Ocean Forest vs. Happy Frog Potting Soil! -- Which is Best for Your Plants? 🌿

[@arubaguy2733]

I've been using Ocean Forest, Happy Frog, and coco coir at a ratio of 2:2:1 for 2 seasons now in my grow bags. In our condo, we can't have a conventional dirt garden, but the Fox Farm products have given me great results planting in 7 gallon bags.

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Thank you so much for sharing that! That sounds like a great ratio, did it take some time to figure it out?

[@ryno777mccarthy6]

Im doing great with HF for seedling. Then mixed HF and OF for veg and then OF for flower. I don't use any nutes except Cal Mag until about week 3 of flower. Things are super simple and quality is fantastic.

[@JohnnyRebWasATexan]

When you say you mixed HF and OF for veg and then OF for flower. Did you report each time? I am starting with auto flowers and have been told to plant in the pot you plan on harvesting in. So I am trying to figure out what I should do. I've started a strain in OF and it's done fine so far and it's about 4-5 weeks old and starting to flower. I am looking to change what I am doing just to experiment.

[@benjamincarvin8031]

Happy frog for veg and ocean forest for flower. Water till run off and if ppm falls below 800 then feed if above 800 they have enough nutrients. Ocean forest is to hot for seedlings, although u will get some strains that do fine in it from the beginning.

[@ratslayer6064]

That's been my experience also..it'll burn em right out. I like to start in Happy Frog, and then surround it with Ocean Forest after I get a decent root system going..say from a 1 gallon to a 5 or 7.

[@BakWardzMan]

Spot on..

[@brianrossini232]

I here that a lot I haven't experienced any problems I put my seed directly in Ocean Forest with in 3 days they pop with no issues

[@minekush1138]

yeah weak gentics csn get s little burnt with heavy soil

[@SirYeildsAlot]

Can ypu put ocean at the pot of the pots?

[@Gary-wu3vn]

i started growing 3 years ago at which time i used Happy Frog, but the last two years i am using Ocean Forest. I have definitely have noticed a positive change.

[@AS-rg3dd]

have you tried mixing the 2 together?

[@ratslayer6064]

I like to start with the happy frog for seedlings because the Ocean forest tends to be a little hot for the lil guys..start in Happy Frog, then transplant into a bigger container surrounded by Ocean Forest. The Ocean Forest in my experience will kill seedlings,or damn near.

[@saint85]

​@AS-rg3dd i was thinking about doing that what are the results of that

[@Gary-wu3vn]

i do use the heat pad when germinating. I start the seeds in ocean forest and use 1.5 bag for 10 gallon fabric pot to continue growth cycle.

[@ratslayer6064]

The Ocean Forest didn't burn em out at all?

[@RideOut891]

@@ratslayer6064ocean forest be burning my seeds up lost 6 seeds to OF some grow fine but your taking a gamble

[@Skankkk.Hunt.4.2]

​@ratslayer6064 What kind of setup do you grow with? If you're doing indoor or outdoor the problem could be general temp in grow environment. I'm using ocean forest rn and I haven't noticed any issues keeping temp at around 72-76 on average.i am keeping the watering to a minimum for now to see better results until they develop further past seedling stage. I noticed you mention burnout in another comment. If you're using a warmer j would take a few or start a few off of it in a slightly cooler area

[@Wokhardt13]

Awesome video and damn good information answered all my questions!

[@bigtunagaming5532]

I've been using the happy frogs and my plants love it, great educational video!

[@fubbesibiz]

How do you feed during flower?

[@bigtunagaming5532]

@@fubbesibiz add my own mix in

[@mhendricks125]

Under 3 minutes and everything I wanted to know. Thank you. Would be great to do one with Strawberry Fields

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Strawberry Fields isn't one we carry, only a small section of our store is dedicated to horticulture products.

[@jessnkik25]

Omg thank you. This was helpful 😩

[@TyeDyedIguana]

We're glad you found this helpful!

[@boogiedalegend1288]

When do I start adding nutriance? A month after germ because of and hp mix has those nuets ?

