fox farm, am i doing it right?

[bkron420]

hey guys, i have six plants

two bag seed, 1 el nino, 1 lsd, 1 white widow, 1 lemon skunk

i have been using fox farm big bloom and tiger bloom but i want to know if i am doing it right of if you guys have any suggestions

i have been watering my plants with about a half to three quarters of a water bottle per day and per each water bottle i have been mixing a little more than half a table spoon of big bloom and about a quarter of a table spoon of tiger bloom and i have been doing it every THIRD watering, am i doing it right?

should i change it or what should i do differently to get the best results from this fertilizer?

[tevfik]

Using fertilizer is not an easy thing, specially if you use the units as "bottle, spoon". Here i have three water bottles: 250ml, 500ml and 1500ml.

Optimum nutrient level depends on many factor such as light, soil mix, air etc.

Recommended amounts must be written on the packs or on their websites. Don't use exact amounts whats written, use less. Unless you have the exact conditions...

[bkron420]

500 ml bottle, sorry about that

[WashougalWonder]

Ask Rusty Trichome, he uses that.

[bkron420]

new to the forum, how do i find/message a certain member

[budlover13]

Picked this up at the local nursery. Never saw one until this one. Shotglass marked in tsp., tblsp, ounces, and milliliters. Made for HydroFarm and sells for $3.50, but if you admire it while standing there preparing to pay for your FF nutes, Soil, ammendments, etc they'll throw it in for free. I bought a 1 Gal water jug for my first couple grows.

[WashougalWonder]

When he gets online he will notice this.......He has been intermittent lately has some stuff going on there that keeps him off line lately.

[Rusty Trichome]

hey guys
Hey.


i have been using fox farm big bloom and tiger bloom but i want to know if i am doing it right of if you guys have any suggestions
The Fox Farms website has a solid weekly feeding schedule. Easy to download or print. The soluables are unnecessary, and are strong enough to kill plants if used improperly. Experience required before using 'em.
Do not start feeding the plants till they're mature enough to handle the nutrients. Usually, after the third or fourth set of true leaves. At that point, give half-strength nutrients for a couple weeks, then go full strength. (always sneak-up on a maximum)

Most sativa dominates can't accept nutrients as readily as indica dominates, so keep in mind some adjustment will be necessary. I personally consider the website weekly feeding schedule to be a maximum dosage for indica dominates.


i have been watering my plants with about a half to three quarters of a water bottle per day and per each water bottle i have been mixing a little more than half a table spoon of big bloom and about a quarter of a table spoon of tiger bloom and i have been doing it every THIRD watering, am i doing it right?
"About" doesn't cut it till you get to know the growing process, the plants, and the nutrients. To dial-in your nutrient needs, you'll need to be fairly exact with dilution rates, and quantities. Otherwise, you're going at it in a hit-or-miss fashion.

Since you are growing a few different strains, it makes 'dialing-in" a bitch. Sativa dominates will burn waaaaay before indica dominates.

Pick a nutrient day, and stick with it till harvest. The plants appreciate consistency.

To establish quantities per feeding, mix the nutes per website instructions, (let's say a gallon worth) and add slowly till you get a slight run-off. Measure the ammount remaining in the gallon. The missing quantity is your weekly feeding quantity per plant. Use this knowledge to figure-out how much you'll need to mix for ALL of the plants at the same time.

Don't mix a 5 gallon batch if you're only going to use 2 gallons per week...it will go bad as the chemicals interact.

With the Fox Farms trio, the Grow Big and the Tiger Bloom have all the necessary micronutrients the plant should need. The Big Bloom is a catalyst tea, (catalyst - a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected) and has no micronutrients. Big Bloom isn't really a stand-alone nutrient, as it's missing important compounds and nutrients and such.

Any nutrient can and will leave a salt residue. Fox Farms is no exception. I flush monthly to release these salts, preventing a build-up. (a slow flush with plain, properly ph'd water...one gallon of flush for every gallon of pot size) I flush once a month on a feeding day, and feed them after the flush. Watch your drip trays, and make sure they don't overfill.

