This topic is created to discuss the benefits and applications of the KNF to the cannabis growing cycles.
3 Likes
Hope this topic gets active at some point, no knowledge to add but I have been starting to look into
This is exactly how I want to grow! Any tips on how to get a basic living soil going? My goal is to eventually have a no till bed going.
2 Likes
Didn’t think anyone would be interested in trying out organics but now that I can see some interest I thought I’d post some stuff I have found around the web.
From the Marijuana Cultivation Bible:
Organic Nutrient List
Manures
Rabbit manure N= 2.4 P= 1.4 K= 0.6
comments- Most concentrated of animal manures in fresh form.
Cow manure (dairy) N= 0.6 P= 0.2 K= 0.5
comments- Often contains weed seeds, should be hot composted.
Steer manure N= 0.7 P= 0.3 K= 0.4
comments- Often contains weed seeds, should be hot composted if fresh.
Chicken manure N= 1.1 P= 0.8 K= 0.5
comments- Fast acting, breaks down quickest of all manures. Use carefully, may burn. Also, stinks like hell - composting definitely recommended.
Horse manure N= 0.7 P= 0.3 K= 0.6
comments- Medium breakdown time.
Duck manure N= 0.6 P= 1.4 K= 0.5
Sheep manure N= 0.7 P= 0.3 K= 0.9
Worm castings N= 0.5 P= 0.5 K= 0.3
comments- 50% organic material plus 11 trace minerals. Great for seedlings, will not burn. Is a form of compost, so doesn’t need composting.
Desert Bat Guano N= 8 P= 4 K= 1
comments- Also contains trace elements. Fast-acting, mix in soil or as tea (1 C guano to 5 gal. water).
Cave Bat Guano N= 3 P= 10 K= 1
Fossilized Seabird Guano N= 1 P= 10 K= 1
comments- Slow release over 3 to 12 weeks, best used as an addition to potting mix.
Peruvian Seabird Guano (pelletized) N= 12 P= 12 K= 2.5
comments- Legendary fertilizer of the Incas. Use in soil as a long lasting fertilizer, or make into tea (1 tsp pellets to 1 gallon water).
Note: it is recommended to first compost any fresh manure before you use it for 2 reasons:
- to lessen the chance of harmful pathogens.
- to break down the manure to make it more usable to the plant (and reduce the smell!)
The rates for pig or human manure are not listed because of the high rate of harmful pathogens they contain.
Organic Meals
Blood Meal N= 11 P= 0 K= 0
comments- Highest N of all organic sources, very fast acting if made into tea.
Bone Meal (steamed) N= 1 P= 11 K= 0
comments- Releases nutrients slowly. Caution: European farmers should not use because of the risk of spreading Mad Cow Disease; growers elsewhere may face the same issue.
Cottonseed Meal N= 6 P= 2.5 K= 1.5
comments- If farming organically, check the source. May be heavily treated with pesticides.
Fish Scrap N= 5 P= 3 K= 3
comments- Use in compost or work in soil several months before using. Usually slightly alkaline.
Fish Emulsion N= 4 P= 1 K= 1
comments- Also adds 5% sulfur. Good N source for seedlings, won’t burn.
Kelp Meal N= 1 P= 0.5 K= 2.5
comments- Provides 60 trace elements, plus growth-promoting hormones and enzymes.
Soybean Meal N= 7 P= 0.5 K= 2.5
comments- None
Coffee Grounds N= 2 P= 0.3 K= 0.2
comments- Highly acidic, best for use in alkaline soils.
Minerals
Greensand N= 0 P= 1.5 K= 7
comments- Mined from old ocean deposits; used as soil conditioner; it holds water and is high in iron, magnesium, and silica - 32 trace minerals in all.
Eggshells N= 1.2 P= 0.4 K= 0.1
comments- Contains calcium plus trace minerals. Dry first, then grind to powder.
Limestone (dolomitic) N= 0 P= 0 K= 0
comments- Raises pH, 51% calcium and 40% magnesium.
