How much water on organic soil grow?

I've got several clones that were just put into soil...and a couple of seedlings. All in FFOF now.

My question is:

How much water to give. I understand that you want to make sure the soil gets dry before watering. So I don't think I'm over watering in regard to frequency. I am concerned that I might be over watering though in regards to quantity when I water.

I generally make up a gallon of water, add a tablespoon of molasses, then use ph down to bring it inside 6.2-6.6. I am using molasses on every watering.

First grow. So your answers will be greatly appreciated.

BudsworthII said:

I've got several clones that were just put into soil...and a couple of seedlings. All in FFOF now.

My question is:

How much water to give. I understand that you want to make sure the soil gets dry before watering. So I don't think I'm over watering in regard to frequency. I am concerned that I might be over watering though in regards to quantity when I water.

I generally make up a gallon of water, add a tablespoon of molasses, then use ph down to bring it inside 6.2-6.6. I am using molasses on every watering.

First grow. So your answers will be greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

As long as you don't water too frequently, the quantity will be fine as long as the water runs out of the drain holes - up to a cup and a half of drain off is great - a little more won't hurt. The PH you are trying to keep at is perfect for a soil grow. As far as the molasses though - you don't want to start using that until the last half of your flowering stages. Definitely not needed in veg (IMHO). You WILL however want to start using a partial strength veg nute mix in your water in a couple of weeks. How much you are able to increase the strength will vary greatly with the strain - some strains LOVE nutes, others do very poorly on full strength. Learn what your particular strain likes and go with it. It will likely be trial and error unless you know someone who has successfully grown the strain in the past. Also note - most nutes will *lower* your PH, so when you are mixing up the nute water, measure PH AFTER nutes are added, and adjust as needed. If you start to see nute burns on your leaves, flush the soil with plain PH adjusted water, and back off the strength of the nute mix.

Hope that helps, and best of luck with your grow.

PS (edit) Just noticed that you said you are using FFOF - you may not need to start using nutes for around 4 weeks, as the FFOF has nutrients in it already. Also as another side note - FF (I think it's called Frog Farm?) is better for seedlings and young clones as the OF is a tad hot for new plants.

Stonefish said:

As long as you don't water too frequently, the quantity will be fine as long as the water runs out of the drain holes - up to a cup and a half of drain off is great - a little more won't hurt. The PH you are trying to keep at is perfect for a soil grow. As far as the molasses though - you don't want to start using that until the last half of your flowering stages. Definitely not needed in veg (IMHO). You WILL however want to start using a partial strength veg nute mix in your water in a couple of weeks. How much you are able to increase the strength will vary greatly with the strain - some strains LOVE nutes, others do very poorly on full strength. Learn what your particular strain likes and go with it. It will likely be trial and error unless you know someone who has successfully grown the strain in the past. Also note - most nutes will *lower* your PH, so when you are mixing up the nute water, measure PH AFTER nutes are added, and adjust as needed. If you start to see nute burns on your leaves, flush the soil with plain PH adjusted water, and back off the strength of the nute mix.

Hope that helps, and best of luck with your grow.

PS (edit) Just noticed that you said you are using FFOF - you may not need to start using nutes for around 4 weeks, as the FFOF has nutrients in it already. Also as another side note - FF (I think it's called Frog Farm?) is better for seedlings and young clones as the OF is a tad hot for new plants.

Click to expand...

I think you're speaking of Happy Frog. I had a small bag of it and did one seedling out of three in it. I've also done three of my clones in it. All the rest are in Ocean Forest.

I figured I had a bag of each...and talking to other soil growers...they suggested I try both and monitor the differences.

The only difference I can tell so far is that the two seedlings in Ocean Forest are doing slightly better (so slight it may actually be my imagination) than the one in Happy Frog.

And I should lay off the molasses you say. Easy enough. I was lead to believe that the molasses would provide food for my microherd and keep them thriving.

Any organic nutrients you can suggest?

Brings me to another question:

The use of teas...are the primarily used to add more microherd to the soil? If that is the case...how often should a tea be brewed for organic soils? Do you use both nutes and teas together? I am a bit confused as
to which should be used, frequency, whether they should both be used.

Thanks man.

BudsworthII said:

I think you're speaking of Happy Frog. I had a small bag of it and did one seedling out of three in it. I've also done three of my clones in it. All the rest are in Ocean Forest.

I figured I had a bag of each...and talking to other soil growers...they suggested I try both and monitor the differences.

The only difference I can tell so far is that the two seedlings in Ocean Forest are doing slightly better (so slight it may actually be my imagination) than the one in Happy Frog.

And I should lay off the molasses you say. Easy enough. I was lead to believe that the molasses would provide food for my microherd and keep them thriving.

Any organic nutrients you can suggest?

Brings me to another question:

The use of teas...are the primarily used to add more microherd to the soil? If that is the case...how often should a tea be brewed for organic soils? Do you use both nutes and teas together? I am a bit confused as
to which should be used, frequency, whether they should both be used.

Thanks man.

Click to expand...

LOL "Happy Frog" - yep that's the one. I knew it was something with "frog" in it (sorry). Unfortunately, I am probably not the best person to ask about organic teas - haven't tried brewing/using any yet. There is a section on that here in RIU though.

Right now, I am using Roots Organic soil (very impressed with the results), and General Hydroponics ferts (four part - graduates from veg to flower flawlessly). Even though the ferts were meant for hydro growing, they've been working great for me - NEVER have had any problems with nute burn whatsoever. I think once I've used these bottles up though, I will switch to General Organics nutes. I really like their products, and my plants seem to do really well...very healthy and green during veg and covered in buds during flower. I also use CalMag about every third or fouth water. I do not use nutes each time I water, but rather every other watering at about half strength once they've gotten big enough to handle it (quarter strength to start). I've also found it helpful (when using nutes) to flush your soil with plain PH'd water about once a month to month and a half to get all the unused nute and salts out of the soil.

I think you will likely find "less is better", rather than going crazy with the nutes. I see SO many folks on here that just go waaay overboard with the nutes, and end up burning up the leaves and stunting growth. You have an excellent soil to start with - the OF itself has enough goodies in it to almost carry you through your veg stage without additional nutes - so keep that in mind. Even though I don't use organic teas, I believe they take the place of other liquid ferts - NOT in addition to (if you wish to go that route).