff tested at Logan Labs. He gives soil recommendations in organic inputs. Its $140 for Mehlich 3, saturated paste, and recommendations. The test alone are $100 but my plants always look awesome after!
If you are going to use nutes you could just use coco?
yup, nutes and coco are like Donny and Marie...all smiles.
You measure the nutrients in the soil so you know what amendments you need to add.
Did I get his name from you? I got it from somebody here. I saw him and another guy, Scott Skamnes (Cresive) on FCP and initially tried to hire Scott but I had some problems getting him to be responsive.
I'll get there, still on first base with this stuff, appreciate the help. And the nutrients already in the soil, do they not get used up eventually? And what does a organic grower do when that happens. I can only imagine testing the soil will tell you what you "need" and then the grower can decide for themselves what they "want" to add.
Ideally you would have a mulch layer, because you are correct if you are constantly taking out and not putting back you will have nutrient deficits. I take almost all of my defol leaves and make a mulch. I also have worms in my soil so they are constantly adding a source of nutrient.
It turns out that a lot of people use him. I found him on a YouTube podcast "Future Cannabis Project" or something similar. I was intrigued when he was talking about elevated levels of Manganese. I kept trying to make posts about it on here, but got mocked more than anything lol.