Late in flower, I cut-back on the Big Bloom dramatically. (in half) at which point I start the molasses at 1 tsp per gallon per week. Molasses is a great source of carbohydrates, iron, magnesium and calcium. (replaces CalMag Plus)

Let the soil dry between waterings, and never water or flush the day before a feeding day. If necessary, and you need to water...I only give a quart for my 3 gallon pots, a quart and a half for 5 gallon pots. Just enough to keep them hydrated till their next feeding. Your soil may be different than mine, so be aware your needs may be slightly different.

My summer feeding schedule is a tad different, as I cut the nutrients in half, but I give 'em twice a week. Monday's and Thursday's. (in case you're in summer now)

Hope this helps...:jointsmile:

[bluntar]

Hey.


The Fox Farms website has a solid weekly feeding schedule. Easy to download or print. The soluables are unnecessary, and are strong enough to kill plants if used improperly. Experience required before using 'em.
Do not start feeding the plants till they're mature enough to handle the nutrients. Usually, after the third or fourth set of true leaves. At that point, give half-strength nutrients for a couple weeks, then go full strength. (always sneak-up on a maximum)

Most sativa dominates can't accept nutrients as readily as indica dominates, so keep in mind some adjustment will be necessary. I personally consider the website weekly feeding schedule to be a maximum dosage for indica dominates.


"About" doesn't cut it till you get to know the growing process, the plants, and the nutrients. To dial-in your nutrient needs, you'll need to be fairly exact with dilution rates, and quantities. Otherwise, you're going at it in a hit-or-miss fashion.

Since you are growing a few different strains, it makes 'dialing-in" a bitch. Sativa dominates will burn waaaaay before indica dominates.

Pick a nutrient day, and stick with it till harvest. The plants appreciate consistency.

To establish quantities per feeding, mix the nutes per website instructions, (let's say a gallon worth) and add slowly till you get a slight run-off. Measure the ammount remaining in the gallon. The missing quantity is your weekly feeding quantity per plant. Use this knowledge to figure-out how much you'll need to mix for ALL of the plants at the same time.

Don't mix a 5 gallon batch if you're only going to use 2 gallons per week...it will go bad as the chemicals interact.

With the Fox Farms trio, the Grow Big and the Tiger Bloom have all the necessary micronutrients the plant should need. The Big Bloom is a catalyst tea, (catalyst - a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected) and has no micronutrients. Big Bloom isn't really a stand-alone nutrient, as it's missing important compounds and nutrients and such.

Any nutrient can and will leave a salt residue. Fox Farms is no exception. I flush monthly to release these salts, preventing a build-up. (a slow flush with plain, properly ph'd water...one gallon of flush for every gallon of pot size) I flush once a month on a feeding day, and feed them after the flush. Watch your drip trays, and make sure they don't overfill.

Late in flower, I cut-back on the Big Bloom dramatically. (in half) at which point I start the molasses at 1 tsp per gallon per week. Molasses is a great source of carbohydrates, iron, magnesium and calcium. (replaces CalMag Plus)

Let the soil dry between waterings, and never water or flush the day before a feeding day. If necessary, and you need to water...I only give a quart for my 3 gallon pots, a quart and a half for 5 gallon pots. Just enough to keep them hydrated till their next feeding. Your soil may be different than mine, so be aware your needs may be slightly different.

My summer feeding schedule is a tad different, as I cut the nutrients in half, but I give 'em twice a week. Monday's and Thursday's. (in case you're in summer now)

Hope this helps...:jointsmile:


Bingo!!What he said!!

So I have noticed that on the FF feeding schedule, on the organic side it explains to feed with every other watering, however it sais it under thge solubles sectionn...I am wondering if that is explaining to add solubles every other watering or to feed all nutrients with every other watering. On the other side for hydro side it sais feed with EVERY watering...ok, so im confused..The schedule goes by how much to add weekly ie: week 1; 2tsp Grow Big per gal. per week. So if I water every 3 days should I add 2tbs of Grow big in every other watering OR 1tbs for 2 waterings in that week?

Bkron420,

I found that is is alot easier to over do it than under do it. One important thing is your soil. Alot of soil has nutrients in it already which will make it even easier to burn your plants. Also the companies producing these products will want you to run out sooner so you have to buy more. The other important thing is consistancy and measurements. Plants love consistancy and there is a science to this so a Tbl and a Tsp is NOT a pinch and a dash, FF products are made to work togear.

