My current style is pretty small compared to my old way, i can go over both if ya like.
Right now im using fertilome red bag. Its a light airy soil comes loaded with perlite. I hate vermiculite in my mixes for what its worth... just dont like the look an feel. Anyways. This soil is basically a seed starter, it works great. I gave my first nutes about a week or 2 after sprout, just a tiny bit, so more than nothing, but not a real dose of nutes. I then go back to tap water next time and then a little more nute next time and so on. I dont rely on the lable as much more than a do not exceed limit.
Ive found its best for me to use simple nutes. I really like GH micro for veg, but i do change periodically to my General organics lineup, or other brands. Ive got around 4 nutrient lines i switch between. Ive found they all preform well for me. I also use the supernatural brand a lot, and thats what this round used.
1 tsp supernatural 1 part flower/gal around 1 time feed per week, water as needed other times.
My fav thing to mix into the dirt is hydroton/expanded clay pebbles. If the goal is to add air to the dirt these do it hest imo. Vermiculite holds water. Perlite floats and is so small it doesnt do the job as well as the clay imo. The hydroton must be rinsed well before use. If you use it. Its not needed tho. Meh. A layer at the bottom is good if you feel your pot needs to drain even better, but its best to only try adding one thing at a time to see if its worth it to you. Im not adding anything to the dirt right now.
Bugs arnt a issue, you should be using neem in rotation with kelp, dawn dish soap, and peppermint soap. Neem is very good for the plant and also kills bigs, so win win. Dont use neem on seeds or stressed plants generally. Dont use neem after flowers come on.
Using a single 1kw hps, 1/2 gallon pots and 3 gallon pots and 2 gallon pots. Trying to find a very scaled back style now, that works for me.
In the past i was doing 20 gallon pots and 8kw rooms.
Best way to high yield is scrog, but im doing perpetual now to pull a plant down every week or 2 and so im doing everything in a way that things are easy to move and stack. Plants are 27 inches floor to bud tip going for 2 zips a plant on 10 in rotation.
Its kinda a stealth grow, in the way im doing it, because it can all be put away easily in about 10 min. I couldnt figure out an easy way to scrog this style but when i do i may go over to that.
Fox farms soil is fine as is, or add perlite, or add hydroton. I like a ratio of 1/3 clay to ffof. Dont use nutes for nearly a month with the exeption of kelp, carbs, an maybe a microb but it does come preloaded. If you do a transplant into ffof right at flower flip dont add flower nutes for a few times. Then ease in.