Limestone (calcitic) N= 0 P= 0 K= 0
comments- Raises pH, 65-80% calcium, 3-15% magnesium.
Crustacean Shells N= 4.6 P= 3.52 K= 0
comments- Contain large amounts of lime. Should be ground as finely as possible for best results.
Wood Ashes N= 0 P= 1.5 K= 7
comments- Very fast acting and highly alkaline (usually used to raise pH). Contains many micronutrients.
Crushed Granite N= 0 P= 0 K= 5
comments- Contains 67% silicas and 19 trace minerals. Slow release over a long period of time.
Rock Phosphate N= 0 P= 3 K= 0
comments- Contains 11 trace minerals. Slow release over a long period of time.
Epsom Salts N= 0 P= 0 K= 0
comments- Provides Mg and acts as a balancer.
Soil Amendments and Organic Material
Cornstalks N= 0.75 P= 0.4 K= 0.9
comments- Break down slowly; excellent soil conditioner. Should be shredded.
Oak Leaves N= 0.8 P= 0.35 K= 0.15
comments- Break down slowly, shred for best results. Good soil conditioner.
Feathers N= 15 P= 0 K= 0
comments- Chop or shred finely for best results.
Hair N= 14 P= 0 K= 0
comments- Good soil conditioner, oils break down slowly. Chop or shred finely for best results.
Sources include: Rodale Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening, The Deluxe Marijuana Growers Guide (Frank and Rosenthal)
Organic Fertilizers - Composition
Organic soil composition involves creating a soil medium that has a balanced amount of nutrients - NPK as well as trace elements and minerals - plus organic material that provides food for not only the plant, but also the countless soil microorganisms, fungi, worms, and bacteria that comprise a healthy soil. This soil life breaks down the raw materials of the fertilizers you add so the plants can absorb them, and also plays a part in as-yet undefined processes that aid plant growth and improve soil health.
Below are various “recipes” for both organic fertilizers and organic soil mixes.
Mix and match formulas
Pick one source from each category. The results will vary in composition from 1-2-1 to 4-6-3, but any mixture will provide a balanced supply of nutrients that will be steadily available to plants and encourage soil microorganisms.
Nitrogen
- 2 parts blood meal
- 3 parts fish meal
Phosphorous
- 3 parts bone meal
- 6 parts rock phosphate or colloidal phosphate
Potassium
- 1 part kelp meal
- 6 parts greensand
source: Rodale Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening
More Organic Fertilizer Mixes
2 - 3.5 - 2.5
- 1 part bone meal
- 3 parts alfalfa hay
- 2 parts greensand
2 - 4 - 2
- 4 parts coffee grounds
- 1 part bone meal
- 1 part wood ashes
2 - 4 - 2
- 1 part leather dust
- 1 part bone meal
- 3 parts granite dust
2 - 8 - 2
- 3 parts greensand
- 2 parts seaweed
- 1 part dried blood
- 2 parts phosphate rock
2 - 13 - 2.5
- 1 part cottonseed meal
- 2 parts phosphate rock
- 2 parts seaweed
3.5 - 5.5 - 3.5
- 2 parts cottonseed meal
- 1 part colloidal phosphate
- 2 parts granite dust
2.5 - 6 - 5
- 1 part dried blood
- 1 part phosphate rock
- 4 parts wood ashes
0 - 5 - 4
- 1 part phosphate rock
- 3 parts greensand
- 2 parts wood ashes
3 - 6 - 3
- 1 part leather dust
- 1 part phosphate rock
- 3 parts seaweed
3 - 7 - 5
- 1 part dried blood
- 1 part phosphate rock
- 3 parts wood ashes
3 - 8 - 5
-
1 part leather dust
-
1 part phosphate rock
-
1 part fish scrap
-
4 parts wood ashes
2.5 - 2.5 - 4 -
3 parts granite dust
-
1 part dried blood
-
1 part bone meal
-
5 parts seaweed
4 - 5 - 4
- 2 parts dried blood
- 1 part phosphate rock
- 4 parts wood ashes
6 - 8 - 3
- 2 parts fish scrap
- 2 parts dried blood
- 1 part cottonseed meal
- 1 part wood ashes
- 1 part phosphate rock
- 1 part granite dust
Herbal Tea Plant Food
- 1 t Comfrey leaves
- 1 t Alfalfa leaves
- 1 t Nettle leaves
- 1 Qt boiling water
Steep for 10 min. and let cool until lukewarm. Drain the leaves out and add the lukewarm tea to your plants to keep them healthy and vibrant!
