Miracle Grow or Fox Farms or ?

Gilligans Island

Well-Known Member
Have always used Miracle Grow indoors and out with what I would call very good results. Currently have a cycle at 6 weeks on Miracle Grow and a second cycle at 1 week is half Miracle Grow and half Fox Farms Ocean Forest. Thought I would do a comparison to see if the grass might be greener on the other side of the fence with Fox Farms. New grow room, Bridgelux Led's, Meanwell drivers with first round being bag seed and second round is Sour Diesel and half ummmmm MGB but I forget exactly what that stands for at the moment. Stoned.

Most I see are not a fan of Miracle Grow, why? Me they grow like shit on MG and have big buds with only fertilizing a couple times during bloom. And then I use MG fertilizer at half strength. I am here to learn what are your thoughts. I am excited to see how the FF is going to compare. I plan on using the Roots Organics Buddha Bloom for the Fox Farms soil. Your thoughts on this?
 

natureboygrower

Well-Known Member
I would not use miracle grow on my vegetables nor my cannabis.it's a synthetic fertilizer that has metals(they all do including organics, some less than others).I have a friend who grew up in a homesteading family in the 70's and 80's.his grandfather loved synthetics in his later years because it was easier. My friend's father absolutely hated them and went back to the old ways.taste was way better.manure and seaweed raked into the garden beds every fall and spring. Funny how things swing around.
 

mustbetribbin

Well-Known Member
The only way I'd use miracle grow is after it is sat outdoors in a compost pile to biodegrade for 1 year or so to break down, those slow release fertilizers they put in Every bag they sell, it will STUNT a plants growth more than anything else, those ferts block nutrient absorbsion and delay mycorrhizal web growth in your soil.

I'm a believer in real dirt, with natural organic materials mixed in, I'd recommend DIY super soils and the like.

Just be sure with super soils, to make sure you layer your soil so that the more nutrient dense soil mix is down deep in the container, with a medium rich mid layer, and a more soiless mild soil base on the top layer so that your plants have time to adjust, and as the plant grows it slowly reaches the deeper layers of nutrients without getting burned roots.

Cheers.
 

the rock

Well-Known Member
Ive used every type of dirt imaginable over the last 35 years including miracle grow and found it to be as good as any store bought dirt.Had same results as with FF,roots,flower power and so on.All great results,this aint rocket science although I get my dirt now from a private source by the yard.
 

Gilligans Island

Well-Known Member
I have not seen any nutrient lock out with miracle grow but I sure would not say it does not happen. Possibly happening and I don't know it? Current plants on MG are stupid healthy and growing like shit at 6 weeks. I've topped twice in first 4 weeks as my ceiling is only 69" so trying to keep them short-ish. So if I would flip them at 16" would I expect 48" when done? I know, strain dependent at lots of factors but on average would 16" go to 48" in bloom with indica strains?

I also like organic but have had such good luck with MG and it's readily available. Fox Farms is now local so we will see how that goes. Not in to ordering dirt off the web. Things on the island still not so friendly although the steam roller is coming and there is now no stopping it. Even Canada now gets it. It's funny how taxation can make anything acceptable to the masses.
 

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
My neighbor did not know any better and bought Miracle Grow soil. He grew damned good weed and no problems. He watched the plant and didn't throw nutes at it until it showed. Well into flower.
 

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
I grew guerilla in the southwest a long time ago. I carried a lot of the turquoise waters and grew good stuff with it. Switched to azalea flower food for flower. Works perfect. Now people say nuts to that.
 

mustbetribbin

Well-Known Member
I have not seen any nutrient lock out with miracle grow but I sure would not say it does not happen. Possibly happening and I don't know it? Current plants on MG are stupid healthy and growing like shit at 6 weeks. I've topped twice in first 4 weeks as my ceiling is only 69" so trying to keep them short-ish. So if I would flip them at 16" would I expect 48" when done? I know, strain dependent at lots of factors but on average would 16" go to 48" in bloom with indica strains?

