Adding WaterNutes To Half Empty Resi = Bad?

[razzapiggy]

I water by hand and sometimes add water when I run low, and then put more nutes in accordingly because it makes things alot more convenient. I was told at the Hydro store that you are supposed to fill resi to desired amount, add nutrients, and then not add more water (besides the 4-5 gallon top off from the d\h) otherwise it kills some of the beneficial things for plants.

Is this true? Do those of you who hand water use all the water completely, then re-fill it as needed? Is it really a problem to add 5-10 gallons in a 50 gallon resi if you realize you don't have enough to water all of them?

I've sort of been "custom watering" and giving water to each individual plant as needed, even if it means water 4-5 nights a week.

Also, can any of you tell me how many gallons per plant you give them per week when they are in late bloom? These suckers are drying up quick, I give them about a gallon everytime I water (they are in 3 gallon pots)

Lastly, I was also told that you are supposed to add micro nutes first, and then macro nutes second otherwise you aren't getting 100% outta your nutes.

[byrdog55]

I think that I have a very similar question/situation. I have 2 pots that have a 2.5 gallon reservoirs each ( full of healthy looking roots). I mix 5 gallons of nutes full strength once a week and top off with ph'd water with calMag or Liquid Karma based on Latewood's legacy nute schedule. I go through close to another 5 gallons of top off each week. I then completely drain the reservoirs and start over. What are other people's thoughts?

[stinkyattic]

Hand-watering out of a res, or watering a soil grow out of a reservoir at all, is unusual among hobby scale growers. You should make sure you're using a nutrient that can actually be pre-diluted and stays stable over time.
I think the micro first macro second thing is a myth. The exception is of course adding mineral supplements (calmag or silica blast if you use it) first so that you can asses your background hardensss, but beyond that, if you are going to get interaction, it's going to happen regardless of addition order, so you need to be certain that you're running compatible nutes and that they are properly chelated.
Even with a good commercial nute meant for a drip irrigation soil style, I would still say only mix up a res that will give you a week's worth of juice, and start fresh weekly. Topping up with water during the week shouldn't be a problem if you're monitoring your pH and total EC.
Hope that helps a bit, at least?

[razzapiggy]

Thanks Stinky. When I say resivoir I mean that's just where I hold the water and keep a circulation pump going in there. I use the following nutes:

Botanicare Pure Blend Pro
MOAB (During Bloom)
Hygrozime
Liquid Kharma.


I have friends that also hand water that hit 1.1-1.25 per light... unfortunately my numbers haven't been quite that high but it has worked out decent in the past.

I hope to set up a drip for my next cycle I just didn't get around to it this time... and I don't really mind giving them the water by hand.

[razzapiggy]

I'm using SunShine#4 for my medium also.

You say it's an unusual practice what exactly do you mean by that? The water needs to be held in something before you hand water, am I confused?

[stinkyattic]

Well, usually in a hand-watered system, you'd be mixing your nutes right before use. But if you're confident that your nutrient system and water will stay stable from the time of mixing to the time of watering, you're fine.

[razzapiggy]

The longest it sits there is for about 3 days. Wouldn't cycling your nutes through your drip system etc for a week straight lead to more unstable feed than the current way I'm doing it?

How are you Stinky? Long time no chat... hopefully the Red Sox pull this out. Do you still have my private email? I'd love to meet up sometime when I'm back east.