The reason for adding slightly warm tea (or water) to your plants is that they will be able to absorb the needed nutrients more easily by keeping the root pores open verses cold tea (or water) will have a tendency to restrict the pores, meaning a much slower process of absorption.
Comfrey is called knitbone or healing herb. It is high in calcium, potassium and phosphorus, and also rich in vitamins A and C. The nutrients present in comfrey actually assist in the healing process since it contains allantoin.
Alfalfa is one of the most powerful nitrogen - fixers of all the legumes. It is strong in iron and is a good source of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and trace minerals.
Nettles are helpful to stimulate fermentation in compost or manure piles and this helps to break down other organic materials in your planting soil. The plant is said to contain carbonic acid and ammonia which may be the fermentation factor. Nettles are rich in iron and have as much protein as cottonseed meal.
Jamaican Bat Guano
N-P-K 1-10-0
Earthworm Castings
1-0-0 have 1% calcium and 0.2% iron
Enjoy and hope you find this useful. If there is anymore interest I can post some stuff about KNF inputs for use. Cheers.
6 Likes
@canagen this info is brilliant! I’ve scoured the internet looking for this and you posted it for me. I can’t thank you enough.
1 Like
Can I sub Raw sugar for molasses and if so how much Raw sugar do I use? Recipe calls for 2 Tblspns of molasses per gallon of water.
I really don’t know the answer to that. Common logic would tell me yes since molasses is derived from sugar but then I have to wonder how much of it is left after the molasses has been extracted. So I would have to say while it won’t kill your plants, the benefit is minimal if at all. I think dark brown sugar used for baking would contain more molasses than the raw. Usually you can tell by the shade of color.
At any rate, that is something I would use for making fermented inputs.
Just an added thought, the sugar content could also attract unwanted bugs into your grow media.
1 Like
Is this info from the grow bible written by Greg Green?
No I don’t think so. I’ve seen this listing float around different forums with different names so… I just use it as a general guideline to what I can use from the outdoors as substitutes.
Here is a list of companion plants that are beneficial to cannabis (courtesy of RQS):
CERASTIUM
Cerastium tomentosum, otherwise known as dusty miller, grows in a mat-like formation. The fast-growing plant spreads across the surface of the soil and acts as a cover crop. It helps retain moisture and protects microbial life from UV rays.
Directly sow seeds into or around garden beds in early spring, and don’t cover them with soil. Aim to scatter seeds over a well-draining medium in an area that receives full sun—plants thrive in south-facing or west-facing positions. They’ll tolerate a wide pH range, although cannabis prefers between 6.0 and 7.0.
The seeds will germinate after 14–21 days. After seedlings have become fully established, thin them out, so there’s 20cm between each plant. They’ll reach maturity within a brief window of 40 days, hitting a maximum height of 25cm. Cerastium’s small blossoms grow no larger than 2cm across and make an appearance in early summer, emanating a very light and sweet aroma.
After flowering, cut these plants back. Use them as a mulch layer or add them to the compost pile. The root mass of this hardy deciduous plant will survive underground at temperatures below -20°C and grow back next year.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: Use as a cover crop inside garden beds and containers.
When: February
SUNFLOWER
These towering giants add some serious beauty to any garden, growing to 3m in height and boasting bright yellow flower heads. They’ll help protect your cannabis plants against aphids, whiteflies, slugs, and snails by drawing their attention away.
Sow seeds directly into garden beds and pots. They thrive in moist but well-draining soil, full sun, and sheltered spots that protect them from harsh winds. Sunflowers release an allelopathic chemical into the soil that can inhibit the growth of nearby plants—use them as barriers and borders.
