Info on Compost Teas

thepaintedchef

Well-Known Member
Why buy some pre-made expensive Soil (whose strength varies from batch to batch) when you can make your own potting soil to amend for way cheaper? Especially when you're already doing the hard work of mixing everything up anyway??[/QUOTE]


You make some interesting points.


#lovemore #livemore
 

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
Why buy some pre-made expensive Soil (whose strength varies from batch to batch) when you can make your own potting soil to amend for way cheaper? Especially when you're already doing the hard work of mixing everything up anyway??

You make some interesting points.


#lovemore #livemore[/QUOTE]
I know right? It's almost like I do this for a living or something...lol
 

unwine99

Well-Known Member
I'm going to have to disagree
As is your right, also, you're compelled to -- it's the tribal thing.

Guano for example...it is terrible in a soil mix that is supposed to last you your whole grow. Guano is highly water soluble, you will wash it away after a few waterings.
Sounds good in theory but alas, in most cases, another myth.

The term 'run-off' is sort of a misnomer. The water and highly water soluble guano doesn't actually run off, never to be seen again. Unless you're shop vac-ing the drain pan after watering (some do, vast majority don't), the highly water soluble guano is constantly being wicked back into the root zone. Quite a few growers, myself included, shoot for zero run-off.
Dolomite lime...doesn't have enough calcium and magnesium to last you your whole run...crab Shell meal works great as a pH buffer and provides the calmag
Dolomite lime absolutely does have enough calcium and magnesium when used appropriately, and you can use quite a bit without overdoing it. It works great alongside eggshell or crabshell meal to even out the calcium to magnesium ratio, such as in this recipe, which works fantastically:

Base mix:
  • 50% Sunshine Adv. Mix #4 - e.g. 4 gallons
  • ~25% Coco coir - e.g. 2 gallons
  • ~25% compost or castings - e.g. 2 gallons
  • Calcitic/dolomitic lime - Half cup (~8 tbsp)
  • Eggshell meal - 4 tbsp

For amending, the following (all per gallon):
  • 1.5 - 2 tbsp Alfalfa meal (Down to Earth brand recommended)
  • 1 - 1.5 tbsp Kelp meal
  • 1.5 - 2 tbsp Fishbone meal
  • 1.5 - 2 tbsp Neem seed meal, if available*
  • 1 tsp Azomite (or rock dust, etc. @ recommended rate)
    Epsom Salts...great for adding to water and feeding your plants if you have a magnesium deficiency... Only good for throwing off your magnesium ratios in a soil mix. Bet.
    Because you know what the magnesium ratios are of super soil with and without the epsom salt, because you made a batch and had it tested, correct? :rolleyes: Bet.
    Mycorrhizae... Again...never in your mix...put it in the hole you transplant in making sure it comes into direct contact with the roots.
While I tend to agree that direct contact to the roots is the most sure fire way of ensuring inoculation, quite a few manufacturers say it can be mixed into potting soil, as well as watered in. Many soil mixes and fertilizers come with mycorrhizae already added and as a matter of fact, Mycorrhizal Applications Inc., a contributer to the much revered publication, Teaming with Microbes, states that temperature should not exceed 140 degrees for manufacturers pelletizing or those looking to compost their granulated mycorrhizae -- infering perhaps temperature, not predation, is the primary limiting factor during a hypothetical 'cooking' process. They have supposedly been around for roughly 450 million years. We probably shouldn't be so quick to underestimate their durability.

And last but not least...why buy 14 cubic feet of expensive premium potting soil when you're making up a soil mix??? Really, what good reason is there?
1. Because it's part of the recipe.
2. Because of its popularity. Super Soil has a mostly positive reputation among those who've used it. So word of mouth.
3. Peace of mind knowing that they're using a recipe that quite a few folks have used successfully.
4. 150 bucks is a negligible investment for a year or so worth of organic growing medium.
5. It really is no one else's business what other people do with their hard earned money.
 

DblBrryInvestments

Well-Known Member
Didn't expect this thread to blow up so much while I've been busy with life lately.

