cocodreams
Member
Here's why I love dry nutes...
They are incredibly simple-- Ever wonder why dry nutes can be sold in 1 part formulas, while liquid nutes are in at least 2 part for each growth stage? If you mix GH grow and micro together directly before adding water, several of the minerals will chemically bind, locking them out and making them useless. This is why they tell you to add them directly to the water, one at a time. it is impossible to create a 1 part liquid nute solution. In dry nutes, all those chemicals can be stored together, because they are dry and won't react. Bam, one part solutions. K.I.S.S
They are insanely cheap-- Their long shelf life, ease of transport and ease of manufacturing make them incredibly cheap compared to other nutes. Keep your pH low in a drain to waste system, and you only need to use 1 tsp per gallon maximum. I can grow 5 plants from seed to finish with less than $20 worth of nutes, and have some to spare (I always pre-treat my coco with cal-mag-- removes the need for a coco specific nute)
They include mineral pH buffers-- Try this--- fill three containers with equal amounts of water. Add to each of those a different amount of maxigro--- full strength in one, half in the other, and quarter strength in the last. Your pH readings will be similar if not identical in each solution. Try that with liquid nutes! In liquid nutes, the stronger solution will always have a lower pH. If using drain to waste and tap water, you only need to adjust the pH down slightly once per res fill. If using RO water with dry nutes in drain to waste, you will never need to test pH again.
Some disadvantages...
They take some time to mix.
Here's a trick... Fill a jar with hot tap water, and add to it your measured dry nutes. Shake shake shake. Add this solution to your res and top it off with water. This takes away most of the problem with undissolved solids. You will still see some chunks floating-- those are your pH buffers,
Even when mixing this way, dry nutes will still line your equipment with a bit of mineral scale. (It's still less than organic nutes) This is not a problem in 1/2 inch or larger tubing. You may have a problem with aero nozzles, drip lines and flow reducers clogging. Buying a good quality inline filter helps. If it has a steel screen, add pantyhose. Good inline filters can be purchased cheaply at farm supply stores and co-ops. When done with your grow, remove the residue buildup with vinegar. Using drip-clean during your grow will also help.
Anyone else love em?
They are incredibly simple-- Ever wonder why dry nutes can be sold in 1 part formulas, while liquid nutes are in at least 2 part for each growth stage? If you mix GH grow and micro together directly before adding water, several of the minerals will chemically bind, locking them out and making them useless. This is why they tell you to add them directly to the water, one at a time. it is impossible to create a 1 part liquid nute solution. In dry nutes, all those chemicals can be stored together, because they are dry and won't react. Bam, one part solutions. K.I.S.S
They are insanely cheap-- Their long shelf life, ease of transport and ease of manufacturing make them incredibly cheap compared to other nutes. Keep your pH low in a drain to waste system, and you only need to use 1 tsp per gallon maximum. I can grow 5 plants from seed to finish with less than $20 worth of nutes, and have some to spare (I always pre-treat my coco with cal-mag-- removes the need for a coco specific nute)
They include mineral pH buffers-- Try this--- fill three containers with equal amounts of water. Add to each of those a different amount of maxigro--- full strength in one, half in the other, and quarter strength in the last. Your pH readings will be similar if not identical in each solution. Try that with liquid nutes! In liquid nutes, the stronger solution will always have a lower pH. If using drain to waste and tap water, you only need to adjust the pH down slightly once per res fill. If using RO water with dry nutes in drain to waste, you will never need to test pH again.
Some disadvantages...
They take some time to mix.
Here's a trick... Fill a jar with hot tap water, and add to it your measured dry nutes. Shake shake shake. Add this solution to your res and top it off with water. This takes away most of the problem with undissolved solids. You will still see some chunks floating-- those are your pH buffers,
Even when mixing this way, dry nutes will still line your equipment with a bit of mineral scale. (It's still less than organic nutes) This is not a problem in 1/2 inch or larger tubing. You may have a problem with aero nozzles, drip lines and flow reducers clogging. Buying a good quality inline filter helps. If it has a steel screen, add pantyhose. Good inline filters can be purchased cheaply at farm supply stores and co-ops. When done with your grow, remove the residue buildup with vinegar. Using drip-clean during your grow will also help.
Anyone else love em?