After seedlings emerge, thin them out to 60cm apart. They’ll start flowering around 60–95 days after germination. After the flower heads fill up with seeds, you have two options. You can either harvest these delicious treats or leave them to attract birds that will also keep pest insect populations down. Sunflowers do not have a distinct scent.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: Use to create barriers, windshields, and shade cover at the borders of garden beds or in close proximity to containers.
When: March
MARIGOLD
Marigold—Calendula officinalis—produces gorgeous bright-orange flowers and aromatic leaves. These blossoms work to mesmerise aphids and divert them away from your cannabis crop. This fast-growing plant grows either as an annual or biennial and thrives all season until the first hard frost lands its blow. Marigold will tolerate poor soil but prefers well-draining soil of chalky, loamy, or sandy consistency.
Sow seeds directly into garden beds and pots during late spring. Thin to 20cm apart for smaller plants, or 30cm to let them reach their true size. The plant reaches a peak height of 50cm, likes partial sun, and sits comfortably below the canopy of a polyculture.
Deadhead flowers throughout the season to encourage plants to increase their floral output. Save the flowers to make your own cosmetics, including balms and extracts.
As well as attracting certain insects away from cannabis plants, they repel others from the garden with their pungent scent. Pests such as white cabbage flies and cabbage moths—that would otherwise munch on your cannabis plants—can’t stand them.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: Interplant between cannabis plants in garden beds using recommended spacing. Place 1–2 plants alongside cannabis in large containers.
When: February–April
ALFALFA
Easy to grow and effective at improving the soil, alfalfa serves as a reliable and attractive companion plant. As a legume, the species works with bacteria in the soil to draw in nitrogen from the atmosphere—an essential nutrient that drives proper growth. Inoculate seeds with nitrogen-fixing bacteria before sowing to guarantee this effect.
Alfalfa also increases water penetration in the growing medium, keeping the root system hydrated and boosting the turgidity of your plants. Otherwise known as Medicago sativa, this deep-rooted perennial will add amazing structure to your soil.
Alfalfa roots very fast, so you only need to scatter seeds on the surface of the soil. Scatter seeds in spring (April to May) in cool regions, and in fall in warmer climates. You’ll see sprouts emerge in around ten days. Thin them out as needed to avoid overcrowding.
The species prefers a slightly warmer climate and boasts impressive drought resilience. It thrives in full sun and slightly acidic to neutral soil. When thinning out the seeds, be sure to keep the sprouts; they provide a great source of vitamins and minerals and go down well in a salad.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: Sow as a cover crop in garden beds and pots.
When: April–July
RED CLOVER
This deciduous and bushy plant also works with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil to pull in high quantities of the element from the atmosphere. Get ready for strong, healthy, and large cannabis plants.
Red clover puts out stunning red-pink pom pom flowers that will attract pollinator species to your garden. Sow seeds in early spring in cooler climates, and autumn in warmer areas. Sow seeds 1cm deep and 5cm apart in loamy soils with a slightly acidic pH. Red clover requires full sun to grow optimally and does well around the edges of garden beds and next to potted cannabis plants.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: Sow directly into pots and beds as a living mulch ground cover.
When: April
CHERVIL
Chervil serves as an excellent culinary herb and also helps to keep damaging insects at bay. Aphids are attracted to the mild aniseed scent, which distracts them from messing with your weed.
Sow directly into compost-rich soil as early as March. The seeds will germinate in around one week and reach the seedling phase shortly after. Thin them out to 30cm apart. Chervil tolerates both direct sun and partial shade but likes constant moisture.
Chervil notoriously self-seeds and has the ability to overrun garden beds. Remove flower heads on time to avoid a complete takeover. You’ll have a supply of young leaves ready to harvest in around 9 weeks. Throw them in salads and fish dishes for a pleasant kick.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: Plant in separate containers next to your cannabis pots, or interplant in raised beds and greenhouses.
