Brandon Rust 2021 Soil Recipe

[seymore_budz]

Bit of lime and volcanic rock dust and you sorted will up the zinc too.

https://buildasoil.com/products/rock-du ... ium-basalt

[GMO]

i can see why DE might be alot more stab in the dark as most of the time its not sold with a listing of mineral content. sooner stick to things with solid numbers

[Guest]

i can see why DE might be alot more stab in the dark as most of the time its not sold with a listing of mineral content. sooner stick to things with solid numbers

That makes sense GMO

Are the numbers always that close to the stated or advertised though?

[Ancient.Soul.Grown]

This is superb post with lots and lots of awesome content.

Organics is a road i have yet to walk down.

Will defo be following along to this.

This is going to be the one.... i got a good feeling.

I have been told feelings are good :)

[anova.330]

Implementing the fix
Somehow, I need to add the following to the soil (results in lbs/500ft^3).
0.2 MnSO4
0.3 ZnSO4
0.07 CuSO4
8 High Ca Lime
5 Dolomite Lime

I only rationalized this, as opposed to performing the math, by determining min and max measurement values I was comfortable with using (i.e. teaspoons and cups).

0.2 MnSO4 – basically a teaspoon (i.e. I chose this as the starting point)
0.3 ZnSO4 – basically a generous teaspoon
0.07 CuSO4 – third of a teaspoon (part / whole = .07/.2=.35 or 35%)
8 High Ca Lime – 40 teaspoons or almost a cup (8/0.2=40)
5 Dolomite Lime – 25 teaspoons or a half-cup.

I already added the dolomite as a top dressing, scratched in; after the current run, it will be good to till the lime in. I will do the same with the high Ca Lime.

As far as watering in the sulfates. Chapin sprayer (1500ml but will use 1200ml as total). Question: why water them in? Answer: my concern is penetrating the soil more fully (i.e. not just the top surface) and watering over the lime can’t hurt. Question: how much water am I comfortable with adding over a few days consecutively? Answer: all answers can vary but I chose 200mil. This small amount of water with sulfates added per above, in each of my six pots, at the end of six days results in a full dose of the recommended sulfates.

[anova.330]

By now all of the parts have been amended per recommendation from Logan labs. I’ve also sprayed in the first couple rounds of nematodes. So here’s my next question.

The recommendation also states that you should repeat the test in 1 to 2 years I think. I am more likely to get a test now, to see if the amendments worked, and repeat the test in two years.

That would be amazing, for a soil to last two years without amendment, or is that what’s intended? Should I be pushing certain elements during certain weeks of flower? Let me know what you think and comments down below…

[Guest]

By now all of the parts have been amended per recommendation from Logan labs. I’ve also sprayed in the first couple rounds of nematodes. So here’s my next question.

The recommendation also states that you should repeat the test in 1 to 2 years I think. I am more likely to get a test now, to see if the amendments worked, and repeat the test in two years.

That would be amazing, for a soil to last two years without amendment, or is that what’s intended? Should I be pushing certain elements during certain weeks of flower? Let me know what you think and comments down below…

I have heard some say, a living soil can last for life if you look after it. Also, in one grain of sand there is enough to grow a plant, you just need to unlock it some of the facts you remember through rabbit holes 🕳

Maybe you could look at things from a different angle and perspective. A test wouldn't always show up all amendments, would it? Unlocked and bound up elements. I am no ecologist no soil scientist, but maybe you need more microbes, more of the soil web cycle from various critters.
What I mean is, there could be another 2 years worth of growing still there, you just need to get to it.

I used Ionic nutes in my last living soil as it dried out, so I chopped, dropped and left in the garden to rot down in the pot. I checked the other day and it was FULL of life and still had some fat red wriggles in there which took me back. Organic soils are more resiliant than we think, that's my take anyway.

[anova.330]

You bring up some good points @DIY.Rik instead of adding calcium or gypsum and trying to push it, I probably won’t do shit to the soil except for water in microbes.

Although I do like the idea of adding a layer of compost around the plant during transplant to flower. knowing me, I can’t add anything to the composter I’m going to be out of balance.

[Guest]

You bring up some good points @DIY.Rik instead of adding calcium or gypsum and trying to push it, I probably won’t do shit to the soil except for water in microbes.

Although I do like the idea of adding a layer of compost around the plant during transplant to flower. knowing me, I can’t add anything to the composter I’m going to be out of balance.

Well, I think there is a happy medium or balance to it. But I haven't grown for enough with soil to have that much experience to be honest.

Have you ever thought of using a cover crop for the last few weeks of flower, or even the last week, then turn them in for some Nitrogen fixing in there, leave to decompose and start another round...?

Maybe consider the cation exchange capacity? Add more clay for +/- charge.

[anova.330]

You bring up some good points @DIY.Rik instead of adding calcium or gypsum and trying to push it, I probably won’t do shit to the soil except for water in microbes.

Although I do like the idea of adding a layer of compost around the plant during transplant to flower. knowing me, I can’t add anything to the composter I’m going to be out of balance.

Well, I think there is a happy medium or balance to it. But I haven't grown for enough with soil to have that much experience to be honest.

Have you ever thought of using a cover crop for the last few weeks of flower, or even the last week, then turn them in for some Nitrogen fixing in there, leave to decompose and start another round...?

Maybe consider the cation exchange capacity? Add more clay for +/- charge.

I have to assume that, after adding all those amendments, the soil is balanced. I used to use cover crops, but I have not tried them in these pots yet. Until I can veg in the 10 gallon pots, I won’t use a cover crop. And the reason I cannot veg in my 10 gallon pots is because I have too many varieties running at the moment. No room.