Soil selection for autos

[Lubdub 451]

My local grow shops have a few organic medium options and I'm trying to chose the best soil for the autoflowers I'll be growing this year.

 

So my options are:

Bio Terra Plus

Guanokalong Complete Mix

Biobizz All mix

Biobizz Light mix

Plagron All mix

Plagron Bat mix

Plagron Pro Mix

Plagron Royal Mix (this is the slow release fertiliser one)

 

 

I'm currently using Bio Terra Plus and everything was fine until I over watered and now I'm just playing catch up, really. I'm happy to use it again but next time I'll be adding some perlite to help with drainage.

 

As far as I understand autos are light feeders so perhaps something more towards the light mix or bat soils would be best pick?

 

Plagron Pro mix sounds good too but I've never used their stuff, any good?

 

LD

 

 

 

Edited January 2, 2022 by Lubdub

[Herbal Kint 4,708]

Am using BB all mix first time and am happy with it,also autos.

Edited January 2, 2022 by Herbal Kint

[Lubdub 451]

@Herbal Kint

Nice, wasn't sure if to go with that one thought it might be too hot. How often are you feeding them?

[BilgePump 9,964]

Plagron bat mix is fairly spicy iirc , if autos are light feeders probably not the best choice.

 

[Krato 30]

I normally use bb light mix but my local supplier gave me a sample of cre light mix, seems to be good stuff

[Autobud 295]

I know it’s not on the list but I tend to use pm soil supreme and have done for a while, tried both bb and plagron but always found them full of chunks of shite and having to sieve a ton of crap out every time. 
 

Just ordered one of the canna bio terras to try for next run so will be interesting to see what that’s like, got on well with there bio range of nutes previously so hoping it’s pretty nice 

[Herbal Kint 4,708]

1 hour ago, Lubdub said:

@Herbal Kint

Nice, wasn't sure if to go with that one thought it might be too hot. How often are you feeding them?

As normal plant,every watering from day 25 or 30,until then maybe some root juice. Starting ml gr and bloom and cal mag.

[Clubs 817]

Any of those on the list would be good. Mix in 20-40% coco for some fast growth, alternatively,  get yourself a bag of Tropic Mix but you'd have to order it.

[QFMAC 1,720]

I'm growing an autoflower in BB Allmix. I did transplant it from BB lightmix at 12 days though.

[Lubdub 451]

1 hour ago, Autobud said:

Just ordered one of the canna bio terras to try for next run so will be interesting to see what that’s like, got on well with there bio range of nutes previously so hoping it’s pretty nice 

 

It's good stuff really, just be careful as it advises no perlite on the packet because of all the peat. But i found the soil in my current grow has compounded a ton and now i've got problems..

 

10 minutes ago, Clubs said:

Any of those on the list would be good. Mix in 20-40% coco for some fast growth, alternatively,  get yourself a bag of Tropic Mix but you'd have to order it.

Interesting, is this a common thing to do? And how does it affect feeding? 

Excuse me ignorance 

 

[Clubs 817]

12 minutes ago, Lubdub said:

 

It's good stuff really, just be careful as it advises no perlite on the packet because of all the peat. But i found the soil in my current grow has compounded a ton and now i've got problems..

 

Interesting, is this a common thing to do? And how does it affect feeding? 

Excuse me ignorance 

 

The added coco content means it will dry out a bit faster so it's harder to over water like I always do.  And it depends on your style of growing really whether it's organic, mineral feeding or whatever.  I'm pretty sure it's a bit harder to keep a living substrate thriving with a high coco content but works fine with mineral ferts.  Some of these companies like 'Biotabs' and 'Livingsoils ' recommend doubling the quantities of their products when used with coco so I suppose it's possible. 

[badbillybob 32,339]

i used to use all mix,it was fine for autos,  from seed to bud.

bat mix is also good, but a bit hotter

[catweazle1 4,727]

10 hours ago, Clubs said:

The added coco content means it will dry out a bit faster so it's harder to over water like I always do.  And it depends on your style of growing really whether it's organic, mineral feeding or whatever.  I'm pretty sure it's a bit harder to keep a living substrate thriving with a high coco content but works fine with mineral ferts.  Some of these companies like 'Biotabs' and 'Livingsoils ' recommend doubling the quantities of their products when used with coco so I suppose it's possible. 

If the coco wasn't buffered correctly before mixing, it may scavenge nutes out of the soil; that's why the need for doubling nutes.

[Newcouch 1,046]

so its organic but full of peat?

[Lubdub 451]

1 hour ago, catweazle1 said:

that's why the need for doubling nutes.

Is that doubling nutes right from the offset of use? So instead of 1ml fishmix you'd start with 2ml etc?

 

59 minutes ago, Newcouch said:

so its organic but full of peat?

If you're referring to the Bio Terra Plus then yes, it's organic and has white and black peat that they claim makes for a well drained soil. 

I found it became quite compressed and regret not adding perlite.