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I recently puchased the "HollandBasics Premium Bloom Booster 15-30-15 - Water Soluble Fertilizer" through Amazon. I am planning on using this with soil for my Hoyas. I see the text in your description where it says "Mix the recommended amount of fertilizer with water and apply to your plants during the flowering and fruiting stages for optimal results", but nowhere does it day what the recommend amounts should be? 1 tsp per 1 liter water? or????
The future of self-sufficiency in growing vegetables, produce, and various plants within the comfort of our homes has arrived. With increasing costs of living, food prices, concerns over freshness, and the demand for organic products, the traditional process of farming, transportation, and storage has become inefficient and potentially harmful to our health.
The solution lies in cultivating our own food at home. While space constraints may be a concern, numerous plants like herbs, microgreens, leafy greens, and kale can be grown in limited spaces, providing a bounty of fresh food. These plants can be harvested right before mealtime, maintain their freshness, regenerate without re-sowing seeds, and can be grown in various media like clay pellets, coco coir, or soil.
If you're ready to embark on this journey of urban self-sufficiency, here's what you need to get started.
**Required Materials:**
- 2x4x8 ft metal moving shelf
- Pulsar Mini LED lights (2 pcs per level)
- Propagation tray to hold pots and contain excess water
- Square pots for each plant
- Hydroponics nutrient solutions
- Growing media (soil, coco coir, or clay pellets)
**Step-by-Step Guide:**
1. Assemble the metal shelves, which can be found at stores like The Home Depot, Costco, or Walmart. Divide the shelf based on the height of your plants, adding an extra 6 inches for the lights. Keep the LED lights at an ideal distance of 6 inches from the plants.
2. Attach two sets of lights at the top of each level, evenly distributing them for optimal light coverage. We recommend the Pulsar Mini LED, known for its efficiency, power, and 3-year in-store warranty. It uses only 85w of energy. Use two lights per rack for maximum growth potential.
3. Place the tray across each level of the rack and insert square pots. Fill the pots with your preferred growing media (coco, soil, or clay pellets). Plant your seeds or plants and water them, ensuring excess water does not overflow the tray.
4. If starting from seeds, consider using an insert tray with 72 holes and HollandBasics Qik Rooters. Place seeds in the Qik Rooters, cover the tray with a dome, and expedite seed growth.
5. Once plants have rooted well, transfer them to the pots and monitor their growth. Check on them at least once every two days for water requirements, and maintain a stable room temperature. Use filtered water when possible for optimal plant health.
6. For nutrients, use the PlantiMatter Base Level kit. Follow the manufacturer's recommended mixing ratio for the best results.
7. Harvest plants as needed, allowing them to regenerate.
Congratulations, you have entered the future of urban farming! Enjoy the benefits of homegrown produce, saving money, and providing safe, educational access to food for your family.
For larger plants like tomatoes, peppers, or cannabis, divide the rack into separate compartments and distribute the lights accordingly. Follow the same process and use the recommended nutrient solution for a bountiful harvest.
Properly curing cannabis is pivotal to enhancing its quality, flavor, and potency. It also ensures the hard work put into growing the plant doesn't go to waste. Here's a step-by-step guide to ensure optimal results:
1. Set Up a Suitable Drying Environment:
After harvesting the flowers when the soil is moderately dry, find a small, secluded room. Here, you will hang your buds upside down by their stems. Using coat hangers or heavy-duty string stretched across the walls can be helpful. While hanging, ensure that large fan leaves and any dead leaves are removed.
2. Dry the Flowers:
The drying process varies, taking between 5-14 days based on room conditions and the moisture content of the buds. Aim to maintain a room temperature of 18-20 degrees Celsius with humidity levels around 50-60%. It's important not to rush this step. Instead of rapidly venting air, allow the flowers to dry naturally. Use small oscillating fans positioned beneath the hanging flowers. This ensures good air circulation, preventing any stagnant air pockets.
3. Check for Drying Completion:
The readiness of the flowers can be determined by lightly bending the smaller branches. A clicking sound indicates readiness, while the absence of it means more drying time is needed.
