Newb with lil cash - can I ONLY use Pure Blend Pro Grow?

First time grower here with a small hydro setup. I am 7 days into my grow and my girls(hopefully) will need nutes very soon. I only have at most, $20 to spend right now due to so many unexpected expenses recently. If I could wait another couple weeks I'd get GH for about $38. I have read little pieces here and there about Pure Blend Pro Grow being good for vegging stage and I can get it for only $18. Is it really all I need or should I do my best to get GH Micro and Bloom(Lucas method) for $27? Also, is there a difference when ordering Pure Blend Pro for soil and hydro that I should be aware of? Any other suggestions for cheap but good nutes for the price that can at least get me going nicely through the veg stage?

which hydro method are you using? as your plants may already be needing food. also i have used pure blend with great results in the past but that was before i switched to organics, pbp isn't organic think its considered hydro~organic, part organic part synthesized. maybe try asking around in hydro forum?

high N - high Ph - and low K for veg fella and get some fish blood and bone to go with it for the micro nutes if the fert aint got a high Ph or you are using saltpetre (KNO3) cheep and easy

garlictrain said:

which hydro method are you using? as your plants may already be needing food. also i have used pure blend with great results in the past but that was before i switched to organics, pbp isn't organic think its considered hydro~organic, part organic part synthesized. maybe try asking around in hydro forum?

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I'm sure they are not highly regarded around here, but I am using and Aerogaden 6 Elite. It's the only thing I can use because I have to grow indoors with next to no space. I am only growing for personal use. Very stealthy, self contained unit that can be moved quickly and easily if need be. Main drawback is limited room for roots, but I got mine at an estate sale for $17 so I can't complain at all and things are starting out nicely for my first week. Sorry, I thought it was an organic nute. So, is PBP good enough all by itself for the vegging stage?

matool said:

high N - high Ph - and low P for veg fella and get some fish blood and bone to go with it for the micro nutes if the fert aint got a high Ph or you are using saltpetre (KNO3) cheep and easy

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Can you explain this a little better for me? I think I understand you are saying get a low Phos formula for veg, but what cheap formula do you suggest?

If using this for growing you mind as well go all the way and buy the gh nutes 2 part and get to mixing coolaid. Or i hear miracle grow works too. Seriously though if limited to aerogarden 6 elite and you really want organic go down to local hydroshop and ask for freebie swag organic nutrient samplers that they're given from nutrient companies. When gh came out with their organic line my local shop passed out the entire product line in swag bottles.

garlictrain said:

If using this for growing you mind as well go all the way and buy the gh nutes 2 part and get to mixing coolaid. Or i hear miracle grow works too. Seriously though if limited to aerogarden 6 elite and you really want organic go down to local hydroshop and ask for freebie swag organic nutrient samplers that they're given from nutrient companies. When gh came out with their organic line my local shop passed out the entire product line in swag bottles.

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I get jealous every time I see the phrase "your local hydro shop"... I would have to drive nearly two hours to get to the nearest hydro shop. So I take it you feel GH is superior to PBP? I am not going out like a sucker taking a chance with Miracle Grow my first time out.

all you need is alot of nitrogen and alot of PHos for veg and not alot of potassium. and a good sourse of PHos (macro nutrients) is fish blood and bone. with nitrogen its got all a little growing plant needs.

matool said:

all you need is alot of nitrogen and alot of PHos for veg and not alot of potassium. and a good sourse of PHos (macro nutrients) is fish blood and bone. with nitrogen its got all a little growing plant needs.

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Yeah, my initial nute formula was going to be Alaska Fish Fert 5-1-1. It's only $7 at Lowes and is the ONLY nute that is available to me locally that I see people talk about on this forum. The problem is that I have read it is not good for a hydro res, not to mention that it could clog up the Aerogarden pump. Of course, one solution is to not use the pump and simply use big airstones to circulate nutes, but the problem of using fish and creating nastiness in the res still exists. Is the fish recipe you use less prone to bad things and what is the recipe?

Noob+hydro+first time?

I would suggest Dyna-Gro. 100% complete and developed for hydro. Cheap too, under $20 to get going.

