Deficiencies in living soil

Happy holidays! I’ve always used salts, first living soil grow, and finding what looks like deficiencies. Asking the knowledge base of the “weedzards” here.

Fast Buds Gorilla Cookies auto.
Nature’s Living Soil Autoflower.
Bushdoctor Coco Loco
5 gal fabric pot.
1/3 bottom is 1lb. nls and coco loco.
Top 2/3 coco loco.

Only tap water, with recharge now and then.

pH of the water is 7.1. I’ve been pH’ing to 6.5. I just realized I haven’t been adjusting it this past week.

Could the problem be the pH? Because it’s stretching and maybe needs amendments?

I dissolved a tablespoon of the concentrate into a gallon of water and fed it today.

I’m asking, because I’m not sure what to do. Should I have Gaia green or something similar on hand? I thought I’d only need to use water and recharge.

Suggestions? Any must have amendments I’m missing? Recommendations?

Thanks!

5 gallons is kinda small for a water-only grow. I'd top-dress with some more of that nature's living soil concentrate. Seems like it's basically a dry fertilizer blend mixed into worm castings, which is similar to what lots of folks use for top-dressing organics.

Not sure exactly how much to recommend adding, their website is kinda short of details about what's in it. Maybe add a third to half of what you added to begin with, mix it into the top couple inches of soil and water thoroughly.

Edit: and don't worry about pH'ing your tap water. 7.1 is totally fine, most folks would kill to get that pH from their tap.

weedstoner420 said:

5 gallons is kinda small for a water-only grow. I'd top-dress with some more of that nature's living soil concentrate. Seems like it's basically a dry fertilizer blend mixed into worm castings, which is similar to what lots of folks use for top-dressing organics.

Not sure exactly how much to recommend adding, their website is kinda short of details about what's in it. Maybe add a third to half of what you added to begin with, mix it into the top couple inches of soil and water thoroughly.

Edit: and don't worry about pH'ing your tap water. 7.1 is totally fine, most folks would kill to get that pH from their tap.

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Thanks for putting my mind at ease. I mixed some with water and poured over the top. Will report back with findings.

Well, could be light, could be overwatering?

i just read that one 5-10% of the container’s volume should be used to water. I’ve been using far too much each water maybe?
I’m struggling, and I don’t know what to do. Think I’m going to lose her.
Should I just switch to bottled nutes for the rest of the grow? Learn for next time?

This plant is failing fast. I need immediate help.
Please.

wheelyman said:

Well, could be light, could be overwatering?

i just read that one 5-10% of the container’s volume should be used to water. I’ve been using far too much each water maybe?
I’m struggling, and I don’t know what to do. Think I’m going to lose her.
Should I just switch to bottled nutes for the rest of the grow? Learn for next time?

This plant is failing fast. I need immediate help.
Please.

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Doesn't look terrible all things considered. Organic feeds can take a few weeks to break down and become available to the plant, so be patient.

How much did you feed them? I doubt 1 tablespoon is enough unless you're giving it every few waterings like the directions say...

And I'm pretty sure the 5-10% of the container volume is recommended if you're watering every day or ever other day. That's gonna depend on the size of the plant, size of the container, and your environment. The idea is that in organic soil, it's better to keep the soil evenly moist rather than let it dry out between watering

weedstoner420 said:

Doesn't look terrible all things considered. Organic feeds can take a few weeks to break down and become available to the plant, so be patient.

How much did you feed them? I doubt 1 tablespoon is enough unless you're giving it every few waterings like the directions say...

And I'm pretty sure the 5-10% of the container volume is recommended if you're watering every day or ever other day. That's gonna depend on the size of the plant, size of the container, and your environment. The idea is that in organic soil, it's better to keep the soil evenly moist rather than let it dry out between watering

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I was dousing it! Oof like 1 gal or more. Mistake learned. And the lights were really low. Need to amend also lol. Better luck next time. Hoping to pull this one through.

