Nutrients Help

[billmelater]

I do not mean to start a huge controversy, I know everyone has there favorites, I was just hoping for help so I don't go broke on Nutes.

 

I have a starter kit from Technaflora with everything in it and it says to use it all. are there some good basic nutes to use?

[Grow Thread]

there are a couple threads with some GREAT info around here somewhere..... give me a few mins and i will find you a link or two....

 

in the meantime...... you wont find a cheaper method for the results:

 

THE LUCAS METHOD

 

the "Lucas Method" is very simple, cheap, and it obviously works as is evident in the pics in this thread. we only need 2 kinds of nutes. General Hydroponic Flora Micro and General Hydroponic Flora Bloom.

 

 

here is the formula:

 

VEG: 5ml of Micro and 10ml of Bloom per gallon of water. (5-10) IF VEGGING UNDER CFL LIGHTS

VEG: 8ml of Micro and 16ml of Bloom per gallon of water. (8-16) IF VEGGING UNDER HID LAMPS

FLOWER: 8ml Micro and 16ml of bloom per gallon of water. (8-16)

 

 

there are a couple different methods on backfilling whatever the plants drink/what evaporates. i recommend backfilling with full strength nutes/water as needed to maintain the proper water level in the bucket/tote, and then doing two rez changes throughout the cycle. once at the switch to flower, and once after about 3-4 weeks of flower.

 

 

---and here is a "normal" schedule for a plant:

 

seedling/clone/veg 2-4 weeks. 8-16 nutes. 1/2 strength for first few days for seedlings. 5-10 nutes under flourescent lights

when it is time to flip the lights to 12/12 i dump everything and flush. flush=just plain ph'd water for 24-48 hours.

then they get new water after the flush and continue with 8-16 nutes

after a month i try to flush once again

then back to 8-16 nutes

 

 

after 6 weeks of flower, depending on the strain and how much longer it will need to finish, i have to make a decision. i "final flush" for a week minimum so if i am growing a 7-8 week strain i will go into final flush now. if it is a 8-12 week strain i will go back to 8-16 nutes for as long as needed and then into final flush for the last week or so.

 

 

also, another couple freebie tips. when adding the nutes, add the micro to the water first, and then the bloom. NEVER mix the 2 nutes together and then add the combination to water. this WILL promote lock-out.

 

after adding both nutes (separately of course) STIR/SHAKE WELL!! can't say it enough. make sure you have it all mixed up real good. don't rely on your bubbles to do the mixing for you.

 

the flora micro will stain carpet/clothes if not tended to right away

 

assuming you are starting with r.o. water (ph7) the nutes will drop the ph to a perfect 5.5-6.0. i RARELY have to add ph down to maintain proper levels. at any rate, do whatever needs to be done to maintain a 5.5-6.0ph level. and i keep my water temps at 68-70 degrees.

 

also, for 99 cents ANYWHERE in the kitchen department. (target-walmart) this is my best friend. the turkey baster. perfect for measuring nutes out.

 

 

 

here are another couple ways to work with this formula:

 

1. Top off the reservoir daily using a pH corrected water solution as required to maintain full reservoir level. After adding back an amount of water equal to the amount of your reservoir capacity you should change the reservoir and put in fresh solution.

 

2. Top off the reservoir daily using a pH corrected 100% strength nutrient solution as required to maintain full reservoir level. Continue to use this nutrient solution without dumping the tank unless the PPM rises above acceptable levels.

 

Between vegetative and flowering cycles you should dump your nutrients, then flush (possibly with Clearex) to remove salt buildups, then change to the other feeding program. Always shake your GH nutrient bottles before using them!

 

For young plants, just transplanted into the hydro setup, give them 50% strength nutrient mix to prevent overfeeding them while their young. Gradually bring up the mix to full strength as they grow over the next few days or so.

 

The lucas formula is normally intended for use with RO or near 0 PPM water.

 

NOTE: The Lucas formula eliminates the need for Epsom salts to correct (Magnesium) Mg deficiencies in most normal feeding programs recommended by manufacturers. Cannabis needs a lot of Magnesium to thrive.

 

The Flora Micro is providing the Nitrogen and the Magnesium in the proper balance, thus there is no need for the Grow formula and little or no room under the maximum acceptable ppm limit of 1600 @ 0.7 conversion.

