Cheap alternatives to overpriced hydroponic nutrients

[Fresh Starts]

Since this thread is titled "cheap alternatives.." I feel like I need to disclose a certain product to the community that has helped me in many ways this run. This product was recommended by none other than the great contributor named "Spurr" on the mag. I wish he would pop in here some day that I might thank him personally.

The product is a surfactant- a very useful thing you might agree. And though its initial investment (200$ per 2 gallons) is steep, the application rates ( 2ml per 50 gallons) add up to rock bottom dollar discounts on horticultural grade surfactant.

I know we have talked about seagreen as a surfactant- but it's too expensive to be used every watering. And this product in conjunction with Jacks Hydro is a winner.

Aquagro L Psimatric

My distributor in my area required a business license to purchase this since it is a commercial landscape product in general- but I was able to obtain it without one.

 

[seaslug]

It looks like I can get a gallon of AquaGro L (alkoxylated polyols) for $80 with free delivery.

From the AquaGro L MSDS:
Weight% ; OSHA Hazard
Ethoxylated Polyoxypropylene > 99 ; NO
Water < 1 ; NO

Is Drip Clean a surfactant?

 

[Fresh Starts]

From what I can tell Drip Clean does not increase water tension and is not labeled as a surfactant. It uses potassium hydroxide acid and a phosphorus compound to form ionic bonds to salts in the medium/irrigation lines and rinse them out. It has an N-P-K ratio of 0-24-8

Not sure how those two compounds form ionic bonds to other salts and remove them

 

[ilaughlast]

I recommend playing with your dilution a little bit for example I have found that If I mix 40 gallons worth of the above formula and add to 55 gallon res I get the numbers I need to make my plants happy.

so when you said that, do you mean that you are watering your solution down? i understood this to mean that you mix 40 gals 3-1.8-1 plus 3mls silica but then once mixed you dilute with an additional 15 gals? is this for a specific ec? thanks for the recipe.

so do people use this as a baseline ratio and dilute or concentrate based on plants abililty to run different e.c. levels?

thanks everyone!!!!!

 

[seaslug]

For my 10 and 20 gallon reservoirs, I have recipes for 3 Gal, 6 Gal, and 9 Gal batches that give me 1.7mS and pH 5.9 using my tap water. I was getting tip burn (plus LED burn, I now think) at 1.8mS. I used a standard calculator to keep the 3-1.8-1 ratio plus I add 1ml per gallon of Drip Clean (Blumat system in coco).

 

[Surfandgrow]

yes @ilaughlast I mix for 40 gallons and then water down with 15 gallons of RO. I got to this because I was getting tip nurn and I scaled the nutes back 5 gallons at a time until I got no more burn. Id take the time to read this whole thread if your serious about using Jacks. Loads of amazing info. I studied this post and took notes nightly for almost 6 months before I decided to make the switch.

 

[ilaughlast]

i actually have i was just wondering what exactly you were doing but i havent taken notes lol. sorry if my questions were already covered.

 

[Camdawg]

I ran jacks at fairly high ppm along with sea green and had no tip burn, I believed it was the sea green. I think it took me about a week to get through this thread. I also pm'd several of this threads major contributors about there jacks ratios and experiences.

 

[GR33NL3AF]

I ran jacks at fairly high ppm along with sea green and had no tip burn, I believed it was the sea green. I think it took me about a week to get through this thread. I also pm'd several of this threads major contributors about there jacks ratios and experiences.

Nice bro...

Sea green is formulated to relieve issues with salt, staple in my reg...

 

[connoisseurde420]

I'm adding it back when I get some dough again. I saw a difference si nce my bottle ran out. On another note microbe tea has eliminated my salt build up issues

 

[GR33NL3AF]

I'm adding it back when I get some dough again. I saw a difference si nce my bottle ran out. On another note microbe tea has eliminated my salt build up issues

It certainly will, microbes are a must...

 

[ilaughlast]

thanks im going to read this whole thread again and figure out where to order jacks

 

[seaslug]

I bought the 4lb combo pack. Two plastic bags in each pail, one bag fits perfectly in a (relabeled) Metamucil container.


Odd that I don't see more retailers shown for Seattle area.

 

[Medusa]

I also found that the jacks hydro does not contain any dyes.

here is a picture of how it comes.

Why order when u can go to nurseries and buy? or is this different? was looking at JR,Peters website...has anyone used the bloom booster?

 

[Fresh Starts]

None of the nurseries that I've called have been able to get me 25 lb. bags of cal/nitrate and JPH. They sell 4 lb bags though.

 

[Fresh Starts]

Platinum Kush on JPH day 32

 

[Medusa]

Platinum Kush on JPH day 32

Thank you !!! Nice bud

 

[Fresh Starts]

Thank you !!! Nice bud

Your Welcome! Thanks

 

[Capulator]

Why order when u can go to nurseries and buy? or is this different? was looking at JR,Peters website...has anyone used the bloom booster?

Medusa I have used blossom booster at .5 g/gal added to the rest of the formula (no need to reduce your normal formula when using it this way). It does the job, but I will say that boosters and additives can always complicate things. It's old news but having a perfect environment, and proper watering schedule will do a garden much better than boosters.

I am back to jacks again for simplicity, but I am using a lot less. Currently I am using:

3mL cal mag
.5 grams Epsom
1.5 grams 5-12-26
1 gram CaNO3

and:
15mL herculean harvest
5mL poseidenzyme
5mL zeuss juice
fasilitor 1/2mL per gal first 3 weeks only.

And of course OG BIOWAR weekly teas, which help greatly with keeping all kinds of things at bay (bugs,PM,toxixities, deficiencies..)

I use this all the way through. My system is top feed DTW with plants started in RW and moved to chow beds. I can tell you right now the secret is in the watering schedule.

 

[Medusa]

Medusa I have used blossom booster at .5 g/gal added to the rest of the formula (no need to reduce your normal formula when using it this way). It does the job, but I will say that boosters and additives can always complicate things. It's old news but having a perfect environment, and proper watering schedule will do a garden much better than boosters.

I am back to jacks again for simplicity, but I am using a lot less. Currently I am using:

3mL cal mag
.5 grams Epsom
1.5 grams 5-12-26
1 gram CaNO3

and:
15mL herculean harvest
5mL poseidenzyme
5mL zeuss juice
fasilitor 1/2mL per gal first 3 weeks only.

And of course OG BIOWAR weekly teas, which help greatly with keeping all kinds of things at bay (bugs,PM,toxixities, deficiencies..)

I use this all the way through. My system is top feed DTW with plants started in RW and moved to chow beds. I can tell you right now the secret is in the watering schedule. Here is some true OG at 2-3 weeks.

For some reason not seeing your picture? of true Og .... Are those Nector of the gods nutes? zuess juice etc? The jacks hyrdo can u still use in soil? Thank you M