A lil drunk right now lol, but I was just posting a great thread that I happened to stumbled upon which could be useful to some.

Everyone has there preferred way to grow, and although I definitely agree with the ones saying to make your own soil mix, but subcool doesn't deserved to be bashed.

He came out with a basic recipe that works and gets you from point A to point B, which may be just enough motivation for people to further their knowledge in growing pot.

Personally, if it wasn't for his recipe I'm not sure if I would be growing to this day, so I give the man a shout out, but definitely recommend other soil recipes.

Big shout out to greaseman and rastaroy, you two spit some knowledge on this thread and I thank you, peace.

P.S. Can't wait for harvest time, almost there!!
 

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
As is your right, also, you're compelled to -- it's the tribal thing.


Sounds good in theory but alas, in most cases, another myth.

The term 'run-off' is sort of a misnomer. The water and highly water soluble guano doesn't actually run off, never to be seen again. Unless you're shop vac-ing the drain pan after watering (some do, vast majority don't), the highly water soluble guano is constantly being wicked back into the root zone. Quite a few growers, myself included, shoot for zero run-off.

Dolomite lime absolutely does have enough calcium and magnesium when used appropriately, and you can use quite a bit without overdoing it. It works great alongside eggshell or crabshell meal to even out the calcium to magnesium ratio, such as in this recipe, which works fantastically:

Base mix:
  • 50% Sunshine Adv. Mix #4 - e.g. 4 gallons
  • ~25% Coco coir - e.g. 2 gallons
  • ~25% compost or castings - e.g. 2 gallons
  • Calcitic/dolomitic lime - Half cup (~8 tbsp)
  • Eggshell meal - 4 tbsp

For amending, the following (all per gallon):
  • 1.5 - 2 tbsp Alfalfa meal (Down to Earth brand recommended)
  • 1 - 1.5 tbsp Kelp meal
  • 1.5 - 2 tbsp Fishbone meal
  • 1.5 - 2 tbsp Neem seed meal, if available*
  • 1 tsp Azomite (or rock dust, etc. @ recommended rate)

    Because you know what the magnesium ratios are of super soil with and without the epsom salt, because you made a batch and had it tested, correct? :rolleyes: Bet.
While I tend to agree that direct contact to the roots is the most sure fire way of ensuring inoculation, quite a few manufacturers say it can be mixed into potting soil, as well as watered in. Many soil mixes and fertilizers come with mycorrhizae already added and as a matter of fact, Mycorrhizal Applications Inc., a contributer to the much revered publication, Teaming with Microbes, states that temperature should not exceed 140 degrees for manufacturers pelletizing or those looking to compost their granulated mycorrhizae -- infering perhaps temperature, not predation, is the primary limiting factor during a hypothetical 'cooking' process. They have supposedly been around for roughly 450 million years. We probably shouldn't be so quick to underestimate their durability.


1. Because it's part of the recipe.
2. Because of its popularity. Super Soil has a mostly positive reputation among those who've used it. So word of mouth.
3. Peace of mind knowing that they're using a recipe that quite a few folks have used successfully.
4. 150 bucks is a negligible investment for a year or so worth of organic growing medium.
5. It really is no one else's business what other people do with their hard earned money.
First off...I said I respectfully disagree...don't change my quote friend lol.

You being wrong isn't me being tribal...it's just me trying to put better information out there. I said respectfully so your feelings wouldn't get hurt...but then you bring up lab analysis like I don't have one...

user455383_pic1593181_1461696515.png
Look at those fucked up ratios!

You can grow great plants in subs supersoil recipe because you can grow great plants in a lot of things...cannabis is versatile as fuck. It grows on a dusty Moroccan mountainside. Just cause it works doesn't mean it's the best option.

And bruh...why you adding lime to sunshine mix when it already has lime added?...and also prebagged soil is not consistent...that's why you don't see a guaranteed analysis on a soil bag. And I get that 150 isn't much money in your opinion...its your hobby you can do what you want. I'm just trying to offer advice to those wishing to do things on a more professional scale.

