Hackerman
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This might be a good sticky for the beginners forum (although, I learned a lot of new stuff by reading it and I'm not exactly a beginner).
http://mandalaseeds.com/
Click on the tab that says, "Grow Guides".
I'm sure most of you have seen this but I saw some rather astonishing things there. For example...
From their soil guide...
Is it necessary to add anything for drainage such as perlite, vermiculite, sand, expanded clay pebbles?
It is best not to add any additional materials to your potting soil. Horticultural grade potting soil is perfectly mixed for the best air-water ratio. Adding more non-nutritive substances depletes the water retention capacity of the soil, it unnecessarily "stretches" the soil and reduces the total amount of nutrients available to the plant, and it creates dry pockets in the container.
Adding a large amount of perlite/vermiculite (some growers add as much as 25%!) is a completely outdated practice from 30-40 years ago when there was only a very small selection of horticultural potting soil available for non-commercial gardeners. It is one of the unfortunate harmful practices in cannabis cultivation that many still cling to although they do not understand the reason or consequences.
Especially harmful is to fill the bottom of the container with coarse materials such as expanded clay pebbles. This is where most roots grow down looking for water and nutrients! If they reach a dry and sterile layer of substrate the delicate root hairs shrivel, valuable space is lost where the plant requires rich soil that stores moisture and minerals.
Doesn't everyone add perlite and vermiculite to their mix? Apparently, they don't approve.
Oddly enough, among the recommended soils you see Miracle Grow Potting Soil.
Fafard Professional Potting Mix
Kellogg Potting Soil
Supersoil Potting Soil
Sunshine All Purpose Planting Mix
Scotts Potting Soil
Miracle-Gro Potting Mix
Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix
Fox Farm Ocean Forest
Fox Farm Happy Frog
Some interesting info in the rest of their grow guides
http://mandalaseeds.com/
Click on the tab that says, "Grow Guides".
I'm sure most of you have seen this but I saw some rather astonishing things there. For example...
From their soil guide...
Is it necessary to add anything for drainage such as perlite, vermiculite, sand, expanded clay pebbles?
It is best not to add any additional materials to your potting soil. Horticultural grade potting soil is perfectly mixed for the best air-water ratio. Adding more non-nutritive substances depletes the water retention capacity of the soil, it unnecessarily "stretches" the soil and reduces the total amount of nutrients available to the plant, and it creates dry pockets in the container.
Adding a large amount of perlite/vermiculite (some growers add as much as 25%!) is a completely outdated practice from 30-40 years ago when there was only a very small selection of horticultural potting soil available for non-commercial gardeners. It is one of the unfortunate harmful practices in cannabis cultivation that many still cling to although they do not understand the reason or consequences.
Especially harmful is to fill the bottom of the container with coarse materials such as expanded clay pebbles. This is where most roots grow down looking for water and nutrients! If they reach a dry and sterile layer of substrate the delicate root hairs shrivel, valuable space is lost where the plant requires rich soil that stores moisture and minerals.
Doesn't everyone add perlite and vermiculite to their mix? Apparently, they don't approve.
Oddly enough, among the recommended soils you see Miracle Grow Potting Soil.
Fafard Professional Potting Mix
Kellogg Potting Soil
Supersoil Potting Soil
Sunshine All Purpose Planting Mix
Scotts Potting Soil
Miracle-Gro Potting Mix
Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix
Fox Farm Ocean Forest
Fox Farm Happy Frog
Some interesting info in the rest of their grow guides