Cheap alternatives to overpriced hydroponic nutrients

  • Thread starter Chronic Monster
  • Start date
  • Tagged users None
Aqua Man

Aqua Man

26,480
638
all the big shots of the forum are jumping on my head, it's a real cartel right here
Nobody is jumping down your throat. Look most of the growers here are happy to debate the subject but when your new and have an opinion then just resort to tossing insults instead of supporting your opinions with specifics or facts its well... seen more than enough times here and ppl write you off as another ass clown know it all with nothing more than an opinion who slings mud.

All of us have had heated discussions and presented our cases on many subjects where we dont all agree but most times insults are left out of it and usually the insults fly from thise who cannot support thier arguments.

So if that how you plan to present your opinion than man up and expect the responses that go with that. If you want to have a real constructive discussion that we all can learn from then i encourage you to do so.

Like others im just calling it the way i see it. If you think I'm jumping down your throat I would say you have misinterpreted it. You can pretty much expect the same everytime. If your going to guve a firm opinion on something then be prepared to support it cause most here don't accept unsupported claims from some guy on the internet and I dont think they should.
 
1diesel1

1diesel1

Staff
Supporter
11,116
438
all the big shots of the forum are jumping on my head, it's a real cartel right here
Why so defensive, can’t we all get a long?
I’ve been on both sides of the bottled nutes/dry nutes spectrum.
Each has its place in growing styles and ease.
Just because it works for you doesn’t mean it works for me.
Bottled or not:)
There are no big shots here we’re all equal as long as we are civil with each other.
Insults will get you no where on The Farm!!
Now carry on and be nice😇
 
Fudge

Fudge

1,861
263
Winter frost


has anyone tried this before, wondering if there's an alternative, obviously apart from lowering temps myself as it's not really possible. I can get a bit lower running intake and exhaust all night and slightly better in the winter. But I'd love to get the natural colours to come out more so wanted to try this out
 
jpdnkstr

jpdnkstr

90
53
Winter frost


has anyone tried this before, wondering if there's an alternative, obviously apart from lowering temps myself as it's not really possible. I can get a bit lower running intake and exhaust all night and slightly better in the winter. But I'd love to get the natural colours to come out more so wanted to try this out
No that is the first I've ever heard of it, but I'm assuming it's something similar to Snow Storm Ultra from Humboldt nutrients if that is still around...
 
Fudge

Fudge

1,861
263
No that is the first I've ever heard of it, but I'm assuming it's something similar to Snow Storm Ultra from Humboldt nutrients if that is still around...

The write up I linked seems solid enough to me, but I'm no expert so I like to research as much as poss b4 believing all the hype and claims they like to make to charge a fortune
 
Fudge

Fudge

1,861
263
The write up I linked seems solid enough to me, but I'm no expert so I like to research as much as poss b4 believing all the hype and claims they like to make to charge a fortune





N:0.2 P:2.2 K:2.3

Total Nitrogen (N)……………………….0.2%
0.2% Nitrate Nitrogen
Available Phosphate (P2O5)……………2.2%
Soluble Potash (K2O)……………………2.3%

Derived from:
Potassium Nitrate, Monopotassium Phosphat

this is the NPK breakdown on the label , im just wondering would I be able to just replicate this and get the same sort of result ? Ive been trying to find out whats actually in it
 
BillFarthing

BillFarthing

Supporter
472
143
Calcium is needed in high amounts in transition. Potassium is needed in higher amounts in late flower. High amounts of potassium inhibits calcium, which can cause purple stems or leaf senecence (along with anthocyanins) in late flower.

