lucas question

I'm using GH maxi-bloom and it says that its real close to the lucas formula @ 7grams/gal.
what exactly are they referring to, the npk ratio? or to actually use 7grams/gal. In ro water
7grams/gal is around 2ec, 1000ppm .5 scale. I don't go over 700ppm the entire grow. If i mix
weaker is it still the lucas formula?

Yes it is. The lucas formula is a ratio, you adjust it to get the strength you want

I use all 3 parts of the flora trio with wonderful results. I never go above 800ppm. 5 gal RDWC 6 site 21gal system.

is the lucas formula,, n-p-k= 3-2-1? i dont really undrestand what it is.. ive been using gh maxi series for many years with great results.. i use maxi gro in veg at 1 tsp per gallon,,less on seedlings.. then for bloom,,
week 1-2 i use 1/4th tsp of grow and 3/4tsp bloom..
week 3-6 1 tsp per gal of maxi bloom only,
week 7-8 1 tsp maxi bloom per gal + 1/4tsp per gallon of powder kool bloom,
then i use gh kleen at 1 tsp per gal,, for 3-5 days,, till i see the leaves getting the colors,, like fall colors,yellow,orange,red light green.

i use to go full bloom week 1-finish but found i got yellowing by week 3,, so i mix the first 2 weeks keeps it nice and green,, i start seeing yellowing close to finish,, then the kleen brings out the other colors..

i just was told about jacks classic citrus 20-10-20,, and potassium,, i bought 1 lb of each,,and was told to use 1/4 tsp of jacks alone in veg,, then 1/4 tsp of jacks and 1/4 tsp potassium for the entire bloom cycle.. i havnt used it in bloom yet,,, but i am using it for veg plants are happy,,but w/ jacks i nee to adjust the ph,, wile w/ maxi at 1tsp per gallon my ph is perfect... my tap water has a ph of 7 and 60ppm, after mix w/ jacks ppm is 600-700,, tap water mix w maxi bloom my ppm is 1,000-1,100,, with maxi grow my ppm is 900-1k, for seedlings or young plants i use gro at 1/2 tsp per gallon + plant life's super B+ 0-2-1 its vitamins and kelp,, it seems to help get roots really going...

I follow this to a tee.

shambler said:

what exactly are they referring to, the npk ratio?

Click to expand...

yes. the target Lucas ratio is: (in PPM)

100N, 100P, 200K, 60Mg

maxi gro is 10-5-15, and bloom is 5-15-14,, how does that come close to 100-100-200? oh ppm not npk,,, completely different,,, so lucas formula would be a 400 ppm,, what about the npk?

TheChemist77 said:

what about the npk?

Click to expand...

not sure what you are asking?

TheChemist77 said:

maxi gro is 10-5-15, and bloom is 5-15-14,, how does that come close to 100-100-200? oh ppm not npk,,, completely different,,, so lucas formula would be a 400 ppm,, what about the npk?

Click to expand...

the % amounts are converted thru a math equation to estimate the finished amount of each element in the final solution

much like youd expect to see if you had a water analysis done on your source water

the lab would report back exactly how much of each element is in your water and it would be measured as a ppm as in part per million

also note
when speaking in terms of water analysis and lucas formula ratios we are talking about active elemental PPM which is not the same as what your ppm meter tells you

your ppm meter doesn't read actual ppm (yes its stupid and confusing) as in elemental ppm
your meter reads electrical conductivity aka E.C.
when a meter says ppm its actually reading EC and converting the EC to a larger number that they call ppm which isn't really ppm

omg this is starting to sound like a john oliver show lol

for this reason an EC meter is better and more accurate to measure with and speak about than a ppm meter

if your meter will switch over to read EC then do that... if your meter only reads ppm, when it brakes buy one that reads EC instead

maxi bloom for example;

is
5%-15%-14% npk

after you do the math and convert the % amounts (don't ask me how I use a calculator that does it for me)

