Buds not getting big as I think they should

[bronc76]

I think the tds meter had tds and temp on it. I asked the guy at the hydro store about an EC meter and he said I really didnt need it but that the tds meter was vital. The neuts I use now all botanicare products. They will work just have to modify recipe to get correct ppm's right? I have been using pro bloom, liquid k, hydroplex, and bud candy. I will switch to RO water and get the cal mag and B-1 will I need anything else? Thank you so much for taking the time to help me. I don't really consider myself stupid but sometimes this stuff gets so overwhelming it makes you fell that way as well as having a very steep learning curve. LOL

[CanGroIt]

I think the tds meter had tds and temp on it. I asked the guy at the hydro store about an EC meter and he said I really didnt need it but that the tds meter was vital. The neuts I use now all botanicare products. They will work just have to modify recipe to get correct ppm's right? I have been using pro bloom, liquid k, hydroplex, and bud candy. I will switch to RO water and get the cal mag and B-1 will I need anything else? Thank you so much for taking the time to help me. I don't really consider myself stupid but sometimes this stuff gets so overwhelming it makes you fell that way as well as having a very steep learning curve. LOL

Yeah hydro can be confusing at first but once you got it down, you want to push limits. At least that is how I felt.

Anyway, I hope you haven't bought that tds meter yet. If you are willing to pay 129 for just a tds meter, you might as well look into getting an Extech EC500. It's a waterproof EC/Ph/TDS with temp and salinity. You can get one online for 139+tax and S+H. I mention this one because it's the one I use. Ultimately it's up to you but once you know EC and how it affects plant growth, you might want it.

I noticed you don't have any grow nutrients. Your nutes have enough P and K but not enough N for vegging. Yes, you will have to modify your recipe to get the ppm's right.

This is how I divide my recipe for ppm's: (Using GH 3-part for example)
Measurements are per liter

Week 1 Veg
4ml Grow
2ml Micro
1ml Bloom
2ml Gro Sup
0ml Flwr Sup

Week 2 Veg
5ml Grow
3ml Micro
2ml Bloom
3ml Gro Sup
0ml Flwr Sup

Week 3 Veg
6 ml Grow
4ml Micro
3ml Bloom
4 Gro Sup
0ml Flwr Sup

Week 4 Flwr
2ml Grow
4ml Micro
6ml Bloom
0ml Gro Sup
4ml Flwr Sup

Week 7 Flwr
1ml Grow
3ml Micro
10ml Bloom
0ml Gro Sup
7ml Flwr Sup


Grow, Micro and Bloom are thought of as N-P-K. Then you have your Grow and Bloom Supplements. And I give recommended doses of Micro Nutes, CalMag and B1.

Just to give you an idea of how you should divide up your nutes to have a stable recipe....

Hope this helps....

CGI::::::

[bronc76]

The plants in veg have been getting Pro Grow and Liquid Karma. I have been looking at the botanicare web site and there neutrient schedule. Looking under hydroguardens it switches about the 5th week in flower to include pro bloom soil formula. I dont understand that. Why would you use soil formula bloom in an eb and flow system. Something just seems wrong there. Also the amounts of pro bloom per 4 litres are like 2/3 more than ive been using. Do you think the Hydroplex is a good supliment? It says it makes bigger heavier flowers and more bud sites. Well I'm still waiting on the bigger heavier part. LOL!

[bronc76]

What do you mean by micro?

[polishpollack]

I typed up a huge response to this and the system had already logged me out because typing took so long. I hate that and I also hate the periodic maintenance this board goes through for days at a time. What the hell is going on?

You can use distilled water instead of r/o if you want.
Mature plant ppm is usually around 1100 or so.
botanicare bloom is short on phosphorus. They sell you the "remedy" with Hydroplex, probably to get more money out of you.
Dynagrow makes good one-part ferts with all micro nutrients in single containers, one for veg, one for bloom.
What do you think of botanicare so far?
You want a ppm/ph meter if you can get it.
micro nutes are boron, sulphur, etc. needed in small amounts.

[CanGroIt]

What do you mean by micro?

Micro-nutrients = calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, etc.

I'd a gotten back to ya sooner if the site hadn't been down for the last two weeks. How's your grow going? Did you divide your tent after all?

Nothing wrong with hydroplex. It gives you an added amount of P and K. Botanicare does this because they know that P is a catalyst for growth during flowering. With less P in your bloom formula and more in the hydroplex, you can compare to find out if hydroplex actually adds to your yield or not by using it one grow and not the next.....

CGI::::::