What's this white fuzzy stuff on soil? Organic users advice for first grow. See pics

[BeaverHuntr]

^^^ We call those guys the " 2 year master growers" guys who have been growing a couple years and are now experts..lol

 

[Redbird1223]

I know it's your 1st grow, and I meant no offense. It was just something that happened to me once so I thought I'd share.

I like to go clone, solo cup, 1 gal, then into final pot

Tilling soil is a personal preference, but I think no-till techniques are more common in large garden beds. I remix my own soil so it's inevitable.....that said...I don't think it's a smart move to disturb the topsoil, especially if you see roots.

Root amputation does work, (in vegetative stages) and is used by bonsai gardeners. you wanna grow bud, or do you wanna grow roots?
Not a bad idea though for a long veg. I like to rough up the bottom of the clump when I up-pot, I will clip one next time and check it out

 

[BeaverHuntr]

I know it's your 1st grow, and I meant no offense. It was just something that happened to me once so I thought I'd share.

I like to go clone, solo cup, 1 gal, then into final pot

Tilling soil is a personal preference, but I think no-till techniques are more common in large garden beds. I remix my own soil so it's inevitable.....that said...I don't think it's a smart move to disturb the topsoil, especially if you see roots.

Root amputation does work, (in vegetative stages) and is used by bonsai gardeners. you wanna grow bud, or do you wanna grow roots?
Not a bad idea though for a long veg. I like to rough up the bottom of the clump when I up-pot, I will clip one next time and check it out

I pretty much do the same RedBird.. I take clone and go solo cup ( aka Keg cups, party cups) , go 2 gallon pot and into my final 7 gallon pot for flower.

 

[hotrodharley]

Tilling soil is a personal preference, but I think no-till techniques are more common in large garden beds. I remix my own soil so it's inevitable.....that said...I don't think it's a smart move to disturb the topsoil, especially if you see roots.

You are way off and totally wrong. So far off I am glad most here do not grow food commercially or we would all starve to death or pay super high prices due to low supply.

 

[prosperian]

I know it's your 1st grow, and I meant no offense. It was just something that happened to me once so I thought I'd share.

I like to go clone, solo cup, 1 gal, then into final pot

Tilling soil is a personal preference, but I think no-till techniques are more common in large garden beds. I remix my own soil so it's inevitable.....that said...I don't think it's a smart move to disturb the topsoil, especially if you see roots.

Root amputation does work, (in vegetative stages) and is used by bonsai gardeners. you wanna grow bud, or do you wanna grow roots?
Not a bad idea though for a long veg. I like to rough up the bottom of the clump when I up-pot, I will clip one next time and check it out

Thanks guys. I found it hard to control feeding in the veg state because the post where so big I couldn't do much until they dried which could take a week or longer. Small pot would allow for frequent control. Make sense. Hey, all you guys, I bumped your reps for the replies.

 

[hotrodharley]

Those who don't already know it all and would like to learn more than just what to do at this moment for one plant read this.

http://www.smilinggardener.com/lessons/garden-tilling-soil

Please note the author advocates shallow tilling or "no till" ONLY after a few years of actually tilling a given plot of soil. I grew up in ranching and agriculture but what the hell do I know?

 

[hotrodharley]

I swear to God some of the responses to any question on RIU are so damned silly or off base it is unreal.

 

[BeaverHuntr]

Thanks guys. I found it hard to control feeding in the veg state because the post where so big I couldn't do much until they dried which could take a week or longer. Small pot would allow for frequent control. Make sense. Hey, all you guys, I bumped your reps for the replies.

Yeah man stick with organics its fun, cheap and produces better bud..I recommend you look into fabric pots as well they will help dry out your soil quicker on company even makes fabric pots with velcro so it's much easier to transplant.

 

[prosperian]

You are way off and totally wrong. So far off I am glad most here do not grow food commercially or we would all starve to death or pay super high prices due to low supply.

Hotrod, those are fighting words! I know on my outdoor gardens I've always tilled and broke up the soil. It's a constant battle with clay rich Texas dirt. Indoors, I've tried over the last several week to break up the surface with my fingers but it doesn't budge. The roots are locking it all up, but water is draining with no issue so I didn't do anything.

