Using Organic Fertilizer with Synthetic.

So I'm currently in the middle(2nd week flowering) of my grow. I've been using Jack's Classic as my main fertilizer, but decided I needed something with a bit more N than the 20-20-20 I was using. I got a free sample from Neptune's Harvest of their Fish Blend and started using that in addition(not at the same time) to my 1-3-2 Jack's Classic Blossom Booster. I don't really plan to put anymore money in this grow if possible so I've been content with using synthetic even after learning the benefits of organic. Next grow I'll be sure to be 100% organic.

My question is will using synthetic fertilizer defeat the purpose of using organic? Someone told me that synthetic ferts will kill the microbes in the soil. Growing in FFOF if it matters. If anyone knows of a good flowering organic fertilizer that's $10 and under that I can get at a brick and mortar store I'll be more than happy to pick it up. I know there's obviously better nutes than what 10 bucks can get. Not trying to be cheap, I just have a budget. Thanks.

Jacks classics are considered quality fertilizers. You won't find much better for less than 10 bucks.

So would using jack's with the fish blend do any harm or is it ok to use both in my watering. Not in the same container, just in the same watering cycle. I usually go Jack's>plain water>fish blend>repeat

In my view it certainly defeats the purpose to use an organic living soil and nutrients along with high NPK synthetics. Anything 20-20-20 will fry the micro-organisms like salt on a snail. You can still use the fish fertilizer and the plant will be able to absorb whatever soluble\available nutrients are in it, but you simply wont get the full potential of it as you would had you never poured synthetic salts onto the soil.

Ocean Forest is a good quality living soil, but the second you pour a synthetic salt based fertilizer like a 20-20-20 on it you seriously compromise the micro-herd. After repeated applications and the salt build up that comes along with it, I don't know what it would take to restore it to its previous living condition. Otherwise a fish fert would stimulate the microbial activity in the soil and the nutrient cycling and added benefits that go along with said microbial activity.

You should be able to find dry organic Espoma -Tone plant foods at virtually any hardware store(for under $10). Flower-Tone would be a good one to use for bloom, try it next time.

Well I only used the 20-20-20 once, and it was at 1/4 strength. I assume 1-3-2 is just as bad? I've been using that at 1/2 strength and have only applied it twice.

There are plenty of bacterium/microorganisms that are known to not only survive but also to solubilize synthetic nutrients for plant production.

The Jacks you are using should cover your nutrition mostly.. it is meant to be a complete fertilizer. I find it hard to believe you'd be having Nitrogen issues with Jacks AND FfOF. If you want the best possible interactions you will want to make sure and get a good proper inoculation on the rootzone whether it is synth or organic. This will let you maximize the feedings of your plants, and even use less P based ferts when you get it correct.

On a side note, it's when you add the salts / chloramine to underdeveloped soil life, that you will kill off the microherd that exists. Never add biologicals to chlorinated water or water that contains synthetic compounds in it. It's best to wait at least a week after inoculating your soil to use any sort of synthetic fert to allow the herd to establish properly.

Actually the next few days after I used the 20-20-20 I started having a slew of problems and that's actually when the N def showed up for the first time. I got rid of it for about 3-4 weeks by adding more N and just noticed it again today. If you check out the last update on my grow hacker what would you suppose is causing it? I have red stems throughout the plant and yellowing. Red stems are not particular to either of the strains or their parents.

As far as my feeding schedule goes how would you amend that?

My guess is a p.h problem, ffof has ph issues, jack's lowers the p.h of the water, Your soil is probably very acidic. also jack's is low in cal/mag although I doubt that is the issue yet.

Well the local stores in my area(wal-mart, home depot, lowes) carry 1-2 ph meters, but they all have terrible reviews. Is there a non-expensive ph meter that you would recommend? Quick searching gave me this, http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Digital-PH-009-Multimeter-Tester/dp/B005DWGR20/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1340989977&sr=8-4&keywords=ph+meter, while kinda cheap will arrive in 2 days and out of the small amount of reviews it has, has only 1 negative.

VICTORYGARDENSHYDRO said:

My guess is a p.h problem, ffof has ph issues, jack's lowers the p.h of the water, Your soil is probably very acidic. also jack's is low in cal/mag although I doubt that is the issue yet.

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Sounds about right.

I have many years experience with Jacks and it is designed to be used with a well limed soil mix. That's why there is so little (if any), cal/mag in it.

I've also used it with organic mixes to correct deficiencys when I didn't add enough of something. *I* never noticed any great harm to the micro herd. It's not the nutes that do so much harm, but the pesticides and fungicides that leach into the soil that really do the damage. But now, internet myth has grown so much some believe just having a container of say Jack's in the grow room is enough to make all the microbes fall over dead. Not so.

Wet

So if I go and buy a ph meter tomorrow(it's 98F here I'm not going outside) and my ph is in the acceptable range then it's cal/mag? What can I use to supplement that? Not sure if it matters, but this is week 8 1/2 in the grow so I'm not sure about the state of the nutrients in the soil.

Acyually, all you need to do is spend ~$5 for a bag of dolomite lime at Lowes or HD, use it and not have to concern yourself with a pH meter of any sort.

My $75 Milwaukee meter hasn't been out of the box in well over 9 months and then it was used to check the pH of a batch of AEM I was brewing. I have not checked run off or the pH of anything liquid going on my plants in close to 2 years.

It really does make growing simple.

Wet

Wouldn't I need to transplant the plants into a pot of soil with the dolomite mixed? I thought transplanting during flowering wasn't a good idea. Unless you're saying I can just put it on top of the soil and water it. So many different answers lol, I would of guessed there would of been somewhat of a consensus.

Lime is best added to the mix before use, but a top dressing will also work. Just a bit slower.

Sprinkle 2tbl/gallon of container size on the surface and regular waterings will take care of the rest.

Wet

Listen to the author of the post above ^ . He knows much

Would miracle grow fertilizer work the same way? There are bacteria that survive even in the presence of chemical fertilzer