My Soil...

Becorath

Becorath

Well-Known Member
Just thought I would post my soil setup I am currently trying along side the roots organics line I have been using awhile with good results.

I will start by saying that I recycle my soil somewhat.

I start with a soil mix of: good brand of basic organic potting soil, Mushroom compost, vermiculite, perlite, Jobe's All Purpose Organic fert (4-4-4) or Fast Start (4-4-2) whatever is available, small jar of molasses, and a small amount of my own compost (garden scraps, leaves, rotting fruit, and horse manure), To add life to the soil.

I usually make this up when I have all of my space filled with pots, so this allows it to sit and mingle for a few weeks.

When the flowering plants are finishing, I just toss the old soil into the garden and I will move the veg plants into flower.

Now I will plant my clones into 1 gal pots of my soil mix. this is their home until it is time to move into flower. then I will up pot them into 5 gal pots while mixing in some Jobe's Organic Flowering and Tomato (2-7-4) This usually carries them with just a bit of top dressing part way through flower before I see any deficiencies. Other than the typical nitrogen fade at the end of flower. I dump the used soil back into the mix for 2-3 cycles when I start seeing various def start popping up that my occasional topdress cannot recover.

Did this even make sense? oh well. This is what I have been doing and it seems to work well. Just wanted to share what has worked fairly well...

Not to mention it is a simple, and Lazy way to do it. Water only! And most if not all ingredients can be found at your local walmart, lowes, home depot, etc...
 
You have a similar Soil Mix that I use, store bought soil, peat, vermiculite, perlite, and add some good brand organics to make my plants happy (Jobe's, Espoma, Dr. Earth, and Alaska/Pennington brands are usually easy to find and on the inexpensive side of things). I also re-use and re-amend my soil every few grows :-P

Only thing I would add to your mix; is some Azomite to give them a nice dose of 'Trace' nutrients or whatever they are called ("over 70 trace minerals from A to Z")
 
I use azomite on rare occasions. The nearest place that carries it is about a 1 hr drive away, so it probably gets used every 3 or 4 soil changes. I forgot to add that I use dolomite lime from a local source as well as low amounts of epsom salts.
I also throw in my espresso grounds on occasion.
 
You're close to all natural grow. Consider eliminating the Jobes and you'll cut cost, improve the system.
 
I can do start to finish without the jobes, but it adds a great boost to the plants. And it isn't really all that costly IMO.
 
I will use the soil forever basically, it all goes back into my compost pile and gets mixed back in. I am lucky I have about 3 years worth of soil now so everything gets a good rest between uses.....coffee grounds are great and keeps my worms going well in the compost. Enjoy
 
So cool, cane. If you left the soil in the pot after chop, threw some clover on top for 30 days, and then transplanted a new Canna in there, you'd be ROLS-ing. Saves time, improves soil by maintaining the delicate microbial network. Plus the labor savings I use to clean my glass or watch porn.

j/k... I don't clean my glass...
 
Becorath said:
Just thought I would post my soil setup I am currently trying along side the roots organics line I have been using awhile with good results.

I will start by saying that I recycle my soil somewhat.

I start with a soil mix of: good brand of basic organic potting soil, Mushroom compost, vermiculite, perlite, Jobe's All Purpose Organic fert (4-4-4) or Fast Start (4-4-2) whatever is available, small jar of molasses, and a small amount of my own compost (garden scraps, leaves, rotting fruit, and horse manure), To add life to the soil.

I usually make this up when I have all of my space filled with pots, so this allows it to sit and mingle for a few weeks.

When the flowering plants are finishing, I just toss the old soil into the garden and I will move the veg plants into flower.

Now I will plant my clones into 1 gal pots of my soil mix. this is their home until it is time to move into flower. then I will up pot them into 5 gal pots while mixing in some Jobe's Organic Flowering and Tomato (2-7-4) This usually carries them with just a bit of top dressing part way through flower before I see any deficiencies. Other than the typical nitrogen fade at the end of flower. I dump the used soil back into the mix for 2-3 cycles when I start seeing various def start popping up that my occasional topdress cannot recover.

Did this even make sense? oh well. This is what I have been doing and it seems to work well. Just wanted to share what has worked fairly well...

Not to mention it is a simple, and Lazy way to do it. Water only! And most if not all ingredients can be found at your local walmart, lowes, home depot, etc...
Click to expand...


You had me until you mentioned Walmart!