 

Calculated EC/TDS levels:

 

EC microsiemen:

0-4-8: 946 µS

0-5-10: 1184 µS

0-8-16: 1894 µS

 

TDS @ 0.5 conversion:

0-4-8 = 473 ppm

0-5-10 = 592 ppm

0-8-16 = 947 ppm

 

TDS @ 0.7 conversion:

0-4-8 = 663 ppm

0-5-10 = 829 ppm

0-8-16 = 1326 ppm

 

Addback Calculator - (For Advanced Users)

 

Say you were running the 0-8-16 formula, at 0.7 conversion with a 22 gallon res. When you first fill it up, your ppm will be around 1330.

 

Now you have been growing for a week, and some of the water has been taken up by the plants, some has evaporated, and now your res is at 947 ppm. You need to get your ppm from 947 to 1330. Here is the equation:

 

((target - current) / target) * 8 ml per gallon * res gallons = Flora Micro (ml) double this figure to get Flora Bloom (ml)

 

Example:

 

((1330 - 947) / 1330) * 8 * 22

(383 / 1330) * 8 * 22

0.3 * 8 * 22 = 53 ml Flora Micro

 

53 ml Flora Micro, double that and you get 106 ml Flora Bloom. So 53 ml Flora Micro and 106 ml Flora Bloom to add back to your 22 gallon res to get you from 947 to 1330.

 

 

One tip - do not pH down this stuff, the hard water micro will drop pH gradually over the next 24 hours, for example I mix up a batch, it is at like 6.2, the next day, its at 5.6-5.8 after running in the system for a while. If I pH downed that to 5.7 before putting it in the system, it ended up as low as 4.8-5.2 by the next day.

 

______________________

 

** major props and many thanks to Lucas. i have spent countless hours reading his charts and study logs. the man is brilliant.

[Grow Thread]

http://michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/topic/19109-the-nutefert-convention-center/page__p__165958__hl__%2Bnute+%2Bfert+%2Bconvention__fromsearch__1#entry165958

 

what you growing in?

[billmelater]

Thanks for all the info, I will be growing in an ebb and flo system with a 55 gallon res.

[billmelater]

I will also start the bubble totes, I have seen a lot of your posts, thanks for all the help.

[Grow Thread]

ive never used the Technaflora line.

 

i could be wrong, but i think indicajones may know a thing or two about it. seems as i remember a post about it.

 

could be wrong though........ i cant remember my own birthday

[Wired4Success]

I'm probably only gonna say this once. Cutting Edge Solutions, ran at 800-1200ppm.

 

My next choice is House & Garden, but pound for pound CES all the way.

[lowanddirty]

bubbel grower the lucas tips are great thanks

[just_speakin_my_mind]

Draig65 and I like Ionics-- easy to use, just Veg Bloom and boost. Economical, clean, no sediment/plugging up.... and buffered, so Ph stays where you put it (unless you have HUGE temperature fluctuations)

 

But I always say-- use what ya got... if there isn't enough for the whole grow-- flush the plants before you switch to a new nutrient-- many do NOT interact well!

[Wild Bill]

I do not mean to start a huge controversy, I know everyone has there favorites, I was just hoping for help so I don't go broke on Nutes.

I've had good results with Dyna-Gro.

Fairly inexpensive and easy to use. Liquid Grow (7-9-5) for veg and Liquid Bloom (3-12-6) for flowering.

[Guest drcanna-pest]

Thrive Alive is a great constant for me. Otherwise I use grow big, open sesame, beastie bloomz, and cha ching. my results are very good. although im sure most of these recommendations are just as good or maybe better. there are soo many to choose from. I like changing it up and checking out other kinds. go with something now and don't be afraid to experiment!

[AbsoluteRoyal]

I've had good results with Dyna-Gro.

Fairly inexpensive and easy to use. Liquid Grow (7-9-5) for veg and Liquid Bloom (3-12-6) for flowering.

 

 

same here, the foliage pro 9-3-6 is what I like for veg and I use the grow for the last week of veg and the first few weeks of stretch. The plus with Dyna Gro for me is that there is no need for additional supplements if your growing in soil.

[Indicat]

ive used botanicare for a few years now. never ever had a nutrient issue provided water is at proper PH. no need for all this "lineup" of crap people use. get a good veg fert, and a good bloom fert, properly PH your water = all you need.