Afternoon folks.
I have decided to give up on the Allmix. Its been a rum do, and I've still got two bags of this stuff in my shed. But the fact is that over the last two months or more I have been quite unable to maintain healthy plants in Allmix. I am having to pay out more in nutrients than enough, plus MG and gawd knows what else. Its a joke. Dunno what went wrong, it used to be easy piddly peasy in Allmix to keep healthy plants, but I am jiggered if I can at the mo. Its smells different too, and seems to me to have a slighltly different mixture, more peat and lumps of wood coming through. And at Biobizz prices, this is not something I care to continue with.
Soooooo....

What is the alternative?

Any suggestions? I could go straight over to JI (rather not, though), or I could get hold of some Levingtons a la Bish. But I would rather use a tested-for-weed-growing organic compost if at all poss.

Will be off to the shops on Saturday I suspect, so got till then to make me mind up.

probably worth a natter with VRG, he seems to be doing well with Kilo mix - it ain't organic though!

Is JAB any good and I dunno if it's organic or not

This is what i'm using Arnie - alongside BB grow, bloom and Fish-Mix.



Not had any problems so far, but I am unable to compare it to allmix (haven't, and wont use it). I reckon you could do a lot worse! Definatly worth giving it a twirl! Would be intersting to see how it performed in the smaller containers (mine are 25l). Or maybe give the biocanna compost a try. Bish is your man for organic composts available at yer garden centre tho.

Accoridng to them, it is organic but they have no OMRI or SKAL certification. Not something that bothers me atall. As we know, money talks.

VRG

I'm going to start using Kilo Mix as well just for vegging and keeping a mum in.

Just trying to find somewhere localish I can buy it from.

Thanks peeps. Keep it coming, I am eager to see what other 'posts folks use.
Will have a look out for that Kilo Mix though........

are you having to use Epsom salts wi that?

Directly, never. One foliar spray in veg.

That's good.
I wander where I can get it
Google no answer to that

Ave been wondering recently about this MG and BB How come we have to add it or spray? How come they (BioBizz) don't Put it in the nutes

I've used J.A. Bowers Organic with Perlite and had good results. I don't think ALLMIX is any good for veg imo I kept frying my seedlings wi it and just found it too hot, so I started using JAB for veg and then pot in to the ALLMIX for flower, seems to be working OK. I figured the ALLMIX would give the plants a good start wi the nutes contained in the compost

gota say i use a organic multipurpose with ji3 in it mixed usually to 70% mp 30% Ji3

Don't think that JI is organic, and neither is JAB

Sorry!

how come they get away with this!

I'm using Westlands multi-purpose just now, it's fine, no problems whatsoever.

I did a side by side with two identical clones, one in allmix, one in westlands multipurpose and the westlands one came out on top (by a gram or so )

the JAB organic seems to consist mainly of solid lumps of tree and I had a load of mushrooms start to grow out of it so I dont use it any more...

You can get JAB organic G, but it's pants.

I'm having good results with Westlands multi, and yep prefer it to the Allmix too......

RAZ

I`m trying out Canna`a rival to Allmix called Canna Proffesional. Sadly I`m having the same probs as with all mix. Having to mag them up quite a bit. Back to JI no3 I think.

Good thread, this Westland Multi-Purpose sounds alright, does it need a bit of Perlite mixing in?

I`m just growing in B&Q organic multipurpose compost..

I did the epsom salt thing at start of flower and day 30, and have no nute problems whilst using bio-bloom and grow.

Naah Binny,
It's light and airy enough.

I added a bit, about the same as is in allmix. The clone I had in westlands always needed a fair bit more water to saturate the entire pot than the same size clone in the same size pot but with allmix, and it could go longer between waterings which leads me to think any more perlite than allmix is unnecessary and none would probably be ok.

I just looked at westlands site and they do not list an organic compost that I could find.

What is the product you use called nigfis.

