This blog goes overboard with everything you would ever need to start a premium at home indoor grow. Follow along for the key details.
BuildASoil Grow Journal #1 from BuildASoil on Vimeo.
Hello and welcome to the first BuildASoil.com Grow Journal! I am Jeremy Silva and the founder of BuildASoil and growing plants is my passion. That passion led me to building soil that spoiles them. Lately I've been in the office and on the phones a little too much and this Journal is the results of a goal I have to spend more quality time in the garden. I've had a lot of changes in my personal life over the last year and that has changed the location of my garden. That being said I think this is a perfect opportunity to highlight what it actually takes to start a high quality and low budget home grow. Instead of making it appear really cheap and only mentioning how much it costs to make your own soil, I figured I would highlight the absolute most expensive way to do this, which is to purchase everything brand new all at once including all the little details.
This Grow will highlight what any average home grower should be able to do on thier own using minimal plant numbers and a fully organic approach.
We’ve had an overwhelming response to our grow videos and blog content but realize that we need to put a complete grow together from start to finish to help our friends understand some of the basic principles. This grow journal will highlight our BuildASoil style of indoor cultivation starting from seed through harvest. Instead of attempting to teach every variable we will show you a basic home setup and discuss the principles that make this all work. If you have specific questions, please leave them below and I’ll do my best to answer them directly.
Keep in mind many of the expenses below are not neccessary and are one time costs that you could easily save by buying used or getting creative.
Genetics:
#1: Truth Tree by Boneyard Seeds Norcal (Mandelbrot VIII x Redwood Kush)
#2: Ektoplasm by Verified Genetics (Ghost OG x Bazooka Bumble)
I'm honored to have these packs and will be sprouting 6 Seeds From Each pack due to limited Plant Numbers.
This setup will be for twice what the average grower will use because I'll be comparing two different growing styles. Geo Pots vs. Earthbox Sub Irrigated Planters. I'll be vegging and flowering in two seperate 4x4 tents.
Veg Room:
4x4 Grow Tent : $174.95
150w Endomaxx Grow Light: $350.00
DuraBreeze Orbital Wall Fan 12": $51.95
DuraBreeze 6" Ducting 25': $18.00
DuraBreeze 6" Inline Fan: $124.95
DuraBreeze Duct Defender: $10.50
2 Gallon Geo Pot Velcro Transplanters x 6: $30.00
Black Plastic Trays for under 2 Gallons Geo's x 6: $12.00
BuildASoil Biodynamic Recipe x 2: $40.00
Humidity Maker Set: 6 disc for $175.00
Total Veg Room Cost: $987.35
With both tester tents running the cost will be double which you may want to consider if you are going to be growing perpetually with one dedicated veg tent and one dedicated flower tent. For this grow we will be vegging and flowering in the same spot without moving to a separate flower tent.
Flowering Upgrades:
I'll be flowering in 2 seperate 4x4 tents which will show you the possibility of our 2 favorite growing styles. Earthbox Sub Irrigated Planters Vs. 15 Gallon Geo Pots.
4x4 Tent x 1
Earthbox Wellness Garden - BuildASoil Style x 3: $300.87
Endomaxx 315 CMH additional Lighting: $500.00
Flowering Upgrades Total: $800.87
4x4 Tent x 2
Endomaxx 315 CMH additional Lighting: $500.00
Black Saucers x 3: $15.00
15 Gallon Geo Pots Black With Handles x 3: $28.20
BuildASoil Biodynamic Recipe x 6 Bags: $120.00
Barley Straw Mulch x 2 Cubic Feet: $18.00
Alternatively you could use Cocoa Shell Mulch
Cover Crop Seed 1/2 Pound bag: $5.00
Flowering Upgrades Total: $686.20
Extra Products to Support the Living Soil System:
Rootwise Mycrobe Complete: $45.00
Malted Barley 2lb: $10.00
TeaLab Tea Brewer Kit: $73.80
Worm Castings 1 Cubic Foot Bag: $40.00
Liquid Gem Organic Fish Hydrolysate: $18.00
Extra Product Cost Total: $186.80
Integrated Pest Management:
Chapin Sprayer: $110.00
IPM Kit #2: $108.62
Hypsoapsis Miles Predator Mites: $35.00
Nematodes: $40.00
IPM Cost Totals: $293.62
NOTICE: These are ONE time costs! After this your cost per grow is limited to Compost Tea, Topdressing and a few extras like electricity and water.
Basic Seed Sprouting Info:
1. Good Seeds
2. Good Soil
3. Plant the seeds about 1/4" deep. Place seeds sideways in hole and then cover with soil and tamp lightly to make sure the seed won't move once watered.
4. Cover with mulch of some sort and keep the top of the soil moist.
5. Avoid temperature extremes and if possible consult VPD charts for Humidity vs. Temperature ideals.
For more detailed info on germinating seeds check this post out.
http://mandalaseeds.com/Guides/Germination-Guide
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If you have been reading about cultivating indoors with organic soil then you've heard of SubCool's Super Soil. I admit to starting with this mix and thought I was really doing something special when I first went for it. I bought all the stuff and was really excited to use it.
My results were actually pretty good, but I've since moved on I think you should too.
Besides the "base soil" being purchased instead of made from scratch, I have many other issues. All in all this taking bagged soil and adding worm castings and nutrients isn't a bad idea, but it can be improved upon and money can be saved.
Here is the Recipe: 8 large bags of a high-quality organic potting soil with coco fiber and mycorrhizae (i.e., your base soil) 25 to 50 lbs of organic worm castings 5 lbs steamed bone meal 5 lbs Bloom bat guano 5 lbs blood meal 3 lbs rock phosphate ¾ cup Epson salts ½ cup sweet lime (dolomite) ½ cup azomite (trace elements) 2 tbsp powdered humic acid
Now I'll go through each item: Read more.....
