Autofacade
Well-Known Member
Welcome! So I've decided to make a little article with a list of amendments that I commonly use in my living soil both before a grow, during a grow and after. This is a list of all the NPKs and uses for each. It's more as a "note taking place" for myself that I will update and add to, but also for people to take a look themselves and even add their input. So welcome, and hopefully this helps some people!
NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potasium)
Nitrogen is used mostly for the growth and vegging stage along side potassium
Phosphorus for the flowering stage but also needed throughout.
Potasium essential in all phases of growth.
List of amendments and NPK value:
Horn & Hoof meal 13-0-0
Blood meal 13-1-0.6
Worm casts 1-0-0
Alfalfa meal 2.5-1-1
Bat guano K 3-15-4
Bat guano N 10-3-2
Bone meal 3-15-0
Steamed bone meal 1-13-0
Guanokalong fish 4-5-1
Fish blood and bone 5-5-6.5
Seaweed meal 1-0-4
Palm tree ash 0-0-30
Rock dust 0-0-1
Oyster shell meal 0.36-0-0
Epsom salt 0-0-0
There are hundreds more out there but these are the most common I use and hear about. But what does each product also do and what is it good for?
Horn Hoof meal:
Slow releasing good nitrogen source can take up to 4-6weeks to start releasing so get it early. Will continue to release nitrogen for up to a year. Helps green vigorous growth, healthy stems, soil structure and helps root growth.
Blood meal:
A quick release nitrogen fert. Breaks down alot quicker that horn and hoof it is also water soluble so can be watered in if needed. Be careful as this is a fairly hot amendment and can easily burn plants due to its quick release but great if your nitrogen deficient. Also to note can help lower ph in soils.
Worm castings:
IMO one of the greatest amendments out there! This super poop from worms is a great fertiliser that releases a small amount of nitrogen but this can never burn plants (it is a finnished amendment) so great for giving those seedlings and small plants a great beginning. By adding this to my seedling soil mix my babies never get hungry and grow alot quicker. This stuff is full of beneficial microbes and bacteria and humic acid which helps with nutrient uptake. It's also highly absorbent so it can be helpful to increase moisture held in the soil and with a neutral ph of 7. And the icing on the cake it's full of trace elements and minerals. What's not to love!!
Alfalfa meal:
This multi vitamin for your plants is great for a booster not only nitrogen but a little P and K also. This holds alot of trace minerals and vitamins such as A E and B. The best is that even as a powder it holds triacantonol a fatty acid which is a great growth hormone for your plants. Helps with root and stem production. This stuff is a growth boost on it's own. The best way to use alfalfa is to also make a sprout tea from them. (Check out my other links).
Bat guano:
Not the nicest of stuff.... bat poo but oh boy is it good for soil. This can help with soil structure act as a natural fugaside and can help keep nematobes in check. Depending on which one you have N or P (in the uk we can only get P) will depend on its use I will be talking about the P. This stuff is packed with phosphorus which can be used as top dressing, soil mix ingredient and in teas. It has a complete range of micro and macro nutrients and holds an abundance of microbial life, for me this is the flowering version of worm casts. It also buffers ph and helps with root growth creating lovely colonies of root fauna. This stuff is really something you want to look up as its list is endless. I always mix this in and add it all throughout flowering.
Bone meal:
Get this in early as it takes a while to start breaking down but a great slow release phosphorus amendment. Helping with soil structure and a great way of getting calcium into the soil with its constant slow release.
Steamed bone meal:
Same as above but steamed makes it softer and easier for the soil to break it down, Its also not as strong so wont burn your plants as easy.
Guanokalong fish/ fish blood and bone:
Is a bit of a multi purpose fert adding nitrogen and phosphorus but also a little potasium. This stuff is great for adding trace minerals also has a mixture of slow and quick releasing properties. Also helps with root development.