At the moment then, after all your most excellent input (Thanks again folks, this is what this site is best at - getting the Growing Info flowing) I am incined to be a tad more drastic than I thought earlier when I started this thread.
That is to say I think I may have decided to ditch the whole Bio-bizz range. Thing is, is the problem the compost, or is it in the nutes? How can one ever tell? If I replace one, the problem may be with the other and vice-versa. So best way forward it would seem is a clean sweep.
Right now that probably means going over to the Atami organic range. Kilo Mix and the associated nutes. My local Gro-shop is listed as an outlet for the Atami range so I shall pop round tomorrow I think and see what he's got.
Mind you, I could change my mind by morning!

The Westland Multi-Purpose I'm referring to and the one I thought nigfis was referring to is just the basic one, not organic AFAIK.

Arnold said "I would rather use a tested-for-weed-growing organic compost if at all poss." and so would I if possible.

However due to my locality and I'm not using Biobizz next time, I have no other choice but to look at non-organic options from others experiences.

OT, i think its the westlands multi w/ added JI, same as i`ve been playing with.

Thanks MDP, I think the mix should be a very good compost, but its not organic.

Arnie first and foremost VRG is using an inoculant additive in the kilo mix.

I would suggest you try the inoculant you bought mixed in a bag of allmix, and grow fresh cuttings in it and see what they do. I think you will be more than pleasantly surprised.

Hell OT, I'll try anythang right now its so damne depressing all that yellowing weed.
Inoculant?
Ah, that Mychrorhizal (Sp????) stuff? Yeah, that'll do a couple of bags worth I reckon. I'll let you know. Worth changing the Nutes d'you think?

that IS odd - I've got a sack of Westlands organic multipurpose compost - but it isn't on the website - could this be why some garden centres have been knocking it out at 3 bags for a tenner- discontinued?

Arnie I am trying both mycorrhizal and microbial inoculants at the mo, the plant responses are pretty impressive. Its a different make to the one you have but will contain similar fungi species.

In case your problem in a build up of pathogenic fungi in the mums root zone try making new cuts and inoculating them as soon as rooted.

Well this is very interesting. I have 2 sacks of allmix here for this grow...and am going to be potting them on soon, to go 12/12. The mycorrhizal ...would it need to be added before I pot on....ie is it to be mixed into the compost or could I just suck it and see how it goes with the allmix first and then add anything as needed??

EO

Ooops!
I should'a mentioned that.

I always use it, wether that be in compost or coir.



Yes...

I can contribute bugger-all to this discussion,but I just wanted to echo what Arnie said..this thread is what the sites' all about.... fantastic info...


Thanks...



Laz

EO, the Mycro-watsit that I have is in a sort of powder form. You add it to "the hole" (oo-err, ) when potting up. I'll be givin' it a bash then, and will report back. May be pot a little one up tommorow.........

Something you've not mentioned Arnold tho I dunno if it's helpful - how old is your Allmix?

Just thinking if it used to work and you've had bags of it sitting around.... it does go off right? I'm sure I've read that around. or mebbe your supplier is using old stock

Westland peat free multi with added JI

No compacting,airy,nuf perlite,good root penetration.good drainage.

Regards JAR

Yup. Same stuff. Not organic, but alternatives are expensive.
I'm sticking with BioBizz nutes though, they have been giving me consistently good, sweet smoke.

Insurgent - the 2 bags have been here 6 days now. Before that who knows, because Biobizz don't date-stamp the bags.
Don't ask me why not, though.

Already has abit of perlite in there ...

RAZ

In reply to where u get E/salts.

Try one of the big high street chemists.

Retails about £1.50 a Box

The Pound shops do good little spray hand pumps,perfect for the folier spray during Veg

I've switched to Atami Kilo-mix + using miyccorzial funghi and their ATA-"Organics" nutes after having a string of problems with biobizz allmix and nutes. A couple of months back I thought I had cracked the mystery biobizz defficiency problem but it came back and again I had wrecked looking plants by the end of flowering which defied any combination of treatment with grow, bloom, epsom or maxicrop or nothing.
I found my yields being drastically reduced and my buds always having a vinegary, acetic taste that left a coating around the mouth like varnish. Ughh.

