ok let me explain a situation.

Let's say that in my backyard I have a forest garden or a paradise garden or whatever you want to call it. Basically for two years I built up all the soil in my yard organically by doing things like sheet mulching and cover cropping and composting constantly. Nothing was planted except for the trees I wanted to get started quickly. Fast forward to present day and my yard is slowly becoming the paradise I dreamed of. The soil is rich, soft, and loamy all over. The developed trees keep it in place and keep it rich. All my other vegetables and fruits thrive(for the most part). I still continue to compost and sheet mulch in the offseason to maintain and further build fertility, but my garden by in large takes care of itself through leaves falling and other ecologically beneficial relationships that I have tried to create. It's like my own little ecology in my backyard. OK you probably get the point now to get to my point.

If i just clear a little area that gets pretty much full sun will cannabis grow successfully without me having to add anything other than the occasionally mulch and compost? And by successfully I mean will it be chronic outdoor bud? I want to say yes because my soil is so rich and full of humus that I figure it would have all the nutrients a plant could want and more, but my experience with cannabis indoors leads me to believe that cannabis needs more precise nutrients and care than say a pepper, tomato, or walnut tree.

I would just go for it and try to grow em, but i cannot afford to waste valuable space in my garden that could be used for food/organic matter because my situation wont allow it.

So what do you think? Any thoughts or experiences?

Looking at your situation and variables, I think you should research your soil a little. Find out what the ph is. I'm not sure what else you have that is in there, but they might thrive in a medium that is too acidic or something. As long as the ph is within range, say 6.5, you should be in perfect shape.

How about insects and such? Do you employ them or fight them?

Garden sounds fantastic to me, can you post any pics?

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Current Grow here: http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/...ml#post2012429

I employ insects, never destroy them. My goal is to have as much biodiversity as possible and hopefully everything will work itself out. (plus i plant enough for me and all the other creatures in my garden: an old tp from my grandma back in the day, although i'd prefer not to do this with cannabis lol) So far it seems to be working alright with most of my plants. Hell even with bacteria and microbes whenever i compost i bike 2 miles in 4 different directions and get a cup of soil from each and throw it into each new batch of compost in hopes of increasing microbial biodiversity. (Don't know if this actually works or matters, just picked it up from a random permaculture book.)

You're right about the ph though. I have shot for a garden-wide ph of 7 in hopes of making a good environment for as many different species as possible. I know cannabis likes slight acidity so i guess id need to employ some lime. Can i just put some lime on top of the soil once the plant gets rooted and starts vegging legit? or does lime have to be tilled in? I am against tilling as it disturbs soil life and structure. Or maybe it's possible to make a slighty acidic compost tea? although if next summer is anything like this summer I'll only need to water myself like 2-3 times.

I've grown hydroponcially for the last few years and id be ecstatic if i could give up the chems for good. Just need to make sure i can get medical quality from this outdoor setup.


pics once i get a new camera

I use lime as an amendment so tilled here. I'm not sure of it's effectiveness as a top dress, I believe it needs to be mixed in to react as a buffer. Not sure tho on that.

I'm sure with your system you would get med grade outdoor. I do 100% organic indoor, BioBizz system, and I'm ecstatic with the results. With all the life you have running I believe it would thrive well.

Your idea about the acidic compost tea would probably work too. If the soil ph is 7 and you come up with a concoction around 6.2 it would probably balance out nicely. I'm sure someone with more outdoor experience than me will show up, I'm just interested as hell in the whole living garden idea.

I'm sure the quality of your outdoor would blow away the hydro. Natural sun to activate all the terpenoids and flavors in the plant, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Not to mention all the free UV making the plant give up all it's crystally goodness to protect itself. Let me just stop now.

__________________
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Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear...

E-Thug...Gettin negative rep is better than gettin your ass whooped!!!

Current Grow here: http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/...ml#post2012429

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to irydyum again"



I don't think you understand how happy you've just made me.

: thumbsup:

this book accounts for alot of my inspiration if you're interested

Amazon.com: Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture (9781890132521): Toby Hemenway, John Todd: Books

im sure there are many similiar books out there but some of the ideas this guy has are pretty incredible...and he focuses most of the book on living forest gardens instead of overall permaculture

my next goal is to try and discover if there are any plants that can form a symbiotic relationship with cannabis in my climate

Creating your own soil can be benefical to you as well as your plants. Less - burn comes to mind, much easier for your plants to adapt to its new enivornment, less stress = faster growth.

I think with all the mulching and composting you did, your plants will be very happy with the rich set of micro's and nutes awating them throughout their lifetime.

Looks good to me.

I use dolimte lime where there are pine and straw from the trees on the ground.. It neutralizes the acid in the soil..

Ga Grown! Not Made!!

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