Why can't I just grow my autoflower in just coco+perlite+compost/vermicompost with no dry amendments added to it?

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boriken1171

Member
If humus (compost and vermicompost) is just organic material containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium which are the necessary elements all plants need to grow, why can't I just grow my autoflowers with just compost mixed with coco peat and perlite?

I understand that dry amendments help boost the plants health and probably make the buds as thicc and fucc, but surely the compost rich with n and p and k will get the job done and surely won't the buds be average sized and have resin to extract into rosin and dab?

I mean back when we were neolithic civilizations, they didn't have crab meal or bat guano or neem meal or bone meal to enhance their crops back in the day, I can't think of neolithic people growing crops (let alone an autoflowering or photoperiod marijuana plant) without simply using just the compost from dead leaves or animal poop or manure or worm castings.

If I just want to make this simple, is it possible to just grow an autoflower with just coco peat perlite compost mix and get a decent auto with buds containing resin that I can extract to get rosin and dab and get a good high?

I know if I add organic dry amendments it'll probably make the buds fatter and bigger and alot more resinous, but this is my first time trying to grow all organically. I just want to try to see if it's possible to grow just in coco perlite compost mixed and if that works then I'll try experimenting with organic dry amendments.
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
boriken1171 said:
If humus (compost and vermicompost) is just organic material containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium which are the necessary elements all plants need to grow, why can't I just grow my autoflowers with just compost mixed with coco peat and perlite?

I understand that dry amendments help boost the plants health and probably make the buds as thicc and fucc, but surely the compost rich with n and p and k will get the job done and surely won't the buds be average sized and have resin to extract into rosin and dab?

I mean back when we were neolithic civilizations, they didn't have crab meal or bat guano or neem meal or bone meal to enhance their crops back in the day, I can't think of neolithic people growing crops (let alone an autoflowering or photoperiod marijuana plant) without simply using just the compost from dead leaves or animal poop or manure or worm castings.

If I just want to make this simple, is it possible to just grow an autoflower with just coco peat perlite compost mix and get a decent auto with buds containing resin that I can extract to get rosin and dab and get a good high?

I know if I add organic dry amendments it'll probably make the buds fatter and bigger and alot more resinous, but this is my first time trying to grow all organically. I just want to try to see if it's possible to grow just in coco perlite compost mixed and if that works then I'll try experimenting with organic dry amendments.
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Maybe ask someone from the Neolithic Age how they did it.

And guess what, they did have bat shit back then, along with crabs, bones, and neem too.

Start here.

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Growing weed can be easy, though some marijuana grow tutorials make it seem like you need a degree in horticulture. Learn how to plant a seed & start growing with as little time and effort as possible, or read our advanced tutorials for monstrous yields!
www.growweedeasy.com www.growweedeasy.com
 
meangreengrowinmachine

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
You can.. it just won't be great. We are trying to optimize everything the most we can, so feeding those little microbes the best diet you can (which is what you are doing in an organic grow like you are talking about) gets you the best output to the rhizomes in the root system and therefore better plant growth bigger and better flowers.... juts growing the plant like you are talking about sure you can do it... but why not take the time to grow the best plant you can?
 
meangreengrowinmachine

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
PadawanWarrior said:
Maybe ask someone from the Neolithic Age how they did it.

And guess what, they did have bat shit back then, along with crabs, bones, and neem too.

Start here.

Grow Weed Easy - Learn How to Grow Cannabis with Simple Tutorials

Growing weed can be easy, though some marijuana grow tutorials make it seem like you need a degree in horticulture. Learn how to plant a seed & start growing with as little time and effort as possible, or read our advanced tutorials for monstrous yields!
www.growweedeasy.com www.growweedeasy.com
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Or look at the ancient Mayan culture... we still don't know how they made their amazing bio char super soils
 
B

boriken1171

Member
meangreengrowinmachine said:
You can.. it just won't be great. We are trying to optimize everything the most we can, so feeding those little microbes the best diet you can (which is what you are doing in an organic grow like you are talking about) gets you the best output to the rhizomes in the root system and therefore better plant growth bigger and better flowers.... juts growing the plant like you are talking about sure you can do it... but why not take the time to grow the best plant you can?
Click to expand...
My issue I have with adding the amendments is that I don't know if I'll add too much and I don't want to risk burning the soil and killing the plant.

Someone on grasscity wrote a thread on making a super soil for autoflower that included the base ingredients such as peat or coco mixed with compost and perlite, he also wrote that when adding amendments that it should be 2-3 cups per cubic feet of soil which is about 7.5 gallons, to me that feels like if I was using a 15 gallon container to mix 5 gallons of perlite, 5 gallons of compost, and 5 gallons of peat or coco that I would have an extra cup more room to add additional amendments, but I'm not sure about this. What do you think?
 
meangreengrowinmachine

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
boriken1171 said:
My issue I have with adding the amendments is that I don't know if I'll add too much and I don't want to risk burning the soil and killing the plant.

