Soil and Nutrients - What would be the best?

Hey RIU guys!
I'm going to be starting my next grow soon. I am getting some paradise white berry seeds. I am still not sure what soil/nutrients are the best and where to purchase them.

I am looking for something not too expensive. I am thinking that Fox Farm Ocean Forest Potting Soil will be the best medium for them. I have no idea where to purchase it for a good price and would like some links if available.

I would also like to purchase some advanced nutrients along with my soil. I am not sure what is best or what the difference between most of them are. Like stated earlier, I want something cheap and effective! I like the Fox Farm stuff. I am thinking that I will need Grow Big for veg and Big Bloom for flowering. Would I need tiger bloom as well? It almost seems like I could get on without one of the 3 products they have.

I have also looked into the Biobizz products. For biobizz, I would assume I would need one biobizz grow for veg and biobizz bloom for flowering.

I do not know what you guys think is the best product and would like to know, so I can make the best possible purchase. Links for cheap sites that have soil/nutrients are greatly appreciated!

I will probably be growing two plants under a 150w HPS with supplemental fluoros and CFL's. I am looking to get about 3 ounces when I am done. They will be grown in 3 gallon pots. Since this is a small grow and may be one of my last for a while I will not need large amounts of soil and nutrients. As far as I can figure out, prices for two bottles of nutrients will be around $40 and soil will be $20.

Please help me out guys so I know what/where to purchase in the near future. I will have a grow journal for these that will be updated daily.

Keep it Real

Are the seeds that you are getting Feminized? If not, I would go with that, considering that you are only growing 2 plants, would be real frustrating to waste all your time/money on some males.

I use the website planet natural for my gardening stuff, if my local gardening store doesn't have it (but they usually do). Here is a link for FF Ocean Forest http://www.planetnatural.com/site/ocean-forest.html

Also, about the nutes. FF is an okay nute program, if you don't mind it not being completely organic. Big Bloom is the only one of their "3 part" line that is 100% organic, and they will certainly not get you by on flowering. You will need to get all 3, or at the least Grow Big & Tiger Bloom. The NPK on BB is way too low to use by itself on any part of the grow. It is ment just as an additive to get microbeasties working (I guess they think that synthetic chemicals and living organisms play well together...)

I, along with just about everyone else on this forum, would probably agree that your best bet for nutes would be to go with BMO's line. Go to ebay and just type in "BMO" and it will come up. Much cheaper, and the stuff does real wonders. Get the Grow It Green, Flower Power, and Super Plant Tonic. Works wonders and you should be set with nutes for your grow.

Wow! I never heard of BMO until this. I can get the tri pack and shipping for $30 and the soil for $20. I feel like that is a cheap organic grow setup that will definitely get me by. So I assume you've grown with these products and they work wonders?

The seeds I ordered are feminized so no worries on having females. I think this will be an interesting grow because the site says it only takes 50 days to flower. As far as I know, that is super quick and since I'm going to let it go for at least 60-70 days I'm sure my yield will be sufficient.

I'm getting more and more excited to begin this grow!!

Yeah, White Berry is a pretty pure indica from the white strains, so that's a pretty quick flowering time, which is good for indoor grows. They stay squat, bushy, and produce a shit load of kind bud.

BMO is really potent, good stuff, and you can't beat the price, especially for all organic.

I looked at the link to your last grow in your signature, and those plants were really stretched! Once they start to sprout through the soil, make sure that you have a CFL about 2 inches away from it at all times. As it gets to start to form it's first set of real "serated" leaves, get a Y splitter and put 2 CFL's above it about 2 inches from it and make sure it is always that close. Also with a 150W HPS light for 2 plants, I would keep them very short, and start flowering pretty early. Around 2 feet or a little more, if possible, because that isn't going to penetrate deep.

Besides that, sounds good. Can't wait to see the journal.

if you go with F&F OF as your choice don't start in that soil as it is packed with nutes and you will run into problems right off the bat. if I may suggest, start off in some small pots, cups,etc.. with happy frog is more ideal imop for the first stage then when your ready to transplant them to bigger pots switch over to 3/4 OF and 1/4 happy frog mixed in with a touch of perlite

BMO puts out some great stuff. I have used their SPT for 2 grows now and also some of the wifes household plants. Nothing but outstanding results. I will do their grow and flower line as soon as I finish up with the nutes I have from Advanced Nutrients. Here is a good site to get stuff from.

Using an organic soil with chemical fertilizers is counter productive. And it indicates that you have no idea what a microherd is...

This is a fundamental mistake that you and others need to take note of.


Chemical Fertilizers will KILL your organic miroherd.

Thus creating a DEAD sterile soil that contains organic amendments Locked in an unusable form.


Simply: Organic and Chemical don't mix !

Well Xare you are telling me that I'm being counter productive? Instead of telling me all this crap about chem ferts and organic why don't you give me a solution! IDK what this microherd crap is, but if there is a better soil or nute to use let me know.

MJ Crescendo said:

Well Xare you are telling me that I'm being counter productive? Instead of telling me all this crap about chem ferts and organic why don't you give me a solution! IDK what this microherd crap is, but if there is a better soil or nute to use let me know.

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Hehe, the world of microbiology may seem "out of this world" but iam not talking about the inhabitants of the moon around zeta 9 in delta quadrant

They are small micro organisms that live here on earth, in the earth ! Right in your soil. And they are responsible for feeding your lovely maryjane.