4. Prepping for Trimming: Gather the following:
Radio (for entertainment) Beverages (optional) Friends (optional, but they can make the process enjoyable and efficient) Several pairs of pruning shears Trimbin or propagation tray Disposable party sheets Isopropyl alcohol Glass cup Mason jars (2 liters or less for optimal curing) Boveda 62% 8g humidity packs (one for each jar)
5. Trim and Store:
Together with friends, methodically trim the buds. Aim to remove as much of the sugar leaves as you can, enhancing the overall aroma and flavor. Regularly swap out shears for those soaking in isopropyl alcohol to maintain sharpness. Once trimmed, place buds in Mason jars, filling them about ¾ full to ensure adequate airflow.
6. The Curing Process:
Retain the room's temperature between 18-20 degrees Celsius. There's no need for oscillating fans now. For up to 14 days or longer, "burp" the jars daily. This involves opening them, spreading the buds flat for around 30 minutes, and then returning them. This enhances the flavor and aroma. Don't be alarmed if a hay-like odor emerges temporarily; the true aroma will develop over time. Monitor the aroma during this stage. An ammonia scent indicates potential mold risks, suggesting that the buds may need additional drying.
7. Humidity Packs and Storage:
After achieving the desired dryness level, add a Boveda 62% 8g humidity pack to each jar. This helps in maintaining the perfect bud moisture, preventing over-drying or excessive moisture. For long-term storage, keep jars in a cool, dark environment, as light, especially UV light, can degrade the potency of the buds.
Additional Tips:
Mold Vigilance: During curing, be on the lookout for mold or mildew. If detected, remove the affected buds promptly to safeguard others. Extended Curing: Some cultivators swear by an extended curing process, storing jars for several months to further refine the flavor and smoke smoothness.
With this comprehensive guide and a bit of patience, you're well on your way to enjoying high-quality, homegrown cannabis. Remember to replenish your supplies from your trusted Holland Industry store. Enjoy your cultivation journey!
Powdery mildew is a widespread fungal disease affecting many plants. To effectively treat and prevent it, consider the following three natural and chemical-based treatments:
1. 29% H2O2 and Enzymes Komplete: This natural combination works by attacking and killing the powdery mildew spores with H2O2, while the enzymes decompose the spores to prevent regrowth.
Directions: Mix 50-100ml of 29% H2O2 with 1L of water, then add 2ml of Enzymes Komplete per 1L of water.
2. Sulphur: This natural mineral has anti-fungal properties that can help control powdery mildew. However, it may leave a lingering smell.
Directions: Mix 3-5g of HollandBasics Sulphur with 1L of water.
Chemical-based treatments:
3. Physan 20: This broad-range disinfectant, fungicide, virucide, and algaecide effectively controls various pathogens on hard surfaces and plants, providing overall protection for plants and greenhouses.
Directions: Mix 1 tablespoon of Physan 20 concentrate with 1 gallon of water.
4. Nova 40W: This powerful fungicide controls powdery mildew, rust, and scab on crops, protecting plants such as grapes, apples, root vegetables, ornamentals, and landscape turf.
Directions: For general plant types, including tomatoes and cannabis, mix 0.34g of Nova 40W per 1L of water or 3.4g per 10L of water.
To ensure long-term prevention, apply these treatments as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy during the vegetative and early flowering/fruiting stages on a weekly basis.
Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that affects a variety of plants. To effectively treat and prevent its occurrence, consider the following three treatments, including both natural and chemical-based options.
1. 29% H2O2 and Enzymes Komplete: This natural combination works by attacking and killing the powdery mildew spores with H2O2, while the enzymes decompose the spores to prevent regrowth.
Directions: Mix 50-100ml of 29% H2O2 with 1L of water, then add 2ml of Enzymes Komplete per 1L of water.
2. Sulphur: This natural mineral has anti-fungal properties which can help control powdery mildew. However, it may leave a lingering smell.
Directions: Mix 3-5g of HollandBasics Sulphur with 1L of water.
Chemical-based treatments:
3. Physan 20: This broad-range disinfectant, fungicide, virucide, and algaecide effectively controls a variety of pathogens on hard surfaces and plants, providing overall protection for plants and greenhouses.
Directions: Mix 1 tablespoon of Physan 20 concentrate with 1 gallon of water.
4. Nova 40W: This powerful fungicide controls powdery mildew, rust, and scab on crops, protecting plants such as grapes, apples, root vegetables, ornamentals, and landscape turf.
Directions: For general plant types, including tomatoes and cannabis, mix 0.34g of Nova 40W per 1L of water or 3.4g per 10L of water.
To ensure long-term prevention, apply these treatments as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy during the vegetative and early flowering/fruiting stages on a weekly basis.
