No Till Living Soil Mix Questions

[NightSpider]

How long ago did you add the chicken manure? Those bottom leaves that are yellow are unlikely to recover no matter what you do. Just remove them from the canopy as they die. It's a smallish pot too by the looks of it for fabric, so make sure you keep it evenly moist and watch for progression of the yellowing/chlorosis over the next week. Often that kind of chlorosis is caused by drainage issues or crazy pH too, so make sure you tick off all the boxes.

10 gallon pots.
We have already talked about drainage and that at this point of grow not much I can do. I cannot really tell if I am underwatering, overwatering or anything to be honest. I am totally lost. Do I measure soil ph by taking some soil from the pot, mixing with water and measure with ph pen?

 

[Northwood]

10 gallon pots.
We have already talked about drainage and that at this point of grow not much I can do. I cannot really tell if I am underwatering, overwatering or anything to be honest. I am totally lost. Do I measure soil ph by taking some soil from the pot, mixing with water and measure with ph pen?

Yeah you can make a distilled water slurry and take the pH. Make sure you calibrate your pen before doing it (I prefer narrow range strips for applications involving thick slurries). It wont give you a super-accurate reading, but getting a specialty soil pH probe might be a bit of overkill for those of us into this as a hobby growing just a few plants.

 

[NightSpider]

Yeah you can make a distilled water slurry and take the pH. Make sure you calibrate your pen before doing it (I prefer narrow range strips for applications involving thick slurries). It wont give you a super-accurate reading, but getting a specialty soil pH probe might be a bit of overkill for those of us into this as a hobby growing just a few plants.

I do not have distilled water right now, I am guessing I cannot take bottled water, ph it to 7 and use that?

 

[myke]

Litmus strips,havent seen those in decades.Remember using those when I first started growing.

 

[Imbald]

I do not have distilled water right now, I am guessing I cannot take bottled water, ph it to 7 and use that?

SLURRY SOIL PH TEST

• Start by taking soil samples at various points in your garden. You should take the soil samples from the same depth every time. ...
• Add 1-1,5ml of distilled water for every gram of soil. ...
• Stir for a few seconds and then let it sit for at least an hour.
• Stir again and stick in your pH meter.

 

[Leeski]

 

[lakesidegrower]

Amazon (in US at least) carries it.

Down to Earth Neem Seed Meal. 6-1-2 5lb.
$27.44 (free shipping-prime member price)
They have other brands also.

I saw that one - its sold on the canadian site, unfortunately
But I'm definitely going to check out rapeseed.. lottos of canola up here - thanks for the suggestion @Northwood

 

[Robbieg22]

Never bought it but reindeersnatural.ca has organic neem meal in BC

 

[Northwood]

But I'm definitely going to check out rapeseed.. lottos of canola up here - thanks for the suggestion

It's weird, but except that rapeseed has a bit more nitrogen, it's nutrient profile is nearly identical to neem meal. Check anywhere they sell animal feed (there should be plenty where you live). One sack should last you close to a lifetime if you're just doing legal recreational grows. Or you can use up the excess in your garden this spring if you have one. That's what I do with alfalfa pellets from the feed store as well. While it costs pennies a pound, it usually only comes in full-sized feed bags.

I haven't bought a "cannabis-specific" nutrient product since I left hydro - over a decade ago now. I don't buy stuff that has to be shipped from half-way around the world either. Usually those workers in developing countries are exploited while some western company makes off like a bandit marketing it here for a 1,000% markup. It's just not my style. And I'd rather not feel guilt while enjoying the high of my own product. lol

 

[lakesidegrower]

It's weird, but except that rapeseed has a bit more nitrogen, it's nutrient profile is nearly identical to neem meal. Check anywhere they sell animal feed (there should be plenty where you live). One sack should last you close to a lifetime if you're just doing legal recreational grows. Or you can use up the excess in your garden this spring if you have one. That's what I do with alfalfa pellets from the feed store as well. While it costs pennies a pound, it usually only comes in full-sized feed bags.

I haven't bought a "cannabis-specific" nutrient product since I left hydro - over a decade ago now. I don't buy stuff that has to be shipped from half-way around the world either. Usually those workers in developing countries are exploited while some western company makes off like a bandit marketing it here for a 1,000% markup. It's just not my style. And I'd rather not feel guilt while enjoying the high of my own product. lol

Good on ya - I respect that
I was also interested in neem as an amendment for some pest control as well - any suggestions?

 

[Northwood]

I was also interested in neem as an amendment for some pest control as well - any suggestions?

Although DDT is banned for the purpose, you can still get it from certain sources if producing a sterile grow clean of arthropods is your goal. Just kidding of course, but you're doing no-till right? I don't think neem meal (byproduct) has much anti-pest control left in it. It's a high nitrogen source amendment.

In no-till, I think it's better if you don't worry about a sterile grow. That way, you can just relax and let the plants and soil life sort it all out. No-till is a new way of "not thinking" for your plants, and just having trust that they can summon the resources that they need when they feel like it. But that's the way it works in nature too anyway.

It's one more thing you don't have to worry about. There is no "flower amendment" in no-till growing. Anything you damn add to the pot in your grow isn't going to benefit anything but the next grow anyway. But folks need to care about their next grow, and I'm thinking about my next right now too! Lol

 

[NightSpider]

@Northwood

I have decided that I will not reuse the soil in my current pots when I switch that tent to a bed, which I am using in my new tent.

