By Miguel Ordoñez Reviewed by: Gloria Payá


By design, organic super soil has everything your cannabis plant needs to thrive. However, even the best mix may need to be replenished or amended from time to time. This is especially true when you start off with a store-bought mix, cultivate heavy-feeders, or reuse your soil.

Here's a list of organic soil amendments that will keep your plants happy and productive, as well as those to avoid:

ORGANIC SOIL AMENDMENTS TO USE

1. WORM CASTINGS

With minimal effort and expense, a worm farm can provide an unlimited source of worm castings for your garden. You can also buy worm castings by the bag at most greenhouses and nurseries. Worm castings release nitrogen into the soil faster than virtually any other organic soil amendment. They also add healthy bacteria and a wide variety of micronutrients.

2. CRUSTACEAN MEAL

Made from ground-up shells from crabs, shrimp, and other sea creatures, crustacean meal is naturally high in nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, and chitin. It's a slow-release amendment, and it has a bonus feature: The chitin supports microbes that kill harmful nematodes that would damage roots if not kept in check.

3. BAT GUANO

This natural amendment has more nitrogen and phosphorus than any other natural substance you can add to your soil. Bat guano will also add a diverse community of bacteria and microbes to your plant's root zone and support consistent plant growth.

ORGANIC SUPER SOIL (NUTRIENTS)

1. WORM CASTINGS2. CRUSTA- CEAN MEAL3. BAT GUANO
NITROGEN (N) X X
PHOSPHOROUS (P) X X
POTASSIUM (K) X
MAGNESIUM (Mg) X X
CALCIUM (Ca) X
BORON (B)

4. BONE MEAL

This blend of ground beef bones is a great source of phosphorus, as long as you keep your pH level under 7. Outdoor cannabis farmers will need to fence off their plants if they use bone meal. Some animals are so attracted to bone meal's aroma that they'll dig up your garden to get at what their nose tells them is buried there.

5. BLOOD MEAL

Blood meal is similar to bone meal, except it's made from dried cattle blood. This amendment is very high in nitrogen and can burn your plants if you use too much. It will also lower the soil's pH level. Blood meal is thought to repel deer, squirrels, and moles, but it can attract dogs and other carnivores. Think carefully before you use it in an outdoor garden.

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6. CHICKEN MANURE

Chicken manure is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, but it's really strong. It's considered a "hot" fertiliser that can burn your plants if it hasn't been properly treated and allowed to mellow for a period of time. Use this soil amendment with caution. Rabbit manure is a good substitute if you own a bunny or know someone who does; it's plentiful, cleaner, and not nearly as hot.

ORGANIC SUPER SOIL (NUTRIENTS)4. BONE MEAL5. BLOOD MEAL6. CHICKEN MANURE
NITROGEN (N) X X
PHOSPHOROUS (P) X
POTASSIUM (K) X X
MAGNESIUM (Mg)
CALCIUM (Ca) X
BORON (B)

7. ROCK DUST

Rock dust is exactly what it sounds like: crushed rock. It's a slow-release source of phosphorus. If you recycle your soil, you'll only need to add it every couple of years. Rock dust requires a pH level of around 7 to work.

8. KELP MEAL

Made from dried seaweed, kelp meal adds potassium to the soil, as well as over 60 essential elements and minerals, to help support the microbes in your soil. It's thought to increase sweetness, boost flavor, and enhance colors—things that most cannabis growers desire.

ORGANIC SOIL AMENDMENTS TO USE

9. COMPOST

Compost isn't exclusive to the realm of organic weed growers. All farmers love this "black gold". It's generally made by layering soil, leaves, and household food waste, so it's as good as what you put into it. If you're using it for potassium, make sure you include banana peels and fruit rinds. Eggshells add calcium, and all compost contains beneficial microbes. Always make sure the compost is fully broken down and decomposed before adding it to your plants; it should look like rich, black soil when it's ready to be used.

ORGANIC SUPER SOIL (NUTRIENTS)7. ROCK DUST8. KELP MEAL9. COMPOST
NITROGEN (N) X X
PHOSPHOROUS (P) X
POTASSIUM (K)
MAGNESIUM (Mg)
CALCIUM (Ca)
BORON (B) X

10. COMPOST TEA

If your plants look like they need a quick pick-me-up, try a compost tea. You can make this by aerating a mix of clean water and a small amount of compost. The air activates the microbes and causes them to multiply at a rapid rate. Within a few days, you'll have a nutrient-rich compost tea that you can use as a liquid soil amendment throughout your grow.

11. WOOD ASH

Wood ash is a great source of potassium and lime, as well as many trace elements that cannabis needs to thrive. However, you should use this soil amendment sparingly or combine it with compost. It's known to quickly raise the soil's pH level to the point where it could lock out other nutrients.

12. MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI

Without beneficial fungi, organically grown cannabis plants will struggle to thrive. These microorganisms create a bridge in the root zone that helps plants absorb nutrients and water. They also protect the roots from damage by shielding them from harmful microbes. To add mycorrhizae to your soil, use a tube of inoculant.

