Advice On Some Bat Guano And Liquid Seaweed Anyone?

GreenMONSTAH

Well-Known Member
Hey how it going everyone, so I went and spent my paycheck ay the hydro store today, wanted to start going the organic route and wasn't to sure what I needed so I kind od just winged it and hoped for the best (there's so many choices idk where to start). First product,



^hope that worked, just wanted to know if this stuff was any good.Second product,


Liquid seaweed.I've heard from a couple people on here this stuff does wonders for the plants wasn't to sure wether or no to grab it so I went ahead and did anyways.Next product,



This stuff caught my eye just by the sheer volume of words they managed to fit on the product, even the cap had a small paragraph on it being as small as it was.And the final product,


So out of all these products is it alright to mix them all together for my nutes or should things like CalMag and the Superthrive only be used when needed? And out of all these products are any of them able to burn a plant with too much added? Not a ridiculous amount but what I'm getting at I it more forgiving then say, the foxfarm nutes I've been using for a while and is there more of a buffer to play around with and figure out what works the best? Sorry for al the question when it comes to this organic stuff I'm a superNOOB but thanks for any help!!
 

NLNo5

Active Member
Maybe just list the product names and we can tell you what we think. I don't recommend you spend too much money without doing your research, there are a lot of b.s. products on the shelf. That said you'll probably do alright with what you got.

Start with researching: endomycorrhizal root inoculant, feed the soil not the plant, read up on organic soil mixes and various recipes used by mj growers.

1. you're going to need good drainage in your soil so consider perlite, vermiculite, silica sand and coco fiber.
3. a good organic base soil is recommended to starters as it's usually already a pretty solid mix. Check out Roots Organic Mix and BioBiz Light both highly recommended.
4. Check out biobiz, BMO, Humbolt Nutrients
5. FoxFarm works but it's not considered "pure" organic.

I just make 24hr bubbler teas using: compost leachate, worm castings, algae meal, fish emulsion and molasses.

If you want to spend your money and keep it simple go for the BMO.
 

hammer6913

Well-Known Member
Maybe just list the product names and we can tell you what we think. I don't recommend you spend too much money without doing your research, there are a lot of b.s. products on the shelf. That said you'll probably do alright with what you got.

Start with researching: endomycorrhizal root inoculant, feed the soil not the plant, read up on organic soil mixes and various recipes used by mj growers.

1. you're going to need good drainage in your soil so consider perlite, vermiculite, silica sand and coco fiber.
3. a good organic base soil is recommended to starters as it's usually already a pretty solid mix. Check out Roots Organic Mix and BioBiz Light both highly recommended.
4. Check out biobiz, BMO, Humbolt Nutrients
5. FoxFarm works but it's not considered "pure" organic.

I just make 24hr bubbler teas using: compost leachate, worm castings, algae meal, fish emulsion and molasses.

If you want to spend your money and keep it simple go for the BMO.


i use peruvian seabird guano and am testing some plants now against flora nova grow and in the veg state the guano is doing better than the fn check out my grow. i just started this so the veg plants arent that big yet but u can see the diff
 

TDM

Active Member
Im using my Bat Guano at 1/4 strength...marijuana is sensitive to nutrients and can burn easily...use with care, most people tend to over do it.
 

Nullis

Moderator
You really shouldn't need Superthrive or CalMag at all. Definitely do not use CalMag+ (plus), it contains EDTA and that is one of the things you want to avoid at all costs. Regular CalMag is good for foliar application, but you really shouldn't need it otherwise.

True organic growing is about establishing a healthy soil food web. Soil is alive; it has bacteria, archae, fungi, protozoa and all kinds of other microscopic organisms whose life processes (among other things) result in the production of plant available nutrients. Plant roots actually exude (release) substances into the soil, such as high energy carbohydrates (sucrose) and amino acids specifically in order to attract microbes to the rhizosphere. Some microbes such as the mycorrhizal fungi play a very intimate role in acquiring nutrients and water for the plant in exchange for carbohydrates while others benefit plants more indirectly by decaying organic matter or fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere or even turning parasites/predators that could do that plant harm into fertilizer. That's the short story; but you need to be aware that soil should be alive and everything you can do to benefit the soil and soil biota will in-turn benefit the plant.