 

[BeaverHuntr]

Those who don't already know it all and would like to learn more than just what to do at this moment for one plant read this.

http://www.smilinggardener.com/lessons/garden-tilling-soil

Please note the author advocates shallow tilling or "no till" ONLY after a few years of actually tilling a given plot of soil. I grew up in ranching and agriculture but what the hell do I know?

Don't harsh your mellow dude I dont think anyone is telling you what you do is wrong.. Everyone has their own ways dude.. " Different tokes for different folks"

 

[prosperian]

Those who don't already know it all and would like to learn more than just what to do at this moment for one plant read this.

http://www.smilinggardener.com/lessons/garden-tilling-soil

Please note the author advocates shallow tilling or "no till" ONLY after a few years of actually tilling a given plot of soil. I grew up in ranching and agriculture but what the hell do I know?

Good info, hell, I even aerate my lawns in Texas, damn clay soil!

 

[prosperian]

Yeah man stick with organics its fun, cheap and produces better bud..I recommend you look into fabric pots as well they will help dry out your soil quicker on company even makes fabric pots with velcro so it's much easier to transplant.

I take it these fabric pots let the water and nutes pass through the bottom? I like knowing I hit bottom when watering and taking ph reading of the run off. Yeah, I could see having velcro would make in cake to remove the plant for transplant.

 

[hotrodharley]

Hotrod, those are fighting words! I know on my outdoor gardens I've always tilled and broke up the soil. It's a constant battle with clay rich Texas dirt. Indoors, I've tried over the last several week to break up the surface with my fingers but it doesn't budge. The roots are locking it all up, but water is draining with no issue so I didn't do anything.

Dude - quit sweating the small amount of roots you are seeing atop! Till the bitch with a fork. I'm telling you I amputate and amputate a lot. That is how the fabric smart bags work. Opposing weaves. The root tip protrudes through the first layer and movement between the layers causes amputation. How the hell is it going to matter if roots are cut topside or below decks?

 

[prosperian]

Dude - quit sweating the small amount of roots you are seeing atop! Till the bitch with a fork. I'm telling you I amputate and amputate a lot. That is how the fabric smart bags work. Opposing weaves. The root tip protrudes through the first layer and movement between the layers causes amputation. How the hell is it going to matter if roots are cut topside or below decks?

When you said you plunge the vfork down by the root ball, how far down are you going and how many plunges or "cuts" would you suggest for my 3 gallon containers?

 

[Redbird1223]

where the root is cut is not the issue

why you would cuts roots mid flower and risk shock is

whats wrong with your roots???? I thought the issue was fungus, and we declared it beneficial. your grow looks nice, lets keep it that way



now im a know it all?......

 

[hotrodharley]

When you said you plunge the vfork down by the root ball, how far down are you going and how many plunges or "cuts" would you suggest for my 3 gallon containers?

All the way until the probe hits the bottom of the planter. I push down 5 or 6 times around the container. Several days later I do it again in different spots. I'm not carving the roots up, just severing some roots. The new and finer tips - 2 to 4 - then take up water and nutrients easier than one big one.

 

[hotrodharley]

where the root is cut is not the issue

why you would cuts roots mid flower and risk shock is

whats wrong with your roots???? I thought the issue was fungus, and we declared it beneficial. your grow looks nice, lets keep it that way



now im a know it all?......

So those fabric smart bags are smart enough they stop the root cutting during flower? How do they know when it's flowering?

 

[prosperian]

where the root is cut is not the issue why you would cuts roots mid flower and risk shock is whats wrong with your roots???? I thought the issue was fungus, and we declared it beneficial. your grow looks nice, lets keep it that way?

I thought it was common practice and documented in my grow books to break up the top two inches of the soil. Well, that's how we got on to this subject. The fungus, though beneficial, is appearing on the surface because it has never been disturbed. I just haven't been able to break it up because the roots are all over the surface layer. I beleive breaking up the top 2-3 inches of the root sctructure would cause no damage to the plant.

Words still out on heavy aeration of the lower part of the plant and the roots down there.

 

[prosperian]

So those fabric smart bags are smart enough they stop the root cutting during flower? How do they know when it's flowering?

Damn, hotrod didn't recognize the avatar...

 

[hotrodharley]

Words still out on heavy aeration of the lower part of the plant and the roots down there.

Hence the weed puller being pushed straight down to the planter bottom.