I’m still debating on trying one Earthbox and one Growbox to see which one I like better, or buying the 10 pack of Growboxes at a discount. All things equal, I don’t care much about the bigger res, as someone is always here. I probably will use 6 inside under cobs and 4 outside on my deck (veggies and mj).
I really got the Earthbox to steal ideas for a DIY. The screen that seperates the rez from the soil has holes much bigger than I thought that it would. I probably could have just went to a store and looked at them, but I decided to try the 1st run the way that Alan Adkisson(Grokashi) suggested. The only thing that I am doing different is the Dolomite lime, I would rather use azomite and greensand. Plus, that fert pack that comes with the Earthbox has bone meal. I'm staying away from P inputs, if you look at my soil test from compost(above) it is apparent that I will never need to add P.
I was thinking of taking some side by side pics of the earthbox and grow box and show you the pluses and minus of eachI actually said to my wife this morning that I was going to grab the 10 pack of Growboxes for a $90 savings and use a few out on the deck this summer. I’m thinking a couple of tomatoes, some cukes, peppers, and some herbs (basil, dill, etc.). I might do two MMJs out here as well. I do have a regular soil garden, but my wife wants grass there, so maybe these can replace it.
It’s only $300 for 10 and free shipping
Some pretty big difference I'll take pics later today
Wow, thanks, that’s really nice of you.
I see that you and Hyroot have been doing this for a while now. The problem is, Hyroot don't visit as much as he used to. Tim, I'm surprised that we have not had a conversation already. I was getting bored with RIU but I was also keeping a closed mind on SIPs. I thought that it was just a fad or something. Anyways, I think that it's about time to plant in my new Earthboxes today. The only thing that I am missing is the Grokashi, it should come in the mail any day now. I figured that I could just add Grokashi when I get it.
SIPs a fad from about 30 years ago hahahaha...I love the inntainers I had posted earlier in the thread for DIY.. Super easy and proven already by many, I have my soil recipe up somewhere earlier in this thread also. I personally am not all about soil tests.. I am trying to build an organic living soil worms and all that and use the organic matter breaking down to be available for the plants as opposed to saying there is this deficiency so add this hard core additive and then get things out of whack. I do think that organics will usually yield less since you are not using all the artificial boosters and such that the nutes guys do. BUT the quality of your smoke imo is MUCH MUCH better. I think you are on the right path with building your microbial and fungal web more, this will take all the available organic material and break it down into the usable materials for the plants! I would just keep up with that if I was you and I bet you will see your plants love it! One thing I also have gleaned from some of the organic forums on here is the gypsum is GREAT for your plants also! gives you that little bit of plant safe sulfur micro nute which really helps with terp production.
I too am not an expert, I defer to and learn from those who are though. I'm always on a learning quest to better my growing and myself as a person. I enjoy learning with other like minded folks as yourself and sharing the results. I love to spread the knowledge that i and others have accumulated for the betterment of us all. I've had a few of my questions put experts and professors on a learning quest. lol. We've all got stuff to learn and improve on. Lol. Long as your learning something from each failure it's really not a failure then now is it? Lol. I've killed and abused my share of plants learning to grow some dank, has turned me into a better grower. Have you tried lessening the P inputs to the compost and adding more Mn inputs? I'm sure you have, just verifying. When my compost/Soil mix was too high in K, I actually added more N, P, Ca, etc inputs to make it all high as fuck like the K was. Basically a double or triple strength of everything ratio/mixture then I cut it in half, doubling the total amount of soil using unammended coco30%/peat70% blend. Leaving me with a balanced not hot or toxic soil. Have you tried a route like that yet?
I'm using compost, but I was still having deficiency problems. I think that my phosphorus levels were so high that they were causing micronutrient deficiencies.
I still have one of those questions that I still have not got a good answer to. I read and listen to podcasts and people like Jeff Lowenfels will tell you that high phosphorus and nitrogen will keep your mycos from growing because your plant is not sending root exudes to signal to fungi. Anyways, everyone preaches compost but my compost is always very excessive in phosphorus. I'm at a loss and don't know what to think of it anymore. I started running peat/perlite without compost and I was having a whole different set of problems. I was able to get the N down to normal levels, but I'm always going to have high P with my compost. However, I did start a worm bin that is mostly leaf mold and much less rabbit manure than I used in the past. I see that it is common for manure compost to be high in P.
There's some good stuff going on with sips over in chuckers paradise. I've started a thread there to document my journey as well. In case anyone's interested.
Dude, I'm not trying to be rude or anything but this is another reason that I started testing my soil. If you read Jeff Lowenfels or Steve Solomon's books, they will tell you how important soil testing is. Lowenfels had a chapter dedicated to it in one of his books.
I was trying to get more involved in stuff like this now that I am legal! Hell, I was growing illegally since 2011 in Oklahoma... I have a new camera, so I'll try to take more pics.
That is what led me to using less rabbit manure and using greensand again. I was on the fence about Azomite because of the aluminum, but I understand that bokashi will help detoxify the Al. Red wheat bran is supposed to be high in Mn, so it should be a win-win situation. Azomite has a good amount of Mn also, but I only started using it.
I listen to Kis Organics podcast with Tad Hussey and several experts agreed that cannabis needs 2x the amount of K compared to regular food crops. I think that episode #17 explains the soil tests the best.
I was using coco coir for worm bedding and I had it tested. It came back super high in potassium and sodium. However, I found out about low sodium coco coir and I might start using it for a slow release K.
Ok I lied, I took a pic
I started my own thread as I go on about stuff oftentimes when I sit and smoke. LMFAO, figured I'd keep most of my rambling in my own thread. Hahahaha, wow I found that hilarious. Lol.
I made my basis from the burn I was getting and other signs they showed, my cheap soil test and various plant manual testing confirmed it. Not sure which method it employs. Is a series of vials and powders, color based like a ph chart. I had a number of test subjects to use while adjusting soil mix, 1 month cook time between input addition. This Was over a few months time. Was a slow process but worked out well in the end. Final mix soil tester jenny 1d is happy as can be and moved to a 10 gal fab now. Water only so far. Have been documenting in my own thread.