Just a few things I wish i knew sooner than later, I used Big bloom and Tiger Bloom and had great results, I am setting up for round 2 and I will go get the Grow Big for "optimal results"

P.S. idk if rusty mentioned it but watering every day is not ideal. the roots will not reach down for water if it is never dry, A brief dry period will make for a nice strong root ball.

[bkron420]

okay, rusty, HUGE HELP, just have a few questions to clarify. i am pretty stupid when it comes to this stuff but i am still trying my best to learn.

Just a couple questions and i should be good.

The instructions on the bottles that i have say

Big bloom 4 tbs per gallon of water every other watering
Tiger Bloom 2-3 tbs per gallon of water every other watering

Are you suggesting i just mix it all up in a gallon jug and water my plants from that? i thought thats what i should have done originally but someone told me that was wrong.

Okay, so i mix it all in the one gallon jug, water my plants from that, and measure to see how much they need so i dont have to keep using the gallon jug.

And lastly, do i feed them with the foxfarm/ water solution once a week or every other watering or what? i have heard so many mixed opinions on that, that is one of my biggest concerns.

thanks alot for your help

[bluntar]

:twocents:

I know you are talking to Rusty but what can it hurt?

I was botherd by my confusion and while staring at my feeding chart I realised it reads like this..

Feed every other watering X Tbl/Tsp per gl.

Simple as that!!

However



Big bloom 4 tbs per gallon of water every other watering
Tiger Bloom 2-3 tbs per gallon of water every other watering



FF feeding chart reads

Tiger Bloom 2 tsp per gal every other watering
Big Bloom 1 Tbl per gal every other watering

But my bottle sais the same as yours so be carful

[gypski]

I'm using FF, and I use Big Bloom 1/2 tblsp per 2 liter/Grow Big 1/2 tsp per 2 liter/grow 1/2 tblsp BB per 2 liter/1/2 tsp Tiger Bloom per 2 liter/flower

Outdoors I do the by the gallon twice a week. Indoors once a week. :twocents:

[bkron420]

ok thanks alot guys, so would you guys say for best results

give my girls fox farm once a week?

[gypski]

ok thanks alot guys, so would you guys say for best results

give my girls fox farm once a week?

That's the place to start IMO. And when I use the two liters, I use a one liter (small Folgers coffee can) to water each plant, every other day with nutes once a week, and once a week until it drains into the pot pan with water. :smokin:

[Rusty Trichome]

Bottle instructions assume it's being used as a stand-alone nutrient. The website assumes you are using the Trio.

The Weekly Feeding Schedule (http://www.foxfarmfertilizer.com/FoxFarm-Soil-Schedule.pdf)is just that...a weekly feeding schedule.
The numbers on the left represent the week since germination. (the plant's age) Follow along that weeks 'line' and that's what you should be giving that week. Not daily...not every other day, but once a week. If you need to water inbetween, use plain, properly ph'd water. Ingoing water ph in soil or potting soil mix, should be between 6.3 and 6.8'ish. I tend tword the high side, (6.8'ish) because nutrients bring the ph down, and eventually the buffers in the soil will fade, and lower the ph too.

Don't bother with the soluables till you get the hang of feedings and waterings and troubleshooting your plants ailments. It's a bitch to use, and will easily destroy a crop if mis-used.

Mix only as much as you'll need that day. The instructions I gave were to help you avoid mixing too much at a time and letting it spoil. Use leftovers on your houseplants. During the summer I make 3 gallon batches. Right now though, I get by with 2 gallon batches.

I live in the desert and flower in an outdoor shed. Since giving heavy doses stresses my already heat-stressed ladies, I give 1/2 doses, twice a week. Likely you won't need to do this, but I offered it as an option to show the flexibility of Fox Farms. If you have normal operating temps, stick with the website info.

Cannabis prefers a wet-dry cycle. Overwatering will cause major problems like nutrient lockout, root rot, death.

Monthly flush to release salt build-up. I flush on the first feeding day of the month. Easy to remember.

If you only need a quart, no sense in mixing a gallon.