Someone on grasscity wrote a thread on making a super soil for autoflower that included the base ingredients such as peat or coco mixed with compost and perlite, he also wrote that when adding amendments that it should be 2-3 cups per cubic feet of soil which is about 7.5 gallons, to me that feels like if I was using a 15 gallon container to mix 5 gallons of perlite, 5 gallons of compost, and 5 gallons of peat or coco that I would have an extra cup more room to add additional amendments, but I'm not sure about this. What do you think?
Click to expand...
If you are adding organic amendments you don't need to worry about all that burning bullshit. Make your soil and let it sit for 6 to 8 weeks before you use it. I have 100 gallons cooking right now :-)
 
meangreengrowinmachine

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
boriken1171 said:
My issue I have with adding the amendments is that I don't know if I'll add too much and I don't want to risk burning the soil and killing the plant.

Someone on grasscity wrote a thread on making a super soil for autoflower that included the base ingredients such as peat or coco mixed with compost and perlite, he also wrote that when adding amendments that it should be 2-3 cups per cubic feet of soil which is about 7.5 gallons, to me that feels like if I was using a 15 gallon container to mix 5 gallons of perlite, 5 gallons of compost, and 5 gallons of peat or coco that I would have an extra cup more room to add additional amendments, but I'm not sure about this. What do you think?
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Check my recipe the thread is called "critique my soil"
 
meangreengrowinmachine

meangreengrowinmachine

Well-Known Member
boriken1171 said:
My issue I have with adding the amendments is that I don't know if I'll add too much and I don't want to risk burning the soil and killing the plant.

Someone on grasscity wrote a thread on making a super soil for autoflower that included the base ingredients such as peat or coco mixed with compost and perlite, he also wrote that when adding amendments that it should be 2-3 cups per cubic feet of soil which is about 7.5 gallons, to me that feels like if I was using a 15 gallon container to mix 5 gallons of perlite, 5 gallons of compost, and 5 gallons of peat or coco that I would have an extra cup more room to add additional amendments, but I'm not sure about this. What do you think?
Click to expand...
I would just make a base soil recipe and then have a bunch on hand and use it as needed. It does lot need to be as complicated as mine on that thread but you do need some inputs if you are not planning on using nutes.
 
lakesidegrower

lakesidegrower

Well-Known Member
I've been spending a bunch of time lately deciding on a grow medium - gotta say that I'm sold on going organic and building a soil with a base like you mentioned, but the amendments are really what makes it work to its full potential. I have a degree in biochem so can say confidently that the science behind it is strong. The total cost of a basic amendment package for a base soil (organic all purpose fert, kelp meal, rock dust, lime) ends up being $100 or less for 4 x 5gal pots - the extra $100 added upfront means little to no extra nutrient cost throughout the grow as you can use the remainder of the containers of amendments to top dress the soil if needed
 
B

boriken1171

Member
meangreengrowinmachine said:
If you are adding organic amendments you don't need to worry about all that burning bullshit. Make your soil and let it sit for 6 to 8 weeks before you use it. I have 100 gallons cooking right now :-)
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Interesting, so let's say I add to my 15 gallon homemade already composted soil in it's 15 gallon container adding 1 cup of kelp meal, 1 cup of bone meal, 1 cup of bat guano, 1 cup of fish bone meal, 1 cup of oyster shell, and 1 cup of seabird guano (all totaling up to 6 cups of dry amendments) to this 15 gallons of coco (or peat) mixed with compost and perlite won't burn the soil and kill the plant?
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
lakesidegrower said:
I've been spending a bunch of time lately deciding on a grow medium - gotta say that I'm sold on going organic and building a soil with a base like you mentioned, but the amendments are really what makes it work to its full potential. I have a degree in biochem so can say confidently that the science behind it is strong. The total cost of a basic amendment package for a base soil (organic all purpose fert, kelp meal, rock dust, lime) ends up being $100 or less for 4 x 5gal pots - the extra $100 added upfront means little to no extra nutrient cost throughout the grow as you can use the remainder of the containers of amendments to top dress the soil if needed
Click to expand...
Good start. If you ever plan to buy anything from Build a Soil let men know and I'll give you the link for $5 off. My basement is full of shit from there.
 
lakesidegrower

lakesidegrower

Well-Known Member
PadawanWarrior said:
Good start. If you ever plan to buy anything from Build a Soil let men know and I'll give you the link for $5 off. My basement is full of shit from there.
Click to expand...
thanks man - appreciate that
im in canada so was looking at Gaia products from indoorgrowing.com - would get free shipping which is always a bonus, will be able to get my base parts from a local farm store thankfully lol
 
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