13. PERLITE AND VERMICULITE

Cannabis likes air in its root zone. That's why it's important not to overwater or let your plants sit in standing water. It's almost as bad to let the soil get too dry. Using perlite and/or vermiculite as soil amendments can help. Perlite is made from volcanic glass; it's white, hard, and porous. Vermiculite is made from mica; it's scaly, lamellar, and pale brown in color. Both are very light in weight compared to their volume, and do a great job controlling moisture and aerating the soil. You can use one or both as a soil amendment.

14. GARDEN LIME

Also known as sweet lime or dolomite, garden lime is made from limestone. It contains a significant amount of calcium and magnesium. Although it actually raises pH, this type of lime is often used as a buffer to keep pH levels stable and prevent fluctuations. When liming your plants, always use dolomite lime and not agricultural or hydrated lime.

ORGANIC SUPER SOIL (NUTRIENTS)11. WOOD ASH12. MYCOR- RHIZAL FUNGI14. GARDEN LIME
NITROGEN (N) X
PHOSPHOROUS (P) X
POTASSIUM (K)
MAGNESIUM (Mg)
CALCIUM (Ca) X X
BORON (B)

15. EPSOM SALTS

Magnesium sulfate, commonly known as Epsom salts, is a natural source of magnesium and sulphur that plants can readily use. Always use pure magnesium sulfate purchased from a pharmacy, and not a bath product that's had oils or scent added to it. You can amend your soil by adding the crystals when you water your plants or by mixing them into a foliar spray.

16. AZOMITE

Derived from volcanic material, Azomite replenishes the soil with more than 60 water-soluble trace minerals. Those are the kind that can get washed away when you water your plants. This amendment can raise pH level, so it's another one to use sparingly.

 

17. GREENSAND

Greensand looks like it sounds: like greenish sand. Its chemical name is glauconite, and it's a rich source of potassium. It also contains calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, and 30 or so trace minerals that help plants grow. Greensand also improves the quality of the soil to better control moisture levels. In sandy soil, it decreases the drainage rate. In clay soils, it does the opposite, loosening the soil so it drains faster. Greensand is slow to break down and release its nutrient content, so you only have to add it to soil every few years.

ORGANIC SUPER SOIL (NUTRIENTS)15. EPSOM SALTS16. AZOMITE17. GREEN- SAND
NITROGEN (N) X
PHOSPHOROUS (P) X
POTASSIUM (K) X X
MAGNESIUM (Mg) X
CALCIUM (Ca)
BORON (B)

18. HUMIC ACID AND FULVIC ACID

Use these two soil amendments together for best results. Humic acid helps the roots absorb nutrients more effectively, while fulvic acid makes the nutrients more bioavailable to the individual plant cells. Together, these two acids help the plant make the most of the available nutrients while minimising deficiencies.

19. MULCH

Mulch serves two purposes; it helps your soil retain moisture, and microbes like to eat it. Don't mix this into your soil. Add a few centimetres of straw, compost, or wood chips over the surface of the soil. Replenish it monthly. Compost doubles as a top dressing and will gradually release nutrients as you water your plants.

ORGANIC SUPER SOIL (NUTRIENTS)19. MULCH
NITROGEN (N) X
PHOSPHOROUS (P) X
POTASSIUM (K) X
MAGNESIUM (Mg)
CALCIUM (Ca) X
BORON (B)

SOIL AMENDMENTS TO AVOID

  • UREA

Urea is a component in urine; it's what the kidneys make when they remove nitrogen from the body. You can also buy pure urea. It's a cheap source of nitrogen, but not a great choice if you're growing cannabis. Urea changes quickly to ammonium, which transforms the nitrogen your plants can use into toxic nitrites that plants don't use or need. Next, the ammonium will turn into ammonia, which will evaporate and release a nasty smell.

  • SAWDUST

Sawdust contains nitrogen, but it contains even more carbon (50x more). This combination will lock out all nitrogen and starve your plants. You would have to allow the sawdust to age nearly 3 years to give the carbon enough time to decompose to the point it wouldn't cause nutrient lockout. Don't be tempted to mix sawdust into your soil to aerate it or increase its ability to hold moisture.

  • NON-COMPOSTED LEAVES

If you amend your soil with non-composted leaves, they'll become fodder for harmful bacteria as they decompose. As these bacteria proliferate, they will compete with your plants for nitrogen—and they usually win.

A FINAL WORD ON SOIL AMENDMENTS

By nurturing your organic substrate with the right soil amendments at the correct intervals, you can grow healthy, profit-yielding cannabis plants with big, resinous buds. When you enjoy the fruits of your labor, you'll also take comfort in knowing they weren't exposed to any harmful chemicals or toxic pesticides.

However, it can be easy to overdo it and burn your plants—even if your amendments are 100% natural and organic. Take it easy with richer add-ins until you see how your garden reacts. It's always easier to add than subtract from the soil. Soon, you'll be able to anticipate what your plants need, giving them exactly the right amendments at exactly the right time.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: