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GreenFingers
Exotic collector


Registered: 02/01/14
Posts: 292
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help with organic fertilizers for trich soil
#22227475 - 09/12/15 03:01 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Hey everyone I was hoping for a bit of advice from some of our members who have good experience with organic fertilizers.
So first off I now use a substrate of just perlite and coco coir and use a weak fertilizer diluted in each watering and have been having great results for some time. A few years ago I use to use potting soil, coco, sand, perlite and would supplement with some good organic fertilizers such as bone, blood and fish meal. Results were pretty good but I think I over did adding my organic fertilizers when mixing my soil. At one point a lot of plants with the new mix started to go sour and could burn your eyes with the smell of ammonia. It was pretty gnarly and kinda put me off of organic fertilizers for awhile because that was a issue I never had to deal with my inorganic fertilizers.
Lately though I've been getting bit by the "organic bug" and been wanting to try adding a few more things to my soil. So to avoid any issues like I've had in the past I was hoping some more advanced members could set me straight on some good mixes/ratios of things to use. I'd like to use bone meal, fish meal/emulsion, blood meal, kelp, mycorrhizae (I already use), worm castings/humic acid and I'd like to try some neem cake as a mulch and possibly a soil additive if it's beneficial enough. I'd be interested in formulas for both fertilizer to add to the soil as well as a liquid fertilizer that could be used with waterings. If anyone has anything else to add I'd be happy to hear your recommendation!
Once again shroomerites thanks for all your help! Have a great weekend
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verbage
White Squall


Registered: 11/02/13
Posts: 201
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Re: help with organic fertilizers for trich soil [Re: GreenFingers]
#22227502 - 09/12/15 03:07 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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I use everything on your list except for the bone and blood meal. I also use some things not on your list like kelp, alfalfa tea and some potash stuff.
Are your plants in the ground or in pots? That's probably a good place to start.
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GreenFingers
Exotic collector


Registered: 02/01/14
Posts: 292
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Re: help with organic fertilizers for trich soil [Re: verbage]
#22227695 - 09/12/15 03:51 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Hmm I've seen a few things about adding alfalfa meal, do you think there is a significant difference adding it to your soil?
Unfortunately most of my plants are potted. I don't have the space at my place to get them in the ground
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Angus McAxeHandle
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Registered: 08/25/15
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Re: help with organic fertilizers for trich soil [Re: GreenFingers]
#22227754 - 09/12/15 04:05 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Oggy
Stranger Danger


Registered: 12/05/14
Posts: 1,276
Loc: Planet Remulak
Last seen: 6 months, 29 days
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Organic fertilizers feed the soil and the plant. Synthetic fertilizers don't. They may very well kill some of the beneficial organisms in the soil, too.
Unfortunately, organic fertilizers are quite expensive compared to something like miracle grow. Fish emulsion like the Alaska brand are very cheap.
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Edited by Oggy (09/12/15 09:13 PM)
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GreenFingers
Exotic collector


Registered: 02/01/14
Posts: 292
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Re: help with organic fertilizers for trich soil [Re: Oggy]
#22229398 - 09/12/15 10:46 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Anyone care to list there own substrate mix? My main concern is I don't want to over do it on anything and turn my soil funky again.
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El Torcho
Time for tea?


Registered: 04/16/15
Posts: 1,365
Loc: Lone Pine Hill
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Re: help with organic fertilizers for trich soil [Re: GreenFingers]
#22229438 - 09/12/15 11:03 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Your 'soil' substantially lacks anything living.
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"Well it sounds trivial, but the key insight is . . . . . you don't know shit" ~Dennis McKenna "There is more to human existence and to reality itself than science can ever give us access to." ~His Holiness, The 14th Dalai Lama
Edited by El Torcho (06/30/16 05:00 PM)
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Oggy
Stranger Danger


Registered: 12/05/14
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Re: help with organic fertilizers for trich soil [Re: GreenFingers]
#22229439 - 09/12/15 11:03 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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I use fish emulsion these days. But back when I was breeding strawberries for size I was just peeing on everything. Literally. Tiny pinky sized strawberries(normal for alpine strawberries) grew to be way larger than my thumb. And I'm a fairly chunky guy.
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GreenFingers
Exotic collector


Registered: 02/01/14
Posts: 292
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Re: help with organic fertilizers for trich soil [Re: Oggy]
#22230545 - 09/13/15 09:02 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Thanks for the help guys
Torcho: thanks for the insight into your mix. I think I'll have to give alfalfa a try and watch out for the blood meal. I remember when my soil was stinking my father mentioned it was because it was too "hot". Would alfalfa meal be sufficient or should it be made into a tea like I've read a couple member doing?
Neem meal interests me a lot for the assumption it'll repel pests pretty well but I'm excited to see what it can do for my soil also. I figured my soil was fairly dead when it comes to microbial life which is one thing I was considering before adding mycorrhizae. I wasn't sure it'll be able to live in a drier cacti soil let alone my mix.
So a cup to a cubic foot will be my rule of thumb thanks! also is there a safe amount of time to let your mix "age"? Thanks again guys, I know I could probably search around and find some of these things out so I appreciate you taking the time to set me straight All the best!
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mandrin13
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Re: help with organic fertilizers for trich soil [Re: GreenFingers]
#22231086 - 09/13/15 11:01 AM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Yes you should let your soil "cook" for 2-4 weeks, according to my understanding.
-------------------- Even Jesus got stoned.
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El Torcho
Time for tea?


Registered: 04/16/15
Posts: 1,365
Loc: Lone Pine Hill
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Re: help with organic fertilizers for trich soil [Re: GreenFingers]
#22236937 - 09/14/15 02:36 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
GreenFingers said: I figured my soil was fairly dead when it comes to microbial life which is one thing I was considering before adding mycorrhizae.
There is much more to soil life than mycorrhizae.
If you don't want to do compost, or have heard/believe a sterilized soil is somehow better, it is probably best to stick to a 'dead soil' and synthetic nutes.
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"Well it sounds trivial, but the key insight is . . . . . you don't know shit" ~Dennis McKenna "There is more to human existence and to reality itself than science can ever give us access to." ~His Holiness, The 14th Dalai Lama
Edited by El Torcho (09/14/15 02:46 PM)
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GreenFingers
Exotic collector


Registered: 02/01/14
Posts: 292
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Re: help with organic fertilizers for trich soil [Re: El Torcho]
#22237494 - 09/14/15 04:39 PM (8 years, 4 months ago) |
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Yeah I don't care about soil sterility much other than for my cacti seedlings. I like organic nutes as iv seen nice results before. I'm not really in a place to do my own composting right now so I think my best bet is just having good amendments added.
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