So cocoloco is your base? I would try next time with spagnum peat moss based medium

not sure about natures soil stuff but also go for 10-15 gallons soil next time. Peat based. Water everyday 5-10% is correct for a healthy larger plant st peak bud cycle. You kinda work your way up to that amount on a sliding scale. Its difficult and the hardest thing about organics.

ok I just read you layered soils. Scratch that too. The plant expands to all areas of container within a week to 10 days. No use having half your container void of nutrient.

The pH stopped being adjusted and problems began, as I read that.

Definitely keep adjusting the pH after the nutrients are mixed.

I would give the plant a feeding of bloom food asap.

Modern Selections said:

The pH stopped being adjusted and problems began, as I read that.

Definitely keep adjusting the pH after the nutrients are mixed.

I would give the plant a feeding of bloom food asap.

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I haven't been mixing anything, since it is living soil. I made some mistakes.

I apologize for so many new questions. I'm learning, or trying to . I feel like I keep failing.

green_machine_two9er said:

So cocoloco is your base? I would try next time with spagnum peat moss based medium

not sure about natures soil stuff but also go for 10-15 gallons soil next time. Peat based. Water everyday 5-10% is correct for a healthy larger plant st peak bud cycle. You kinda work your way up to that amount on a sliding scale. Its difficult and the hardest thing about organics.

ok I just read you layered soils. Scratch that too. The plant expands to all areas of container within a week to 10 days. No use having half your container void of nutrient.

Click to expand...

From the website, and the back of the bag, it says

"Bush Doctor Coco Loco Potting Soil by Foxfarm is one crazy little mix that’s chock-full of the best coconut coir available. Also includes plenty of good stuff like aged forest products, perlite, earthworm castings, bat guano, Norwegian kelp meal, oyster shell and dolomite lime. Heck, it even has some mycorrhizal fungi tossed in for good measure!"

It's not straight coco. It's Bush Doctor Coco Loco from Fox Farm.

I overwatered for sure in the beginning. Was drenching the pot. And the lights were WAY too low. As a paraplegic, I couldn't get them raised until I got someone to come help me. The light is raised, I gave it a quart of water. Should I use bottled nutes now, or wait to see if it recovers from the light?

Not debating you, I'm trying to learn. Thanks for all the info <3

Yes I’m familiar with the product. Similar to royal gold tupur mix and other “super cocos” with topsoil mixed in form of Forrest products. Still at its coir it won’t act like peat/perlite/compost mixes that are successful in “organic” ester only type grows. I would definitely feed it some phed one part bloom nutrient. Can’t go wrong with flora nova bloom every watering is nutrient solution. Maybe skip once a eeek. It can be low strength solution cause your gunna feed it every time you water. Like 700-1000ppm

green_machine_two9er said:

Yes I’m familiar with the product. Similar to royal gold tupur mix and other “super cocos” with topsoil mixed in form of Forrest products. Still at its coir it won’t act like peat/perlite/compost mixes that are successful in “organic” ester only type grows. I would definitely feed it some phed one part bloom nutrient. Can’t go wrong with flora nova bloom every watering is nutrient solution. Maybe skip once a eeek. It can be low strength solution cause your gunna feed it every time you water. Like 700-1000ppm

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Got it! Thanks! I have Flora Bloom, not the Nova. Will that work?

wheelyman said:

Got it! Thanks! I have Flora Bloom, not the Nova. Will that work?

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With the micro it should work. I like the nova cause it’s easy one part. Flora series definitely is a three part

Living soil must be fed with organic teas. Completely normal to face some lack of N during flowering cycle. Check this thread, best approach in how to handle deficiencies in living soil.
People here often get confused about the differences regarding living soil, dead soil, soiless mix. Most of tips here are useful for soiless and dead soil mixes. There is NO living soil inside plastic bags or bottles of nutes. Take time to organic (nature's) organizes itself.

Weather Report said:

Living soil must be fed with organic teas. Completely normal to face some lack of N during flowering cycle. Check this thread, best approach in how to handle deficiencies in living soil.
People here often get confused about the differences regarding living soil, dead soil, soiless mix. Most of tips here are useful for soiless and dead soil mixes. There is NO living soil inside plastic bags or bottles of nutes. Take time to organic (nature's) organizes itself.

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Thank you for the link!