Good day all! I had mentioned a few hundred posts back I was trying a new soil mix in pursuit of two things: Overcome the yield limitations of Autos and design a mix for friends that would allow them to grow Autos outside, all from products found at the local big box. So far it has been very promising. Here is what I did:
Soil mix for a 3 gallon pot:
- 2-1/2 gallons 3B Pro mix (80% sphagnum, 10% pine bark, w/vermiculite and perlite, no slow release ferts)
- 1/4 gallon worm castings
- 2 tablespoons Espoma Biotone Plus Starter Mix
- 1/2 cup bone meal (0-5-0)
Mix thoroughly, place in 3 gallon pot, add 1/4 gallon (1 qt) water, let sit for 5+days out of the sun in a cool spot to let the micro-organisms do their thing.
I use 1/2 quart pots to start my seeds directly in the soil (use just the 3B mix). After two weeks from seed, transplant to the pot you have readied: dig out transplant hole, sprinkle 1/2 tablespoon Espoma into sides/bottom of hole, pop in your baby, water in soil as normal (I use 1 gallon water).
Watering/Fertilizer Regimen:
The best water you can use is rain water collected in buckets under your drain spouts (ph6-6.5), or if this is not an option, fill a 5 gallon bucket with tap water, ph adjust to 6.5 (I use 2 tbs fresh squeezed lime juice), and let it sit out for a few days, especially if there is chlorine. I use 2 gallons of water per plant.
No added ferts until 25 days from seed, give or take depending upon visual clues.
Per gallon at every watering (day 25+):
- 1 tbs per gallon Fish Emulsion (5-1-1)
- 3 droppers-full per gallon Schultz (shudder) Liquid Plant Food Plus (10-15-10) (or 2/3 bottle recommended dose per watering)
Per gallon at every watering (day 40+):
- 4 droppers-full Schultz (10-15-10) (full dosage on bottle)
Per gallon at every watering (day 50+):
- 2 droppers-full Schultz (10-15-10)
Per gallon at every watering (Day 65+):
- Cease all nutes, use clean water for last two weeks. Harvest around day 80 (outside only).
Growing patterns:
Two weeks, at transplant, 4 inches tall, 3 leaf sets. Vigorous growth.
Three weeks, 6 inches tall, 5 leaf sets. Sexed day 20. Slow down after transplant as roots grow.
Four weeks, 15 inches tall, side branches developing. Started shooting up during this week.
Five weeks, 22 inches tall, 6 strong side branches. Stretch, thick trunk, highly vigorous growth.
Explanation:
I have grown half a dozen Auto strains this year and the limiting factor is yield. I noticed that the Paradise Pandora was the most vigorous with a yield of 2-1/2 ounces at a top height of 24" at chop, day 80. I had gone light on the soil amendments and nutes fearing nute sensitivity in Autos, and they suffered for it, but responded well to a full nute regimen from that point on (week 4). So I decided to do a three plant grow, heavy on the nutes, and try to minimize the transplant shock Autos are known for. So, I found the Espoma ferts after researching root stimulation and yield without using butyric acid. The plants are currently at 24" tall at day 42 (September 1 planting), on par to reach 32+ inches at harvest. The side branching is even more prominent than previous grows, and although stretched, the Pandoras will easily fill in every available space, leaning from the weight (the last two weeks of flowering she really packs on the weight, be patient). I use organic neem oil spray once a week from week 2 to week 5, then lightly as needed on new growth to combat white flies and grasshoppers.
I now feel confidant enough to pass this on to friends, with a few Pandora seeds, these instructions, a 3 gallon pot of soil, and happy growing!
See below pics of the girls and the products used (ok, the uploader is just not letting me upload today, will update later)
Peace!
<edit> Added pics. To continue, these girls are already at 24" at 40 days (Sept 1 planting) when the last batch was 16" at 40 days (May 1 planting). Given the results, my assumption is the Espoma is doing what it should with root development, even overcoming the fact that the days are 3 hours shorter. Some of this can be attributed to late season vigour, but promising none the less. I am going to grow my last Pandora indoors using this mix to see how it fares, although the Espoma is very strong smelling and, even worse, when you add fish emulsion it smells like a chicken just shat a dead fish...
