Nutrients Top dressing vs liquid

[SHRED]

What are the pros and cons of each of these nutrient delivery methods?
Is one better than the other?
Thanks

 

[Proph]

There are too many variables involved to give a general answer. Mainly, the grow style and medium used. The best way I can explain it without any specifics, is that top dressing is usually done with organic grows. Top dressing/organic growing, feeds the soil, which in turn, feeds the plant. Liquids/bottles bypass the soil/medium and feed the plant directly. Both ways work. One is just more natural than the other

 

[SHRED]

There are too many variables imvolved to give a general answer. Mainly, the grow style and medium used. The best way I can explain it without any variables, is that top dressing is usually done with organic grows. Top dressing/organic growing, feeds the soil, which in turn, feeds the plant. Liquids/bottles bypass the soil/medium and feed the plant directly. Both ways work. One is just more natural than the other

I'll be growing in Mother Earth "Groundswell" soil in 5 gallon Root Trapper II containers. I should have mentioned that. Thanks

 

[Proph]

I'll be growing in Mother Earth "Groundswell" soil in 5 gallon Root Trapper II containers. I should have mentioned that. Thanks

Ground Swell is actually a heavily amended soil. If my memory is right, I think it says on the bag that its for mature, established plants. I used when growing photoperiod plants. I wpuld transplant ready to flower plants into groundswell a few days before flipping the lights to 12/12. Its definitely not something I would start a plant in.

Imo, when you buy a quality, well amended soil, with all of that organic material (food) already in it, might as well use it!! Which means to use an organic style of growing. Add microbes (they break down the organic matter and turn it into plant food) and use teas or top dressing as needed. Soils like groundswell wont need anything more than plain water for the first 3-4 weeks.

If you want to use bottles, I'd look into mediums like coco, or promix. Both of those mediums contain zero plant food and require a food source from pretty much day one. Adding microbes to these mediums wont do much for you since there is no organic matter in the medium for the microbes to feed on and break down. Thus, the need for bottled nutrients that bypass the medium and feed the plant directly. 90% of the nutrients in liquid/bottled form, are available for the plant to use immediately.

Groundswell is good stuff.. Just not for seedlings or young plants. I've never grown an auto in it.. And probably wouldn't, unless I was experimenting. But its a quality soil mix for sure.

I choose to grown organic, using teas and top dressing. Mainly because I got tired of all the ph'ing and measuring. Also got tired of buying bags of soil. Growing organic allows you to reuse/recycle your soil. I bought two bags of Roots organic emerald mountain in like January.. That will last me a few years.

So again, its really a personal choice. I wont sit here and tell you one is better than the other. Its really all about what works best for YOU and YOUR situation/set up!

 

[SHRED]

Ground Swell is actually a heavily amended soil. If my memory is right, I think it says on the bag that its for mature, established plants. I used when growing photoperiod plants. I wpuld transplant ready to flower plants into groundswell a few days before flipping the lights to 12/12. Its definitely not something I would start a plant in.

Imo, when you buy a quality, well amended soil, with all of that organic material (food) already in it, might as well use it!! Which means to use an organic style of growing. Add microbes (they break down the organic matter and turn it into plant food) and use teas or top dressing as needed. Soils like groundswell wont need anything more than plain water for the first 3-4 weeks.

If you want to use bottles, I'd look into mediums like coco, or promix. Both of those mediums contain zero plant food and require a food source from pretty much day one. Adding microbes to these mediums wont do much for you since there is no organic matter in the medium for the microbes to feed on and break down. Thus, the need for bottled nutrients that bypass the medium and feed the plant directly. 90% of the nutrients in liquid/bottled form, are available for the plant to use immediately.

Groundswell is good stuff.. Just not for seedlings or young plants. I've never grown an auto in it.. And probably wouldn't, unless I was experimenting. But its a quality soil mix for sure.

I choose to grown organic, using teas and top dressing. Mainly because I got tired of all the ph'ing and measuring. Also got tired of buying bags of soil. Growing organic allows you to reuse/recycle your soil. I bought two bags of Roots organic emerald mountain in like January.. That will last me a few years.

So again, its really a personal choice. I wont sit here and tell you one is better than the other. Its really all about what works best for YOU and YOUR situation/set up!

I have grown autos with Roots Organics, OF, Coco Loco, and Groundswell from seed in the final container. I mix in EWC and extra perlite or hydroton.
I've tried many different feeding scenarios including Kindsoil and Mephisto Super Soil at the bottom.