Superthrive doesn't really fit in with this picture. It is actually synthetic growth hormones (naphtyl acetic acid) and vitamins. It might help for getting cuttings to root but I wouldn't use it during any other stage of growth. Liquid Seaweed has plant growth regulators/hormones (cytokines, auxins, gibberellins) and it is organic. I use the Maxicrop Liquid Seaweed throughout the grow, it is also a good source of potassium. Only use what is recommended (a capful/gal for Maxicrop) and don't apply it too frequently.

Instead of CalMag you want to put plenty of powdered dolomite limestone in the soil mix. This will keep the pH stable and supply both calcium and magnesium (dolomite is calcium magnesium carbonate). You can also use regular crushed, pulverized or ground up egg shell (which is calcium carbonate) in addition to the dolomite. I use a coffee grinder on the egg shells to break them down; the finer the particles are the faster they become available, while coarser particles will take longer to act but work longer. It is good to use both finely powdered dolomite/egg shell as well as coarser ground egg shell or pelleted dolomite. Oyster shell is also calcium carbonate.

Guano can be quite potent fertilizer and shouldn't be used on seedlings or very young plants. Depending on the guano it may supply lots of nitrogen and/or phosphorous and trace nutrients. I also use Peruvian Seabird guano (10-10-2) as a general purpose fertilizer and I like it because it is alkaline unlike most other fertilizer which are very acidic. You can mix them with fertigation water, but it is a good idea to use them in tea brewing. I usually brew with Peruvian Seabird guano, bat guano depending on stage of growth, earthworm castings, liquid seaweed, blackstrap molasses and forest humus or Humega. Typically the result is a solution with a perfect pH (between 6 and 6.5).

Humega is a soil conditioner/inoculant/liquid humus from Botanicare, it should be alive with various microbes. You can tell it is good stuff by the foam-over 'reaction' that occurs immediately upon mixing with Earthjuice Catalyst or even molasses. After several hours of brewing with other ingredients the tea starts to foam over ridiculously.
 

GreenMONSTAH

Well-Known Member
You really shouldn't need Superthrive or CalMag at all. Definitely do not use CalMag+ (plus), it contains EDTA and that is one of the things you want to avoid at all costs. Regular CalMag is good for foliar application, but you really shouldn't need it otherwise.

True organic growing is about establishing a healthy soil food web. Soil is alive; it has bacteria, archae, fungi, protozoa and all kinds of other microscopic organisms whose life processes (among other things) result in the production of plant available nutrients. Plant roots actually exude (release) substances into the soil, such as high energy carbohydrates (sucrose) and amino acids specifically in order to attract microbes to the rhizosphere. Some microbes such as the mycorrhizal fungi play a very intimate role in acquiring nutrients and water for the plant in exchange for carbohydrates while others benefit plants more indirectly by decaying organic matter or fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere or even turning parasites/predators that could do that plant harm into fertilizer. That's the short story; but you need to be aware that soil should be alive and everything you can do to benefit the soil and soil biota will in-turn benefit the plant.

Superthrive doesn't really fit in with this picture. It is actually synthetic growth hormones (naphtyl acetic acid) and vitamins. It might help for getting cuttings to root but I wouldn't use it during any other stage of growth. Liquid Seaweed has plant growth regulators/hormones (cytokines, auxins, gibberellins) and it is organic. I use the Maxicrop Liquid Seaweed throughout the grow, it is also a good source of potassium. Only use what is recommended (a capful/gal for Maxicrop) and don't apply it too frequently.

Instead of CalMag you want to put plenty of powdered dolomite limestone in the soil mix. This will keep the pH stable and supply both calcium and magnesium (dolomite is calcium magnesium carbonate). You can also use regular crushed, pulverized or ground up egg shell (which is calcium carbonate) in addition to the dolomite. I use a coffee grinder on the egg shells to break them down; the finer the particles are the faster they become available, while coarser particles will take longer to act but work longer. It is good to use both finely powdered dolomite/egg shell as well as coarser ground egg shell or pelleted dolomite. Oyster shell is also calcium carbonate.

