What to add to improve flowering outdoors

Richard Drysift

Well-Known Member
All I do besides using amended and recycled soil for plants about to be placed (flipped) into the bloom room is give them 2 jobes organic spikes... 180 degrees adjacent to each other towards the outside perimeter of a 10g smartpot, about 2" in. That's all; yes you want a nice slow release fertilizer to get through to harvest...these feed for 8 weeks & definitely add weight to the buds provided all other conditions are optimal.
 

Purpnugz

Well-Known Member
All I do besides using amended and recycled soil for plants about to be placed (flipped) into the bloom room is give them 2 jobes organic spikes... 180 degrees adjacent to each other towards the outside perimeter of a 10g smartpot, about 2" in. That's all; yes you want a nice slow release fertilizer to get through to harvest...these feed for 8 weeks & definitely add weight to the buds provided all other conditions are optimal.
Will I need a spike with this moon mix

1cf planters mix which is pure guano and Ewc
1.5cf ffof
1cf light warrior
1cf perlite
1 cup hf jumpstart 3.4.3
1 cup of hf flower 5.8.4
1 cup lime
 
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Richard Drysift

Well-Known Member
I have no idea what your plants need nor have I ever heard of moon mix but I have been using jobes spikes for years now and they do help push bigger flowers; spikes are so simple to use and so easy breezy...just plug em in or you can even make up your own DIY spikes.
The thing about organics is to put what is needed in the soil before it is actually needed so as the plants never want for anything except water. Your soil recipe is probably ok as it is at least up until flowering time.
I only add jobes spikes to keep plants nice & green all through blooming phase right up to harvest time with just mostly water. Your mix sounds fairly well rounded but I would add in some oyster flour and a slow release N source like manure but that's just me.
 

Purpnugz

Well-Known Member
I have no idea what your plants need nor have I ever heard of moon mix but I have been using jobes spikes for years now and they do help push bigger flowers; spikes are so simple to use and so easy breezy...just plug em in or you can even make up your own DIY spikes.
The thing about organics is to put what is needed in the soil before it is actually needed so as the plants never want for anything except water. Your soil recipe is probably ok as it is at least up until flowering time.
I only add jobes spikes to keep plants nice & green all through blooming phase right up to harvest time with just mostly water. Your mix sounds fairly well rounded but I would add in some oyster flour and a slow release N source like manure but that's just me.
Ok I will add manure and flour. How much for this 3.5 cft batch. And are the shrubs jobes okay.
 

Richard Drysift

Well-Known Member
I'd try to get the all purpose organic spikes but I've used the vegetable ones before; similar NPK value. Shrubs do not flower out so seems to me they would likeky have a low P number. You want a good balance...
Only need one to 2 cups of oyster flour but manure depends upon the source. I use composted chicken manure which is pretty fast compared to cow shit which releases slower. So you could add a lot more of the aforementioned cow manure than you would chicken manure. I really like it because it has tons of probiotics and it's super cheap. I add about 3-4 cups to a 60g bin of recycled soil....about double the amount you are talking so maybe 1.5 to 2 cups would be good. Best thing is neither will need cooking time. Keep in mind the oyster shell really only works when it's in the root zone by regulating ph of the immediate area around it helping with absorption. Takes forever to break down as s source of calcium though. A small supply of each benefits for a long time like a year or more.
 

Purpnugz

Well-Known Member
I'd try to get the all purpose organic spikes but I've used the vegetable ones before; similar NPK value. Shrubs do not flower out so seems to me they would likeky have a low P number. You want a good balance...
Only need one to 2 cups of oyster flour but manure depends upon the source. I use composted chicken manure which is pretty fast compared to cow shit which releases slower. So you could add a lot more of the aforementioned cow manure than you would chicken manure. I really like it because it has tons of probiotics and it's super cheap. I add about 3-4 cups to a 60g bin of recycled soil....about double the amount you are talking so maybe 1.5 to 2 cups would be good. Best thing is neither will need cooking time. Keep in mind the oyster shell really only works when it's in the root zone by regulating ph of the immediate area around it helping with absorption. Takes forever to break down as s source of calcium though. A small supply of each benefits for a long time like a year or more.
How much flour again? I'd say a cup?
Does the flour cancel the lime out ?
 