Seaweed meal:
One of the best things out there. With next to no NPK with only very small amounts of potasium. But this stuff is like gold dust. Whilst in the sea, seaweed is in a rich soup of minerals salts and goodness that it then absorbs. When you bring it into your soil all of it gets released as it breaks down. This lovely plant holds huge amounts of minerals, vitamins and natural enzymes creating a natural growth stimulant. It also helps with overall health of the plant making it more resistant to temp changes and disease. Studies have found that sea weed can increase yield to 40% in some crops. I use this from seedling until last couple weeks of flower. Seaweed meal in my soil and as top dress I also make fresh seaweed into mulch and liquid seaweed in my teas and foliar spray.
Palm tree ash:
The potasium boost king! Without potasium there is no nutrient uptake no photosynthesis and no growth or anything! With palm tree ash it gives all the potasium a plant will need I use a little in my soil mix, top dress through out the growth and up the quantities throughout the flowering stage. It also holds a some phosphorus and a good source of magnesium. Flowering the plants go into over drive and to get really big fruits you need potasium! Alot of growers mis out the potasium and focus on the phosphorus. And dont realise that those buds dont fill out or fatten up until it's too late. Get this stuff in your soil. Its partially liquid soluble so I add it to my teas aswell.
Rock dust/volcanic dust:
Packed full of minerals and trace elements I use this in flowering more so. To ensure that all the flowers develop to there full potential in size, aroma, taste and potency.
Oyster shell meal:
My biggest sauce of calcium (96% calcium carbonate), it is difficult to get calcium into your soil when using organics but this stuff makes up for it. It also has other micronutrients on board aswell. But It is a slow release fertiliser so by putting this into your soil early on pays dividend. Calcium is also very slow moving in the plant so make sure it's mixed into your soil well before using it. I then add this into my teas.
Epsom salts:
Good in small quantities alot of people use this in hydroponics also to add back in important magnesium to RO water. This stuff is strong so a little goes a long way. It is magnesium sulfate. By adding this into the soil it helps with healthy growth and avoiding one of the most common deficiencies... mag deficiency. Magnesium helps with the uptake and transport of nutrients especially nitrogen and Phosphorus two of the biggies! Having a deficiency can end up with almost a lock out affect.
All of the above amendments I use in my super soil mix and re-ammending soil once it's been spent. I never chuck my soil away it gets added to the pile along with anything that's left from my teas this way it can cook and break down while my currently crop is working away.
I hope this helps people. I like it just to remind myself of what when and why kinda thing.
NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potasium)
Nitrogen is used mostly for the growth and vegging stage along side potassium
Phosphorus for the flowering stage but also needed throughout.
Potasium essential in all phases of growth.
List of amendments and NPK value:
Horn & Hoof meal 13-0-0
Blood meal 13-1-0.6
Worm casts 1-0-0
Alfalfa meal 2.5-1-1
Bat guano K 3-15-4
Bat guano N 10-3-2
Bone meal 3-15-0
Steamed bone meal 1-13-0
Guanokalong fish 4-5-1
Fish blood and bone 5-5-6.5
Seaweed meal 1-0-4
Palm tree ash 0-0-30
Rock dust 0-0-1
Oyster shell meal 0.36-0-0
Epsom salt 0-0-0
There are hundreds more out there but these are the most common I use and hear about. But what does each product also do and what is it good for?
Horn Hoof meal:
Slow releasing good nitrogen source can take up to 4-6weeks to start releasing so get it early. Will continue to release nitrogen for up to a year. Helps green vigorous growth, healthy stems, soil structure and helps root growth.
Blood meal:
A quick release nitrogen fert. Breaks down alot quicker that horn and hoof it is also water soluble so can be watered in if needed. Be careful as this is a fairly hot amendment and can easily burn plants due to its quick release but great if your nitrogen deficient. Also to note can help lower ph in soils.
Worm castings:
IMO one of the greatest amendments out there! This super poop from worms is a great fertiliser that releases a small amount of nitrogen but this can never burn plants (it is a finnished amendment) so great for giving those seedlings and small plants a great beginning. By adding this to my seedling soil mix my babies never get hungry and grow alot quicker. This stuff is full of beneficial microbes and bacteria and humic acid which helps with nutrient uptake. It's also highly absorbent so it can be helpful to increase moisture held in the soil and with a neutral ph of 7. And the icing on the cake it's full of trace elements and minerals. What's not to love!!
