Nutes

[c0mrade]

Hello, Im just working on a Hydro setup, Im going to be using a blue rubbermaid container and going to do probly 2-4 plants. I was wondering what kind of nutes I have to buy. I was looking at the Flora brand. I was wondering if I should go for something else. Im in canada so somewhere in canada or that has cheap shipping :P I also don't know how to use the nutes. How often to put them in the water. When to put them in the water. If someone could help me with these things I would very much apperciate it.

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Would 16oz be enough for the grow period?

c0mrade Reviewed by c0mrade on 11-24-2008. Nutes Hello, Im just working on a Hydro setup, Im going to be using a blue rubbermaid container and going to do probly 2-4 plants. I was wondering what kind of nutes I have to buy. I was looking at the Flora brand. I was wondering if I should go for something else. Im in canada so somewhere in canada or that has cheap shipping :P I also don't know how to use the nutes. How often to put them in the water. When to put them in the water. If someone could help me with these things I would very much Rating: 5

[herbie the love bud]

Ok, all good questions. So you can't go wrong with good old GH. It's not the absolute best, but it is a good starter while you dial everything in.

Each nute manufacturer has either a mixing/ratio recipe or a calculator on their website. There are also directions on the bottle, but those vary a bit.

Now here is something that a lot of people don't understand about nutes: The amount you make should be based upon one feeding per week! Let me explain: If your plants drink 5 - 8 gallons a week, let's say 1 gallon per day, then you would mix 1 gallon of the nutes/water, and then just continue to feed water for the rest of the week. That's it, all the rest is waste.

You'll do great. BTW, post a follow up thread when you plant your seeds or cuttings because the recipe for that is different.

[Help_Needed]

Now here is something that a lot of people don't understand about nutes: The amount you make should be based upon one feeding per week! Let me explain: If your plants drink 5 - 8 gallons a week, let's say 1 gallon per day, then you would mix 1 gallon of the nutes/water, and then just continue to feed water for the rest of the week. That's it, all the rest is waste.

Intersting. I've spent a lot of time on a lot of different growing forums and I've NEVER heard anyone else mention this. I'd love to hear a little more regarding the rational for this, because quite frankly, I'm not sure it passes the logic test.

To OP, GH nutes (both the basic Flora brand, and the FloraNova brand) work well for hydro. As Herbie stated, they're not the absolute best, but they'll do the job well and give you a grow you can be proud of. If you're going to use GH, I'd recommend you take a look at the Lucas Formula. It's a basic beginner's nute program designed specifically for MJ. Once you've mastered that, then you can start playing around with more advanced nutes and suppliments.

[the image reaper]

I've used the Flora, it's a nice, clean solution ... but, my absolute best results have come from using the Fox Farm ferts, some don't agree with me, but my results don't lie ... I just used the ratios and schedule described in the Fox Farms schedule (at their website and brochure) ... easy, foolproof, and great results ... highly recommended :thumbsup:

[macnasty]

Now here is something that a lot of people don't understand about nutes: The amount you make should be based upon one feeding per week! Let me explain: If your plants drink 5 - 8 gallons a week, let's say 1 gallon per day, then you would mix 1 gallon of the nutes/water, and then just continue to feed water for the rest of the week. That's it, all the rest is waste.

according to your rationale, 99.999% of growers have been wasting massive quantities of ferts and contributing significantly to the destruction of this planet's resources. a claim such as that needs a more elaborate justification.

ok, sorry to sound like a j-ass, but i would truly appreciate it if you shined some more light on my shadowy face. are fert companies so deceptive that they would publicly encourage the waste of ferts just to make a profit?

i think i just misunderstand. let's take your example: plant drinks 1 gallon a day. so mix enough nutes for ONE gallon, and then add water for a week? then do it all over again, thus saving enough nutes to fill 6 gallons of water every week?

...i'm going to bang my head against a wall till i hear back from you, thanks herbie.

[herbie the love bud]

Yes, contact your nute manufacturer and ask exactly how to use the nutes. They are not deceiving anybody, there is just a common misunderstanding.

If for instance your chart says 1500 ppm, that is what the plant needs over the course of one week (that is why we change the reservoir weekly), not what it needs per day!

Other than just calling your nute manufacturer to confirm, let me give you a few exercises to prove it:

Lets say you have a ten gallon rez for your plants and you filled it at 1500 per gallon and you started feeding your plants. Without topping off any water, what is your PPM tomorrow? Is it higher or lower? It's higher because the plant drank more water than nutrients (forget about the nutrients that fell out mechanically for now). Now obviously there is way too much nutrient in the water for the plant to uptake. So now let's water it down to half the strength/ppm and try again tomorrow. Same result? Keep going until the ppm neither reduces nor rises. What is the PPM and what ratio is that to your weekly total of 1500? About a 7th by any chance?

I can give a few more experiments for anyone to try if anyone wants. But what ever method you choose, let us know and I can help you make a mixture strategy, because its different based upon drain to waste and recirculating, soilless, etc..

[tinytoon]

Hmmm time for a name change? Herbie the Chemist!! :smokin:

[c0mrade]

Should I buy Foxfarm nutes?

+ FoxFarm Grow Big 1L (Soil OR Hydro) $22
+ FoxFarm Big Bloom 1L $22
+ FoxFarm Tiger Bloom 1L $22

[macnasty]

If for instance your chart says 1500 ppm, that is what the plant needs over the course of one week (that is why we change the reservoir weekly), not what it needs per day!

sorry herbie but i'm still confused. 1500 ppm is NOT a measure of volume, it's a ratio, right? do you mean to say that the schedule implies that the plant only needs 1 gallon at 1500 ppm per week? or am i still way off? thanks in advance.

[IAmKowalski]

sorry herbie but i'm still confused. 1500 ppm is NOT a measure of volume, it's a ratio, right? do you mean to say that the schedule implies that the plant only needs 1 gallon at 1500 ppm per week? or am i still way off? thanks in advance.

You are correct, PPM is parts per million. This has nothing to do with any one-week interval, it is the level of concentration for a given stage of life, and a plant in full bloom sucks down nutrients a lot faster than one in early veg.