Official Gaia Green Grow Method

J

JHake

Well-Known Member
Yes, i didn't write anything about the rock and lime to give more of a concise answer. I also believe Promix is already limed. But truth is that the standard mix contains what you named.
There are also some cases where, at least myself, don't use rock dust if i don't have at hand. I believe it takes a few cycles to be useful for the soil, so i can add it another time, at least doing ROLS.

I'll link the Coots recipe for a complete mix: https://clackamascoots.com/blogs/news/coots-soil-recipe-coots-nutes
 
flipwon

flipwon

Well-Known Member
JHake said:
As a general guideline, you want around 1-2 cups of TOTAL ferts per cu ft of base mix (Promix-Perlite-EWC). So 1-2 cups of 4-4-4 per cu ft.

Base mix can be 1:1:1 ratio, but in my experience it's a lot of EWC if you don't have great quality one, especially on it's "texture". I stick to 20% EWC at max. Perlite 30-40%. Rest is ProMix or peat moss in my case.
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30 - 40% more perlite extra on top of the hp?

myke said:
I go 3 cups per cuft. And 4 cups rock dust. 1 cup dolo lime.
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I dont have any dolomite lime, is this something I can amend with later? Is there not enough in the base mix already?

Also, is a mix like this too hot to start from seed in?
 
myke

myke

Well-Known Member
flipwon said:
30 - 40% more perlite extra on top of the hp?



I dont have any dolomite lime, is this something I can amend with later? Is there not enough in the base mix already?

Also, is a mix like this too hot to start from seed in?
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Theirs lime in promix already,I was referring to plain peat sorry.For seedling yea it would be to hot.Plain PM would work with just a pinch of 444.
 
JustBlazin

JustBlazin

Well-Known Member
Question for those using pro mix, Do you pH your water?
I read recently that if your using pro mix you don't need to pH your water as it buffers it for you. I also add my own dolomite lime and oyster shell so I have just recently stopped phing my water. Hopefully everything doesn't turn to shit...lol
 
myke

myke

Well-Known Member
JustBlazin said:
Question for those using pro mix, Do you pH your water?
I read recently that if your using pro mix you don't need to pH your water as it buffers it for you. I also add my own dolomite lime and oyster shell so I have just recently stopped phing my water. Hopefully everything doesn't turn to shit...lol
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Everybody water is different but i just go plain,tap is 7.2 high in Ca and Mg.When I was doing salts It would drop .5 so 6.7 ish I just left it seamed to work fine.Reading suggests 6.3 ish.
 
J

JHake

Well-Known Member
flipwon said:
30 - 40% more perlite extra on top of the hp?
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I don't know how much perlite is in ProMix. I know the brand but not that particular product since i live in South America. We have similar ones here that come with a little bit perlite, and if i use it, i would add more perlite, more around 25-30% than 35-40%.
 
J

JHake

Well-Known Member
JustBlazin said:
Question for those using pro mix, Do you pH your water?
I read recently that if your using pro mix you don't need to pH your water as it buffers it for you. I also add my own dolomite lime and oyster shell so I have just recently stopped phing my water. Hopefully everything doesn't turn to shit...lol
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I do not pH my tap water.
What i am doing right now is using a little bit less liming agent on my mix, since my tap water is around 7.2 pH and about 200ppm.
And since i tend to do somehow long veg periods, i not sure about pH building up in the soil as watering and weeks passes.

What's your tap water pH?
There was a answer in some thread here about how soils are good buffering acid pH's but not so good when pH was needed to go down.

Not sure about the science and take this with a grain of salt, but my current thoughts are along this line:
My tap water has Calcium Carbonate on in, it's like watering with a little bit of limestone every time.
And i believe that what buffers the acid pH of water, is the residual lime in your soil mix (part of the lime reacts with the peat when you mix your soil, until pH is balanced; remaining lime that didn't react is called residual lime)

But in real life, until now i've been using 1 cup of liming agent per cu ft and watering with tap water @ 7,2pH. I'm still a beginner, but i believe i never had "pH problems", i mean, nothing about "lockouts due to high soil pH" or related, but i also believe things can go and be better.

