A test in progress.... Miracle Grow soil vs. Fox Farms soil. Is MG really that bad?

[mj123]

any new pics??????

 

[RavenMochi]

any new pics??????

†LHAO† dude, he just posted pics yesterday....what are you looking for, a real-time webcam of the tests? hey....that would be snazzy....

 

[Canniblicious]

I am using MG right now for my first grow to experiment. I added a bit more peralite like you said, to even drainage. Everything is turning out pretty descent, but growth is slow because I can't afford a ballast just yet.

 

[jawbrodt]

I have used kellogs potting soil for other vegetables and every single bag I have bought had bugs in it. One bag I bought must have had mushroom spores in it because it grew them profusely.

Did the store keep the soil stored inside, or outside? If they keep it inside, and it's still loaded with bugs, I'd avoid the stuff. If they keep it outside, I'd tell them about it, and/or find another store. My local Walmart keeps their soils outside in the weather, and they're all loaded with bugs. If Serapis is correct about MG baking their soils, that pisses me off,(at Walmart, not Serapis.lol) because I never would've switched to FFs in the first place. Mushrooms won't hurt anything, so that's not an issue. My advice there, is to tweak your growing enviroment, so that it's not so optimal for the shrooms. That'll minimize, or eliminate them.

Or, it might simply be easier to switch soils. Whichever works.

 

[jawbrodt]

†LHAO† dude, he just posted pics yesterday....what are you looking for, a real-time webcam of the tests? hey....that would be snazzy....

LOL, good one.

 

[jawbrodt]

jaw,

I've just had what I think might be a pretty good idea for finding out some more useful information about the chemistry of MG potting mix that I wanted to run by you.

I'm about 4 weeks or so from finishing up a grow and de-potting the plants. I'm thinking about sending a sample of this used MG potting mix from down in the container to the Texas A&M soil lab. For $15 they'll give you a soil analysis that will tell you it's ph and it's NO3-,P, K, Ca,Mg, Na, and S levels. Plus the levels of the micronutrients Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn.

As far as making up a cover story I'm just going to say that it's used potting soil mix that was used to container grow a tomato plant. If they want to think that I'm interested in reconditioning the soil to re use it for another tomato plant grow that's fine with me. All though I never re use my MG potting mix I think it would be interesting to know where it "ended up" after it's been used for a grow.

What do you think?

Jack

It's good to know that a test like that, is available, but soooo hard to choose how/when you'd want to test the soil. Personally, I'd want tests from the beginning, tests aftre it's be soaked for a few days, tests thoughout mid-points, and tests at the end. There's soooo many variables, mainly, ferts we've added. For the final test you've mentioned, I'd think that the most accurate way, would be for someone to flush thoroughly, then have it tested after it's been allowed to sit for a couple days. That'd probably wash out a good portion of the micros, permanently, but would also allow us to determine(for sure) if the time-released nutes are gone, or not. I think they are used up way earlier than stated on the bag "feeds for 3/6 months", because I believe those estimates are for the very weak feeding houseplants, not something as nute-hungry as cannabis. If I had to make a guess, I'd say that the vast majority of those nutes are burned up, a few weeks after the roots have filled their pots. That being said, I'd still love to have easy access to that soil testing, just to satisfy my own curiosities, when they arise(which is frequent.lol).

If you do happen to ever submit any samples, be sure to post them in a thread here. I'd love to see them.(in many different scenarios, actually)

 

[Jack in the Bud]

It's good to know that a test like that, is available, but soooo hard to choose how/when you'd want to test the soil. Personally, I'd want tests from the beginning, tests aftre it's be soaked for a few days, tests thoughout mid-points, and tests at the end. There's soooo many variables, mainly, ferts we've added. For the final test you've mentioned, I'd think that the most accurate way, would be for someone to flush thoroughly, then have it tested after it's been allowed to sit for a couple days. That'd probably wash out a good portion of the micros, permanently, but would also allow us to determine(for sure) if the time-released nutes are gone, or not. I think they are used up way earlier than stated on the bag "feeds for 3/6 months", because I believe those estimates are for the very weak feeding houseplants, not something as nute-hungry as cannabis. If I had to make a guess, I'd say that the vast majority of those nutes are burned up, a few weeks after the roots have filled their pots. That being said, I'd still love to have easy access to that soil testing, just to satisfy my own curiosities, when they arise(which is frequent.lol).

