Top-Dress and Foliar Spray

NaturalWorksOrganics

NaturalWorksOrganics

Member
Recently ordered some alfalfa meal, kelp meal and soft rock phosphate and it should arrive any day now. My plant has been on a 12.5/11.5 light cycle for almost two weeks after being on 14/10 for two weeks prior to that. Not sure of the heritage but i'm assuming 6-8 weeks left. Was going to make a blend of 3 parts kelp meal to 1 part alfalfa meal and top dress with a tablespoon of this blend. Will i be ok to do this? Also, planning on doing a foliar spray with 1/4 tsp of SRP to a liter of pure water. Comments welcome!
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
I would make that alfalfa and kelp into a tea for faster uptake. 1/4 cup alfalfa, 1/4 cup kelp, 2-3 TBSP molasses, 5 gallons water, bubble for 24 hours. A little worm castings in there wouldn't hurt either.

As for the soft rock phosphate, that isn't something to foliar spray. It's basically clay; they leaves can't gain nutrients from it until it has been processed by microorganisms in the soil. The best use for it would be to mix it into your soil at the end on this round (along with some other goodies), and let it marinate for at least one month. Your plants will thank you next round.
 
NaturalWorksOrganics

NaturalWorksOrganics

Member
Glad to see we're on the same page...haha. I was just thinking it would be more effective as a tea and thought of maybe doing both. Since i only have one plant i will do a tsp/liter and i always dilute to double before applying so that should be ok. The srp is micronized so its water soluble and that is its suggested application. I plan on building my soil mix with these ingredients for next round for sure, just didnt have them in time for this one.
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
Micronized rock is not water soluble... That just isn't how chemistry works. You can create a suspension or a colloid of clay in water, but clay itself is not water SOLUBLE, no matter how small you grind it. Manufacturers would like you to think otherwise, but that just ain't how it works. Micronized products will become bioavailable more quickly because they have more surface area available for soil microbiology to work on, but that doesn't mean you can just mix it with water, spray the leaves, and expect to see any response. All you will end up with is dried clay deposits on your leaf surfaces, as stomata are not able to uptake clay particles.
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
It sure isn't going to hurt if you water in a suspension of soft rock phosphate, but don't expect it to provide any quick nutrients (if that's your goal).

In my humble opinion, a much better "quick fix" for nutrient deficiencies during early bloom would be fish hydrolysate. Mixed at about 1 TBSP/gal, it will provide your soil with a nice little boost of nitrogen and phosphorus that will be quickly available to your plants.

Alfalfa is also a good choice for a "quick fix", but it won't help you much if you are lacking phosphorus.
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
If I'm not mistaken, Alaska Fish is a fish "emulsion", rather than a "hydrolysate". It's a difference in the process of going from fish (or fish byproduct) to a liquid in a bottle. The hydysate is made from higher quality inputs (think whole fish instead of seafood industry waste), and using an enzymatic process that maintains more of the oils, amino acids, etc which are very beneficial to your soil. You'll also notice a higher phosphorus content in the hydrolysate than the emulsion; 2-4-0.2 for the hydrolysate, 5-1-1 for the emulsion.

This isn't to say that using fish emulsion is a bad idea, it's just good to understand the differences. The hydrolysate (in my opinion) is a MUCH better product. Look for Eco-Hydro Fish Hydrolysate.
 
Abiqua

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
You can make fish gut tea.

I don't know if fresh fish is an option but it is possible to bubble the guts in water i.e. hydrolyze.

I only have the Alaskan too, but lots of fisherman nearby in the cities that throw away lots of excess and bones too.

Thinking about making a tea from local whitefish and crawdads [crayfish].

Don't know if that helps, but I used to do this outdoor before I had partners.
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
There is more to creating fish hydrolysate than just bubbling fish guts in water. They use various enzymes and acids to process (and preserve) the fish. You'll notice most (if not all) fish hydrolysate contains phosphoric acid.

All my leftover guts from fishing trips get buried directly in the soil around my veggie gardens and landscaping... The plants dig it.
 
NaturalWorksOrganics

NaturalWorksOrganics

Member
Thats a great idea...burying the fish remains in around the garden. On a side note, i get home from work to find a hundreds(?) of what im guessing are thrips? Look like big ass fruit flies. Solutions?
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
Thrips are teeny tiny little things, much smaller than fruit flies. You're seeing something BIGGER than fruit flies? That's a new one to me... The two main flying pests seen in indoor gardens are fungus gnats and white flies, but both of those are smaller than the fruit flies we get around these parts.
 
hydrogreen65

hydrogreen65

Well-Known Member
Sprinkle ground cinnamon on top of soil, then cover with a cpl inches of sand. The cinnamon screws up the larvae, and the sand prevents the adults from getting in soil to lay new eggs.
 
NaturalWorksOrganics

NaturalWorksOrganics

Member
hydrogreen65 said:
Sprinkle ground cinnamon on top of soil, then cover with a cpl inches of sand. The cinnamon screws up the larvae, and the sand prevents the adults from getting in soil to lay new eggs.
Click to expand...
Thanks man. Something to consider but would be difficult as my mains are tied down to within 1/4"-1/2" of the mulch on top. Was thinking of a drench maybe?
 
SpicySativa

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
Yes, that is a fungus gnat. Not the nastiest of pests, and pretty simple to deal with.

You want Mosquito Dunks, which are available at hardware stores, nurseries, Home Depot, etc. Crumble half a dunk in a 5 gal bucket of water. Let it soak overnight. Use this to water your plants over a period of 10 days or so. Don't go overboard on the drenching, just water with that stuff as usual when the plants are thirsty. It won't harm your plants at all, but will kill off the gnat larva. For the adults, use the Shop Vac...

You can also crumble a Dunk down to powder, and sprinkle a half teaspoon or so onto the surface of your soil.
 
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