Larger scale organic growers opinions and advice.

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shawn80j

Well-Known Member
What's up everyone. Long time reading (5 plus years) first time poster. I've searched and searched this forum the Web and have read countless pages of organic soil/super soil information and still feel my questions are not answered to my satisfaction. Hoping I can pick the brain of you larger scale organic soil growers. By larger scale I'm talking 50 plus plants. And people who have a couple years experience doing so.

A little back ground on me. Im a coco grower running Gh flora line looking to switch to a organic soil where I water only. I've ran soil in the past occasionally here and there through out the years. I alway supplement with some kind of bottled synthetic nute. Im a medical caregiver running 72 plants max at times. Why I need larger scale growers advice and tips.

My questions are pretty simple. I've read from a couple sources I can run straight super soil from rooted clone all the way to harvest in 7 gallon pots with water only. Can I drop a rooted clones in a 7 gallon pot of course ensuring the top layer the clones are put in isn't as hot as the super soil and make it to harvest with water only? I veg till the plants are one and a half to two feet tall before I induce flowering. The plant size is the missing peice of info about making it all the way to harvest. I'm sure this is possible without a problem?
My next question is has anyone grown plants like this and successful reused the soil for another round without issue? I'm hoping this is possible because super soil cost is high compared to bottle nutes at higher number runs. Like to get the most bang for my buck. Thanks guys
 
st0wandgrow

st0wandgrow

Well-Known Member
shawn80j said:
What's up everyone. Long time reading (5 plus years) first time poster. I've searched and searched this forum the Web and have read countless pages of organic soil/super soil information and still feel my questions are not answered to my satisfaction. Hoping I can pick the brain of you larger scale organic soil growers. By larger scale I'm talking 50 plus plants. And people who have a couple years experience doing so.

A little back ground on me. Im a coco grower running Gh flora line looking to switch to a organic soil where I water only. I've ran soil in the past occasionally here and there through out the years. I alway supplement with some kind of bottled synthetic nute. Im a medical caregiver running 72 plants max at times. Why I need larger scale growers advice and tips.

My questions are pretty simple. I've read from a couple sources I can run straight super soil from rooted clone all the way to harvest in 7 gallon pots with water only. Can I drop a rooted clones in a 7 gallon pot of course ensuring the top layer the clones are put in isn't as hot as the super soil and make it to harvest with water only? I veg till the plants are one and a half to two feet tall before I induce flowering. The plant size is the missing peice of info about making it all the way to harvest. I'm sure this is possible without a problem?
My next question is has anyone grown plants like this and successful reused the soil for another round without issue? I'm hoping this is possible because super soil cost is high compared to bottle nutes at higher number runs. Like to get the most bang for my buck. Thanks guys
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I use 7 gallon containers with an amended soil, and I would say that you can absolutely plug rooted clones in there with no worries *provided* that you have cooked the soil for 4+ weeks. Also, subs recipe calls for blood meal which can run hot (water soluble, immediately plant available) so I would be careful with using too much of that. Be sure to leave some room in the containers because you're going to want to top dress some fresh soil mid way through flower, and you will top dress dry amendments/ewc/fresh soil again before you re-use the soil (yes, the soil can be used over and over).

If you're using regular plastic containers then be generous with the aeration portion of your base as the soil will compact over time and starve the roots of oxygen. If you use fabric containers this isn't as crucial, and you might be better served to use more compost/peat in your base.
 
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shawn80j

Well-Known Member
I was hoping I could re use it without adding more amendments. And I can't let it sit to break down due to space. 72, 7 gallon pots of soil would take up more space than I have to offer. Bummer
 
genuity

genuity

Well-Known Member
72 organically grown plants,in 7 gal pots...that sounds like a lot of money.
As long as you are not looking for a certain yield,it will work just fine..

Plus,how much vigorous growth will the plants have,some love to eat..
 