While the buds of the Green Cracks which do not have leaf issues are getting thick, the buds on the taller plants (Gelatos) which have the purpling problem are still tiny and these genetics are supposed to finish max 1 week apart. That makes me think that whatever the deficiency is, it will affect the yield DRASTICALLY.

I think I am at the point I haVe to use at least some chem fertilizers.

What should I apply to the yellow/purple plants and how much do you reckon?

 

[lakesidegrower]

Although DDT is banned for the purpose, you can still get it from certain sources if producing a sterile grow clean of arthropods is your goal. Just kidding of course, but you're doing no-till right? I don't think neem meal (byproduct) has much anti-pest control left in it. It's a high nitrogen source amendment.

In no-till, I think it's better if you don't worry about a sterile grow. That way, you can just relax and let the plants and soil life sort it all out. No-till is a new way of "not thinking" for your plants, and just having trust that they can summon the resources that they need when they feel like it. But that's the way it works in nature too anyway.

It's one more thing you don't have to worry about. There is no "flower amendment" in no-till growing. Anything you damn add to the pot in your grow isn't going to benefit anything but the next grow anyway. But folks need to care about their next grow, and I'm thinking about my next right now too! Lol

Definitely no-till style - not going to be fussy about keeping a sterile environment, but as clean as possible outside of the pots lol
I did purchase the Gaia flower boost and was planning to top dress early into flower, I'd heard good things about how it performed

 

[Northwood]

I think I am at the point I haVe to use at least some chem fertilizers.

What should I apply to the yellow/purple plants and how much do you reckon?

It's an impossible question to answer considering so many factors can contribute to yellow/purple plants and stunted growth. The lack of information makes it a complete guess. Heck maybe you have too much of something and it's "lockout". If you were feed/water to waste in coco or pro-mix hp, it would be an easy fix.

But if it's a disposable grow, you could just throw the dice and feed one application with half the recommended hydro nutrient dose. Then watch what happens. Just realize that in organic soil, you can't instantly "reset" like in hydro if you do anything wrong, particularly considering your drainage issues.

 

[NightSpider]

It's an impossible question to answer considering so many factors can contribute to yellow/purple plants and stunted growth. The lack of information makes it a complete guess. Heck maybe you have too much of something and it's "lockout". If you were feed/water to waste in coco or pro-mix hp, it would be an easy fix.

But if it's a disposable grow, you could just throw the dice and feed one application with half the recommended hydro nutrient dose. Then watch what happens. Just realize that in organic soil, you can't instantly "reset" like in hydro if you do anything wrong, particularly considering your drainage issues.

I believe I have adequate perlite, heck on top of it even some coco in there. What could have caused drainage issues if that turns out to be a part of this problem?

 

[Northwood]

I believe I have adequate perlite, heck on top of it even some coco in there. What could have caused drainage issues if that turns out to be a part of this problem?

Oops, I'm sorry. I thought you were having drainage issues in your current soil. If not and they drain well, then flush the shit out of them and give them about half of the manufacturer's recommended dose and watch for issues. Oh, and don't forget to give your plants lots of plain water to runoff a couple hours before watering with the nute solution. That will prevent any "hot spots".

 

[NightSpider]

Well when I water slowly, the water does not come out from the sides. Only when I water fast, the water does not penetrate the surface of pot fast enough. How can I tell if I have "drainage issues"? Is it deduced by for example, lets say I am kind of experienced, therefore know the amount of water a pot should hold. Let us say 5 gal. Do I deduce I have drainage issues when I put in 7 and have no runoff, meaning that even though there is more water in the pot than it normally should hold, the ability of the water to get out is lower and the equilibrium happens at too high of a humidity?

Oops, I'm sorry. I thought you were having drainage issues in your current soil. If not and they drain well, then flush the shit out of them and give them about half of the manufacturer's recommended dose and watch for issues. Oh, and don't forget to give your plants lots of plain water to runoff a couple hours before watering with the nute solution. That will prevent any "hot spots".

Also, all I have used to this day are the "organic" bottled General Organics nutes.

I got access to these brands. What is the product description I am looking for, flower ec fertiliser? The product explanations all seem vague and complicated.

 

[NightSpider]

I think I have aphids in one of my pots.
The other pots dont have them and they do not seem to be on the plant but shittons of them are roaming on the soil surface, munching on stuff, mostly the remains of the alfalfa pellets. Other than the occasional little flying things I see in the tent, this is the first time I am encountering any types of critter in/on the pots. What should I do?

 

[NightSpider]

Do I buy ladybug larvae, or should I sprinkle some of that neem meal I had bought before yet havent used since you let me know that it will harm insects in soil and would not be beneficial since it contains the neem chemicals that the ones used as amendments usually don't?
@Northwood

 

[lakesidegrower]

I think I have aphids in one of my pots.
The other pots dont have them and they do not seem to be on the plant but shittons of them are roaming on the soil surface, munching on stuff, mostly the remains of the alfalfa pellets. Other than the occasional little flying things I see in the tent, this is the first time I am encountering any types of critter in/on the pots. What should I do?

they look like spider mites to me - I'd consider doing a foliar spray with neem, hit the soil as well and tops and undersides of the leaves
i'm fairly new to organics, but this would be my suggestion
I've also read that rosemary can be effective against spider mites (10% rosemary oil to 90% water)