If you do happen to ever submit any samples, be sure to post them in a thread here. I'd love to see them.(in many different scenarios, actually)

jaw,

Here's the link to the TX A&M soil test lab (http://soiltesting.tamu.edu/). Check out the soil sample submittal form. Besides not mentioning any thing about cannabis I'm going to have a non growing friend submitt the sample in his name and have the report mailed back to him. If I do this (which I really think I will) I'll post the results here in this thread if it's still going.

I agree with you that it would be nice to have reports from all different points along a grow.

And I don't think it's a case of cannabis being essentially more nute hungry than most other flowering plants. I think they use more because we're trying to "speed grow" them under more intense, optimal conditions. Most other house plants people grow don't see the kind of intense, long duration, high quality lighting like we're giving these pot plants in our grow rooms.

I think you may be right about most of the time release ferts in MG being used up by the end of the grow. In the last couple of days I've found several of those yellow time release capsules on the soil surface. There's nothing left of them but a thin outer shell that easily crushes when squeezed between your fingers. You can't do that with a fresh one. That "Feeds 3/6 Months" thing is more likely based on a regular house or vegatable plant that's just sitting in the window and is not getting the intense lighting (or number of waterings) like our pot plants are.

Jack

 

[Jack in the Bud]

I have used kellogs potting soil for other vegetables and every single bag I have bought had bugs in it. One bag I bought must have had mushroom spores in it because it grew them profusely.

Just this past week I've noticed that one of my containers has had a half dozen or so LBMs (Little Brown Mushrooms) pop up in it. And I've noticed them before in other grows. Since I've been using rain water to water with there's a chance that these might be from wind born spores that got washed off my roof so I can't say for sure they came in my MG potting soil.

I think having a few of these LBM's popping up might actually be a good thing. For one I think it might indicate you've got some degree of good microbial life going on in your soil. My soil is around 118 days old right now and the fact that some of these delicate fungi are willing to grow in it is kind of reassuring. If any thing it ought to help dispell the myth that MG soils (and chemical sources of nutes/fertilizer in general) are either to hot or poisonus like a lot of these organic purists would like to claim they are.

Jack

 

[sourdieseltech]

Thanks man, I'm quite impressed with the results, as well. I dug these pics up from September, from the mothers of these current plants. Some are a bit fuzzy, but I hope they show you what you're looking for......

wow! your plants look great! i hope mine look like that at 4 weeks

 

[justlearning73]

WOW is all I can say. I currently use FF. When I was a noob i started with MG and burnt the hell out of my plants. Ended up with these 1 tall dwarfs. Switched to FF per recommendation. Oh and changed and learned a few things in the process. I have gotten better with my grows. Still burn my plants everyonce in a while. I have a half a bag left of FF and after that back to MG. I think part of the problem is we noobs get on here and see all the bud porn and want to do the same. We forget this is nothing but a weed, a awesome weed but a weed none the less. We fall into the hype of you have to have this and that and this and that to grow weed. One of the things i have learned on this thread is for as many people growing, there are as many ways to grow. Some are better than others depending on situation. All you need is the basics to grow weed, Soil, light, and water. Oh when your plant asks for it give her some food. Bottom line it doesnt take high end products to produce weed. Just my 2 cents. Thanks Jaw and the others who have contributed for doing this and proving it doesnt take a lot of money to grow weed.

 

[Kaptain Kron]

Well i agree pretty much any soil is going to be alright as long as it doesnt have some crazy chemicals in it i dont want, but the main reason i asked was the consistency of the Kellogs soil is funny its like a lot of sticks and stuff. Dont shoot me for saying so but i like the consistency of the fox farms better than the one kind of MG soil i've had the chance to use (the vegetable potting one) that being said im still not spending 20 bucks on another bag of it. I guess ill try the kellogs and mix in my perlite then. Thanks for the reassurance. Im makin a batch of super soil so i dont have to worry about bugs because i got to bake it anyways. I cant grow in the house so im going to mix up this batch now and use it as topper on my moms garden which is played out and on some of her other plants. She starves em lol should be a cool amount left over after that which i will store someplace til i start again outside next season

Those bags caught my eye because they are 5 bucks for 3 cubic feet =)

 

[jawbrodt]

I'll probably switch back and forth, between soils, from now on, now that I know there isn't a whole lot of difference. To me, I'd rather pay the extra $8 or so, for FFs, if I can't find any MG that's kept inside(risking getting pests). I might even look into Promix, next time I'm at the hydro shop. Aren't those big square cubes, pretty cheap, when compared to FFs soils? Anyway, if I don't go with that, the MG soils are $12-14 around here, and FFs is $20-22, per bag. After seeing the results of this test, I'm happy to use either, and being that I don't go through much soil, I'll pick up whichever is more convenient, add the perlite, and be good to go.