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shawn80j

Well-Known Member
Even in a bulk container I just don't have to room. I need it ready to go right after I mix. I was thinking it could compost/break down in the planter doing the grow and feed the girls well. And continue to the next grow and it will continue to break down and still feed well?
 
st0wandgrow

st0wandgrow

Well-Known Member
shawn80j said:
I was hoping I could re use it without adding more amendments. And I can't let it sit to break down due to space. 72, 7 gallon pots of soil would take up more space than I have to offer. Bummer
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You don't let them sit in the containers. Get a few large rubermaid tubs from Home Depot and let the soil chill in those.

As for re-using the soil I would definitely want to add more amendments after each run. Why are you opposed to that?
 
genuity

genuity

Well-Known Member
shawn80j said:
I was hoping I could re use it without adding more amendments. And I can't let it sit to break down due to space. 72, 7 gallon pots of soil would take up more space than I have to offer. Bummer
Click to expand...
Yeah,as far as production..organic on a large scale is not the best bet..
 
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shawn80j

Well-Known Member
st0wandgrow said:
You don't let them sit in the containers. Get a few large rubermaid tubs from Home Depot and let the soil chill in those.

As for re-using the soil I would definitely want to add more amendments after each run. Why are you opposed to that?
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Cost and space. I'd need 72, 7 gallons plants worth of super soil times 2. One with plants and one baking. Not opposed I wish I had the space than I'd just set up several compost piles and make my own soils getting rid of the cost problem
 
genuity

genuity

Well-Known Member
shawn80j said:
I was hoping g for a minimum of 5 Oz off of each 3 to 4 foot plant
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If just using water
shawn80j said:
Even in a bulk container I just don't have to room. I need it ready to go right after I mix. I was thinking it could compost/break down in the planter doing the grow and feed the girls well. And continue to the next grow and it will continue to break down and still feed well?
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this is just what I do..but you will have to use some sort of feeding.

I use neptunes harvest(fish & seaweed) along with extrem tea.
I'm running 24 organic pots(7)gal....production mode,and it is not the best bang at all...
 
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shawn80j

Well-Known Member
Thinking I'm gonna run about 10 plants set up in super soil 7 gallon pot run them twice with no amendment and see what happens.

And I'm not gonna let the soil cook. Unless anyone has legitimately done this a couple time and it didn't out?
 
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shawn80j

Well-Known Member
genuity said:
If just using water

this is just what I do..but you will have to use some sort of feeding.

I use neptunes harvest(fish & seaweed) along with extrem tea.
I'm running 24 organic pots(7)gal....production mode,and it is not the best bang at all...
Click to expand...
How tall are ur finished plants and what's ur average yeild?
 
st0wandgrow

st0wandgrow

Well-Known Member
shawn80j said:
Thinking I'm gonna run about 10 plants set up in super soil 7 gallon pot run them twice with no amendment and see what happens.

And I'm not gonna let the soil cook. Unless anyone has legitimately done this a couple time and it didn't out?
Click to expand...
Leave out the blood meal then and substitute alfalfa meal. The blood meal will burn your plants
 
foreverflyhi

foreverflyhi

Well-Known Member
Suprised no one mentioned a raised bed? I've seen larger grows with that with amazing results with less hassle and considerably cheaper.

Btw whoever said organic isn't the best for commericial or large scale is misinformed. Common hydro myth that organics don't produce as much, I call bs.
 
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shawn80j

Well-Known Member
foreverflyhi said:
Suprised no one mentioned a raised bed? I've seen larger grows with that with amazing results with less hassle and considerably cheaper.

Btw whoever said organic isn't the best for commericial or large scale is misinformed. Common hydro myth that organics don't produce as much, I call bs.
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Raised beds? How did they have it setup?
 
greasemonkeymann

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
shawn80j said:
Thinking I'm gonna run about 10 plants set up in super soil 7 gallon pot run them twice with no amendment and see what happens.

And I'm not gonna let the soil cook. Unless anyone has legitimately done this a couple time and it didn't out?
Click to expand...
you are gonna be in for trouble if you don't let the soil cook, we don't do it because we LIKE to wait, we do it because it's crucial.
if you don't want to cook, your only organic option is to buy bagged soil.
if you try to make supersoil without cooking you will be sorry. No doubt.
 
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