When: March–August
WHITE CLOVER
White clover provides a pest-resistant living mulch that locks in moisture and boosts nitrogen levels in the soil. The creeping perennial will work its way across the surface of garden beds without any guidance.
As well as improving soil health, this living mat will suppress weeds (the bad kind) and save you a great deal of time in the garden. Inoculate the seeds with rhizobia bacteria to ensure your plants will fix nitrogen. Sow seeds in early spring, ideally into slightly acidic soil rich in phosphorus and potassium in a sunny area of the garden.
Keep the soil constantly moist to prevent white clover from drying out. A simple drip irrigation system will do a great job of keeping your beds hydrated.
Your plants will produce sweet-smelling white and pink puffball flowers between May and October. These stunning blossoms attract butterflies and bees. Small amounts of the leaves and flowers are great to chop into salads or sauté alongside chicken or a vegan alternative.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: Sow as a living mulch around the base of your cannabis plants. Works especially well in large fabric pots.
When: March–April
PEPPERMINT
Peppermint grows so easily that you’ll have to work to keep it from taking over. For this reason, you should only grow peppermint in containers. The pungent aroma helps to deter pests such as ants, fleas, aphids, and even mice, and it will help to mask the obvious skunky smell of weed, too.
After sowing these seeds once in early spring, you’ll be able to harvest the flavourful leaves numerous times throughout the season. Cultivate them in rich and well-draining soil in a sunny or partially shady spot. Plants will germinate 10–16 days after sowing and flower in late summer.
Cut these plants back after flowering. The perennial species will keep providing you with tasty leaves—ideal for herbal teas—year after year.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: Plant in isolated pots to prevent them from growing out of control
When: February–June
LAVENDER
Richly aromatic flowers and gorgeous shades of purple—lavender will light up your garden beds. These eye-catching shrubs act like botanical traffic lights that divert pest insects away from your precious weed. What’s more, they’ll also bring in large numbers of friendly pollinators.
Lavender enjoys a warm and Mediterranean environment, although it will still grow in the cooler north. Fill propagator cells with rich compost and sow your seeds; cover with a light dusting of vermiculite. Keep them at between 21–25°C, and they’ll pop through the soil in the next 21 days. Transplant them into garden beds or pots with free-draining soil and expose them to as much sun as possible, leaving a 30cm gap between plants.
Don’t let that gorgeous herbal smell tease you all season long. Prune your plants back at the end of the season and collect the flower heads. Dry them out to make a soothing and tasty tea.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: Plant in borders of garden beds and in pots next to cannabis containers.
When: February–July
CORIANDER
This fast-growing multipurpose herb will add a satisfying source of flavour to your garden. Taste aside, coriander generates a pungent aroma that deters bad bugs while drawing in beneficial species.
Damaging spider mites, potato beetles, and aphids will happily bypass your cannabis garden after catching a whiff of this herb. In contrast, parasitic wasps are rather fond of the smell and will help keep pest populations at bay.
Being a delicate plant, coriander dislikes being transplanted. Sow seeds directly into their final spot in the garden at a depth of 1cm. Do so in full sun between April and July, and expect to see them emerge 12–21 days later. Thin them to 25cm apart.
You’ll harvest the flavourful leaves around 60–75 days after sowing. Add them to soups alongside some homemade cannabutter for a chilled-out afternoon.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: Interplant with your cannabis in beds or large fabric containers. Grow in separate pots if using small containers.
When: March
CHAMOMILE
Pretty, aromatic, and functional. Why wouldn’t you want this stunning flower growing alongside your cannabis plants? Being extremely easy to grow, chamomile will bounce back in the same spot year after year to fulfil its companion plant duties.
Sow chamomile along the borders of raised beds and in large pots alongside cannabis plants. The herb will boost the essential oil production and turgidity of nearby plants while deterring irritating flies and mosquitoes.
Sow seeds directly in well-draining soil in full sun from April onwards. After 20–30 days, thin your plants out to 15cm apart.
