chunky foxfarm ferts

[michaelpeg]

Does anyone have experience using foxfarm grow big after it has gotten chunky? is this a very bad idea?

michaelpeg Reviewed by michaelpeg on 08-27-2009. chunky foxfarm ferts Does anyone have experience using foxfarm grow big after it has gotten chunky? is this a very bad idea? Rating: 5

[headshake]

how old is it? did you shake the piss out of it?

-shake

[michaelpeg]

it is about 2 years old. I do shake it before using it, the chunks seem quite large as i can feel them knocking around when i shake it.

[JeffersonBud]

I have been told to use them no longer then 1 year after purchase.

[michaelpeg]

ok thanks, i guess i may have to get rid of them and get some fresh bottles.

[headshake]

maybe rusty will chime in, but i'm with JB on this one. i'll see whatelse i can find though.

-shake

[michaelpeg]

thanks alot

[JeffersonBud]

Found this letter from Fox Farm...

Hello,
Our liquid nutrients do go bad except the Big Bloom. Tiger Bloom and Grow Big have a life of 2 to 3 years but Big Bloom gets better with age. After 2 to 3 years the microbial activity starts to die, the product probably still has some nutrients left, but not all that it had. Let us know if thereâ??s any other questions, have a nice day.

Customer Service
FoxFarm Soil & Fertilizer Co.
P.O. Box 787
Arcata,CA 95518
(707)-443-4369
(707)-443-7645

I would say that it could last 2 years if stored in perfect dark conditions.
I know that Botanicare says to ditch after 1 year. If they look bad or are clumpy I would buy new ones

[michaelpeg]

thanks again, I was actually waiting on a response from foxfarm.

[Rusty Trichome]

When the nutrients and salts start to congeal, minor deficiencies can start to occur, and watch ingoing ph on feeding day. I just shake the crap out of it till it sounds like there are more chunks than liquid. If I could afford to buy fresh every 6 months, I would. But I have never really had a major issue in using somewhat chunky FF nutes. When the nutes start getting old, check for ph swings after mixing and watch runoff ph a tad closer.

Keep in mind I use Soil Syrup (humic acid) after every monthly mini flush, (1:1 ph'd water to pot volume) and I have drastically cut back on the Big Bloom through the entire grow, (1 tsp:gallon, twice a week) and replaced it with molasses, (1 tsp:gallon, twice per week) which also effectively and cheaply replaces the Botanicare Sweet and CalMag I used to use in flower.