Happy Frog users - how long do the nutes last?

budrock61

Active Member
I just dropped 5 inch clones into 5 gallon pots filled with Fox Farm Happy Frog. This is the first time I've used this particular soil.

Was wondering how long the nutes in Happy Frog will last before I need to add my top dress amendments? Hoping some experienced HF users could chime in...
 

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
HF is pretty light on the nutrients. I’d start adding very light/mellow feeds (or top dressing) soon after they settle in and you start seeing new growth.
 

kratos015

Well-Known Member
Depending on plant size, anywhere between 4-6 weeks in my experience. I'd be more comfortable advising you on when to top dress if I know what you were top dressing with. If you're using a light 4-4-4 or 6-3-3 mix, you should be fine top dressing in another month or so. This way, your top dress will finish decomposing and make the nutrients available just as your FFHF gets spent.

Follow the instructions on your top dress bag; usually 1-2 tbsp per 5 gallons of soil, and every 4 weeks. Heavy feeders can be done every 2 weeks. Large outdoor plants will need it every 1-2 weeks.

Unless you added extra aeration (Fox Farm soils always need extra perlite, unless they fixed that), be cautious on the watering. Easy to overwater in Fox Farm soil without the extra aeration. Ultimately, just don't over-water and go through trail and error. You'll get it right eventually.

Underwatering is easily fixed within hours of watering, overwatering is a death sentence. I've had plants stuck in 122F heat for over 12 hours when my air conditioner tripped a breaker. Only one was fully droopy, the rest were just starting. Fixed my breaker, watered the plants, they perked right back up within hours. Overwatering though? Acidic pH, and nutrient lockout by proxy. Root rot and fungus gnats are practically guaranteed as well.

Happy Frog is pretty good shit. I like the soil itself, and while its one of the more affordable options, one can build their own Happy Frog soil for a fraction of the price. 2 bags of Happy Frog will fill around 6 5g pots (30g total), adding extra perlite to the mix allows for enough medium to fill 6 7g pots (42g total). For smaller tent grows, bagged soil won't break the bank. Outdoors, or for medium scale grows, the cost adds up quick and you'll want to look into making your own soil. A lot easier than it sounds.

All the best.
 

budrock61

Active Member
Depending on plant size, anywhere between 4-6 weeks in my experience. I'd be more comfortable advising you on when to top dress if I know what you were top dressing with. If you're using a light 4-4-4 or 6-3-3 mix, you should be fine top dressing in another month or so. This way, your top dress will finish decomposing and make the nutrients available just as your FFHF gets spent.

Follow the instructions on your top dress bag; usually 1-2 tbsp per 5 gallons of soil, and every 4 weeks. Heavy feeders can be done every 2 weeks. Large outdoor plants will need it every 1-2 weeks.

Unless you added extra aeration (Fox Farm soils always need extra perlite, unless they fixed that), be cautious on the watering. Easy to overwater in Fox Farm soil without the extra aeration. Ultimately, just don't over-water and go through trail and error. You'll get it right eventually.

Underwatering is easily fixed within hours of watering, overwatering is a death sentence. I've had plants stuck in 122F heat for over 12 hours when my air conditioner tripped a breaker. Only one was fully droopy, the rest were just starting. Fixed my breaker, watered the plants, they perked right back up within hours. Overwatering though? Acidic pH, and nutrient lockout by proxy. Root rot and fungus gnats are practically guaranteed as well.

Happy Frog is pretty good shit. I like the soil itself, and while its one of the more affordable options, one can build their own Happy Frog soil for a fraction of the price. 2 bags of Happy Frog will fill around 6 5g pots (30g total), adding extra perlite to the mix allows for enough medium to fill 6 7g pots (42g total). For smaller tent grows, bagged soil won't break the bank. Outdoors, or for medium scale grows, the cost adds up quick and you'll want to look into making your own soil. A lot easier than it sounds.

All the best.
Nice info thanks! I added perlite: 2/3 Happy Frog to 1/3 perlite. Also added some epsom salts and gypsum, since most these soils seem to lack calmag. I top dress with Down To Earth Vegetable 4-4-4 for the entire grow - 1/2 tbsp per pot gallon is good for about 4 weeks. It's great stuff, and starts to kick in right after the second watering.
 

kratos015

Well-Known Member
Nice info thanks! I added perlite: 2/3 Happy Frog to 1/3 perlite. Also added some epsom salts and gypsum, since most these soils seem to lack calmag. I top dress with Down To Earth Vegetable 4-4-4 for the entire grow - 1/2 tbsp per pot gallon is good for about 4 weeks. It's great stuff, and starts to kick in right after the second watering.
Soils typically don't lack CalMag, in my experience CalMag related issues are related to watering, or excess fertilization. People tend to overwater, locking out the CalMag, or they over-fertilize and lock it out. In some rare cases, your source of water itself can cause CalMag lockouts. Point is, CalMag issues are a bit of a "meme" with growing plants in general. It is very rare someone actually has Calcium or Magnesium related issues, the causes are often poor watering practices or excess fertilizing.

Your top dress plan sounds great, I love Dr. Earth products and use them when available. Good shit to use, if you following instructions on the bag you'll be good more often than not.

As long as it wasn't too much gypsum and/or epsom salts, you should be fine adding them. I preferred foliar feeding with epsom salts when I used them, Epsom Salts are great but only as a foliar feed, they don't do all too much in the soil itself. I wouldn't look to add gypsum/Calcium until I knew for sure I had an issue.

Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium are all part of a "trinity" so to speak. When one is in excess, the others are locked out. Conversely, when one is deficient, it effects the ability for the others to be absorbed.

Try to think of growing plants like making a pasta sauce, or some other cooking recipe. You can always add salt to your sauce, but you can NEVER take it out. It is always preferable to err on the side of caution, and not add too much, as opposed to adding too much and having to start all over.

Regards.
 

budrock61

Active Member
Soils typically don't lack CalMag, in my experience CalMag related issues are related to watering, or excess fertilization. People tend to overwater, locking out the CalMag, or they over-fertilize and lock it out. In some rare cases, your source of water itself can cause CalMag lockouts. Point is, CalMag issues are a bit of a "meme" with growing plants in general. It is very rare someone actually has Calcium or Magnesium related issues, the causes are often poor watering practices or excess fertilizing.

Your top dress plan sounds great, I love Dr. Earth products and use them when available. Good shit to use, if you following instructions on the bag you'll be good more often than not.

As long as it wasn't too much gypsum and/or epsom salts, you should be fine adding them. I preferred foliar feeding with epsom salts when I used them, Epsom Salts are great but only as a foliar feed, they don't do all too much in the soil itself. I wouldn't look to add gypsum/Calcium until I knew for sure I had an issue.

Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium are all part of a "trinity" so to speak. When one is in excess, the others are locked out. Conversely, when one is deficient, it effects the ability for the others to be absorbed.

Try to think of growing plants like making a pasta sauce, or some other cooking recipe. You can always add salt to your sauce, but you can NEVER take it out. It is always preferable to err on the side of caution, and not add too much, as opposed to adding too much and having to start all over.

Regards.
Interesting info on the calmag. Well noted! Thx.

And just to clarify, I'm using Down To Earth, not Dr. Earth. This stuff: Vegetable Garden 4-4-4
 
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