TLO: For dummies, from a dummy.

[wg]

I strongly encourage you guys to go easy with the teas, and I can not emphasize enough how important it is to let a really strong mix cook/cure. The time and resources need to be invested up front, without trying to replace it with any mix/concentrate in a bottle or a bag. If you can't afford everything, it is better to wait until you can, rather than substitute.

New or improved organic amendments will show up from time to time, and they are always worth investigating. There are phenomenal new, organic technologies regarding improved availability of nutrients to plants (i.e. Biozome, Humic DG, etc.) that are coming out regularly, so it doesn't have to be boring... there are always new amendments worthy of consideration to add to your mix. But, if it looks like a short-cut... I advise extreme caution with regard to the integrity of your mix.

This is the best piece of advice given over the entire 7 pages. This is something I understood right away and am very grateful for tx stressing this point to me. Switch over to TLO slowly while using your current set-up if you're interested in TLO, buy amendments little by little. I have 4 of my amendments so far out of 16 that I need/have planned. Not including my soil base. (Will be SS#4) I figure by the time I move in October I'll have everything all set and ready to go so when I start up in my new place I can just run TLO from the jump. I'm going to let my mix cook 30-45 days before I move. Not that suspicious to move a trash can IMO.

Also, if you haven't gotten in 7 pages that TLO isn't about feeding the plant as much as it is having a good support system for your beneficial bacteria and feeding it - go back and re-read these 7 pages. Teas are great but they're not the point of TLO. Teas should be simple not extravagant. This isn't hydro or soil-less the best and most used feed is plain pH'd water.

 

[duffpp]

One thing I need to force myself to do is differentiate the auto forms the regular flower cannabis I am used to growing. You are right Tester and Wg, I can see where teas may be less effective or detrimental with an auto. Top dressing and teas are not a quick solution for for any deficiency in TLO. And that was my point earlier, really, that less is sometimes better. But if everything is dialed in up front and your soil mix has cooked properly, then most autos should be "just add water" grows.

And a good flushing will probably be essential I would assume. Has anyone tried flushing by sticking the cut plant stem in a bucket of plain water for a day or two? I've done this a few times as a time saver and it works pretty well.

 

[The Dude]

LOL TeacherX is just about right too.LOL!

Hey brothers,just to make a little more sense about what I have going on,please let me know what else I may need to add and/or need to do for my soil mix.I've been buying stuff over the past month and adding to my soil mix which is very basic but it'll cook till around late June or mid July.

Its sorta taken from The Three Little Birds Method.

I have about 15-20 Gallons of Used soil that was rinsed and flushed with the snow and all the rain over the winter and then I dried it out and mixed into it.


Roughly 20 Gallons of used Soil.

1.5 Cups of Kelp Meal.

2 Cups of Bone Meal.

2 Cups of Pulverized Dolomite Lime.

4.5 Lbs. of OMRI Listed organic worm castings.

Half a Box of Green Sand.about 1.5 LBs.

Half a box of soft Phosphate Rock.About 1.5 LBs.

I think its about 1 Cup of OMRI Listed Azomite as well.

I watered in with a sprayer as I turned my soil, some Maco Madness.about 2 gallons=1 tsp.

Im gonna grab a 3LB. box of Diotomaceous Earth by months end too and add Half of that too.or more if ya'll recommend to do so.

I know its not a perfect blend but is this a sufficent start for an Auto Grow in 2 1/2 -3 Months from now?If not please let me know one or two things I can add to spruce it up a little better.ofcourse other than the rest of the actual recipe which I plan on getting the Alfalfa meal and the D.E.

And with the teas Im interested in,does it not work as a feeding method and to tune up your soil?I was thinking something like every third feeding or so.Assuming it needs it.Or lookin funky or something.I know its not a quick thing but,do I have this all wrong?I dont have the Soil(s) yet.Well the Dr. Earth and from what its said,since I kicked it off a couple weeks ago,Im hopeful that those gals in that soil grows well.Sorry if Im not making a lot of sense,Ive just not slept in a couple days now,so i figure why not a third.LOL! Thanks guys for any intel you can help provide me with would be awesome.Thanks.

:group::group::group::group::group:

 

[duffpp]

If anything, I would probably add some all purpose balanced fertilizer in the mix. The rock phosphate and greensand are both good long term additions, so since you have a good long cook time, give the microbes something they can assimilate into the mix for immediate use. But I would say you could get a good grow out of what you have now, especially since you've got the recycled soils in the mix.

 

[X]

If anything, I would probably add some all purpose balanced fertilizer in the mix.

You are aware this is the organics section, right?

And with the teas Im interested in,does it not work as a feeding method and to tune up your soil?I was thinking something like every third feeding or so.Assuming it needs it.Or lookin funky or something.I know its not a quick thing but,do I have this all wrong?

Brother, your recipe is way short of the most important thing... microbes. The only amendment I see with any is the worm castings and you have very little of that, compared to what I would use... I would use at least 30lbs for that much mix.

Dude... You make it difficult for yourself when you incorporate things that are not directly recommended, without understanding how it will affect your result. You have incorporated azomite and bone meal (which is not considered organic), which is okay I guess... but, there are no guanos or manures. So, the mix you have been cooking, has not actually been cooking... it has just been sitting.

https://www.autoflower.org/f89/answer-19728.html

 

[StickMan]

Hey brother X, thanks again for all the great information and help

Finally learned how to give + reps.

 

[d4n]

Excellent thread, I've grown using organics and soil less mixes but have been reading teaming with microbes and it's changed how Iook at things. Will be prepping my super soil soon, thanks for this,it's all very well said. Anyone who is interested in the beasties should definitely look into finding a copy of that book. Stay green and safe all.

 

[The Dude]

Yeah Ive read pretty much everything on this site for TLO growing and my learning disablitiy rears its ugly head yet again.I was hoping the maco madness I watered it in with would have helped.I forget stuff all the time when I post stuff.I added 2.5 lbs of Jamacian guano and about 2.5 pounds of worm castings as well.frigin balls man,I feel like a complete holeass right now.Well Thank you all for the desire to help me.But I guess I just dont get it.

 

[DABaracuss]

You are aware this is the organics section, right?

Brother, your recipe is way short of the most important thing... microbes. The only amendment I see with any is the worm castings and you have very little of that, compared to what I would use... I would use at least 30lbs for that much mix.

Dude... You make it difficult for yourself when you incorporate things that are not directly recommended, without understanding how it will affect your result. You have incorporated azomite and bone meal (which is not considered organic), which is okay I guess... but, there are no guanos or manures. So, the mix you have been cooking, has not actually been cooking... it has just been sitting.

https://www.autoflower.org/f89/answer-19728.html

Is blood meal the same thing as bone meal?I have a bag of Espoma Blood Meal and want to add it to my 30gal tote of soil but i dont know how much to add bag is not clear and says 1tsp per plant lol.Ill check their web site.Also waht can i add to give more Brix?

 

[X]

Is blood meal the same thing as bone meal?I have a bag of Espoma Blood Meal and want to add it to my 30gal tote of soil

No. Blood meal is high in "N" and bone meal is high in "P". Put about 1 1/2 cups in your 30 gal tote... but, it will need to cook for a month with the rest of you mix berfore you use it.