If you don't feel like reading, just read the bold text (shortened version)
I usually read as much as I can before posting, and I did, but I still need some help, so here it is:
This year I decided to give organics a try, but first, a little history--
In the past when I've grown outdoors, I used a mix of lets say 40% peat moss, 40% perlite. and another 20% compost/manure/worm casting and of course some lime. I never added any amendments like blood meal, bone meal, fish emulsions, ect. -- So for feeding I would mix liquid nutrients and feed with my waterings.
I liked this method because I could see exactly what NPK I was feeding with at any time (usually 3-1-2 ish during veg, 2-8-4 ish during bloom, and a mix of the for early bloom). Basically I felt in control with this method because I could diagnose the plants and give them what they needed as I saw them react, I could feed them the exact NPK ratios that I wanted.
With organics, I feel a bit out of control. I know its not the case, but here are my concerns. I'd like to stick with my same basic soil mix (4 parts peat moss, 4 parts perlite, 2 parts compost/castings/poop) but I want to try adding amendments such as blood meal/ bone meal/ guano/ etc. ---- So I guess my question is...
If I add equal parts (lets say 1/2 cup per cubic foot of mix) of blood meal (12-0-0), bone meal (6-12-0), and kelp meal (1-0-2) to my soil(soiless actually) mix then the NPK in the soil would seem high on N, and low on K. I'm not even sure how you add the values like this, but it just doesn't seem balanced. Now I know with organics, the plant uses nutrients in the soil as they need it no matter what is in there. Am I correct? If so, then say your soil contains a NPK ratio of 18-12-2, then the plant uses what it needs and leaves what it doesn't- by time the plant starts to flower, I imagine that it would have used alot of the N, and some of the rest- so the soil will now be like lets say like 6-6-1 maybe, then mid-bloom like 3-4-1? IDK maybe I'm thinking this whole thing over too much. What I'm saying is that I felt like I had much more control when I just fed with my waterings and now I want to try organics by amending the soil and just watering with water and letting the plants feed off the soil.
Another concern-- If I use a recipe of the internet that says it is will work with just plain waterings all the way from veg through flowering (like Subcool's supersoil)- well how would this work if some people start their outdoor in April, and I'm just starting mine in June? You know what I mean? Wouldn't the mix for a plant started in June have a lot more N left by time flowering comes?
I understand organics and all (I think lol)- I want to try it my amending my soil with organic material- I just feel lost and not in control. I need some help and understanding from some of you wonderful people here at RIU!
On another note: TO ALL RIU USERS NEAR A "BIG LOTS" STORE ---
I was at big lots the other day and noticed that they had a huge buyout of gardening supplies. Something like 20 million dollars worth. So I looked through and in my local store, I saw a lot of:
Humbolt County Nutrients (all kinds)-- Clonex Cloning Solution-- Earth Juice Products-- big bucket of Soil Moist (those Polymer Crystals for holding water)-- Bontanicare Nutrients (all kinds)-- And many other supplies for gardening (Fly traps, irrigation tubing, buckets/containers, spray bottles, etc.)
So I saw all these supplies are at cheap prices. I figured most of the stuff won't sell here (I'm not in a MM state like California), so I waited for it to go on sale. First was 20% off, then 30% off, and now its 50% off. I asked the lady at the register and she told me it will go to 75% off and then eventually 90% off. I thought I was a genius because I knew the stuff wouldn't sell here, but apparently they always reduce their prices like that when they do buyouts. Again this was my local Big Lots -- So if you want, check yours!
So at Big Lots, I came across a product I want to use. Its called EARTH JUICE- Rainbow mix- Grow. I've heard wonderful things about Earth Juice in the past, so I was thinking maybe I should try it (especially because it is only $8 for a 5 lb. mix.-- Originally $17). So what does it contain? It says that it has a NPK of 5-5-2 and it contains a ton of goodies:
N5.00% - P5.00% - K2.00%
A fined-tuned dry-blend of natural-organic nutrients with multiple strains of beneficial Mycorrhizae plus Humic Acid, all professionally formulated for vigorous vegetative growth for a variety of indoor/outdoor plants. For container plants, apply every 3-4 months. For determinate plants, a single application is the general recommendation. May be used as a premix or applied as a top-dressing Rainbow Mix Grow and Bloom may be used together. *Compatible and may be used in conjunction with other Hydro-Organic/Earth Juice Formulas. The Sure and Easy way to get plants to Get-Up-And-GROW! Available sizes: 0.75 lb, 2 lb, 5 lb, 20 lb & 40 lb.
So maybe I'll just amend my soil with this?