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Fox Farm states that the nitrogen fertilizer blend in Ocean Forest lasts about 3-4 weeks. They do suggest that you can use a liquid fertilizer like their Big Bloom product pretty much right away.

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Most people recommend waiting about 3-4 weeks before adding nutrients. 🌿

[@boogiedalegend1288]

@@TyeDyedIguana so basically on bloom and flower stage and I’m tryna do it with a medium budget but simple what do u recomend because there’s a lot of neut company’s out there

[@stevenwayne2606]

You mentioned Ocean Forest is more nutrient dense than Happy Frog but the NPK is almost the same except for the Phosphorus, can you elaborate more on this as I've also heard that Ocean Forest can be a little hot for seedlings.

[@zachwerner675]

Just popped some autos in ocean forest and they love it !

[@UTAHtheN0bleBirthright-]

​@zachwerner675 -You put your automobile in dirt?

[@madcow3k]

Would these soils be a good substrate for isopods and millipedes? Thanks for the vid!

[@TyeDyedIguana]

While something like Happy Frog would be relatively safe for something like a potted plant in a reptile enclosure, we don't really recommend them for keeping invertebrates. Even if it's organic, a lot of the added fertilizers and ingredients could "burn" or harm smaller bugs. Something like our invertebrate soil here would be more appropriate! thetyedyediguana.com/advanced-substrates-invertebrate-soil-8-qt/

[@gyme6077]

Happy frog for cuttings / seedlings. As soon as you transplant out of say, the plastic cup, go to ocean.

[@HolyLSD]

Ocean forest is great, happy frog is meh. People complaining about it being "too hot", the plants will survive and thrive too much worry.

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Some plant variants can be more sensitive than others, even if closely related. 😮 Some people have better luck with one or the other, but we find both have their purpose! Have you ever combined the two? That's another popular choice for plant keepers 🌿

[@Baykid707]

I used hf on my seedlings and they stunted, and leaves died after a week. I couldn't figure out what was going on so i tried adding nutrients to the water, and they get green and started growing. When i switch pots i will go with of.

[@TyeDyedIguana]

We're glad to hear you were able to find something that worked well for you in the meantime! Have you used Ocean Forest before?

[@Baykid707]

@TyeDyedIguana no, just doing research and listening to people's experiences. I have always wondered about the difference between them, so i looked into it. I wish i had tried it on my first crop, i probably would have gotten bigger yields. Ill keep my fingers crossed and give an update and advice when i get more experienced.

[@Allknowingkeith]

Can you just top with ocean forest for good results?

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Ocean Forest is formulated with organic fertilizers already included, so using it that way might not give you the full benefit vs just potting the whole plant in it. It can be used as a top dressing if you have an established plant that you need to add soil to and are not looking to repot.

[@Allknowingkeith]

@@TyeDyedIguana cool. I just bought some this AM and already topped them. Bought some soil conditioner too. I noticed some of my top roots dying, dryied, and white. Hopefully this evens it out.

[@Dave-if5qj]

Is there a fox farm mix for cactus And succulents

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Fox Farms Ocean Forest can work great with cactus and succulents, although if youre working with seedlings, people find happy frog easier to work with as it has less chunks

[@ddcatwoman25]

If you go to Fox farm website they explain the difference with all of their products and I believe they do have one for succulents

[@cmmnsenserules4339]

Im new, i had a bag seed. Its growing in crap durt but doing great!!!! I transplanted into 3 gallon pot of FFOF.... when it needs feeding, can i use dry amendments or only bottled nuts???

[@TyeDyedIguana]

We don't (or at least I don't) grow, so I can't give you detailed advice on that. The products we offer are also great for fruits/vegetable plants as well as ornamental plants, and that's where my experience is. What I do know is that the customers that come in for nutrients really like the liquid nutrients by both Fox Farm and Advanced Nutrients. We sell Fox Farm's Nutrient Trio packs, and that might be a good place to start.

[@sonnybonez1767]

Can you flush out the nutrients from the ocean forest mix, or are the nutrients stuck in the soil for an X amount of months?

