SpicySativa's Atomic Northern Lights

Yeah, teas and top dressings accomplish different things (add microbes versus add food for microbes). I'm phasing guano out of my routine, primarily because I have mixed feelings about the environmental (and economic) sustainability of that industry. There are plenty of other options. I still have some guano left over, so I'll use a little here and there until it's gone.

SpicySativa said:

Yeah, teas and top dressings accomplish different things (add microbes versus add food for microbes). I'm phasing guano out of my routine, primarily because I have mixed feelings about the environmental (and economic) sustainability of that industry. There are plenty of other options. I still have some guano left over, so I'll use a little here and there until it's gone.

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My thoughts exactly on the guanos. I'm sure they're beneficial, but the harvesting practices of the industry doesn't really jive with my idea of sustainable organics.

As for the teas, I kind of treat nutrient teas and compost teas as two separate things. I look at a nutrient tea as a readily available food source for the microbes already present in my medium. The ACT's are multiplying, and adding more microbes to the equation when applied to my medium.

st0wandgrow said:

My thoughts exactly on the guanos. I'm sure they're beneficial, but the harvesting practices of the industry doesn't really jive with my idea of sustainable organics.

As for the teas, I kind of treat nutrient teas and compost teas as two separate things. I look at a nutrient tea as a readily available food source for the microbes already present in my medium. The ACT's are multiplying, and adding more microbes to the equation when applied to my medium.

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Exactly. I tend to be thinking of AACTs when I say "tea", but I do also make an alfalfa/kelp nutrient tea from time to time. For example, I usually give an alfalfa/kelp tea at the beginning of the flower stretch (highly recommended). I make my nutrient teas in a simple 5-gallon bubble bucket (EcoPlus Air 1 pump, 5-gal bucket, homemade PVC bubble diffuser). I do this because the nutrient teas don't use up NEARLY the amount of dissolved oxygen as AACTs, and the bucket is easier to clean.

What's up RIU?

Another quick update. It's day 31 and things are lookin' good. Gave them a little fish hydrolysate, a dash of Ful-Power, and pinch of organic aloe vera powder.

That's all for now!

Cheers,

~SpicySativa

Come on, we all know you're dumping sugar on them prior to the photo shoot.

Very nice my friend.









Show off !

Thanks, GreatWhiteNorth! This strain has been really fun to grow.

Wow Spicy, that is awesome trichome coverage for only flower day 31! I've had a pack of these in the back of the fridge for a little while and I'm putting them next in line to pop.

Neobes- Get those things going! I'd love to see how they do from seed.

They're developing really fast. It's looking to be a quick bloom and a heavy harvest.

Healthy! and covered in resin. Great work SpicySativa

PeaceLoveCannabis said:

Healthy! and covered in resin. Great work SpicySativa

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Thanks, PeaceLoveCannabis!

What's up organic heads?

Quick update before I head to work... Things are still cruisin along smoothly. The first few bottom leaves are starting to fade a little, but it's about that time. Nothin I need to worry about.

I also included a pic of some XJ-13 clones I picked up the other day. They're living in my T5 veg cabinet right now.

That's about it!

Happy Friday!

~SpicySativa

hey spicey, have you ever posted about your soil recycling practices? I have started to add some fresh castings to my used soil, let it sit with some moisture, and I currently use that soil in 1gal pots for fresh clones and seedlings. I would like to start going further with my soil recycling but but im not sure what to use as a starting point for reammending.

grownbykane said:

hey spicey, have you ever posted about your soil recycling practices? I have started to add some fresh castings to my used soil, let it sit with some moisture, and I currently use that soil in 1gal pots for fresh clones and seedlings. I would like to start going further with my soil recycling but but im not sure what to use as a starting point for reammending.

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What's up grownbykane?

I haven't really posted up my recycling method in one spot, but it's pretty simple, really.
Here's the mix I started with:


Base Mix:
- Equal parts Alaska Peat, Perlite (wide range of particle sizes), and worm castings. I also added some Alaskan Humus at about 5% or so for a little extra diversity.


Nitrogen Sources:
- Crab Meal -- 0.5 TBSP/gal
- Alfalfa Meal -- 0.5 TBSP/gal
- Neem Seed Meal -- 0.5 TBSP/gal


Phosphorus Source:
- Fish Bone Meal --2 TBSP/gal


Potassium, micronutrients, etc:
- Kelp Meal -- 1.5 TBSP/gal


Rock Dusts, Minerals, etc:
- Powdered Dolomite Lime -- 2 TBSP/gal
- Azomite -- 2 TBSP/gal
- Soft Rock Phosphate -- 1 TBSP/gal

Each time I recycle, I basically add the N, P, and K sources listed above back to the soil at about 1/2 or less of their quantities. I kindof do it by feel, but I think as long as you stay below 1/2 the original amounts you shouldn't overdo anything. I also add some extra homemade castings, and possibly a little extra peat if the soil is feeling at all "muddy" from all worm castings.

One thing I think is important is that I DON'T add back any dolomite lime. The original addition should last me long time, and the soil is very well buffered and full of cal/mag from all the worm castings. Rock dusts get added back in small amounts, too; it's hard to overdo those.

thanks man. il have to give it a try soon. I cant risk any experimenting right now because im In the process of getting a job in california (currently living in detroit mi) and I need my grow to help finance the move... if I get the job it will allow me to grow just for enjoyment instead of a supplimental income.

Nice. You're gonna like it in CA...

it looks like you have mulch on top of your dirt. I tried that for a cycle or two and didnt notice any benefit, plus it made top dressing a messy pain in the rear. whats your opinion and experience?

I like the mulch. It's a mixed bag when it comes to top dressing... On one hand, it's kindof a pain to rake off the bark each time you want to lay down some extra worm castings/amendments. On the other hand, the top dressings work more effectively because they never dry out completely (the biological processes in soil essentially stop when it dries out). I only flower 4 plants at a time, so it's easy for me to scoop the bark into a bucket, lay down some EWC/etc, and spread the bark back in place. You'll be surprised how the roots start utilizing every last bit of soil when the top stays moist. This is key for top dressing; new roots grow right up into the newly added layers.

Also, I water by hand about 95% of the time (drip/timer setup does the other 5% when I'm busy). I find the mulch makes hand watering much more pleasant. The bark holds your soil in place and helps distribute the water evenly; no more crustiness, mud puddles, pooling, water draining down the sides of pots, dry spots, etc.

I'm sold on it. I've mulched every pot since I first tried it.

its been a while since I tried it, I have learned a lot in the mean time. whats your mulch of choice?

So far I'm just using Black Gold brand "Fine Orchid Bark", which is basically softwood bark fines. It's all I've tried so far, but seems to be doing the trick.

I like the idea of a "canna-mulch" of dried cannabis leaves, but for now all my leaf matter just gets fed to the worms...

I would be too concerned that a mulch of leaves would be a breeding ground for mildew and the like. in a balanced outdoor ecosystem maybe, but indoors seems risky. and worm food is a perfectly good use.