Guano can be quite potent fertilizer and shouldn't be used on seedlings or very young plants. Depending on the guano it may supply lots of nitrogen and/or phosphorous and trace nutrients. I also use Peruvian Seabird guano (10-10-2) as a general purpose fertilizer and I like it because it is alkaline unlike most other fertilizer which are very acidic. You can mix them with fertigation water, but it is a good idea to use them in tea brewing. I usually brew with Peruvian Seabird guano, bat guano depending on stage of growth, earthworm castings, liquid seaweed, blackstrap molasses and forest humus or Humega. Typically the result is a solution with a perfect pH (between 6 and 6.5).

Humega is a soil conditioner/inoculant/liquid humus from Botanicare, it should be alive with various microbes. You can tell it is good stuff by the foam-over 'reaction' that occurs immediately upon mixing with Earthjuice Catalyst or even molasses. After several hours of brewing with other ingredients the tea starts to foam over ridiculously.


Let me first off thank you for helping out ALOT! As it turns out i got the cal mag + buts its alright you live and learn.Also what you said about the roots secreting substances into the soil that attract key microbes helps me understand the whole organic process alot easier.You the man. When i was at the hydro shop i bought a nice big bag of the Roots 707 formula. From what the guy told me it contained a light feeding for the first 2-3 weeks at which point i would want to start using other supplements like the guano.
2011-04-02033430.jpg

Next thing im going to grab will be the Humega liquid humus from Botanicare since you suggest it and seem like you really know what your doing.
 

GreenMONSTAH

Well-Known Member
Maybe just list the product names and we can tell you what we think. I don't recommend you spend too much money without doing your research, there are a lot of b.s. products on the shelf. That said you'll probably do alright with what you got.

Start with researching: endomycorrhizal root inoculant, feed the soil not the plant, read up on organic soil mixes and various recipes used by mj growers.

1. you're going to need good drainage in your soil so consider perlite, vermiculite, silica sand and coco fiber.
3. a good organic base soil is recommended to starters as it's usually already a pretty solid mix. Check out Roots Organic Mix and BioBiz Light both highly recommended.
4. Check out biobiz, BMO, Humbolt Nutrients
5. FoxFarm works but it's not considered "pure" organic.

I just make 24hr bubbler teas using: compost leachate, worm castings, algae meal, fish emulsion and molasses.

If you want to spend your money and keep it simple go for the BMO.

Thanks for the tips NLN im gonna do some research tonight on the endomycorrhizal root inoculantive been seeing this stuff on here for a while but never understood what it was, think its time i learned the ways of the organics. I got some vermiculite and perlite so thats covered. What exactly is a bubbler tea ? and if you dont mind could you let me know what brand name compost leachate, worm castings, algea meal, fish emulsion, and things like that to get? and how much to add to say a gallon of water. Thanks for all your help my dude
 

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
You don't know GUANO !? lmao
Sorry, but I had to say it.

Guano is an excellent source of nutes and healthy bacteria for your plant when growing soil or soilless.
With the right combo (Sunleaves International House of Guano), you can grow with just guano and nothing else.
We get our world supply of guano from 4 main regions/countries.

Peruvian seabird guano = well rounded NPK out of all 4.
Mexican bat guano = known for it's high Nitrogen (perfect for veg)
Jamaican bat guano = low Nitrogen and high Phosphorous (end of veg. and thru bloom)
Indonesian bat guano = high Phosphorous (perfect for bloom)

Sunleaves makes good products that you asked about.
Cal/Mag is a must for those of us DWC growers that use reverse osmosis water in our rez.
The activated carbon filters used also pull out most/all the Ca/Mag out of the water, so we need to replace it.
Read up on macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients too.
NPK, Calcium, Magnesium, etc. are macro-nutes and therefore used more and needed more

I pick the guano I want to use at that time, or blend more than one, and put 1 - 2 tablespoons into a cheese cloth or a simple black stocking (ladies) and put that into a 5gal bucket of water WITH air stones bubbling and some Grandma's Molasses (unsulfured is a MUST).
You need the oxygen to feed the aerobic bacteria (needs oxygen to live), what we want to help feed/protect our plants, otherwise the anaerobic bacteria (oxygen kills them) will colonize and kill all the good "stuff".
I dilute the "tea" according to my current feed schedule.
I never use it full strength.
Hope this helps a little more.

