Do I need fertilisers outdoors and what are some suggested soil conditioners?
If your soil is good (rich in minerals good drainage ect) and its not a permanent location, you might
not even need to fertilise at all however it’s suggested you add a little
during the flowering cycle to give it a boost when forming it’s heads. The suggested nutrients to look for to assist here are rose flowering nutrients it is a common misconception that cannabis is very similar to tomatoes, Rose nutrients however are best as the requirements for the best rose formation and head formation are close to identical.
If However your growing in the same location year after year or if your soil
is poor to begin with, you will need to add amendments. Some organic amendments
will improve the texture and drainage as well as supply nutrients, and they
have the advantage of not building up into a toxic condition. Below are some
common organic additives commonly used to condition soil.
Nitrogen
Blood meal: Blood meal is a by product of the
meat-packing industry and has a nitrogen content of 12-14%. The nitrogen is
available in a short time, but it does little for the mechanical properties of
the soil.
Cottonseed meal: A by-product resulting from the
extraction of oil from cottonseed. Commercial cottonseed meal has nitrogen
content of 6-7%. Generally it is used as a partial source of nitrogen in mixed fertilisers. The nitrogen is readily available.
Urea: Urea is a white crystalline compound containing 46% readily
available nitrogen.
Fish emulsion :This is prepared from non-edible fish and waste from
fisheries. It has about 8% nitrogen.
Phosphate
Bone meal: There are two
kinds of bone meal raw and steamed.
Steamed bone meal has less nitrogen than raw, but more phosphoric acid. This
material releases its nutrients slowly so can be used without fear of injuring
the crop.
Rock phosphate: Mineral
occuring in deposits throughout the world. Its effectiveness is dependant on
its degree of fineness, and the reaction of the soil.
Slag: Finely ground by-product of steel manufacture. Its free lime
content makes it of special value in the reclamation of acid soils.
Potasium
Wood ashes: Ash from wood is a
great natural source of Potasium
Seaweed/Kelp: Seaweed or kelp is a
great way to add Potassium and a few
other minerals to your soil . It can generally be found in most of your organic
all round additives
Other
Compost :A great source of many organic minerals and a great way to
re-use those scraps that would normally just go into the bin.
Fulvic Acid : Fulvic acid improves a plants all around general health
and greatly assist in boosting nutrient/mineral uptake .
Lime: Lime is a good way to stop your soil from going to acidity,
limestone chips are a good long term solution for both draining and promoting
bacterial activity.
Guano:The composted or fossilized excrement of a roosting vertebrate (
eg bat).
Castings: Composted or fossilized Invertebrate excrement (eg worms )
Gypsum: Gypsum assists in the uptake of potassium
and sulfur and the conditions soil.