One thing I almost forgot...you said yourself and many other growers shoot for zero run off? Even though the number one rule about watering cannabis is to water until you have run off...just saying, respectfully of course.
 
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Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
Didn't expect this thread to blow up so much while I've been busy with life lately.

A lil drunk right now lol, but I was just posting a great thread that I happened to stumbled upon which could be useful to some.

Everyone has there preferred way to grow, and although I definitely agree with the ones saying to make your own soil mix, but subcool doesn't deserved to be bashed.

He came out with a basic recipe that works and gets you from point A to point B, which may be just enough motivation for people to further their knowledge in growing pot.

Personally, if it wasn't for his recipe I'm not sure if I would be growing to this day, so I give the man a shout out, but definitely recommend other soil recipes.

Big shout out to greaseman and rastaroy, you two spit some knowledge on this thread and I thank you, peace.

P.S. Can't wait for harvest time, almost there!!
Show em off when you chop!
 

simply_slide

Well-Known Member
I just came across this the other day and saved it. This is great info and very well written. Thank you for bringing this over to RIU!
 

unwine99

Well-Known Member
First off...I said I respectfully disagree...don't change my quote friend lol.
:roll:
but then you bring up lab analysis like I don't have one...
Nice try but I'm fairly certain that ripping some ambiguous two year old analysis from icmag performed on a bagged hydro store sample of something likely not genuine super soil (research it), does not, in any way, answer my question.
And bruh...
:spew:
why you adding lime to sunshine mix when it already has lime added?
For the magnesium content. And it's not my recipe. It was recommended to me by one the most intelligent and knowledgeable organic soil growers I've encountered on this or any other cannabis forum. It's guys like him that make it so easy to spot the phony little parrots desperately trying to prove how much they think they know. *Ahem*

I'm just trying to offer advice to those wishing to do things on a more professional scale.
Double :roll:.
 

Rasta Roy

Well-Known Member
:roll:

Nice try but I'm fairly certain that ripping some ambiguous two year old analysis from icmag performed on a bagged hydro store sample of something likely not genuine super soil (research it), does not, in any way, answer my question.

:spew:

For the magnesium content. And it's not my recipe. It was recommended to me by one the most intelligent and knowledgeable organic soil growers I've encountered on this or any other cannabis forum. It's guys like him that make it so easy to spot the phony little parrots desperately trying to prove how much they think they know. *Ahem*


Double :roll:.
Do your thing man, somebody's gotta keep the bag soil guys in business.
 

unwine99

Well-Known Member
Do your thing man, somebody's gotta keep the bag soil guys in business.
Yup, in exactly the same way many organic growers help keep peat harvesters and the like in business. That's how the market works.

And if you recall (if not you can reference my first post), I also like growing in Coot's mix. I also like growing in a leafy compost/horse and worm shit mix that I've been playing with for a while. I'll even grow in soilless every now and then. :o

I use geopots on a screen / hardware cloth base (on wheels) and I don't ever water to runoff.
How dare you. How dare you break the number one rule.
 

testiclees

Well-Known Member
:roll:

Nice try but I'm fairly certain that ripping some ambiguous two year old analysis from icmag performed on a bagged hydro store sample of something likely not genuine super soil (research it), does not, in any way, answer my question.

:spew:

For the magnesium content. And it's not my recipe. It was recommended to me by one the most intelligent and knowledgeable organic soil growers I've encountered on this or any other cannabis forum. It's guys like him that make it so easy to spot the phony little parrots desperately trying to prove how much they think they know. *Ahem*


Double :roll:.
Sounding like a bloated ass bruh.
 

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
You sound passive/aggressive. I grew awesome meds via Sub's SS.
I was trying to be friendly, use whatever soil you like.
it's a poor technique, compounded by a poor recipe.
that's why I said research.
if any of that came off as passive/aggressive, well...
let me be more clear then.
you can do better with a bunch of different approaches, and researching that will show it to you, so rather then "telling" you, I was urging you to "learn"
knowhattamean Verne?
thYCDX5MJ4.jpg .
 
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