Next, I might do a test putting MG bloom and veg nutes, plus epsom salts(all cheap ferts), up against my current Dynagro nutes and Calmag plus. I think that'd be an interesting test, as well.

 

[jondamon]

I'll probably switch back and forth, between soils, from now on, now that I know there isn't a whole lot of difference. To me, I'd rather pay the extra $8 or so, for FFs, if I can't find any MG that's kept inside(risking getting pests). I might even look into Promix, next time I'm at the hydro shop. Aren't those big square cubes, pretty cheap, when compared to FFs soils? Anyway, if I don't go with that, the MG soils are $12-14 around here, and FFs is $20-22, per bag. After seeing the results of this test, I'm happy to use either, and being that I don't go through much soil, I'll pick up whichever is more convenient, add the perlite, and be good to go.


Next, I might do a test putting MG bloom and veg nutes, plus epsom salts(all cheap ferts), up against my current Dynagro nutes and Calmag plus. I think that'd be an interesting test, as well.

COME ON JAWBRODT


you know damn well the only test you're doing next is your current vs COCO

then like ive already said you'll never go back!!!!!

J

 

[purpdaddy]

Any nutrient is good if you know when and how much to administer...i got a padna that grows in soil and SWEARS by MG!! He has nice grows with them but it could be better.

 

[Kaptain Kron]

mmm coco good stuff too bad you have to add nutrients still =( thats why im going with the super soil. I only gotta add nutes once lol then just water away til its done. Coco works great though just has a lot of salts in it when you get it. Or at least the stuff my friend was getting did.

 

[jawbrodt]

COME ON JAWBRODT


you know damn well the only test you're doing next is your current vs COCO

then like ive already said you'll never go back!!!!!

J

LOL, Yeah, yeah, I know, and it's very tempting. I'll switch some day, and might even go straight to aeroponics, but since I'm going back to work tomorrow, I'll stick with soil for a few more months. It's too much hassle to switch over, and being that I finally got my grows dialed-in, I want to get a few more runs in, before I mess with a new medium. In the meantime, I'll let you get your coco fine-tuned to perfection, then steal all your hard work.lol

 

[littlefrasure]

ok so im totally new to ALL of this and i want to start growing my own plant in my house. the only problem is that its winter and its cold as hell in the room i wanna start in. Will the plant be ok with the light on it even though its cold? and what about when the lights off? I've been reading for two weeks strait as much as i can find but i still have alot of specific questions i just can't find the answers to online!!! If anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

 

[Smucker G]

ok so im totally new to ALL of this and i want to start growing my own plant in my house. the only problem is that its winter and its cold as hell in the room i wanna start in. Will the plant be ok with the light on it even though its cold? and what about when the lights off? I've been reading for two weeks strait as much as i can find but i still have alot of specific questions i just can't find the answers to online!!! If anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

I use a smal electric heater. I also have a weather channel remote therm so I can keep an eye on highs and lows.

 

[Kaptain Kron]

ok so im totally new to ALL of this and i want to start growing my own plant in my house. the only problem is that its winter and its cold as hell in the room i wanna start in. Will the plant be ok with the light on it even though its cold? and what about when the lights off? I've been reading for two weeks strait as much as i can find but i still have alot of specific questions i just can't find the answers to online!!! If anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

use a BIG HPS like a 1000w that will keep it nice and toasty while the lights on as for when its off you need to know how cold it gets at the coldest part of the night in there once you know that you will know if you need to get a heater with a thermostat that you can set to turn on when it gets too cold that will take care of you nicely. Just dont forget that when its summer time you may have to get some venting for that hps so it doesnt get too hot.

I love cali no extreme weather changes =)

 

[Mudslide9791]

Thank you for this! First grow and I paid almost $40 for a bag of FFOF because there is no place to get it locally and everyone swore I would risk failure by going with MG. I'll be at Home Depot from now on picking up $10 bags of MG Potting Mix, and paying a couple bucks for some Perlite. Excellent thread

+reps

Sorry, quick question and I hope it wasn't answered, I read through alot of this thread but not all. If I run the "feeds up to 3 months" stuff, should I not use any nutes during veg and just kick in some bloom nutes for flower?

Thanks