The label analysis and ingredient list doesn't have to list biostimulants like chitosan in products like Winter Frost.
 
cottageman

cottageman

376
93
Winter frost


has anyone tried this before, wondering if there's an alternative, obviously apart from lowering temps myself as it's not really possible. I can get a bit lower running intake and exhaust all night and slightly better in the winter. But I'd love to get the natural colours to come out more so wanted to try this out
I tried winter frost for three runs in a row because I got a bunch of it for free and I did not see a notable difference in crystal or color or anything really. Aside from having proper nutrient ratios the only nutrient products I have seen make a significant improvement is beneficial bacteria in veg for root growth(I dont run bene's in flower in my res) and silicic acid for all around growth and improvement. I have recently been foliar spraying MSA(power si) with a microbe brew tea I make and I have seen noticeable improvements with that but I don't spray that late into flower
 
BillFarthing

BillFarthing

Supporter
472
143
I tried winter frost for three runs in a row because I got a bunch of it for free and I did not see a notable difference in crystal or color or anything really. Aside from having proper nutrient ratios the only nutrient products I have seen make a significant improvement is beneficial bacteria in veg for root growth(I dont run bene's in flower in my res) and silicic acid for all around growth and improvement. I have recently been foliar spraying MSA(power si) with a microbe brew tea I make and I have seen noticeable improvements with that but I don't spray that late into flower

Silicic acid is extremely expensive for what it does. I would rather use potassium silicate for peat or bark based potting mixes. If I am doing coco or Jack's classic hydro in a run (from the extra K), I prefer to use silicon dioxide or rice hulls in the growing medium.
 
Fudge

Fudge

1,861
263


Right if im looking for say an NPK of 3-1-4 and 3-1-5 could i use this to get a basic (if my mats are correct a rough 3-1-0.9.something then add the extra K to get to my desired N-P-K ratio . sorry for the basic questions but I am just starting to get my head around this and something like jacks hydro mix isnt available to me in the UK so ive just gone looking for a general dry ag fertlizer (thats what most of the big companies are doing then re-labelling for canna use from what I can tell from my research and reading on here)



or would a different combo from here do better if anyone has time to take a look for me please id be very grateful. I noticed the mixes are generally 2 parts then a calcium product as a 3rd to get the desired ratios. my maths is good enough so just a helping hand in the right direction I can work out what ratios to mix them at

Thanks in advance
 
Fudge

Fudge

1,861
263
Silicic acid is extremely expensive for what it does. I would rather use potassium silicate for peat or bark based potting mixes. If I am doing coco or Jack's classic hydro in a run (from the extra K), I prefer to use silicon dioxide or rice hulls in the growing medium.

Do the Rice hulls need to be composted first before use? or literally mixed into the medium, sorry if this is a stupid question

I wouldnt even mind paying for a custom blended mix or a bulk buy of premixed .For this time im hoping to try a dry vs liquid bottles SBS just to see how it actually works out for me . Not so much in cost as thats obvious if you can buy in the right quantities but for yield/quality/ease of use(all just for me and my size grow rather than in general as I do believe for some small grows its just not viable even for the time it takes to do/change over etc

I cant wait until its eventually legal here so companies can start selling a lot better and more products
I mean on a side note, even a pack of say 5/6 fabric pots are like 8 or 10 dollars, in the uk they are £6/7/8 each ! I cant seem to find any LED far red add on bars unless shipped over from germany is the closest but still sets me back about £80 including shipping for 3 bars/120 LED's

Off subject sorry :)
 
Last edited:
BillFarthing

BillFarthing

Supporter
472
143
Do the Rice hulls need to be composted first before use? or literally mixed into the medium, sorry if this is a stupid question

I wouldnt even mind paying for a custom blended mix or a bulk buy of premixed .For this time im hoping to try a dry vs liquid bottles SBS just to see how it actually works out for me . Not so much in cost as thats obvious if you can buy in the right quantities but for yield/quality/ease of use(all just for me and my size grow rather than in general as I do believe for some small grows its just not viable even for the time it takes to do/change over etc

I cant wait until its eventually legal here so companies can start selling a lot better and more products
I mean on a side note, even a pack of say 5/6 fabric pots are like 8 or 10 dollars, in the uk they are £6/7/8 each ! I cant seem to find any LED far red add on bars unless shipped over from germany is the closest but still sets me back about £80 including shipping for 3 bars/120 LED's

Off subject sorry :)

Sup Fudgy-Good questions lately!

Jack's Classic Hydro, HydroFEED, and TAP (for hard water) are great complete bases for plants. If you're in peat or bark-bases mixes, don't worry about the K content. It's when you are in coco that I would start worrying about the K/Ca availability.

If you're looking at raw nutrient components, hit me up and I can throw you a few good base mixes. If you're mixing your own media, you're leveling up quickly.

As far as the rice hulls go, mix them 1/3 by volume in the potting mix as a substitute to perlite. The thing about organics is that they pretty much take care of themselves. Let me know if you need any help.
 
Fudge

Fudge

1,861
263
Sup Fudgy-Good questions lately!

Jack's Classic Hydro, HydroFEED, and TAP (for hard water) are great complete bases for plants. If you're in peat or bark-bases mixes, don't worry about the K content. It's when you are in coco that I would start worrying about the K/Ca availability.

If you're looking at raw nutrient components, hit me up and I can throw you a few good base mixes. If you're mixing your own media, you're leveling up quickly.

As far as the rice hulls go, mix them 1/3 by volume in the potting mix as a substitute to perlite. The thing about organics is that they pretty much take care of themselves. Let me know if you need any help.

Thanks
I use a coco/perlite mix with 1% ecothrive charge with bottled nutes , I know some would frown upon this but I like to use organic alternatives where possible like cold press kelp and fish shit, plus a few other bits nd bobs, but iIdefo want to get into mixing my own raw nutrients or a dry premix until i get the hang of it then move on

Jacks mix would have been a good start to try out then experiment with but the shipping costs to the UK just kill that idea, so im stuck looking at those big ag pre mixed ferts or mixing the raw nutes up myself.

Next year im going to do an organic grow too so im soaking up as much info as possible and will slowly introduce more things like mixing my own media. tbf though using castings and guano etc etc doesnt really phase me, as ill be experimenting on just a few plants so that i can get the hang of it before implimenting it across all of my space. I like the idea of the rice husks in place of perlite.

Im a little short on time right now but ill defo make some very soon give you a shout regarding picking your brain on a raw nute recipe for a good base that suits to start me off

Thanks again
 
Last edited:
cottageman

cottageman

376
93
Silicic acid is extremely expensive for what it does. I would rather use potassium silicate for peat or bark based potting mixes. If I am doing coco or Jack's classic hydro in a run (from the extra K), I prefer to use silicon dioxide or rice hulls in the growing medium.
Potassium silicate does not give the same benefits as silicic acid does unfortunately, especially with foliar spraying. Silicic acid increases yield, root mass and leaf mass and potassium silicate did not when foliar sprayed. There’s a great study that details the benefits of silicic acid vs silicates
 
cottageman

cottageman

376
93
Here’s the link to the study about silicic acid and potassium silicate if anyone wants. Silicic acid seems to be way more beneficial than potassium silicate when foliar feeding
 
BillFarthing

BillFarthing

Supporter
472
143
Thanks
I use a coco/perlite mix with 1% ecothrive charge with bottled nutes , I know some would frown upon this but I like to use organic alternatives where possible like cold press kelp and fish shit, plus a few other bits nd bobs, but iIdefo want to get into mixing my own raw nutrients or a dry premix until i get the hang of it then move on

Jacks mix would have been a good start to try out then experiment with but the shipping costs to the UK just kill that idea, so im stuck looking at those big ag pre mixed ferts or mixing the raw nutes up myself.

Next year im going to do an organic grow too so im soaking up as much info as possible and will slowly introduce more things like mixing my own media. tbf though using castings and guano etc etc doesnt really phase me, as ill be experimenting on just a few plants so that i can get the hang of it before implimenting it across all of my space. I like the idea of the rice husks in place of perlite.

Im a little short on time right now but ill defo make some very soon give you a shout regarding picking your brain on a raw nute recipe for a good base that suits to start me off

Thanks again

Do you have access to Phostrogen, Masterblend, or Growmore powdered fertilizer?
 
Top Bottom