Coots style mix really low in Nitrogen- best amendment?

Nwtexan

Well-Known Member
I did another soil test after adding the bloodmeal. Feeling better about it and have now added plants. Im pretty happy with everything, though a little concerned about my high elements. Also still wondering how micro nutrients are addressed in these grows. Soil test 2.png
 

kratos015

Well-Known Member
I added Neem/Karanga cake mix, using this recipe--https://growingorganic.com/soil-guide/coots-soil-mix/
I made a little more than 6CF so used 3 1/2 C
Check the NPK of the Neem/Karanja mix, in my experience those 50/50 blends almost always have 0 NPK.

Plain Neem Meal has a 6-1-1 NPK. Pretty sure that is why your soil had little to no N in it.

Author of that website screwed up and missed a very important detail concerning the Neem vs Neem/Karanja mixes.

Pure Neem Meal is used when mixing new soil, as well as for top dressing during veg.

When flower begins, you replace the Neem Meal top dress with the Neem/Karanja mix. You want the 6-1-1 of the neem in veg, and the 0-0-0 in flower. Unbelievable the author of that website didn't mention that, I'm wondering what they do about Nitrogen because there's no way they're getting enough with just the Crab Meal.
 

kratos015

Well-Known Member
I did another soil test after adding the bloodmeal. Feeling better about it and have now added plants. Im pretty happy with everything, though a little concerned about my high elements. Also still wondering how micro nutrients are addressed in these grows.
TM-7. Less than $20/bag and it'll last a long ass time. I still have the bag I purchased nearly 5 years ago in fact.
 

Nwtexan

Well-Known Member
TM-7. Less than $20/bag and it'll last a long ass time. I still have the bag I purchased nearly 5 years ago in fact.
Right on. I'll grab some. Do you grow in a SIP? I'm assuming in my case it would be best to use it as a top dress, or do you think it would be ok in a reservoir?
 

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
Right on. I'll grab some. Do you grow in a SIP? I'm assuming in my case it would be best to use it as a top dress, or do you think it would be ok in a reservoir?
I use TM-7 in both mineral salt based grows and in organic grows. You can use it in a res, but keep in mind it will make the solution look like coffee. I keep a bucket bubbling with nutrient solution and it builds up a ton of biofilm. Might not be great for drip emitters, but for hand watering it's fine...or I think it would be fine for SIPS too.
 

Nwtexan

Well-Known Member
I use TM-7 in both mineral salt based grows and in organic grows. You can use it in a res, but keep in mind it will make the solution look like coffee. I keep a bucket bubbling with nutrient solution and it builds up a ton of biofilm. Might not be great for drip emitters, but for hand watering it's fine...or I think it would be fine for SIPS too.
I looked up the sheet and it can be used as a dry amendment. This is my first SIP grow, so learning how folks do all the stuff
 

kratos015

Well-Known Member
Can you please explain how it is used and how much, when? It seems like a great product but I have no idea its timing etc.
Back of the bag has instructions. If I recall, it's 1/3-1/4tsp per 1 gallon of water. I only use it once a month and 1/4 tsp, very easy to overdo with the micronutes.

I've always preferred using it as a foliar feed, but it can be watered in just fine. Just make sure you don't water to runoff with the stuff.
 

Nwtexan

Well-Known Member
Let us know if you put it in the sip res,newb sip guy here also.Thanks.
I’m debating which way to go. I dry amended with the malted barley. It seems the easiest would be foilar feeding or putting a small amount in reservoir. I don’t know how much water it holds so hard to get an accurate amount
 

kratos015

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't put it, or anything in a SIP reservoir personally.

You can still water things into your pots that are in SIPs, just needs to be done slowly and in smaller amounts to ensure no runoff into the reservoirs. I'd top water in Fish Hydrolysate, just use 1/2-1 gallon of mixture per 5+ gallons. That way you never get runoff in your SIPs.
 

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
I'll be using the Blusoak drip hose for my next grow, with just pure water in the res, but I will be hand watering in TM-7 (or equivalent), aloe, coconut water, kelp extract etc. Anyone have any good ideas how to prevent limescale in drip emitters/lines? From the research I've done, I think citric acid should help. I know most people don't bother to PH no till setups, but I'm working with water that has 152 mg/l alkalinity, so I will definitely continue using the citric acid. This water has led to iron deficiency in my outdoor veggie gardens, which are otherwise quite healthy (of course I don't PH my outdoor beds.)
 