Did I miss anyone...?

[GetThisOrDie]

He speaks the truth about the soluables. I had beastie bloomz recently kill one of my ladies with a very small dose.

[gypski]

He speaks the truth about the soluables. I had beastie bloomz recently kill one of my ladies with a very small dose.

I used all three of the samples FF sent me of the trio outdoors. But, I used 1/4 tsp (tea spoon) not tblsp (tablespoon) per gallon once a week as called for. But since I got only a sample amount, about a tblsp of each, it didn't go very far, and I saw no negative effects. I bought and have a set of measuring spoons for growing only. I think some people get confused by the table/tea spoon stuff and accidentally over nute. And unless I intentionally nute stress mine, I only feed once a week, lowest dose on the label. :twocents:

[GetThisOrDie]

I put a pinch of beastie bloomz... No more than 1/4 teaspoon into 1 gallon of water. One plant liked it one plant died. Two different strains that is.

[Rusty Trichome]

The online instructions, are a weekly feeding schedule. (FEED ONCE A WEEK)

Soluables can be used in MINIMAL ammounts as ammendments, (add to the feedings) but only if you are experienced enough to recognize plant issues as they are developing. (versus after the plant(s) have died) I have found the soluables unnecessary, but I use phosphoric acid (phDown) to lower water ph.

Using Cha Ching, I'd be overdosing my ladies with PO4. It's not that I'm against using the soluables, (I still use it once in a while...I've got half a jar left) It's that I'm not really one to over-complicate my garden. My results are stellar, and I find it difficult to see how or why I'd want to screw-up something that works great. The other two soluables I wouldn't use even if it was given to me. (they're unnecessary)

[WashougalWonder]

All this got me interested in the feeding schedule and I went in and talked with the local store owner. Fox Farms has essentially set this up to use not just this or that of their additives, instead it is a whole system including the potting mix.


I think some people get confused by the table/tea spoon stuff and accidentally over nute.

I agree completely. I have gotten to the point I have many measuring devices for different uses. A 1/2 ml and 10 ml syringe, a 30 ml graduated glass measuring cup, throw away 30 ml cups, and a half liter/quart graduated measuring cup. Some nutes in my garden are measured at 0.3 ml of nute to 500 ml. I really think to work in metric is safer and better and many of the additives are measured in ml/gallon and/or ml/liter.

Much less waste using such an exact measuring system...I spill measuring spoons....klutz. :smokin:

[420patient]

Hey guys im new, i know this page is old but it has alot of info on FoxFarms.Im planning my fisrst grow and im gonna be using FFOF, the triopack nutes and i was planning on adding cal-mag, superthrive and Hygrzyme to the package. What are yalls opinions on how they'll work together? I'll be growing NL in 6 3gallon buckets under a 400w MH/HPS lite in a well vented bedroom with fans heat and air.

[ditdotter]

I feed my plants a little different than what I've read on this thread so far. The results are the same, just another way to arrive at the same solution.

First I figure what week (days) of flower I'm in, check the Fox Farms feeding schedule to determine how much product to mix into a gallon of water at the full strength reconmmended by the company. NOTE I use the solubles also at a 1/4 teaspoon per gallon as per instructions on container. Then this mixture is Ph'd to 6.3 -6.35.

Second I mix an equal amount of just plain ph'd water.

Third, I use 1 pint of liquid per gallon of pot size. A 2 gallon pot would receive 1 pint of nutes and 1 pint of ph'd water per feeding. A 3 gallon pot would get 2 nutes and 1 pint of Ph'd water the first feeding of the week and 2 Ph'd waters and 1 nute the second feeding of the week and so on.

If any liquid is needed in between, I use Ph'd water only. At about 2 weeks from the finish I feed with 1 teaspoon of molasses per gallon of water for one week, then finish with plain Ph'd water until done.

I know it's the same as mixing half strength but this method seems to work better for me. I started doing this a year or so ago and I never see any tip burn or nutrient deficiencies anymore like I used to see.

Another word of advice: being anal with the Ph will improve your grow more than probally any single thing you can do. If the liquid you pour on your plants is not Ph'd correctly, the kind or brand of nutrients you use will not matter.