Fox Farm Ocean Forest

KING CHILIE

Active Member
So I'm using this soil for the first time do you actually have to give it additional fertilizer with this soil or can you use it just by itself? Or what fertilizer works best with this soil?
 

tripleD

Well-Known Member
I'm a newby with no prior experience, & I've grown 5 plants with it & I was really pleased. I didn't add anything for the first 2-3 weeks & then I added FF Grow Big, Big Bloom, and Tiger bloom.
I'm on my second grow now with a different light set up (spydr600LED) & I'm gna add FF dirty dozen this time as well to try to increase my yield... GL
 

$bkbbudz$

Well-Known Member
IMHO FFOF is too hot for seedlings on it's own. I would add a good 30% perlite and not feed anything until about 2-3 weeks AFTER transplant. Then start your regimen at 1/4 strength and progress up 1/4 strength at a time until full strength.

Personally I use FFHF and prefer it over FFOF, but to each their own.

Good Luck and Great Grow!
 

tripleD

Well-Known Member
IMHO FFOF is too hot for seedlings on it's own. I would add a good 30% perlite and not feed anything until about 2-3 weeks AFTER transplant. Then start your regimen at 1/4 strength and progress up 1/4 strength at a time until full strength.

Personally I use FFHF and prefer it over FFOF, but to each their own.

Good Luck and Great Grow!
I will have to try the FFHF next time...
I'm here to learn, learn, learn!!:weed:
 

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
What exactly do Epsom salt & dolomite lime do??? I see people talking about them for various things but I don't understand exactly what they do....
Epsom supplies Mg and S.
Dolomite is a liming agent and has plenty of Mg available......If amending FFOF all you need is about a good handful (1/2cup) per bag and mix in well.
FFOF and FFHF always seem light on liming agent and Mg in my book.....pH will slip and Mg def's occur regularly.

FF soils tend to carry soil borne pests like fungus gnats.....
 

tripleD

Well-Known Member
Epsom supplies Mg and S.
Dolomite is a liming agent and has plenty of Mg available......If amending FFOF all you need is about a good handful (1/2cup) per bag and mix in well.
FFOF and FFHF always seem light on liming agent and Mg in my book.....pH will slip and Mg def's occur regularly.

FF soils tend to carry soil borne pests like fungus gnats.....
Oh, ok.... Thanks for the info! I'll try it next time
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
What exactly do Epsom salt & dolomite lime do??? I see people talking about them for various things but I don't understand exactly what they do....
* Epsom is fast-acting magnesium and sulfur. It contains 9.8% Mg, 13% S by weight. 1g in 1gal produces 26ppm Mg and 34ppm S.

* Dolomite is carbonated calcium and magnesium. It is slower acting. Dolomite contains those carbonated forms at a 1.2 to 1 ratio (and breaks down to produce 1.6 to 1 elemental Ca & Mg). That helps you know if you're getting dolomite. There's a lot of confusion in how different lime is named. Look at the label. (You do not want hydrated lime, which is all oxides and virtually no Mg.).

Dolomite is amended into the soil to stabilize the ph over time. It also provides mg/ca as a side benefit. But, slowly. People tend to use 1-2 Tbsp/gal of soil. I do 1-1.5.

I have read the desired Ca:Mg ratio is between 2:1 and 4:1. So, dolomite has more Mg than is desirable. I mix a little calcitic lime (a 10:1 ratio) to my dolomite to get in the 2:1 to 3:1 range.

* You use epsom to treat an Mg def. About 1/2 tsp/gal of water. (I wouldn't amend it into soil.).

* To treat a calcium def, use Gypsum. It contains 23% Ca and 19% S (by weight). 1g in 1gal produces 61ppm Ca, 49ppm S.

I use dissolved eggshell (calcium acetate) instead of gypsum when I need to treat both Ca and Mg def. Epsom and gypsum have sulfur which, combined, might be excessive. Calcium acetate contains 23% Ca by weight. It produces 60ppm Ca in 1 gal.

Many people use "calmag" products. It's convenient but not as precise to treat an individual problem. I don't like how it (the calcium nitrate) acidifies my nutrient mix. I don't need the nitrogen it produces. So, I go for the individual stuff above.
 
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tripleD

Well-Known Member
- Epsom is fast-acting magnesium and sulfur. It contains 9.8% Mg, 13% S by weight. 1g in 1gal produces 26ppm Mg and 34ppm S.

- Dolomite is carbonated calcium and magnesium. It is slower acting. Dolomite contains those carbonates at a ratio 1.2 to 1 (and breaks down to produce 1.6 to 1). That helps you know if you're getting dolomite. There's a lot of confusion in how lime is named. Look at the label.

Dolomite is amended into the soil to stabilize the ph over time. It also provides mg/ca as a side benefit. But, slowly. People tend to use 1-2 Tbsp/gal of soil. I do 1-1.5.

I have read the desired Ca:Mg ratio is between 2:1 and 4:1. So, dolomite has more Mg than is desireable. I mix a little calcitic lime (a 10:1 ratio) to my dolomite to get in the 2:1 to 3:1 range.

- You use epsom to treat an Mg def. About 1/2 tsp/gal of water. (I wouldn't amend it into soil.).

- To treat a calcium def, use Gypsum. It contains 23% Ca and 19% S (by weight). 1g in 1gal produces 61ppm Ca, 49ppm S.

I use dissolved eggshell (calcium acetate) when I want to treat both Ca and Mg def. Epsom and gypsum have sulfur which, combined, might be excessive. Calcium acetate contains 23% Ca by weight. It produces 60ppm Ca in 1 gal.

A lot of people use "calmag" products. It's convenient but not as precise to treat an individual problem. I don't like how it (the calcium nitrate) acidifies my nutrient mix. I don't need the nitrogen it produces. So, I go for the individual stuff above.
Wow! That was very informative...Thanks!!
 

tropicalcannabispatient

Well-Known Member
Epsom and Dolo? Mg overload....Dolo has plenty of available Mg...Adding Epsom straight to the soil isn't a great idea either. Dissolve in water first.
I dont ph my water, and i use tap, also i use 18 gallons bins, i think im ok. 2 weeks and 2 days in flower and i have almost perfect foliage, it works for me always why fix something that isn't broken? Also before starting flower i always flush with 3x amount of soil, i stick with what it works for me. But tnx for the advice m8. Have a look. Edit: Forgot to say i use no nutrients soil. Npk 0%WP_20151208_18_20_20_Rich.jpg
 
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tropicalcannabispatient

Well-Known Member
What exactly do Epsom salt & dolomite lime do??? I see people talking about them for various things but I don't understand exactly what they do....
Epsom salt supplies mg and sulfur, dolomite lime helps buffer acidic soil and stabilize ph. Edit: Didn't see that az2000 explained in detail
 
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