Before planting, mix your dry amendments into your base soil (peat or coco).

Because Bio-Live contains living bacteria and fungi, it works best if you mix it into your soil and let it "cook" (stay moist) for 10 days before planting. This builds the microbial colony before the roots arrive. The mycorrhizae and beneficial bacteria in Bio-Live need time to establish — planting into freshly mixed soil means the biology hasn't colonized yet, and your plant misses the critical first-contact inoculation.

DTE produces a Bio-Live Hawaiian Blend with mycorrhizal species chosen specifically for Hawaiʻi's soils — including Rhizophagus irregularis, Rhizophagus clarus, Septoglomus deserticola, and Funneliformis mosseae (924 spores/lb total). These species are adapted to tropical volcanic soil conditions and colonize faster in warm, humid environments than the mainland formulation. The Hawaiian Blend also uses Seaweed Meal instead of standard Kelp Meal, plus 2.5% Humic Acids derived from Leonardite to feed the microorganisms as they establish. If you're growing on Maui, always use the Hawaiian Blend.

Use 2 tablespoons of Bio-Live per gallon of soil. For a 5-gallon pot, that's 10 tablespoons mixed thoroughly into the dry medium before adding water.

Cannabis is a "heavy feeder." By week 3, the plant has consumed the readily available nitrogen in the initial mix and is ready for a top-dress.

Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of Bio-Live per gallon of soil evenly across the surface. Gently scratch it into the top inch of soil with your fingers or a small rake.

Always cover your top-dress with a thin layer of worm castings or mulch to keep the biological life from drying out under the grow lights. The living microbes in Bio-Live need moisture to survive and break down nutrients — exposed powder will dry out and become inert.

As you switch to a 12/12 light cycle, the plant requires a massive spike in Phosphorus for structural flower development.

Apply 2 tablespoons of Fish Bone Meal (3-16-0) per gallon of soil. This is a "slow-release" phosphorus source — applying it at the flip ensures that by Week 7 (when bud-building is at its peak), the nutrients are fully broken down and available. The 16% phosphorus content is one of the highest in any organic amendment, providing the structural energy for flower sites to multiply and expand.

Bat Guano is a more "immediate" organic source of Phosphorus compared to Fish Bone Meal. By Week 8, the bone meal is winding down and the plant needs one final push.

Apply 1 tablespoon of Bat Guano (0-7-0) per gallon of soil. This provides the specific energy needed for trichome production and bud density during the final stages of flower development. Bat Guano's phosphorus is more readily available than bone meal, so it acts faster — exactly what the plant needs when it's stacking the final layers of resin.

Water only. The slow-release amendments are winding down naturally, and the plant is using stored energy to ripen the flowers. Because DTE amendments are organic and don't leave heavy mineral salts, no aggressive "flush" is needed — just maintain normal watering and let the plant finish on its own terms.

Organic amendments work best when soil pH is between 6.0 and 6.8. If your water is too alkaline, the microbes cannot efficiently break down the bone meal and guano into plant-available forms. Maui county water runs pH 7.8–8.4 — consider using a pH-buffered medium like ProMix BX or adjusting your input water with organic pH down. Check your local water quality at the Maui County Water Quality Reports.

Avoid "heavy runoff" when using dry amendments. You want to keep the soil moist, but flushing water through the pot will wash away the fine powders and microbial activity you've built up. Water slowly and evenly until you see the first drops of moisture at the bottom — then stop. The goal is saturation without displacement. This preserves the nutrient-rich top layer and keeps the microbial colony intact.

Beyond the Master Trio, Down To Earth offers a deep lineup of single-ingredient amendments and minerals that let you customize your soil and address specific deficiencies. Here is every DTE dry amendment relevant to cannabis, organized by function.