[@jameswilliford5478]

The nutrients are organic particles and made slowly available to the plants as the microbes in the soil break them down. Not synthetic or harsh like chemicals if that's what you're worried about.

[@Skankkk.Hunt.4.2]

​@@jameswilliford5478that's great to know, I started using it a while ago and I was kind of wondering if when flowering comes along if it'll need nutes or just topped off w more media. Literally any advice is awesome 👌

[@tjzzworld9101]

Would it be ok to mix these

[@TyeDyedIguana]

If it works for what you're trying to grow, there's no reason not to. There are plenty of soil amendments out there to choose from too, if you need something in particular.

[@tjzzworld9101]

@@TyeDyedIguana ok thank you

[@coupe50h]

So you didn't watch the video 🫥

[@LJJ1950]

which Fox Farm is best for auto flower seed growing?

[@TyeDyedIguana]

While there are some subtle differences, the two are rather comparable, and both offer great results. It seems to be more of a personal preference, depending on the individual plants as well, but both are great options. Many people even mix them, to ensure that they're getting the best of both worlds. 🌿

[@scorpioslab]

Can't go wrong with 70% happy frog, 30% ocean Forest, and a 4-4-4 organic, with extra worm castings. For a super soil. From the last transplant to finish just plain water.

[@TyeDyedIguana]

@@scorpioslab that sounds like a great combination! How long have you been keeping plants for?

[@scorpioslab]

​​​@@TyeDyedIguana 15 years I've used this recipe. I'm a Pheno Hunter, Breeder, and scrogger. I have horticulture under my belt. This is a great recipe for final. I use only Happy Frog for seedlings. Up until week 2.5-3. I use 70% Happy Frog, 30% Ocean Forest, and work castings for young veg till day 45. Then I put in final, with above mentioned. If I'm doing a pheno hunt they go straight out of seedling nursery Fox Farms, into 1 gallon super soil. To run them in plenty to hunt. Established phenos I use 15 gallon super soil. For my heavy yield, and sitting on bulk. 23 years total growing from a young age. With what I could use before it was readily available.

[@scorpioslab]

Are you O'fallon Illinois location?

[@randomhiphop5055]

This is basically what I've been doing for the past few years but I use the fox farm bottled nutrients. Never have had any deficiencies but maybe a little too much nitrogen at times that was caused by me adding too much calmag.

[@michelleburt3946]

Hi! Great, informative video* ive a question tho- ill be getting a year-old rose plant that ill be transplanting to larger container. Im pretty sure its a bit root bound & im pretty new to roses tho ive been researching HARD...which would be best for her?? Tysm❤

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Out of the two soils, I'd personally lean towards the Ocean Forest. Roses like slightly acidic, loamy soil and Ocean Forest fits that bill a little bit better.

[@Elev8minh]

Are these organic?

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Fox farm refers to their products as "Smart Naturals" as they do utilize some mineral salt based fertilizers. Organic means anything "of, relating to, or derived from living matter” i.e. carbon based. Ocean Forest potting soil contains granite dust which is silica based, and although it is completely natural, it is not technically organic.

[@dt6559]

I put happy frog unto my plants and they turned super green again. The ocean one wasn't getting rid of the yellowing of leaves

[@TyeDyedIguana]

It sounds like happy frog was the perfect soil for you! How long have you been using it for?

[@jonathonkerby8155]

If I’m an outdoor grower in central Florida what kinda soil do I need for my autos? Anything specific because of the conditions?

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Both are great options for many plant types! Ocean forest tends to be very strong in nutrients, where happy frog is more mild, but have a lot of beneficial bacteria and fungus. Some people may need to add nutrients to happy frog, where some people may want to dilute ocean forest. We have found most people have the best success by mixing the two substrate, or using primarily ocean forest, with a little pocket of happy frog around the seedling (to allow gentle nutrients while the plant is young and fragile.)

[@jomckeag4482]

Came for the review, stayed for the soundtrack

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Thank you for staying! We're glad you enjoyed!

[@JasonMorris-by4tv]

I use both 50/50 mix

[@IMakeMyBacon]

Transplants ? I wanna use 50/50 for planting my Watermelon

[@mfvigilante]

how good of a substrate will these be for bioactive tanks. (ball pythons and isopod bins).