I also like organic but have had such good luck with MG and it's readily available. Fox Farms is now local so we will see how that goes. Not in to ordering dirt off the web. Things on the island still not so friendly although the steam roller is coming and there is now no stopping it. Even Canada now gets it. It's funny how taxation can make anything acceptable to the masses.
Yes that sounds like you've got your measurements pretty close as far as the stretch goes, should be ok with the indica at that ceiling height ect.

In regards to the miracle grow, I've used it in the past, but I noticed that I don't get as massive growth from the miracle grow dirt as opposed to the composted soil mixes that I make myself and with other organic mixes that can be added ( every time I ever used mixes with extended release fertilizers in them, the plants seemed like they were triggered to maintain a certain growth size, instead of bursting forth with sizeable growth that I usually would see otherwise, like they were predestined to reach a certain height and size limitation).

I typically just use some basic metro-mix from Sun gro for just the basic soil amendments a few bags they offer comes with, I've used several with good results. But I'm sure there is better out there than the metro mix, but as far as price goes it is moderately priced and very clean stuff usually.

I'm more of a fan of adding fertilizers and nutrients on my own time after I notice a growth spurt in the plant and when I sense that the plant needs it, after it reaches certain age and height, mid way through flower ect, even then I only go about quarter to half the recommended dosage listed on the bottle typically. <-- if your soil is rich enough it does take much to give the soil the charge that it needs.

Good luck and I'm sure the miracle gro does ok, I didn't mean to talk it down, but like I said my personal preference is that wouldn't use it unless it's been allowed to break down/ naturalize a bit first. Cheers.
 

neved

Well-Known Member
My work after 8 yrs using all nutrients for indoor and outdoor
You have to figure out what nutrients you have more luck .
For me mixing
 

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freemancat

Well-Known Member
Can't speak for Miracle Grow other than its poor reputation for growing quality herbs. I've used Fox Farms and recently Pro-Mix as an alternative to those two.. I feel I have more control with Pro-Mix to supplement with what I am feeling but both great mediums.
 

Gilligans Island

Well-Known Member
Well 3.5 weeks and time to transplant round two from 12 oz. cups into 3 gal. pots. First round (bag seed) was put into 2 gallon pots and were root bound before flipping. Growth slowed down at week 6 or so. Healthy just not growing an inch a day as they did after transplanting. No fertilizers. All in Miracle Grow.

This round is half Fox Farms Ocean Forest and half Miracle Grow as a comparison. 3 of each with Gods Bud and 3 of each with Sour Diesel of some sort. The MG cups haves half again the root growth around outside compared to FF. No fertilizers given to either. Plant size however is about the same, MG maybe... a little more vigorous but not much. Not what you might think it would be when looking at the difference in root mass. No signs of soil (hot) issue's to date with either. Sprouted seeds went directly into mediums. Growth with both is good/great.
MG has twice the water absorption, FF runs right through. Puts both on different watering schedules. PAIN in the ass. Do not plan on fertilizing anything in Veg. unless the FF asks for it. MG last round needed nothing in Veg. and I spect it will be some time if at all in bloom before it requires anything.

Starting up the next round Sunday would like to do another comparison with the same seed strains. Would like your suggestions on what two types of medium (soil based) I should try to get better results. I would rather not fertilize as I go but would not be against it as a comparison to the slow release products I am currently using. We got us a big chain outfit on the island now so dirt options are now much better than they were a year ago or so.
Your thoughts?
 

Gilligans Island

Well-Known Member
Since I have FFOF and MG in bulk I think I will mix the two and that will eliminate my staggered watering issue this time around. Why mix, well while I see no ill effects to speak of with either I can see the MG is hotter than I would like, and hotter than the FFOF. So we will try 50/50. This will make some roll their eyes I'm sure.
 
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