7 grams per gallon yields

N 92ppm
P 121ppm
K 215 ppm

which in my opinion is to much
I would recommend 5grams per gallon

which yields
N 66ppm
P 86ppm
K 154ppm

tell me what the % amounts are on the label for the magnesium and calcium

personally im not a fan of the lucas formula

it lacks N is is excessive in P

I personally would run for bloom
per gallon
2.5 gram maxi bloom
2.5 grams maxi grow

which yields
N 100ppm
P 60ppm
K 160ppm

which is much better

im4satori said:

the % amounts are converted thru a math equation to estimate the finished amount of each element in the final solution

much like youd expect to see if you had a water analysis done on your source water

the lab would report back exactly how much of each element is in your water and it would be measured as a ppm as in part per million

also note
when speaking in terms of water analysis and lucas formula ratios we are talking about active elemental PPM which is not the same as what your ppm meter tells you

your ppm meter doesn't read actual ppm (yes its stupid and confusing) as in elemental ppm
your meter reads electrical conductivity aka E.C.
when a meter says ppm its actually reading EC and converting the EC to a larger number that they call ppm which isn't really ppm

omg this is starting to sound like a john oliver show lol

for this reason an EC meter is better and more accurate to measure with and speak about than a ppm meter

if your meter will switch over to read EC then do that... if your meter only reads ppm, when it brakes buy one that reads EC instead

Click to expand...

I learn something new everyday... That's interesting.

the maxi grow for veg is actually pretty good at 4 to 5 grams per gallon

this is how I would use the products


veg established plants
maxi grow 4.5 grams per gallon
run up to week 2 of 12/12

N120ppm
P26ppm
K 148ppm

then mix

2.5 grams maxi grow
2.5 grams maxi bloom
run from week 2 of 12/12 to week 6 or 7 of 12/12 (you could run this formula to the end)

N100ppm
P60ppm
K160ppm

then mix (optional)
4 to 5 grams maxi bloom
run week 6 or 7 thru finish

N 66ppm
P 86ppm
K 154ppm




N goes down.... P goes up..... K stays the same +/-

ive seen some people saying they use maxi bloom alone,, veg and bloom.. i never tried that because of yellowing i seen when i switched to bloom alone at onset 12/12.. that is why i now mix the 2 for the first 2 weeks of 12/12,,no more yellow until late bloom.. in veg i use grow alone and have very healthy happy plants... thanks for the info!!

I run Maxibloom @ 6gr/Gal NEVER had the Yellow issues. Been using for the last 9 grows.

Jypsy Dog said:

I run Maxibloom @ 6gr/Gal NEVER had the Yellow issues. Been using for the last 9 grows.

Click to expand...

if you grew in soil id say it would depend on whats in your soil could be already a bunch of N in it

if you grow in hydro or aero and your not seeing yellowing

then your likely over feeding the P and K to get the N up
so youd be more likely to see potential for magnesium lock out from high K or iron def from high P

6 grams per gallon yields of maxibloom

N80ppm
P104ppm
K184ppm

actually that's even higher P and lower N than even the lucas formula calls for
a true lucas formula would be 1:1:2

80
80
160

in my opinion
youd be better off with something like this (I think this is the stiener formula if my memory serves)

ratio 2:1:3

N90
P45
K135

or

N80
P40
K120

as you can see the N amount is close to the same as what your running but the p and K are within better parameters and less likely to lock out or create issues with magnesium or calcium uptake

having said all that
im not saying you cant use the maxibloom alone itll work.... im just saying theres better ways to do it

nice thinking...

im4satori said:

maxi bloom for example;

is
5%-15%-14% npk

after you do the math and convert the % amounts (don't ask me how I use a calculator that does it for me)

7 grams per gallon yields

N 92ppm
P 121ppm
K 215 ppm

which in my opinion is to much
I would recommend 5grams per gallon

which yields
N 66ppm
P 86ppm
K 154ppm

tell me what the % amounts are on the label for the magnesium and calcium

Click to expand...

Maxi-gro has 6% cal. 2% mag.
Maxi-bloom has 5% cal. 3.5% mag.
will that be enough using ro water?

shambler said:

Maxi-gro has 6% cal. 2% mag.
Maxi-bloom has 5% cal. 3.5% mag.
will that be enough using ro water?

Click to expand...

for veg
full strength
per gallon

4grams maxigrow
0.5 grams Epsom salt
2mls calmag

for bloom
full strength
per gallon

2 (up tp 2.5) grams maxi grow
2 (up to 2.5) grams maxibloom

don't need anything else for this bloom formula

optional
maxi bloom alone

4 to 5 grams maxibloom
3mls calmag


for those whom are on well water and not using RO water you might need less calmag..possibly