B&Q Homebase Uk hardware seedling and veg/flowering soils

[2Hearts]

I have grown with all the Westlands/WestPlus/Added John Innes soils and to my knowledge they were all to hot, only the strongest and fastest growing seedlings didnt get frazzled.

Now im trying a seed n the B&Q verve seedling soil which is also suitable for cuttings (But not the potting soil version).

It seems a little less hot but still enough to fry one of my two seedlings. One has made it and grown very fast and big, able to put this into flowering after topping at the fourth internode after only three weeks from breaking the soil.

Ok guys the main reason i find seedlings fry in these soils with no nutes just plain ole tap water is not because the soil crusts over with white fert salts when dry but godam the soil makes the plants grow big and fast with zero ferts for many weeks.

Obviously if my soil grows green plants with no ferts or deficiencies for weeks on end its packing a big punch to begin with. I use the seedling soil for veg just cutting it with a small amount of their normal soil and get top results again no ferts.

I repot reguarly as root space in soil seems so key and plants suffer when cramped plus also it stops the need to ever add ferts.

Anyone who ferts a plant two weeks or younger in the verve soil has probably run into problems shortly after, rather a repot to bigger container would give better results and not overdo the npk levels.

Obviously im stoned and just offering my opinions, sum reason i can add pics but may rectify this one day in the future. Anyone want to comment then feel free, personally i love the soil and bud it gives me but next stop is a bag of somthing with no ferts in to water it down and save on frying seedlings.

A nutrient deficiency in seedlings in this soil would always statt as yellowing of the cotyledon leaves (providing your getting watering heat and humidity right) and these brand soils keep my cotyledon leaves green and healthy almost to the end.

 

[2Hearts]

Oh it did post my pic. Thats just under two weeks in a five inchpot with B&Q Verve seedling soil watered once when seed planted and once again just after a week of growth. One trick ive learnt with the watering of these soils is let them almost dry out or no oxygen get into the roots, almost to wilt then water. These soils hold lots of water even ehen they look dry and pot is light. Dryness is needed to shrink the peat and bark in there but watering is another subject just that it holds moisture well past the point you think its dry.

So yer no ferts in a five inch pot and voila about cool for ten days under couple flouros and fan, temps 19-22 humidity 40 to 60%.

Got the flourous about ten inches above top of plant but hope to get to six soon as t5's can be a bit strong and hot initially, cant use jifgy peat plugs as dry out twice a day and full time job keeping them moist.

 

[2Hearts]

At 2 and half weeks

 

[2Hearts]

Roots at two week repot and they were pretty healthy, white and very large, reminds me of those chunky roots ive seen dangling out the bottom of a hydro or aero grow. For me this is a good time to hit those roots with plenty more room, some might let them get a little more rootbound but in soil i find that i have way less problems with regular repots and absolutly zero need to fertilize.

I will again repot with seedling soil but cut one third of the regular verve soil in with it and hopefully the plant can take it.

All the soil bags say feeds for six weeks and at under three weeks just i whole heartedly belive them. If i add ferts my plants will not be healthy as pretty maxed out from what they are already getting from the soil.

If i could repeat this, which i will shortly, i reckon that the few minor problems i got would soon disapear by weakening the seedling soil with maybe coco, somthing like sunshine mix #4, perlite/vermiculite or somthing with no npk value.

Could find a more fert loving strain with this soil and call that dialled in. Anyways will flower in two weeks from now all being well.

 

[tip top toker]

John innes no 2 potting soil. Never had an instance of burning.

 

[2Hearts]

The John Innes soils 1,2 and 3 are all outdoor all outdoor soils here and tried few years back and more like mud and unsuitable.

I see and agree with what your saying, John Innes gives you three nute levels from low, medium to high but my town has only two nute levels of soil which is seedling soil -low ( but more closer to medium) and normal potting soil indoor soil - high fert level.

Most growers will struggle in these soils as they are very strong and if this is the growth with no ferts then id question the actually need for them at least till well into flowering.

Im seeing a trend with all shop bought soils and that is dont fertilize them and by the time the plant is wanting extra nutes it should be time for a repot.

Are your John Innes 1,2 and3 soils indoors and where do you obtain them from if you dont mind me asking?

 

[2Hearts]

Two and half weeks couple days after repot. Maybe a mistake to cut a third potting soil in but this grow is more a trial run for the next grows whic will be bigger and dialled in better.

 

[tip top toker]

I just went to bnq and bought john innes no 2. It was not marketed as indoor or outdoor. It was just a soil like any other i've seen, with a month of nutes included, and after mixing it probably about 3:1:1 with perlite and 5mm gravel, i never had a single issue with it being too hot whether it was seeds or clones. Would happily use again, not that i'd grow with soil again. For reference, i had never grown a plant in my life when i used john innes, be it cannabis or a bean sprout. It was recomended to me by a friend with many years under his belt and i was very thankful for his suggestion. Definately wasn't too hot. But this was 5 years ago, recipes change.

