I’m organic now in living soil. I am going to tag two of my mentors that have big brain fulls of knowledge. @MeEasy @Skydiver . They turned me on to brewing compost tea, building my own soil and top dressing with nutrients.
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Cool, Thanks!
I definitely want to do at least 1 or 2 in the ground next year, so I’ll have to start working on the location early since it’s not been a garden space before.
The soil around here is mainly red clay with some loam. The clay is rich in minerals and trace elements but obviously compacts too much for oxygen penetration and drainage.
During a couple of guerilla grows in my 20’s i had pretty decent results by mixing composting cow patties or the good black layer of soil found under the leaves in the forest.
@Cannabian doesn’t help much with his pics of awesome landrace strains of immense size!! LOL!!
It’s inspirational!!
If I can get through this grow I’ll have a lot more confidence to try other things!!
Happy Growing Everyone!!
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UPDATE - It’s definitely spider mites…just found a pic on a Google search of “Young spider mites” and it’s exactly what I see.
At least I know now…
edit: Couldn’t repost because of file type…
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I know about clay. Dig six inches down anywhere in our yard and you hit it! My outdoor girls are in pots not only to avoid the clay but to move if non420friendly people stop by.
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My concoctions eradicated them in about two weeks. @Ning uses garlic and hot peppers.
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I guess I showed up like a blister after the work was already done 
… thanks for the tag @JaneQP it looks like you’ve figured out they are spider mites. Alcohol n water 50/50 mix works on the mites but there’s alot of over the counter stuff out there as well. Jane had a mix of natural stuff to my lady uses all those stinky oils and they work
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@MeEasy you aren’t a blister at all! I’ve met quite a few during my many years this side of the Earth.
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I have a recipe for a garlic cinnamon and some other stuff lol in my notes it says soil mites if you want me to post it I will gladly
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It’s just an ol joke, kinda for when you or someone is late
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I’ll try anything!! Thank you! Yes!!
The garlic cinnamon actually sounds bizarrely tasty! LOL!
This guy been hanging out on one of my outdoor New York Diesels all week!
I’ve named him Chico! I’m hoping he keeps away damaging pests! LOL!
My outside girls are all in pots too @JaneQP and believe it or not, 2 of the pots have the worst soil imaginable but somehow I’ve managed to get them by on Fox Farm nutes without frying the heck out of them!
I’m really hoping I caught them early enough to kill them off quickly. I don’t see any webbing yet which indicates new arrivals according to another site.
For the 50-50 alcohol and water are you phing the water? and using RO or distilled?
91% the alcohol to use?
Thanks for any help you can offer!!
HGE!!
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Some good pictures and info here as well
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Thanks man - I was just about to go to the guides and search the forums.
When I was finally able to zoom in close enough and see it good I knew what I was looking for. It’s hard to get a decent pic at that zoom range because the slightest movement shifts the focus. Am I gonna have to get a tripod for my tricorder? LOL!
All the info I’ve been reading indicates this is a newer crew and not well established. Hopefully I can eradicate them pretty quickly and get back to prepping for bloom. Without this set back I would have probably flipped in a week or two. Three max!
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I would ph the water if your water is way off either way but as long as it’s close to natural you’ll be fine. If you have ro or distilled it’s prolly better only because you won’t get the mineral white stuff lol and yes just regular corner store rubbing alcohol I’d have to look for the % but you’re prolly right with 91%
Here’s what I have in my notes, it’s a copy paste from somewhere on the internet. I’m just a note taker so I copy stuff I think I might use at some point… tha Amazon link was on the same page so I included it when I copied the page
• Garlic Spray
Leave 3 to 4 cloves in one gallon of water for at least three to four days. Dilute this solution with pure water then spray it directly on to the soil and the base of your plants.
• Mix dish soap with starch
You will need 3 drops of dish soap and 4 tablespoons of starch mixed together with 5 cups pure water. Like the garlic spray, you spray it directly on to the soil and the base but you will need to rinse off any part of your plant that may get sprayed with the solution
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I don’t see anything about cinnamon I must have saw that on one of the posts here and confused the two. Like I said this was in my notes and says soil mites, the alcohol I’ve used this I have not
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LOL! I can’t think of a single reason someone on this site might get their wires crossed!
Now let me get back to the sofa so I can remember why I walked across the room in the first place! LOL!
I do like the idea of the alcohol and water.
The only thing about that getting on my hands that would bother me is when it gets into the 10,000 micro-cuts this one year old spawn of Satan, disguised as a cat, leaves on my hands.
Run away from anythiing that crawls out from under a Honda CRV!! LOL! 
(Love my girl!)
Thanks for all the info!
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Well, I know it isn’t done yet and I totally plan on dousing them another time or two, but I plucked a couple of small leaves from the plant (Mary J) that started with the mites and I didn’t see any movement on them.
We don’t have an Ace but isn’t True Value the same company now? I’m gonna check their site and see if they have Jacks and if not will be ordering from Major Jeff, if Ground Control can get him on the space phone! I’m also gonna order some Safer’s concentrate and have it on hand to mix my own in the future. She has a lot of plants and doesn’t take as good a level of care as I do mine. I’d hate for some of her problems to invade my space!
I left the fans running last night after the soaking, but I didn’t aim them directly at the plants, Just barely across the tips so I could keep the air moving and get them dry before the “sun” came back on. You can tell they were sprayed with something all over, they kinda have a sheen, but they also look bright, lime green like they’re taking off on a growth spurt.
Is this what 5 hours under a HLG does for plants? WOW!!
As per usual, HER “to do” list takes precedent over mine, but I do plan on finishing the scrog frame and hopefully getting it into the tent and settled. Although I honestly might wait until Tuesday when my bakers racks get here and get it all in at once and be done with it.
Also still debating just giving them the flip and getting this crew out and the tent cleaned up good(and the lung room) and starting a new run. Hopefully bug free!
HGE!!
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Quick morning snaps.
They really like the new “sun” LOL!
I did add another couple of sticky traps too. I caught 2 gnat looking fliers so far.
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Definitely treat every plant in the house! MJ or not. All my houseplants get mosquito bit juice and sticky traps.
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You dont want to avoid clay, you want to utilize it… get some well rotted compost, either animal or plant or both ideally, and some course sand. Break up the clay, which is made up of dead organic matter, and mix it thoroughly with the other ingredients. This creates natures super soil. It is the most ideal type of soil for cannabis. Seriously the big problem with clay based soils is drainage. If you have deep clay then do as I said above but rather than diggin in… make mounds. Mounds have the benefit of shedding excess water, because the mound is above grade and water seeks grade or lower. If you dig a hole into solid clay its about the same as a pot with no drain holes. Try this method next season on you outdoor plants and witness the majesty of a well utilized clay soil. You wont regret it.
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You CAN dig in solid clay provided you just go deeper and leave room for a good 4-6" of course gravel (or even pea gravel but that’s a costly waste of decorative gravels 
) for drainage 
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