TheOracle
Member
It may not have helped Laerton, but may help future readers
If you start your grow with Fox farm ocean forest soil do you still have to add nutes
- Thread starter donzy63
- Start date
Richard Drysift
Well-Known Member
The main reason plants need nutrients is because growers think their soil is "depleted" when in fact it is usually just inactive microbially. Many times this is attributed to using chlorinated water which kills off the microbes by drying out their bodies. Adding compost; especially worm castings adds back the microbes lost and keeps the soil active. Mycorrhizae is a form of fungus that helps with absorbtion of nutrients; add some in either granular form at transplants or deliver in fungal tea form. These are open secrets of growing without nutrients.
Of course your plants also need NPK and macronutrients to thrive. A decent quality soil like FFOF is fairly stout as it is. If added fresh at each progressive transplant it virtually eliminates the need for soluble nutrients. Plants in a mostly water only soil do need a bit more room for roots to find what they need so larger pot sizes are suggested.
If plants need a boost give a liquid fish or seaweed fertilizer along with the occasional AACT. Then just give water as needed for the rest of the time. As long your water source is clean you should never need to add any nutes. If you want to ensure they have enough food to last say through an entire bloom phase just push a Jobes organic spike or 2 into each container; they feed for 8 weeks and are organic. If you ever are unsure about something look for the OMRI label which indicates it's safe for living soil grows. Good luck and happy growing!!!
Of course your plants also need NPK and macronutrients to thrive. A decent quality soil like FFOF is fairly stout as it is. If added fresh at each progressive transplant it virtually eliminates the need for soluble nutrients. Plants in a mostly water only soil do need a bit more room for roots to find what they need so larger pot sizes are suggested.
If plants need a boost give a liquid fish or seaweed fertilizer along with the occasional AACT. Then just give water as needed for the rest of the time. As long your water source is clean you should never need to add any nutes. If you want to ensure they have enough food to last say through an entire bloom phase just push a Jobes organic spike or 2 into each container; they feed for 8 weeks and are organic. If you ever are unsure about something look for the OMRI label which indicates it's safe for living soil grows. Good luck and happy growing!!!
Tubby nuggs
Member
I was thinking Same thing.
Laerton420
Member
Im on my second grow. I found your post very informative. I wish i had read it before i just added the nutes i put in the last watering. Burned a few young ones.lol. anyway. Great post man.
Richard Drysift
Well-Known Member
I wish someone told me this info when I was starting out too. Had no idea that fungi and soil microbes are what feeds all the plants on earth. Notice how nobody ever feeds the ancient trees of an old forest? yet they still grow tall and healthy. We as growers think you have to give your plants this for this or this for that when in fact all you need to provide is a well balanced, fertilized, and active mix and the plant will just take care of itself. Once you begin treating the soil as a living thing growing without nutrients becomes easy. The entire industry of growing products is based on a lack of knowledge about earth science and the fact that as consumers we are used to just buying something to fix problems when providing a healthy diet is really all that's needed.
vostok
Well-Known Member
I always advise growers not to over do it..If I start my grow with Fox farm ocean forest soil do I still have to add nutrients during vegetative growth and especially during the 12/12 flowering stage? Does Ocean forest have everything in it for both stages? About to start seeds in one week. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank folks!
avoid any feeding for the first 2-3 weeks
with FFOF add 25% perlite to dilute them hot effects improves drainage
avoids root compaction
other users re use for a 2nd or 3rd grow with little amending
good luck
Laerton420
Member
Good advice. I transplanted from dixie cups at 3 weeks. Into 1 gal. Fabric. Watered a few times with nothing but 1/2 strength cal-mag.
But i gave them a feeding drom ffof schedule (soil). At less than 1/2 strentgh.
But i accidently used tiger bloom instead of grow big. Just a tad. But they didnt like it. Now im gna flush lightly i guess and let them clear up. I did mix one bag of perlite with the large bag of ffof soil for better aeration. And fabric pots seem to be working for me. I am experimenting with bagseed right now, until i get better strains. So its all experimenting for me. I appreciate everyones advice and help. Truly.
G.IGrowBoss
Member
I simply waited to see what my plants wanted. Then I did half the nuts and watched how they responded. Started my first 4 plants with fox soil and using their nuts as well. Only 1 plants got burned but recovered, the other 3 are fine. So that showed me that it all depends on the plant.
Laerton420
Member
What indications did your plants give you ? Pale leaves ? Droopy ? And do you add cal mag ?
G.IGrowBoss
Member
^I was getting serous burn on the leaves of one plant as a seedling. It looked as if it stopped growing for a while. But I used CAL-Mag and it started growing again. The other 3 plants had no issues though and received the same treatment. Every plant will respond differently I guess. You just have to approach it cautiously and and see it responds to feeding and environmental changes.
mmcma17
Well-Known Member
I use FFOF + Perlite and only use tap water until they start taking off. Then only Organic fertilizers. I have some pics of the creations elsewhere on this site. They turn out really good and it's practically mindless after a while. Don't get too relaxed, make sure always watching for what they want.
JohnDee
Well-Known Member
I just wanted to draw attention to this comment missnu. I believe it to be incorrect with regards to FFOF. It is a richly amended organic soil but it doesn't have slow release chemical nutes in it. Your comments are correct for actual pre-nuted soil using osmocote or something similar.
JD
Tx-Peanutt
Well-Known Member
@donzy63 I switched from foxfarms soil to M3 soil and this is the results the pics is a week and a half time difference... When I used fox farms after 3-4 weeks it need nutes... Price difference ain’t much either I had the bag shipped for 50$ and it ain’t full of sticks either.. Way better quality of soil
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Growingnewandbig
New Member
M3 soil? I needs that ended this post with a bang m3
Tx-Peanutt
Well-Known Member
Michigan made mix M3 is really good soil .. There is another one called Detroit nutrient company that is supposed to be just as good or better .. syfi genetics turned me on to Detroit nutrient company .. Mass medical strains told me about M3 and it is really good the only thing I add is URB and I top dress with build a soil top dress kit and buildabloom from build a soil also ...
Growingnewandbig
New Member
IAM using Fox farm and Flora series grow for veg
Growingnewandbig
New Member
IAM using fox far and Flora series for veg
Imcamping86
Well-Known Member
I know this post is 7 years old , but your “ my nugs are organic brah “ comment had me dying !!!!!!!