I would quit stressing over which nute line and worry more about completing a grow from start to finish. There will be plenty enough stress and drama just doing that.

K.I.S.S the first few times.

Wet

Wetdog said:

Noob+hydro+first time?

I would suggest Dyna-Gro. 100% complete and developed for hydro. Cheap too, under $20 to get going.

I would quit stressing over which nute line and worry more about completing a grow from start to finish. There will be plenty enough stress and drama just doing that.

K.I.S.S the first few times.

Wet

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Thanks Wet. After seeing your suggestion and then searching around here(found Homebrewer's journals loving DG) I think I will be starting out with Dyna-Gro Grow. I can always get Bloom a little later. Would an 8oz bottle be enough for a two month grow for three plants in the same reservoir? Homebrewer says it's very concentrated. Anything else that's simple, cheap, and beneficial I could add that should be easy to find locally at better garden supply stores?

One more thing, I caught a post where Homebrewer suggested getting a TDS meter if you use DG Grow... is this a MUST with DG will a cheaper model TDS meter be good enough? There are several on Ebay for under $15.

Hydro setup.. ok. Have you purchased a Ph meter yet?

RawBudzski said:

Hydro setup.. ok. Have you purchased a Ph meter yet?

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Not a meter, but good quality pHydrion testing kit. Not as good as a $60+ digital meter, but it seems to be accurate enough for my first grow on a budget.

The Pure Blend Pro line seems to be all natural at least and conducive to hydro-organics. There are no synthetic chelating agents in it, but instead there are organic acids (humic substances). I use this stuff for foliar sometimes, when I don't have time to brew a tea or where doing so would be inappropriate.

If you did want to use PBP you might be able to find 8 oz trial packs with Grow, Bloom and Liquid Karma for about $20.

thegoodeye said:

Thanks Wet. After seeing your suggestion and then searching around here(found Homebrewer's journals loving DG) I think I will be starting out with Dyna-Gro Grow. I can always get Bloom a little later. Would an 8oz bottle be enough for a two month grow for three plants in the same reservoir? Homebrewer says it's very concentrated. Anything else that's simple, cheap, and beneficial I could add that should be easy to find locally at better garden supply stores?

One more thing, I caught a post where Homebrewer suggested getting a TDS meter if you use DG Grow... is this a MUST with DG will a cheaper model TDS meter be good enough? There are several on Ebay for under $15.

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8oz bottle is more than enough to get started, should be enough for the entire grow. I've never done hydro though, but have and still do, use DG products.

No idea about the TDS meter, no experience with the ones you are asking about. Used one at work, but it cost $750, so really doesn't count. Ask HB about this.

Wet

Wetdog said:

Noob+hydro+first time?

I would suggest Dyna-Gro. 100% complete and developed for hydro. Cheap too, under $20 to get going.

I would quit stressing over which nute line and worry more about completing a grow from start to finish. There will be plenty enough stress and drama just doing that.

K.I.S.S the first few times.

Wet

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Goddamn, man. How do you do it? As I read the op I'm thinking Dyna Grow is what this guy should be using, especially since he's a first timer. Get outta mah head wet!

edit: and to the OP, Wetdog gives great advice. You'll do well to follow it.

pureblend's probably better for a noob. less stuff to mix.

malignant said:

pureblend probably better fora noob. less stuff to mix.

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Eh, maybe, but it doesn't get much simpler than Dyna-Grow. I was thinking CNS17, but that's really meant for coco.

Wolverine97 said:

Goddamn, man. How do you do it? As I read the op I'm thinking Dyna Grow is what this guy should be using, especially since he's a first timer. Get outta mah head wet!

edit: and to the OP, Wetdog gives great advice. You'll do well to follow it.

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Thanks, but you do the same to me. Many times you've already said what I was thinking.

We both just have more of a common sense, K.I.S.S. approach to growing.

Getting it grown and harvested is more the object than the methods or equipment used.

Wet

Wetdog said:

Thanks, but you do the same to me. Many times you've already said what I was thinking.

We both just have more of a common sense, K.I.S.S. approach to growing.

Getting it grown and harvested is more the object than the methods or equipment used.

Wet

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Couldn't have said it better.