Richard Drysift

Well-Known Member
Sure ok one cup; you don't have to be exact and nothing cancels anything out. DL buffers the ph in a different way. You can have both in your mix. They won't fight each other lol. Don't worry ...it's actually kinda hard to fuck this up. I use handfuls and eyeball everything...I never measure that closely & never give more than a handful or 2 of any amendment as a rule... Less is always more
 

sandhill larry

Well-Known Member
Sure ok one cup; you don't have to be exact and nothing cancels anything out. DL buffers the ph in a different way. You can have both in your mix. They won't fight each other lol. Don't worry ...it's actually kinda hard to fuck this up. I use handfuls and eyeball everything...I never measure that closely & never give more than a handful or 2 of any amendment as a rule... Less is always more
Like my Mamma used to say when you would ask her about a recipe. Just add a certain amount.
 

Purpnugz

Well-Known Member
Sure ok one cup; you don't have to be exact and nothing cancels anything out. DL buffers the ph in a different way. You can have both in your mix. They won't fight each other lol. Don't worry ...it's actually kinda hard to fuck this up. I use handfuls and eyeball everything...I never measure that closely & never give more than a handful or 2 of any amendment as a rule... Less is always more
Ok so the mix will be
1cf planters mix
1.5cf ffof
1cf light warrior
1cf perlite
1 cup hf jumpstart 3.4.3
1 cup of hf flower 5.8.4
1 cup lime
1cup oyster shell flour
2 cups chicken compost
Mulch with woodchips or leaves
 

sandhill larry

Well-Known Member
Ok so the mix will be
1cf planters mix
1.5cf ffof
1cf light warrior
1cf perlite
1 cup hf jumpstart 3.4.3
1 cup of hf flower 5.8.4
1 cup lime
1cup oyster shell flour
2 cups chicken compost
Mulch with woodchips or leaves
I save my coffee grounds to add to my soil mix. Lots of good stuff in there, not just the N. If you drink it, you might as well use the grounds too. I'm not sure about all the claims, but this is a pretty good writeup on the subject.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingredients/coffee-grounds-gardening.htm
 

NaturalFarmer

Well-Known Member
Lime and flour are both the same for this purpose, CaCO3. Are you talking dolomite lime? Either way Gypsum is calcium sulfate and will not raise pH. How big is your batch? Edit...ok just saw....I would use 3 cups. Lime is not going to be available for your plant to uptake until it loses its carbonate which could/will take some time depending on your mix and water. Gypsum on the other hand will as it is 100 times more water soluble. The sulfate is plant available as well
 
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Purpnugz

Well-Known Member
Lime and flour are both the same for this purpose, CaCO3. Are you talking dolomite lime? Either way Gypsum is calcium sulfate and will not raise pH. How big is your batch? Edit...ok just saw....I would use 3 cups. Lime is not going to be available for your plant to uptake until it loses its carbonate which could/will take some time depending on your mix and water. Gypsum on the other hand will as it is 100 times more water soluble. The sulfate is plant available as well
I just thought people added powedered lime for ph buffering and a little calcium.
 

NaturalFarmer

Well-Known Member
I just thought people added powedered lime for ph buffering and a little calcium.
Calcium allows for roots to breathe better because of how large it is compared to magnesium. You may have heard people say light soil vs heavy soil and that is essentially what they are referring to. The only other benefit from CACO3 that I can think of would be free CO2 but I doubt anyone is adding it just for that reason.
 

Richard Drysift

Well-Known Member
The more you ask about it the more stuff we will suggest you add in lol...gypsum is very good stuff; helps promote fungal life too....I feed coffee grounds to my worms but not in the mix directly; just how I roll ...understand any uncomposted organic material you add in like coffee grounds will need "cooking" time to break down...you want many diverse sources in small quantities.
 

sandhill larry

Well-Known Member
The more you ask about it the more stuff we will suggest you add in lol...gypsum is very good stuff; helps promote fungal life too....I feed coffee grounds to my worms but not in the mix directly; just how I roll ...understand any uncomposted organic material you add in like coffee grounds will need "cooking" time to break down...you want many diverse sources in small quantities.
I do put my coffee grounds in a plastic tote all year. There is some that are pure compost, while the newer stuff is still pretty intact. I'll mix it up good before adding to soil mix. Also add egg shells to that bin. Don't bake them, but just toss them in after breaking.
 

Purpnugz

Well-Known Member
My plants are about 10inch tall 3weeks and my ph went to 7.8 due to rain. If I sprinkle some lime will it go up to 8 or down to 7?

Or do I just water with 7 ph water when it dries out
 
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