[@P00handp1nk3y3]

I mix them both up 50/50

[@mikehernandez264]

Can u mix them together …. Thanks for sharing this The Hernandez Family Colorado ❤❤🎉🎉.

[@TyeDyedIguana]

There's no reason you couldn't, if it suits your purposes.

[@JJK713]

For years I've been hearing how much stronger ocean Forest is, but if you look at the NPK ratios on the bag it tells the different story

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Ocean Forest does tend to be nutrient heavy, it can depend on the needs and age of your plant. If Ocean Forest does appear too strong for someone's plants, usually diluting it down by mixing another substrate with it, can help.

[@KennyHicks-q8x]

What about a 2:2:1 mix , ocean forest, soil conditioner & coir

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Hello! There are many people that have great success combining ocean forest, happy frog soil conditioner, and coco loco/eco earth -as well as other coir like soils. Adding 5-10% perlite has proven beneficial for some as well. The ratio you suggested sounds like a great place to start! Adjustments can vary depending on other factors and individual plants. Using pH soil testers are a great way to see where any potential adjustments may be needed! 🌱🌿🍅 thetyedyediguana.com/rapitest-digital-soil-ph-meter/

[@justinholtgrave]

What about the Coco loco? That seems to get even better reviews than these two

[@davidquintana8395]

using fox farms for first time.. I had to adjust my watering habits , but that is the only problem I had..I tend to over water.. bad habit;; let that dirt get dry,,,

[@TyeDyedIguana]

It depends on your application, but since we do mostly bioactive terrariums and houseplants, we find that adding a drainage layer with clay balls or even just larger rock can help some overwatering issues because it allows for airflow under the soil as well. In fact, it's pretty much necessary for a terrarium since extra water can't be drained out as easily.

[@randomhiphop5055]

I had the same problem so I started mixing 70% ocean forest with 30% happy frog, with added worm castings, and air pots. It'd be pretty hard to overwater now with my set up.

[@420Dreamz36]

You never tried Happy frog but how come nobody ever talks about Coco loco I'll be using that mixed with ocean forest and so far so good but I wish we could hear a little more about the Coco loco

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Coco loco is certainly a great substrate too! We should do a video on that soon. What mixing ratio do you seem to like best?

[@clovenbeast5183]

Use both heavy on ocean forest lighter with happy frog😊

[@TyeDyedIguana]

We have heard many people find great success with combining the two!! Thank you for sharing!

[@monsterhog1118]

Just mix your own soil for 1/3 the price

[@TyeDyedIguana]

While that's certainly an option, a lot of people like to pay for the convenience. That goes for a lot of soils. Otherwise you end up with five or seven bags of ingredients in various sizes sitting around because you had to get just the right ratio - ...ask us how we know. 😅

[@brianamochel7762]

This guy is just a fox farm dealer not a user

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Why can't he be both? 😂

[@Dazedays_0420]

Sold😅

[@tjizzle8155]

Ocean forest is fine for germination

[@TyeDyedIguana]

We have heard many people have great results with it! It can certainly vary by the individual plants needs, but Ocean Forest is pretty well suited for many 🌿❤ How long have you been using Ocean Forest for?

[@tjizzle8155]

Haven't got a chance to try it yet ...just starting back out again and Alot of things have changed ,.I really think that's what I need but can't yet till I can come up with some cash....hard times here in WV,.I'm almost there just need a bag or two...hopefully soon...

[@413TomaccoRoad]

Happy Frog.

[@thetheoryguy5544]

Imma mix them (:

[@TyeDyedIguana]

We've had lots of being have success with doing this!

[@leebowler8746]

👌🏻🤘🏻

[@TyeDyedIguana]

Thanks for watching our video! Which soil is your favorite?

[@justme-ud2vk]

happy frog is okay. ocean forest is an absolute disaster. run for your life.

[@TyeDyedIguana]

What was it about the Ocean Forest you didn't like? We haven't heard about or had any issues with it ourselves, though Happy Frog is still our top seller.