murdergrow
Active Member
i refer to them as 'true organic' vs 'soup style organic' or 'organics in a can'. i do like what the rev has to say most of the time, but i dont always agree with him so i dropped the 'living' when talking about my methods
If "Organic" Includes Bottled Ferts, What Is Plain 'Ol Soil Called?
- Thread starter Rrog
- Start date
PeaceLoveCannabis
Well-Known Member
Crab Pot : I am not worm scientist, but i think peat moss will break down into humic acid so if you use it as a bedding for your worms it will be in there.
Fulvic acid I am not sure.
Fulvic acid I am not sure.
Rrog
Well-Known Member
Crab Pot- The compost the worms are making will be full of Fulvic and Humic Acids. And the soil can reach a humus saturation point, as observed by Gascanastan. And since I'm adding VermiCompost as a regular amendment, I personally (just my opinion) don't add them.
Having said that, I understand that these acids can be from pure sources and great stuff.
Having said that, I understand that these acids can be from pure sources and great stuff.
Crab Pot
Well-Known Member
st0wandgrow, why water 3x week at all at stages of the plants life?
I just finished my first grow where I flowered in 7 gallon smarties. I watered until I got a small amount of runoff and let the pots dry out pretty well before watering again. After transplanting into those pots (1 month veg), I started out at 8 days between waterings and the girls finished at 2 days between waterings.
I'm concerned that I'm drying out the medium too much... stressing/killing the microbes...
I just finished my first grow where I flowered in 7 gallon smarties. I watered until I got a small amount of runoff and let the pots dry out pretty well before watering again. After transplanting into those pots (1 month veg), I started out at 8 days between waterings and the girls finished at 2 days between waterings.
I'm concerned that I'm drying out the medium too much... stressing/killing the microbes...
st0wandgrow
Well-Known Member
I try to keep the soil moist (not drenched) at all times. I have found that 3x per week gets this done. When they are smaller they may only get 1/3 to 1/2 a gallon per watering, and as they mature they get a full gallon+ per watering.
I'm no expert, but it is my understanding that the microbes do their thing best in a consistently moist soil.
Rrog
Well-Known Member
I like the Blumats as they keep the core continuously moist, with maybe a 2" crust all around. I grow in Geopots. When I measure the moisture level I'm targeting (around 5kPa) there's no runoff. Just prior to runoff is more like it. That's optimal. I have the blumats, and then I have actual Tensiometers that are hyper-accurate with a meter telling me what's happening down there. I use the MLT
I have a tray under the Geopots for circulation:
The bottom is 3/4" ply with these low profile 1" castors. 1" ball bearing running on little ball bearings. So cool and so low. So cheap!.
I have a tray under the Geopots for circulation:
The bottom is 3/4" ply with these low profile 1" castors. 1" ball bearing running on little ball bearings. So cool and so low. So cheap!.
Dgringo69
Well-Known Member
What size pots are you using?
st0wandgrow
Well-Known Member
5 gallon....
PeaceLoveCannabis
Well-Known Member
I also keep my pots at a pretty consistent moisture level. The microbes need water to survive, I have not seen any ill effects like over watering etc. If anything they like it, I never let the pots dry much. Execept for maybe the top of the soil.
Rrog
Well-Known Member
In a really well airated soil medium, it is hard to hurt the plant. The runoff will happen quickly. This is especially true with fabric pots. I highly, highly recommend them.
Regarding aeration amendments, I will again say that small chunks of char 1/4" = 3/8". Small. Then pumice, mostly 3/8" - 3/4". Then lava rock up to 1 1/4" It really feel right and seems to work very well.
Regarding aeration amendments, I will again say that small chunks of char 1/4" = 3/8". Small. Then pumice, mostly 3/8" - 3/4". Then lava rock up to 1 1/4" It really feel right and seems to work very well.
PeaceLoveCannabis
Well-Known Member
I also use fabric pots, and they work well. You don't get better air penetration then you do with the fabric pots. I can't imagine a plastic pot being nearly as good, and the price of geo-pots have really fallen in my area. 15 gallon where only 10 or so bucks i think.
PeaceLoveCannabis
Well-Known Member
Everything in soil that's alive needs oxygen to survive, including the roots. By using these pots you have if anything an abundance of air into the soil, which is great! Plastic suffocates them in my opinion, and if its hot so are the roots they probably cant get any/much fresh air in plastic pots.
PeaceLoveCannabis
Well-Known Member
My "geo-pots" don't have handles. But they are thicker then some of the other fabric pots you might find. Which is nice for me I like products that last. The main differences I would have to say are handles and the thickness / overall fabric quality.
SeniorFrostyKush
Active Member
Would you say that the Geopots are better quality than smartpots? Im going to be converting to ROLS as soon as I get a wormfarm and compost bin setup and ready to roll, but it might be a few more harvests before that happens. I love the whole velcro for transplanting idea. Thats pretty much why I've always used plastic, I figured it would be impossible to transplant out of smartpots.
Crab Pot
Well-Known Member
It's actually rather easy to transplant out of smarties. Grap the fabric at the top, roll it over, pull down and transplant. Works well and easy on the roots. I think I paid about 7 bucks a piece. I'm curious about the velcro on the geos... is the velcro on there to hold the bottom of the pot in place? Made in USA talks to me...