See the Microherd breaks down the organic amendments in your soil. They change it into a form which the plants can uptake. Into N, P and K

Notice the NPK is the same as your chemical fertz.

Thats because chemical fertz are already in a form which the plants can uptake and do not use a microherd. In fact the salts from a chemical nute regiment would kill the microherd if one was present. But if the soil has no organic amendments in it it dont matter.

See you would not put stuff like bonemeal or bloodmeal, kelpmeal , ect in a soil for a chemical grow because it is a waste... Because if you kill the microherd what is the point of having amendments ? Or Vice versa if you have no amendments what is the point of haveing a living microherd !!!

Well it will not be living for long if you put chemicals on it.


You starting to get it ?


Also the soloution of a non chemicial nute was already put forth. The BMO

You just need to understand now that BMO is orgainic and cannot be used in conjunction with any chemical nutes if you want to have a thriving organic microherd.

Also your Fox Farm soil that is organic has Organic Ammendments. So if you just gave it water you would have a thriving microherd. But if you put some Chemical Bloom Booster or something else in there well you are breaking a fundamental rule.....

What's Up MJ!? I think what Xare is trying to say is something like:

3 parts Pro-mix
1 part perlite(chunky)
1 part worm castings
1/2 cup dolomite lime
1/3 cup peruvian seabird guano
1/4 epson salt

Mix it all up and soak for a day or two, prior to planting. Don't oversaturate. Water with plain water the first 2 or 3 waterings. If you use tap water, sit it out in a open container at least 24 hours prior to watering, so the chlorine can evaporate. Better yet, buy water from the grocery store. I get 5 gallons from the machine out front for $0.35/gallon. It's carbon filtered and reverse osmosis so no need to be concerned with ph as much! The 5 gallon bottle costs me $6 from Wally World. Then after first few plain water feedings, water with compost teas and diluted liquid seaweed for the entire grow. Begin your flushing period the last 2 or 3 weeks of flowering by diluting the teas until you're using plain water the last week. Also, you will need to add some additional phosphorous starting the 3rd week of flowering......perhaps bat guano.

If you want organic and AT LEAST the yield you're asking, then do it right and make it worth your while. You get what you give!! Don't let those plants get more than 12 inches before you flower if you want the 2 - 2 1/2 foot height. Better yet, between 8 -10 inches!! If you let it go as long as you say, you will have some SERIOUS couchlock White Berry (if it's actually done at 50 days and you go 10-15 more).

I'll be watching, no matter what you decide. I'm still cheering for you!!

I am 100% committed to pure organics now and I am just going to throw away all these chemical fertilizers I bought. So does anybody have any recommendations on some really good organic nutes. I am pretty convinced on this bmo stuff but If there is anything better out there please let me know!

BMO, kid. It's the "best", for the time being.

I would have to say search and read. There is so much information here not sure why people always post the same questions and don't bother searching and reading a little.

Here's some companies that sell organic products:

Advanced Nutrients
FoxFarm
Bio Nova
Technaflora
BioBizz
Botanicare

Depends on what your looking to use them for. Do some searching and you'll find what you want. Peace!

Someone told me to read up on Age Old organics. Can grow it indoor or out. 2 forms of nutes throughout the whole grow..

Xare said:

Also your Fox Farm soil that is organic has Organic Ammendments. So if you just gave it water you would have a thriving microherd. But if you put some Chemical Bloom Booster or something else in there well you are breaking a fundamental rule.....

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Ok, I fully understand you this time. I will not be messing with any chemicals on this grow. I am about 75% sure that I will go with FF OF soil and BMO nutes. This is all organic. I will not break my fundamental rule and hopefully my microherds will do wonderful!

I am going to start them off in some plain soil and perlite in dixie cups. Once they have taken off a little bit I will transfer them to 3 gallon pots with FF OF soil.

I am looking forward to this organic grow!

Flo Grow said:

What's Up MJ!? I think what Xare is trying to say is something like:

If you want organic and AT LEAST the yield you're asking, then do it right and make it worth your while. You get what you give!! Don't let those plants get more than 12 inches before you flower if you want the 2 - 2 1/2 foot height. Better yet, between 8 -10 inches!! If you let it go as long as you say, you will have some SERIOUS couchlock White Berry (if it's actually done at 50 days and you go 10-15 more).

I'll be watching, no matter what you decide. I'm still cheering for you!!

Click to expand...

I feel ya on this. I'll be stickin to organics this time. I will prob begin flowering around 9-12 inches, but will have pictures up in my grow journal to have my viewers better help me decide when to switch over.

I've read a few post by FDD and basically have made the decision to really let my grow ripen as much as possible. I want this stuff to be potent! It is claimed to be up to 18% THC and hopefully with the organics and all I will be able to get some strong stuff. I dont like being locked to the couch, but I do enjoy giving my friends 1 hit and them being like, "holy shit! what is this stuff" I am hopin to do the whole grow in about 85 days max.

All I know is I want my yield to make it to 4/20

If I start around the 1/15/09 I should be able to have this stuff properly cured around April. If I get an ounce + I may even try to water cure it. It seems like the new big thing and is quite easy.

You go... good luck. You're doing the research that I didn't do when I started, so you're clearly smarter than I am.

If you want to save some time, check out the Foxfarm site -- they have a searchable map. There may be a dealer near you and, if so, they're the same kind of folks that may have BMO and other goodies in stock.

I'm old school (and just old..) -- I hate waiting for shipping.

Kriegs, I don't know how good of an idea it is to put your address in the "location" feild. haha