Since the switch, I have no problems whatsoever and my lost growing confidence is back. Yes, I know Kilo-mix isn't organic but it does do a great job.
I have a green Flo and a purple flo (amongst other ladies) just finishing flowering. Flo is notorious for being a fussy feeder. I found that both girls thrived perfectly in the kilo-mix by just adding water and a single 1/2ml per litre of the bloom-c in the water at about day 32 of 12/12. They are a week or so from being chopped and they smell divine. I smoked a quick-dried bud today and it tasted great too!
I can thoroughly recommend Atami Kilo-mix for Flo. It could almost have been made for her. More hungry strains will require more food, obviously, but kilo-mix will provide a good solid nutrient base to start with, regardless.

Details: Plants 7 week veg to 30ins height under 2 blue, one red 125W envirolites. Started in 4inch pots. Week 3 transplanted to 7inch pots, innoculated with miccorzial funghi. Week 5 transplanted to 11inch pots. Week 7 transplanted to 13inch drilled buckets and went to 12/12. Flo rooted very quickly in the kilo-mix+innoculant. Just added water, nothing else just that one dose of bloom-c. They have grown perfectly and are now at day 47 of flower Under a cool-tubed 600W Grolux. They are still looking great from top to bottom.

I can't recommend kilo-mix+innoculant highly enough for DP Original Flo. Just remember she's fussy about temps and over-watering too. Keep temps at about 24C max, if you can, and don't water till dry. She hates being too wet for too long.

Has anyone heard of Plagron? I cant find anything much about them in english (or any other language I understand), but a website here is selling 2 kinds,(lifted from website)

"Grow-mix is a ready-to-use potting soil blend that has been entirely pre-fertilised.
The blend includes white peat, Baltic peat, Irish white peat chunks, Sphagnum, black peat, worm manure, and organic manure. Excellent white peat blends have been used to guarantee the airiness of the medium.
Plagron Grow-mix can also be supplied with perlite."

and Royalty mix,
"An indispensable aid to the true grower:
The blend of blends, Royalty-Mix !!!

This top-class Plagron product is an entirly organic composition.

You can grow an entire harvest with it without additional fertilisation, only add water (of course you can always add supplements, but they are not required for a good result)."

50 litres of growmix is £8.75, royalty mix is 11.99.
I have never tried this.....

Edited to say THE WORDS IN QUOTATIONS ARE THIERS NOT MINE

Hello Jozzer,

I think Bu has used Plagron Royalty Mix. But from what I can gather the product is not organic. While I found it in the "organic" section of a grow shop, when I got home and asked here I was told it wasn't certified as organic in this country.

EO edited to add, I think they also do a product called "wormen humus" which I think (not sure) is organic. But don't quote me on that!! Here's a link to a thread here discussing it!

This is one of my girls, 8 days in ALLMIX I had a lovely healthy plant all the way through veg, re potted in to ALLMIX for the first time and 8 days later ya have dying leaves

yawn -Plagron is yet another "bio" or "american organic" product, flogged at a premium price on the strength of a few natural ingredients

After following this threat, and others im a little confused as to which types of compost are best, ones containing peat or ones not containing peat?
Im 6 weeks in to my first organic grow using BB LightMix (no AllMix availible at the time with my suplier...) using BB Grow and BB Bloom and have 6 ladies, I have also had slight yellowing on my plants, but not having used any Epsom salts iv put this down to Mg defficiency
Iv also been experimenting with TopMax by using it with 3 of my ladies and 3 without, so far im not seeing much noticable difference, anyone have any views regarding BB TM?
Im going to start some more cuttings off soon and was considering an alternative compost to the BB range, but keeping to my currents nutes (minus the TM), so peat or no peat...?

can anyone tell me if clover organic multi purpose compost is actually organic.

Scotlander, check your rootball and see if it fills the pot....looks about time to pot on to me!
Thanks EO....hard to find a replacement huh?

It was re potted 8 days ago

Nifty not being rude here but if the the problem is/was fungal, using inoculants helps plants fight it off. Did you try inoculant with the Biobizz before trying kilo mix.

As a note it is unlikely that any soil bourn pathogenic fungi are present in fresh compost, but them being present on seeds is a distinct possibility, sterilising seeds before planting should be a standard practice. Sub clinical infected cuttings will also spread them.

There seem to be several attitudes here along with a total lack in balance. This forum is about growing organically and helping members who want to do this. Lets have discussions about other composts in the inorganic section please.