Just kidding :-)
 
Rrog said:
So cool, cane. If you left the soil in the pot after chop, threw some clover on top for 30 days, and then transplanted a new Canna in there, you'd be ROLS-ing. Saves time, improves soil by maintaining the delicate microbial network. Plus the labor savings I use to clean my glass or watch porn.

j/k... I don't clean my glass...
Click to expand...


Does the root ball get broken down well doing it this way Rrog?

I've just been dumping my used soil back in to a large container, re-amending and adding a little "new" soil in to the mix. I like the idea of just leaving the soil in the bucket for a month and then sticking another cut in there. Can you elaborate on exactly what should be done if I wanted to try that?
 
I really had great luck planting clover a week before chop. After chop the clover took right off. I gave some light and watered. Clover takes atmospheric N and puts it in the soil for you. The microbes see fresh clover roots and plug right in. The microbes see the old root ball as dead and needing decomposition. So they get to work.

After a month you can pull the stump right off the top of the soil. Then make a slice and plant a clone. Leave the clover. It's fine and just keeps dumping N into the soil. It'll die off soon enough when a canopy develops.
 
I wouldn't bring any soil in from a garden, all you are doing is inviting pests into your grow. Definitely not worth it.
 
well, I hope it's OK that I disagree. I bring in local soil and local compost all the time. I highly recommend it, as you will be introducing BIMs. Beneficial Indigenous Microbes. These are the good guys. The top of the food chain in your area. They help you. You just build the soil properly and the good guys will kick the shit outta all the bad guys. Then you plop your plant into a totally controlled environment. No bugs, no larvae, no eggs, no blight, no mite.
 
Jimdamick said:
I wouldn't bring any soil in from a garden, all you are doing is inviting pests into your grow. Definitely not worth it.
Click to expand...

What about the millions of compost piles out there in the great outdoors? And all these organic farmers and growers who recycle there mix outdoors?

It only makes sense to use some recycled soil into your mix. Some elements will continue to burn and release nutrients for long periods of time. Some for more than a year. Gypsum, greensand, bone meal, are just a few off the top of my head. Hence you hear people say I'm using 3rd generation recycled mix or 5th or 7th...whatever they're on.
 
This is a common thought for a lotta folks. And in fact, many non-Canna garden sites say the same thing. It's just an extension of the chem fert flower and veggie gardening mindset of the 50's through today
 
White Dutch Clover is the best IMHO, more expensive that the Red but grows lower with huge root system. When I farmed I used this extensively in the fields and it was self sowing once established in the fields. As for keeping the soil in the container sure it will work, does work but I only use 5 gallon containers. Getting old and hard for me to move bigger containers around everyday and so prefer mixing in back into the compostpile that is just getting started. I have my new compost, just the beginning stage, by mixing the old soil into the pile that is just starting to breakdown it gives me a jump on things for composting. I don't think there is a best way but just what serves me the best and has given me the best results for the size plants I grow in 5 gallon containers.
I will say that it lightens my heart to hear people using these old school methods. Yes science has done wonders for explaining how and why plants like and do what they do. The advances has helped me refine my soils but all of these new and improved "snake oils" and big bloom products and such, wow what a waste of $$$$ IMO when I can make the soil to contain everything it needs to grow a good plant. Yes I still use fish emulsion, algae extract and additional molasses (both for the soil and foliar spray) but at lower levels and depending whether the plant is asking for something extra. All about the leaves.
 
If I tear up a little, don't tell the guys, OK???

What you're doing is awesome. What else can you say? I'm big on the old school and spread the word as best I can. Thanks so much for the supportive testimonial.
 
I thank you as well. I love the natural way of doing things. Getting back to nature and stopping the further destruction of the planet is my ultimate goal. Nature took many many years to get everything perfect. We've only been doing it for a few years. Maybe we should stopp and see what nature is doing so perfect!

I am slowly going this direction with my indoor grows. Everything I do outside (Canna and fruit/vegetables) is completely organic and natural. I make my own compost and add only that, and straw for mulch. Once every 2-3 years, I'll add some Lime and other mineral amendments, but usually the compost and straw. I have many worms in the soil and let them do their thing...


I make compost with; yard scraps, kitchen scraps, horse manure, rotten fruit that has fallen in the orchard, and ashes from burn pit (hardwood only).
 
Check out grows by Gascanastan. Recycled soil for 12-15 runs. Same soil, just amended. Never turned over, dumped, etc. (at least for 12-15 runs...)
 
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