Or can I just use my soil mix without amendments and just feed with organic teas? I've been rambleing too long- sorry for the length. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance-
I usually read as much as I can before posting, and I did, but I still need some help, so here it is:
This year I decided to give organics a try, but first, a little history--
In the past when I've grown outdoors, I used a mix of lets say 40% peat moss, 40% perlite. and another 20% compost/manure/worm casting and of course some lime. I never added any amendments like blood meal, bone meal, fish emulsions, ect. -- So for feeding I would mix liquid nutrients and feed with my waterings.
I liked this method because I could see exactly what NPK I was feeding with at any time (usually 3-1-2 ish during veg, 2-8-4 ish during bloom, and a mix of the for early bloom). Basically I felt in control with this method because I could diagnose the plants and give them what they needed as I saw them react, I could feed them the exact NPK ratios that I wanted.
With organics, I feel a bit out of control. I know its not the case, but here are my concerns. I'd like to stick with my same basic soil mix (4 parts peat moss, 4 parts perlite, 2 parts compost/castings/poop) but I want to try adding amendments such as blood meal/ bone meal/ guano/ etc. ---- So I guess my question is...
If I add equal parts (lets say 1/2 cup per cubic foot of mix) of blood meal (12-0-0), bone meal (6-12-0), and kelp meal (1-0-2) to my soil(soiless actually) mix then the NPK in the soil would seem high on N, and low on K. I'm not even sure how you add the values like this, but it just doesn't seem balanced. Now I know with organics, the plant uses nutrients in the soil as they need it no matter what is in there. Am I correct? If so, then say your soil contains a NPK ratio of 18-12-2, then the plant uses what it needs and leaves what it doesn't- by time the plant starts to flower, I imagine that it would have used alot of the N, and some of the rest- so the soil will now be like lets say like 6-6-1 maybe, then mid-bloom like 3-4-1? IDK maybe I'm thinking this whole thing over too much. What I'm saying is that I felt like I had much more control when I just fed with my waterings and now I want to try organics by amending the soil and just watering with water and letting the plants feed off the soil.
Another concern-- If I use a recipe of the internet that says it is will work with just plain waterings all the way from veg through flowering (like Subcool's supersoil)- well how would this work if some people start their outdoor in April, and I'm just starting mine in June? You know what I mean? Wouldn't the mix for a plant started in June have a lot more N left by time flowering comes?
I understand organics and all (I think lol)- I want to try it my amending my soil with organic material- I just feel lost and not in control. I need some help and understanding from some of you wonderful people here at RIU!
On another note: TO ALL RIU USERS NEAR A "BIG LOTS" STORE ---
I was at big lots the other day and noticed that they had a huge buyout of gardening supplies. Something like 20 million dollars worth. So I looked through and in my local store, I saw a lot of:
Humbolt County Nutrients (all kinds)-- Clonex Cloning Solution-- Earth Juice Products-- big bucket of Soil Moist (those Polymer Crystals for holding water)-- Bontanicare Nutrients (all kinds)-- And many other supplies for gardening (Fly traps, irrigation tubing, buckets/containers, spray bottles, etc.)
So I saw all these supplies are at cheap prices. I figured most of the stuff won't sell here (I'm not in a MM state like California), so I waited for it to go on sale. First was 20% off, then 30% off, and now its 50% off. I asked the lady at the register and she told me it will go to 75% off and then eventually 90% off. I thought I was a genius because I knew the stuff wouldn't sell here, but apparently they always reduce their prices like that when they do buyouts. Again this was my local Big Lots -- So if you want, check yours!
So at Big Lots, I came across a product I want to use. Its called EARTH JUICE- Rainbow mix- Grow. I've heard wonderful things about Earth Juice in the past, so I was thinking maybe I should try it (especially because it is only $8 for a 5 lb. mix.-- Originally $17). So what does it contain? It says that it has a NPK of 5-5-2 and it contains a ton of goodies:
N5.00% - P5.00% - K2.00%
A fined-tuned dry-blend of natural-organic nutrients with multiple strains of beneficial Mycorrhizae plus Humic Acid, all professionally formulated for vigorous vegetative growth for a variety of indoor/outdoor plants. For container plants, apply every 3-4 months. For determinate plants, a single application is the general recommendation. May be used as a premix or applied as a top-dressing Rainbow Mix Grow and Bloom may be used together. *Compatible and may be used in conjunction with other Hydro-Organic/Earth Juice Formulas. The Sure and Easy way to get plants to Get-Up-And-GROW! Available sizes: 0.75 lb, 2 lb, 5 lb, 20 lb & 40 lb.
So maybe I'll just amend my soil with this?
Or can I just use my soil mix without amendments and just feed with organic teas? I've been rambleing too long- sorry for the length. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance-