I'm in an aero tub. I use gh flora 3 part. My newbie thinking was to give them the max nutes but now I'm at 3/4 strength and the girls are fine.
What do you think of gh 3 part?
What do you think is the problem with bloom nutes too soon and nitrogen to low as you said a few posts ago?
Many growers feel that more is better. In many cases it's not so! Nutrient makers feeling the need to say we do it faster and make your product bigger, go over lines by actually hurting your plant. I feel these guys have unrealistic formulations and feeding charts that have you do things that might suggest yield increase but, in the end, do more harm then good.
The bulk of liquid nutrient makers are giving feeding charts that are telling you to "push" your plants hard at the flip and all through out the bloom.
Cannabis does use more P and K in bloom BUT, not till around the 3&4th week. Conversely, the plant will use less N BUT again, NOT till about week 4 in any major/meaningful way. You see the Plant at the flip will quickly begin to "stretch" (you've heard about that right? The plant can dbl or even triple in size in 2-4 weeks (bit longer for true or pure Sativa's). During this time the plant is using large amounts of N to produce this fast growth. These nutrient makers that reduce N and really boost the P&K are doing more harm then good and that manifests it's self in early yellowing of the plant. Starting from the bottom up and in severe cases right on into the buds!
The best nutrient makers will keep the N high and just tickle the P&K a little. In fact in my favorite synthetic line they don't just tickle the P&K a little, they tickled the N up a tic also! This "bloom" Npk level remained until week 4, when you added a P&K booster that gave you a 7.2 P and a 5.0 K lift that runs until the finish. This works much better in regards the actual needs of the plant and healthy growth.
There are 2 makers that I know of "right off hand" that formulate the nutrient
to handle their feeding charts this way!
Sadly I know of several others that will add too much N in bloom to stall or slow down the yellowing but, in the end. It still happens and once it starts with that formulation and feeding chart. It comes on faster and stronger still giving you the same yellow out result. These guys I find to have some of the worst yellowing I've seen.
So, if your sharp. I just gave you information in the above explanation that you can take to the learning bank!
In time and gaining in experience,. You will one day feel the need to play with NPK levels looking for that sweet spot in adjusting them to your liking ,, and the plants for the best results that unlock plant potentials to be reached. Many of us here have our own methods that manipulate the NPK at differing levels and times to do that. This simply takes time and lots of learning to get to that level.....Example - "I" (and few others) Like higher K levels all through the grow! With certain strains I might, right at the end of week 5 - Hit it with a "blossom booster" With a rather high P&K level only once! It just takes time to figure this out - be patient and don't be afraid to try things ! Just do it prudently and in steps. Don't just take some makers word that "this or that" is your ultimate choice to give you the biggest/Bestest/fastest (yes there is a misspelling - on purpose) results!
As to your 3 part GH. It's a nice place to start! There are things from G&H that can make that 3 part a better more effective nutrient! Post that as a question and there are guys and gals here that know their 3 part and additives for it - inside and out! I'm sure you'll get some pointers....
Here's the bottom line hint:
NO switch to "Bloom" formulations till week 3!
At week 3, mix the veg and bloom formulations 50/50!
At week 4 - go to 100% bloom!
There is a nice start to finishing healthy and with a better crop quality!
Glad your here and happy learning !!!!
(Even though you've been here sense "09" and most likely know more then you let on in the post. I took this as a good way to post for newbies knowledge base)..
Grow on Mike