 

[2Hearts]

Thanks TipTop as you confirm what ive been seeing in my grow. I know the soil you talk of and dilluting it by two thirds with gravel and perlite would probably give you good drainage and cut those fert levels.

I believe the John Innes recipie will always stay the same just the strengths they add it to in some shop bought soils is way too high. I sprouted toms and peppers and they are showing classic fert stresses. As plants get bigger and more roots they soon start to cope with the soil which again shows me the ferts are quite generous.

Next grow ill be dilluting and mixing the soils for various nute levels and growth stages. Gravel and perlite both great choices but see coco making a guest star apperance in most of the pro soil mixes these days so also a contender.

 

[2Hearts]

Week update, transplanted to 7" pot again with verve seedling soil and a third verve potting soil.

Again very fast growth but still at tetering on the edge of fert overdose.

My frazzled plant is slowly recovering and starting to show normal growth but has not been repotted yet.

Not long and i will repeat this grow but cutting my verve seedling soil with some nute-less medium to make it less hot and compare results.

Again no plant has has a single drop of ferts.

 

[2Hearts]

Slight tip burn, odd leaf twist and leaf edge scorch but looks not bad...

 

[2Hearts]

Heya Rollitup'ers i didnt want to leave this thread unfinished. Ive run a couple plants through my local soil, Verve seedling soil from B&Q, which deformed, stunted and slightly burnt my plants. One is just starting to grow and the other in the pics was stronger and made it through to veg, allbeit very close to nute burn.

The plan was to try before i run the main crop and fix any problems. Anyone who read any of my other threads would know i was considering weakning the seedling soil with unferted coco and perlite.
- Sidenote- If your cracking seeds in Uk soils and not using seedling soil but a full strength Westlands John Innes, multipurpose potting soil or compost then here is probably the first problem you face. Dont call it seedling soil for no reason

So as promised from left to right

- Verve Seedling soil £3

- Perlite £5

- 5 Sensi Superskunk fem - £30

- Plagron unfert coco £10

 

[2Hearts]

This weekend ill make my soil mix and plant my seeds. Lets see if this dosent give me a better grow with no burn from strong soil.

I still have very little idea on soil/coco/perlite percentages but thinking and reading that anything 50% and under is ok with soil, perlites just there for drainage although my soil drains fine without it and too much makes it a chore to water as it goes dry too quick.

Thinking like 50% soil 30% coco and 20% perlite or somthing along those lines so any pros who have run a coco soil mix feel free to air your views or link me to relevant threads

 

[2Hearts]

Final soil mix after countless hours studying the subject was 4 cups verve seedling soil from B&Q, 3 cups of unfertilized coco from plagron, 2 cups verve seedling soil from B&Q.

Seeds planted after 12 hours soaking in water with a dash of maxicrop liquid seaweed and now shouldnt be too long for germination and results of the grow. No ferts have or will be added except whats in the seedling soil and ph of all soil ingredients is between ph6-ph7.

 

[2Hearts]

 

[2Hearts]

Regardless of results i will document the difference in seedling soil on its own and a mix of seedling soil, coco and perlite. The soil should be half as strong.

Seeds popped after five days (about my norm for germ times) and already can handle the light more plus look a lot better.

 

[2Hearts]

The weird thing in the middle of the pots is ginger. Ive had good results at keeping the gnats at bay with ginger, garlic and onion although a pair of tights round the pots or predators are my favourite methods.

It could just be me but any soil i purchase in the Uk seems to come with a whole gang of fungus gnat/fruit flies.

 

[jondamon]

The weird thing in the middle of the pots is ginger. Ive had good results at keeping the gnats at bay with ginger, garlic and onion although a pair of tights round the pots or predators are my favourite methods.

It could just be me but any soil i purchase in the Uk seems to come with a whole gang of fungus gnat/fruit flies.

That's because its generally stored outside at these places and is not sterilised.


J

 

[2Hearts]

There everywhere in summer just attracted to the peat soil.

I even get them from the local hydro shop soils.

That's because its generally stored outside at these places and is not sterilised.


J

 

[mr sunshine]

Starting to notice a patern here...

You have a hermie
Tap water is always bad
Always blame the soil...

Your advice stinks!

The John Innes soils 1,2 and 3 are all outdoor all outdoor soils here and tried few years back and more like mud and unsuitable.

I see and agree with what your saying, John Innes gives you three nute levels from low, medium to high but my town has only two nute levels of soil which is seedling soil -low ( but more closer to medium) and normal potting soil indoor soil - high fert level.

Most growers will struggle in these soils as they are very strong and if this is the growth with no ferts then id question the actually need for them at least till well into flowering.

Im seeing a trend with all shop bought soils and that is dont fertilize them and by the time the plant is wanting extra nutes it should be time for a repot.

Are your John Innes 1,2 and3 soils indoors and where do you obtain them from if you dont mind me asking?

are you blaming the soil for your mistakes?