I will say the Groundswell is my favorite soil so far. The plants grew quicker and darker green in it. I plan on using a starter soil like Light Warrior in the immediate seed area of the container so not to risk burn.

I'm now at the stage where I want a very simple and effective way to grow autos.
I'm not sold on the layer super soil method and its expensive. I don't like mixing tons of different nutrients.

It's kind of mind boggling to read other's grow methods.

Just looking for simplicity now.
Perhaps using top dressings with the Roots Organics Uprising series will work? I'm looking at adding Mykos as a top dressing also.
Also looking at Cal/Mag and what it takes to avoid deficiencies.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Proph]

I have grown autos with Roots Organics, OF, Coco Loco, and Groundswell from seed in the final container. I mix in EWC and extra perlite or hydroton.
I've tried many different feeding scenarios including Kindsoil and Mephisto Super Soil at the bottom.

I will say the Groundswell is my favorite soil so far. The plants grew wicker and darker green in it. I plan on using a starter soil like Light Warrior in the immediate seed area of the container so not to risk burn.

I'm now at the stage where I want a very simple and effective way to grow autos.
I'm not sold on the layer super soil method and its expensive. I don't like mixing tons of different nutrients.

It's kind of mind boggling to read other's grow methods.

Just looking for simplicity now.
Perhaps using top dressings with the Roots Organics Uprising series will work? I'm looking at adding Mykos as a top dressing also.
Also looking at Cal/Mag and what it takes to avoid deficiencies.

Thanks for reading.

Ahhh, you're well versed then! Sounds like you are at the verge of organic growing, lol. It's as simple as it gets. There are several options for top dressings. Some for veg, some for flower, some for microbes.. But each is better than mixing nutrients imo! I use the "Nutrient Pack", and the "Build a flower" top dresses from build a soil. 15 bucks each. Free shipping. I use bokashi oats as my microbe source. And I use a $3 bag of plain ole Epsom salt (1tblsp per gallon) for a cal/mag source. There are sooo many options out there! Your plan sounds good! Im sure you will find the method that works best for you!

 

[SHRED]

Ahhh, you're well versed then! Sounds like you are at the verge of organic growing, lol. It's as simple as it gets. There are several options for top dressings. Some for veg, some for flower, some for microbes.. But each is better than mixing nutrients imo! I use the "Nutrient Pack", and the "Build a flower" top dresses from build a soil. 15 bucks each. Free shipping. I use bokashi oats as my microbe source. And I use a $3 bag of plain ole Epsom salt (1tblsp per gallon) for a cal/mag source. There are sooo many options out there! Your plan sounds good! Im sure you will find the method that works best for you!

Thanks for the Build a Soil tip. I've contacted them.

 

[SHRED]

Ahhh, you're well versed then! Sounds like you are at the verge of organic growing, lol. It's as simple as it gets. There are several options for top dressings. Some for veg, some for flower, some for microbes.. But each is better than mixing nutrients imo! I use the "Nutrient Pack", and the "Build a flower" top dresses from build a soil. 15 bucks each. Free shipping. I use bokashi oats as my microbe source. And I use a $3 bag of plain ole Epsom salt (1tblsp per gallon) for a cal/mag source. There are sooo many options out there! Your plan sounds good! Im sure you will find the method that works best for you!

How do you use the Build a Flower for autos?

 

[Proph]

How do you use the Build a Flower for autos?

I just top dress with 1/2 cup.. Ususally I do the top dress once preflower has shown. Top dress, then use plain water to water it into the soil. Easy peasy. Or you can aleays do the "layering" technique like with the mephisto super soil. I dont like that method too much though. The roots can reach that mix well before flower.

And if you want to look into bokashi, homegrown bokashi is having a 50% off sale on their website. I think its good until Saturday. The code at checkout is SAVE50.

https://www.homegrownbokashi.com/

 

[SHRED]

I just top dress with 1/2 cup.. Ususally I do the top dress once preflower has shown. Top dress, then use plain water to water it into the soil. Easy peasy. Or you can aleays do the "layering" technique like with the mephisto super soil. I dont like that method too much though. The roots can reach that mix well before flower.

And if you want to look into bokashi, homegrown bokashi is having a 50% off sale on their website. I think its good until Saturday. The code at checkout is SAVE50.

https://www.homegrownbokashi.com/

Thanks.
I couldn't find how to apply bokashi other than they say to layer it.
I am interested for sure.
There website is kind of funky. I sent them an email.