ComfortCreator

Well-Known Member
I'll be using the Blusoak drip hose for my next grow, with just pure water in the res, but I will be hand watering in TM-7 (or equivalent), aloe, coconut water, kelp extract etc. Anyone have any good ideas how to prevent limescale in drip emitters/lines? From the research I've done, I think citric acid should help. I know most people don't bother to PH no till setups, but I'm working with water that has 152 mg/l alkalinity, so I will definitely continue using the citric acid. This water has led to iron deficiency in my outdoor veggie gardens, which are otherwise quite healthy (of course I don't PH my outdoor beds.)
I know this is a tangent but quick Q - when using driplines, how do you determine how much is just right? I love the concept but wonder how folks dial in the right amount.
 

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
I know this is a tangent but quick Q - when using driplines, how do you determine how much is just right? I love the concept but wonder how folks dial in the right amount.
Blusoak is different from anything else I've seen-it uses a large and a small blumat "carrot" to determine the moisture level that comes out of the hose. So, if you know how blumats work, it's the same principle for the hose-you can adjust it so it's drier or moisture, but if you want to dial it in more scientifically, you use use a moisture meter to confirm whether or not it's adjusted right. I bought a Blumat moisture meter but haven't used it yet because I'm still letting the soil I'm using for this new bed "cook."
 

Nwtexan

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't put it, or anything in a SIP reservoir personally.

You can still water things into your pots that are in SIPs, just needs to be done slowly and in smaller amounts to ensure no runoff into the reservoirs. I'd top water in Fish Hydrolysate, just use 1/2-1 gallon of mixture per 5+ gallons. That way you never get runoff in your SIPs.
I'm learning, and skating between a couple of different worlds with the SIPS and the organic no till. The folks here, yourself included, have been so cool in pointing me(and others) in the right direction. When i started this cycle i had a couple of bags of HF soil and the tiro of nutrients. I ended up only using the organic tea one and drifted into more of an amendment based method. It worked out pretty well-a couple of weird nutrient issues. I'm really excited about the no till approach and hoping to keep the plants a little healthier. Sounds like the TM7 is a good tool for this route
 

Nwtexan

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't put it, or anything in a SIP reservoir personally.

You can still water things into your pots that are in SIPs, just needs to be done slowly and in smaller amounts to ensure no runoff into the reservoirs. I'd top water in Fish Hydrolysate, just use 1/2-1 gallon of mixture per 5+ gallons. That way you never get runoff in your SIPs.
Still working that out. I'm using big tubs that have heavy plastic over the top. Kind of a hassle to top water them, but it can be done. Kind of have to lift the plastic up on the sides and water underneath
 

Nwtexan

Well-Known Member
So just as an update—/getting some nitrogen toxicity, and wanted to post for anyone testing a Coots mix. I’m assuming that the super low nitrogen levels from my early test just needed to be broken down. I added a small amount of blood meal before I planted.
I’m entering into 5th week of flowering on these clones. Definitely some clawing and overly green leaves. Flowers are strong and plant seems ok. Issue is that in the SIP there really isn’t much I can do to flush, so I think I’m gonna ride it out.
111BF8CC-2557-49FA-9254-58A825927743.jpeg
 

Rurumo

Well-Known Member
So just as an update—/getting some nitrogen toxicity, and wanted to post for anyone testing a Coots mix. I’m assuming that the super low nitrogen levels from my early test just needed to be broken down. I added a small amount of blood meal before I planted.
I’m entering into 5th week of flowering on these clones. Definitely some clawing and overly green leaves. Flowers are strong and plant seems ok. Issue is that in the SIP there really isn’t much I can do to flush, so I think I’m gonna ride it out.
View attachment 4883848
I bet you're right! I wonder if that nitrogen would show up in a test at this point. At least nitrogen won't stay at a high level for very long, I think you'll be okay.
 

Nwtexan

Well-Known Member
I bet you're right! I wonder if that nitrogen would show up in a test at this point. At least nitrogen won't stay at a high level for very long, I think you'll be okay.
Thanks. A little frustrating that I'm having a bit of a struggle dialing in a mix that delivers what the plants need and nothing additional. I was thinking that to do a no till with a SIP requires a pretty good knowledge of organic composition and evolution. I've seen a few people here have success with it, but also seems to be kind of hitting between 2 schools of growing.

I'd really like to get to the end of flower without nutrient issues(end of cycle leaf yellowing being understood as part of the process)
 
Top