 

HeavilyMedicated

Active Member
ascophyllum seaweed extract is literally the best you can get.

Another thing your wrong about needing to bubble your tea. It wont go anaerobic from not having a blubber...... it's more improper ingredient mixing.
 

GreenMONSTAH

Well-Known Member
You don't know GUANO !? lmao
Sorry, but I had to say it.

Guano is an excellent source of nutes and healthy bacteria for your plant when growing soil or soilless.
With the right combo (Sunleaves International House of Guano), you can grow with just guano and nothing else.
We get our world supply of guano from 4 main regions/countries.

Peruvian seabird guano = well rounded NPK out of all 4.
Mexican bat guano = known for it's high Nitrogen (perfect for veg)
Jamaican bat guano = low Nitrogen and high Phosphorous (end of veg. and thru bloom)
Indonesian bat guano = high Phosphorous (perfect for bloom)

Sunleaves makes good products that you asked about.
Cal/Mag is a must for those of us DWC growers that use reverse osmosis water in our rez.
The activated carbon filters used also pull out most/all the Ca/Mag out of the water, so we need to replace it.
Read up on macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients too.
NPK, Calcium, Magnesium, etc. are macro-nutes and therefore used more and needed more

I pick the guano I want to use at that time, or blend more than one, and put 1 - 2 tablespoons into a cheese cloth or a simple black stocking (ladies) and put that into a 5gal bucket of water WITH air stones bubbling and some Grandma's Molasses (unsulfured is a MUST).
You need the oxygen to feed the aerobic bacteria (needs oxygen to live), what we want to help feed/protect our plants, otherwise the anaerobic bacteria (oxygen kills them) will colonize and kill all the good "stuff".
I dilute the "tea" according to my current feed schedule.
I never use it full strength.
Hope this helps a little more.


Wordddd good looks FloGrow I almost bout the four pack that had a bag of each, kind of like a sampler pack but I went with the other two bags of guano, one for veg and one for flower just to keep it simple.Ive also been looking into the DWC too and plan on making one in the very near future once i learn some more about all the needed ingredients, one step at a time.Thanks for the help i think im gonna go check out some of those grows on your tag now lol
 

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
You should get some good grows and flavors with the use of good organics.
DWC is even simpler, in terms of feeding.
All you need is a 2 or 3 part nute line with an additive or 2.
No beneficial bacteria or fungi to be concerned about.
Good grow vibes sent your way !!
 

Nullis

Moderator
ascophyllum seaweed extract is literally the best you can get.

Another thing your wrong about needing to bubble your tea. It wont go anaerobic from not having a blubber...... it's more improper ingredient mixing.
WTH are you talking about not needing to bubble tea? I know some people do ACT as opposed to Actively aerated compost tea, where they'll just shake up the ingredients periodically; but the fact remains that aerobic bacteria NEED OXYGEN in order to survive and proliferate. Oxygen simply doesn't dissolve very well in water (less so the warmer it becomes) and aerobic bacteria will quickly deplete whatever oxygen is available in stagnant water... then there are the anaerobes which just don't need oxygen to survive (or prefer an oxygen-free environment) and guess what anaerobes are good for? Shit. Well, most of them, anyways.

But seriously, let your actively aerated compost tea (or any stagnant water with organic fertilizer/matter) sit around without an airstone for a couple days or so and guess what it is going to smell like? Shit. And you really don't want to apply anything that smells like sewage to your plants' soil or foliage.

For good measure I'll go ahead and agree-ish with you anyways, though. Perhaps you don't really need to aerate with an air-stone if you can remember to shake-up enough, but with a cheap aquarium air pump and 50 cent stone you really can't go wrong.
 
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