We have people recommending cheap composts that are not organic saying this works, main one being mentioned is westlands MP plus JI. These are none organic and not an alternative so off topic, as I said this forum is about organics for people who want to use organic compost and grow organically.

I almost get the feeling there is a lynch mob attitude looking for a common thing to blame. So I'm trying to outline all the organic alternates.

Organic composts for, the want to do it cheap members are:-

Rated best by Which of the group tested.
JAB New Horizon grow bag 6p a litre
JAB New Horizon MP 7p a litre

not as good
B@Q organic grow bag 4p a litre
B@Q organic grow bag 5p a litre

I don’t know anything about the organic betagro compost mentioned by OMH, lets see how he does with it, very interested to hear how it does.

The main thing about these cheap mass produced products is that they are very low in base fertilisers.

The fertilisers that they contain while being from the ukrofs/eu 2092/91/92 regulations, they are mainly animal based, ie things like bone meal, blood, hoof and horn etc. So they may not be something a vegetarian, vegan or anyone concerned about bse would want use.

None of the cheap range have certification, but being in the main market they will be checked out by trading standards, re:- that they comply with ukrofs/eu 2092/91/92 regulations.

The more expensive so called made for cannabis composts, or should we say ones distributed and sold through grow shops that mainly supply cannabis growers.

Biobizz is registered as organic by SKAL in Europe, its base ferts in allmix are:- Derived from: GM free Soybean Meal, Molasses, Green kelp, Seaweed, and Composted Chicken Manure and worm compost. Price range 20 to 25p a litre.

To reuse after a grow riddle through a sieve to remove roots per 50 litres add 2.5 litres of pre mix and 5 litres of worm compost, mix, job done. Cost 5.72p about 10p a litre. If the reused compost has been inoculated when first used the beneficial should survive continue there job as long as the compost is not allowed to totally dry out.

As far as I know the only other purpose made compost for cannabis complying with the eu standards and made for the cannabis market that has been tested and SKAL certified is the organic Canna range.

Other purpose made canna composts may comply with ukrofs/eu 2092/91/92 regulations, but the companies just say they are organic without certification. With a reputable company this would not be a problem. But most of the canna bizz producers are shady hiding under the cannabis black market, so in my opinion can not be trusted. As an example I got a cellmax representative after a long email exchange to admit they use what they call mineral nutrients to balance and supplement some of their fertilisers sold as organic. Well those minerals are chemical and not on the eu 2092 list. In the uk they can’t really be sold as organic. Any reputable manufacturer would sell them as organic based fertilisers.

I tried talking to Atami about their new organic range at the London hemp show, telling them I helped with the uk420 organic section, where information about organic growing was published. Their attitude was petty arrogant, I said all I wanted to know was were all the ingredients included in their organic range compliant with the eu 2092 list? The reply was it will grow great tasting plants its good! Yes I’m sure it does, but but does it comply with the eu organic regulations, [long convo in Dutch] finally the guy in charge says to a minion give him any samples he like, I was offered 5 litre containers, anything I wanted. I said I don’t want samples, I just want my question answered. I was told basically to piss off.

So I wrote to nutriculture the uk importers. Nothing, not even an acknowledgment.

I have also written to plagron several time. None of them will answer the very simple question I ask, ‘will you give me a written guarantee for each of your products that complies compleatly with the eu organic 2092/91/92 regulations’.

It seems a lot of Dutch companies are looking to jump on the organic name to charge top prices with products that do not comply with the most basic organic requirements. IMHO this is profiteering, but the canna bizz is good at this.

Has anyone tried fertile fibre compost? It is expensive at a rrp of £11.99p for 75 litres re 16p a litre, its made in the uk and has full SA certification. But is heavily fertilised.

Here is the Which chart for cheap non specialist uk compost tests.

As a point these are root bound plants, the pots are 8 cm x 8 cm square in our home made compost using Biobizz base ferts and worm. I have given them the odd dash of maxicrop is all, I can't hold them back, the thing is they have no infections. It shows the two extremes of types sat dom and full indica.

Every leaf is healthy, the brown on the bottom sat leaf is soil stain from it being buried.