Alfalfa meal:
This multi vitamin for your plants is great for a booster not only nitrogen but a little P and K also. This holds alot of trace minerals and vitamins such as A E and B. The best is that even as a powder it holds triacantonol a fatty acid which is a great growth hormone for your plants. Helps with root and stem production. This stuff is a growth boost on it's own. The best way to use alfalfa is to also make a sprout tea from them. (Check out my other links).
Bat guano:
Not the nicest of stuff.... bat poo but oh boy is it good for soil. This can help with soil structure act as a natural fugaside and can help keep nematobes in check. Depending on which one you have N or P (in the uk we can only get P) will depend on its use I will be talking about the P. This stuff is packed with phosphorus which can be used as top dressing, soil mix ingredient and in teas. It has a complete range of micro and macro nutrients and holds an abundance of microbial life, for me this is the flowering version of worm casts. It also buffers ph and helps with root growth creating lovely colonies of root fauna. This stuff is really something you want to look up as its list is endless. I always mix this in and add it all throughout flowering.
Bone meal:
Get this in early as it takes a while to start breaking down but a great slow release phosphorus amendment. Helping with soil structure and a great way of getting calcium into the soil with its constant slow release.
Steamed bone meal:
Same as above but steamed makes it softer and easier for the soil to break it down, Its also not as strong so wont burn your plants as easy.
Guanokalong fish/ fish blood and bone:
Is a bit of a multi purpose fert adding nitrogen and phosphorus but also a little potasium. This stuff is great for adding trace minerals also has a mixture of slow and quick releasing properties. Also helps with root development.
Seaweed meal:
One of the best things out there. With next to no NPK with only very small amounts of potasium. But this stuff is like gold dust. Whilst in the sea, seaweed is in a rich soup of minerals salts and goodness that it then absorbs. When you bring it into your soil all of it gets released as it breaks down. This lovely plant holds huge amounts of minerals, vitamins and natural enzymes creating a natural growth stimulant. It also helps with overall health of the plant making it more resistant to temp changes and disease. Studies have found that sea weed can increase yield to 40% in some crops. I use this from seedling until last couple weeks of flower. Seaweed meal in my soil and as top dress I also make fresh seaweed into mulch and liquid seaweed in my teas and foliar spray.
Palm tree ash:
The potasium boost king! Without potasium there is no nutrient uptake no photosynthesis and no growth or anything! With palm tree ash it gives all the potasium a plant will need I use a little in my soil mix, top dress through out the growth and up the quantities throughout the flowering stage. It also holds a some phosphorus and a good source of magnesium. Flowering the plants go into over drive and to get really big fruits you need potasium! Alot of growers mis out the potasium and focus on the phosphorus. And dont realise that those buds dont fill out or fatten up until it's too late. Get this stuff in your soil. Its partially liquid soluble so I add it to my teas aswell.
Rock dust/volcanic dust:
Packed full of minerals and trace elements I use this in flowering more so. To ensure that all the flowers develop to there full potential in size, aroma, taste and potency.
Oyster shell meal:
My biggest sauce of calcium (96% calcium carbonate), it is difficult to get calcium into your soil when using organics but this stuff makes up for it. It also has other micronutrients on board aswell. But It is a slow release fertiliser so by putting this into your soil early on pays dividend. Calcium is also very slow moving in the plant so make sure it's mixed into your soil well before using it. I then add this into my teas.
Epsom salts:
Good in small quantities alot of people use this in hydroponics also to add back in important magnesium to RO water. This stuff is strong so a little goes a long way. It is magnesium sulfate. By adding this into the soil it helps with healthy growth and avoiding one of the most common deficiencies... mag deficiency. Magnesium helps with the uptake and transport of nutrients especially nitrogen and Phosphorus two of the biggies! Having a deficiency can end up with almost a lock out affect.
All of the above amendments I use in my super soil mix and re-ammending soil once it's been spent. I never chuck my soil away it gets added to the pile along with anything that's left from my teas this way it can cook and break down while my currently crop is working away.
I hope this helps people. I like it just to remind myself of what when and why kinda thing.
