How do you mix your nutrients?
- Thread starter Granthony
- Start date
ThaMagnificent
Well-Known Member
Fill up res. Insert nutes
JSB99
Well-Known Member
You add the nutes directly to the water, with dwc. The nutrient-rich water is known as "soup". If you were growing via soil or coco coir, you'd pre-mix your water, then water the plants.
To determine how much nutrients to add per gallon, in the week your grow is in, use the feed chart of the nutrient manufacturer. With dwc, start off at half of what they recommend and work your way up from there. You need to get a TDS pen to measure the soup to make sure you're where you should be. Pens are less than $20 on Amazon.
Got it. So instructions for individual nutrient products are typically written in mL/gal or whatever, but most people online always talk about the optimal PPM they keep their plants at. How do you get from one to the other?
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
what nutes are you using?
JSB99
Well-Known Member
Learning how to read your plants will ultimately be the method you use once you get some grows under your belt. Until then, you pretty much follow the charts. But with DWC, you want to be very conservative with your levels. With most growing methods you supply water to the roots. With DWC its the opposite. You are bringing oxygen to the roots, which are submerged in nutrient-rich water. There is no buffer whatsoever between the nutrients and the roots. Because of this, precision is fairly important. Plants in a DWC can start showing problems within 15 minutes of whatever action caused the adverse effects. You might wait days to see those effects in soil. The upside of course, is explosive veg growth, and heavy yields. Some will argue that plants from soil taste better, but I would argue that it's negligible. Plants in a DWC need to be supported, especially when buds get large. The energy a plant's roots would normally use to find water and nutrients in soil, is redirected into the growth of the plant itself. This is because you're bringing nutes right to the roots. It's also because the roots aren't secured to a heavy base.
I'm babbling, but thought you might find some of this interesting. Definitely a nerd moment LOL
JSB99
Well-Known Member
smokebros
Well-Known Member
To answer the original thread question, this is how I mix my nutes.
Step 1. Since I use a silica product I always mix the silica in first.
Step 2. I mix in calmag supplement. I then test the EC or PPM's of the water to make sure I'm in my desired range.
Step 3. I mix in the base nutrients.
Step 4. I mix in additives (enzymes, beneficial bacterias, boosters if applicable)
Step 5. I check theEC/PPM's again and make any adjustments if needed.
Step 6. I check the PH of the water and then make any adjustments.
Step 7. I write down what I just did in a notebook and reference back to it for future feedings.
Other than mixing the silica first, I really don't think there's a correct order.
Step 1. Since I use a silica product I always mix the silica in first.
Step 2. I mix in calmag supplement. I then test the EC or PPM's of the water to make sure I'm in my desired range.
Step 3. I mix in the base nutrients.
Step 4. I mix in additives (enzymes, beneficial bacterias, boosters if applicable)
Step 5. I check theEC/PPM's again and make any adjustments if needed.
Step 6. I check the PH of the water and then make any adjustments.
Step 7. I write down what I just did in a notebook and reference back to it for future feedings.
Other than mixing the silica first, I really don't think there's a correct order.
smokebros
Well-Known Member
@rkymtnman has a good point. If you're doing a DWC then it's important the nutrients are water soluble (capable of fully dissolving in water). The last thing you want are organic compounds gunking up your DWC bucket.
Really? I know stinkbud uses the organic Botanicare line he swears by it. I read somewhere that it’s hard to get into supplying the medical side of things unless your bud is 100% organic. Is that true? Kind of off the original topic I know
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
i would get used to doing dwc with hydro nutes. when you get it dialed in, then try the organic nutes. you'll have enough to worry about as a noob starting out with dwc.
and for your medical ?, organic weed is just a selling point. just like fed with rain water, hand trimmed, etc.
pesticide free is really all they care about to sell to the public.
For sure
Now I’m looking at mega crop. One nite to worry about and I’ve seen some monster 5gal dwc plants claiming to use only MC
JSB99
Well-Known Member
People say "I only use organics, because organic is all natural", like non-organic is some sort of poison LOL! Organic, blah blah blah... It's all a scam marketers use to get your money! "Science" went into making those chemicals that grow my buds huge and potent, and I love science
Just get some GH Maxi Grow and Bloom, and it'll work just right...given that you use the correct amount during your grow
JSB99
Well-Known Member
Those results have very little to do with the types of nutrients he uses, and a whole lot more to do with his experience. Don't look too much into this, because they all work. Whatever nutrient is out there, someone's going to claim it as "the best". GH Series are very popular because they are easy to use, don't cost much, and produces great results when used correctly. Just use that, seriously. Don't get bloom boosters, and all that shit! It's all another scam to get your money! "Experience" is what's going to get those awesome results!