mrgrowguy said:
If it helps or not, I use FFOF too, but not primarily. I actually have been recycling my soil for a few years now. Each year I dump half into the bushes/grass/etc and refill with pure FFOF. So, really, my soil is only about 1/2 FFOF and 1/2 older organic material. I do add a little bit of bloodmeal, oystershell, azomite dust, and humic acid. Oh, I also add 1 bag of medium-fine, pre-rinsed coco. But all-in-all, my total soil is at most 2/3 as hot as yours sounds like. And my plants LOVE it.
Just sharing my experience.
PS: I used to run 100% FFOF and had problems with not only over fertilizing, but lots more salt build up too. (AND FUNGUS GNATS!! - partially due to my over-watering back then. And I think FF fixed their mix to not have so many eggs - supposed to be sterile, but...)
PPS: in case you're curious, I just planted my bigjim into this mix a week or two ago and will be doing regular updates on this competition thread in case you want to see first hand how this soil mix works for me - http://thehotpepper.com/topic/58672-land-of-the-giants-2016-biggest-jim-competition/?p=1296943
The link is the beginning. I will be updating the whole season.
That's good to know. About half of my plants I started in some left over mix of various MG flavors, then potted up into my FFOF mix. The ones that are doing the worst were started in the MG mix, while the plants that have been in FFOF all along are very happy. Who the hell knows what was in the MG, but I'm almost certain that's the culprit. Never again with MG.
Another thing, my indoor lighting is a bit weak compared to what a lot of people run, just enough to get them started until they go outside. I'm not sure what role sunlight plays in the nutrient usage puzzle, but maybe there's an imbalance there for me as well.
But like I said, I've seen this before, and it's always cleared up once they go outside.