In this study you can read a little about the lime, reactive, residual, etc.
 
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swedsteven

swedsteven

Well-Known Member
Peat is very very acid without lime and bacteria bring acid to ... lime that peat bro its noting new !

I add lime every second grow in my reuse pot
 
Reefersnacks

Reefersnacks

Active Member
Amazing thread, I'm going to try out organics for a change, I have easy access to gaia green. When baking the soil do I leave the lid on or off? I have the soil just moist and not soaking wet. You have to squeeze with almost full strength to feel some water come out, is this enough? I currently have a mixture of,

Promix hp
1cup 4-4-4 per 5gal
1cup earth worm casting per 5gal

Currently baking, should I add anything else? Or up the amount of earth worm castings? Completely new to organics any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Happy Growing!!
 
myke

myke

Well-Known Member
Reefersnacks said:
Amazing thread, I'm going to try out organics for a change, I have easy access to gaia green. When baking the soil do I leave the lid on or off? I have the soil just moist and not soaking wet. You have to squeeze with almost full strength to feel some water come out, is this enough? I currently have a mixture of,

Promix hp
1cup 4-4-4 per 5gal
1cup earth worm casting per 5gal

Currently baking, should I add anything else? Or up the amount of earth worm castings? Completely new to organics any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Happy Growing!!
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For long term use rock dust or similar could be added.So per cuft 4 cups.Typically 15% by volume for compost/ewc.So 5 gallon PM could have a gallon ish of ewc.
 
Reefersnacks

Reefersnacks

Active Member
Ok, I'll add a bit more, thank you. Should I leave the lid off the tote I have it baking in? I would assume mold if it was on.
 
Reefersnacks

Reefersnacks

Active Member
Thats what I was kind of thinking, thanks for the help. Would you recommend any extra dry amendments for pk boost in flower? Or is there enough juice in just the flower boost and all purpose 50/50 ratio?

If I were to add lets say mineralized phosphate 0-9-0 and soluble seaweed extract 0-0-17, would I have to cut back on the all purpose and flower bloom so it wouldn't burn up the plants? or just follow the directions for everything?
 
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myke

myke

Well-Known Member
Reefersnacks said:
Thats what I was kind of thinking, thanks for the help. Would you recommend any extra dry amendments for pk boost in flower? Or is there enough juice in just the flower boost and all purpose 50/50 ratio?

If I were to add lets say mineralized phosphate 0-9-0 and soluble seaweed extract 0-0-17, would I have to cut back on the all purpose and flower bloom so it wouldn't burn up the plants? or just follow the directions for everything?
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Stick to base nutes,My mixes are normally.40 peat 20 compost 40 perlite. 2 cup kelp ,1 cup alfalfa , 1 cup insect frass,2 cup 444.=6 cups for 15gallons of soil.2 cups lime and 8 cups rock dust.Let cook.
After its done I mix it with promix hp.for clones so its not so strong.When I fill my 10 gal sip its 3/4 cooked 1/4 PM.Then i add some 444 around the bottom 1/3 for later when the roots get there.After that I top dress with ewc and 444 weekly.4 tbls 444 for 10gal.Hope that helps.

edit to add...at week 3 flower i start 50/50 bloom,veg but add more like 6 tbls a week.Big plants need the N and gaia 444 only has a little so i keep the 444 right till the end..P and K was in the original mix and its in the 444 so I dont boost it.
 
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flipwon

flipwon

Well-Known Member
I'm using a compressed bale of promix HP. I'm assuming the ratios of 10% worm castings to promix are done with hydrated promix, but I figured I'd pop in and double check.

So, 9:1 hydrated promix to worm castings? or 9:1 dry off the bale?
 
myke

myke

Well-Known Member
flipwon said:
I'm using a compressed bale of promix HP. I'm assuming the ratios of 10% worm castings to promix are done with hydrated promix, but I figured I'd pop in and double check.

So, 9:1 hydrated promix to worm castings? or 9:1 dry off the bale?
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It’s by volume if that’s what your asking.
 
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