Don’t leave your chamomile flowers behind after your cannabis harvest. The leaves and flowers make a delicious and soothing tea, and a great ingredient in a homemade skin wash.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: Grow as a border crop/insect buffer surrounding beds and greenhouse entrances.
When: Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost date
YARROW
Yarrow produces gorgeous canopies of densely packed white flowers. Sure, it makes a great companion plant, but its looks alone are a superb reason to include this specimen in your garden.
Anecdotal gardening reports state that yarrow helps to boost the essential oil production of nearby plants. Although the product of gardening folklore, if true, the plant may bring out the full potential of your cannabis genetics. Yarrow also attracts an army of predatory insects with an appetite for aphids, such as ladybugs and aphid lions.
Sow seeds into well-draining soil in a relatively dry spot under warm sun. Yarrow dislikes wet ground and will perform poorly if introduced to water-logged soil. Space to 60cm apart when seedlings emerge around 21 days after germination. Use your yarrow plants to make a nice tea at the end of the growing season.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: Grow directly beside cannabis plants—the two thrive together.
When: Sow 8 weeks before last frost date
DILL
Dill equals delicious. Seriously. You’ll recognise the aniseed-like taste from chicken recipes, soups, salads, and pickles. Regardless of whether you grow cannabis or not, you need some dill plants in your life.
This member of the celery family looks beautiful when interplanted between cannabis specimens, and works to provide protection against certain caterpillar species and spider mites throughout the growing season.
Sow seeds directly into soil right after the last frost. In cooler areas, sow them 1cm deep and then thin seedlings to 30cm apart. In warmer climates, simply sow seeds directly on top of free-draining seed compost. Aim to grow your dill in full sun, but keep the soil moist. Dill tends to shoot to flower due to stress caused by dry soils. Harvest the frilly foliage 7 weeks after sowing and add to salads and soups.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: Directly between or beside your cannabis plants.
When: March–July
LEMON BALM
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) will return to your garden every single year. The hardy and versatile herb survives underground during winter frosts and bounces back with full force in spring.
This herbal powerhouse and member of the mint family will draw pollinator species into your garden to look after your vegetables. The plant also keeps mosquitoes away, making gardening a much more pleasant experience.
Almost too vigorously, lemon balm will happily take over an entire bed. Sow seeds into pots to prevent unwanted growth. Scatter them on top of potting soil and cover lightly with seed compost. Thin out to 30cm and position in full sun or partial shade.
Harvest leaves throughout the growing season to make a delicious and refreshing tea. Pluck off any flowers to encourage more vegetative growth.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: Lemon balm should be confined to separate pots placed close to your cannabis plants to avoid overcrowding.
When: March–May
SWEET BASIL
Perhaps the best aromatic herb (excluding cannabis, of course), sweet basil adds immense flavour to salads, pizzas, and pasta dishes.
Just like cannabis, people often smell basil before they see it. The plant fills the air with a powerful aroma that drives away would-be pests like aphids and asparagus beetles. It’ll also attract various pollinator species that will boost the biodiversity of your garden.
Scatter seeds into large pots containing well-draining soil. Position them in full sun and expect to see seedlings arise in the next 20 days. They prefer slightly acidic soil and rather dry conditions. Top plants and harvest leaves throughout the season to encourage fast and vigorous vegetative growth.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: In pots and beds alongside cannabis plants, especially effective alongside dill to possibly enhance terpene production.
When: February–June
BORAGE
Borage provides a rich source of nutrients to humans and plants alike. The beautiful blue and nectar-rich blossoms will help your local bee population thrive. At the end of the season, use chopped plants as a mulch or add them to the compost. High levels of calcium and potassium will help your plants thrive.
Borage thrives in full sun and likes it roomy. Sow seeds into large pots from March, with each plant receiving about 30cm of room. Water regularly during dry periods to keep plants turgid and strong. Frequently harvest the cucumber-flavoured leaves throughout the season to add a refreshing touch to summer drinks.
How to use in your cannabis garden:
Where: Side-by-side with cannabis plants to attract beneficial insects.
When: March–May
It’s by no means comprehensive but it’s a good starter list. Cheers.