Cheap alternatives to overpriced hydroponic nutrients

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Terpz719

Terpz719

545
143
That's about what I'm at for K:Ca:Mg. 2.7:2:1. I lowered K some since im in DTW coco and was getting weird lockouts towards the end on some of my strains.
Interesting! I think I may have experienced some similar issues. Things will be looking great, and then around mid to late flower, I get weirdness with some of the plants. I'm always running 3-6 different strains for the first time, so it's hard to keep'em all happy with the same nutes and EC. I'm running DTW coco too. Looking forward to finding some keeper strains that I can get dialed in. Thanks again!
 
Fudge

Fudge

1,861
263

For any Uk growers that have been struggling to find dry nutes in bulk at good prices, these guys will do anything, bespoke mixes 20kg for £50! plus any seperate salts/elements/micro mixes the lot. they use sodium free mico mix so no clogging of taps or hydro systems. Email sent see what kind of deal I can get. Gonna go for a bag of premixed for my base, and complete my salts collection if the price is right
 
Fudge

Fudge

1,861
263
Dear Mr. Fudge



Thank you for your enquiry to Solufeed.



Our bread & butter business is supplying commercial horticulture, so whilst we are able to make bespoke blends I am afraid there is a minimum order quantity of 1 tonne (50 x 20 kg bags).



At this time of year we run down our stocks and use up our odds and ends, but in the spring we will be producing a commercial strawberry product we call “Coir low N” (see analysis attached), which is 6:14:30 analysis with 5% MgO. The composition and the trace element loading is designed for strawberries grown in coir. If this product is of interest to you it would be easy to supply you from stock once the season gets going – typically in March. If you would like to get back in touch then, I think we may be able to help.



Note that whilst we routinely include sufficient magnesium in our blends, we do not include calcium nitrate. The normal method of use of soluble powder blends is to make up a 10% concentrated stock solution (e.g. 10 kg in 100 litres of water) which is then further diluted ~1:100, typically with a water powered dosing pump like a Dosatron. In concentrated solution the soluble phosphorus will react with the soluble calcium to form insoluble calcium phosphate in the stock tank. This results in a muddy sediment, blockages and loss of nutrients. For this reason the calcium and the NPK fertilizers are kept in separate stock tanks, and only come together when they mix in the irrigation pipework at final rates of dilution. This final dilution is a very weak solution (~1 g per litre) and so although the reaction does still take place, it occurs very slowly and in practice does not present a problem.



Regards,

Dick Holden

Managing Director


Total N
6.40​
NO3 N
5.8​
NH4 N
0.6​
P2O5
14.5​
P
6.34​
K2O
31.2​
K
25.84​
MgO
5.2​
Mg
3.13​
SO3
13.858​
S
5.54​
Na
0.226​
B
0.019​
Total Cu
0.017​
Cu EDTA
0.017​
Total Fe
0.320​
Fe DTPA
0.320​
Total Mn
0.150​
Mn EDTA
0.150​
Mo
0.0070​
Total Zn
0.080​
Zn EDTA
0.080​
EC
1.202​

Not quite what I was hoping for, but that means im sorted in the spring, guess Ill have to bite the bullet and pay over the odds for masterblend, Will only be the premix base though, Ill use my own sources for cal nit and mag sulph

Bonus is. I dont think he has any idea why im enquiring. either that or he writes a good poker face
 
BillFarthing

BillFarthing

Supporter
472
143
Dear Mr. Fudge



Not quite what I was hoping for, but that means im sorted in the spring, guess Ill have to bite the bullet and pay over the odds for masterblend, Will only be the premix base though, Ill use my own sources for cal nit and mag sulph

Bonus is. I dont think he has any idea why im enquiring. either that or he writes a good poker face

Thanks Fudgy. I sent the link to my growmies overseas in Spain and the UK.
 
bangladeshiasandiman

bangladeshiasandiman

1
3
Hey everyone. What are the recommended brands for drip system in europe? I have heard that masterblend might be the way, because jacks are not available here. I will be using tap water around 250ppm and 7ph. Thanks
 
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Fudge

Fudge

1,861
263
Hey everyone. What are the recommended brands for drip system in europe? I have heard that masterblend might be the way, because jacks are not available here. I will be using tap water around 250ppm and 7ph. Thanks
If you scroll back the last few pages or so,read through, ive been looking for roughly the same thing, im in the uk, and everything I sourced using the knowledge i gained here is easily and readily available in europe
 
cemchris

cemchris

Supporter
3,346
263
Think you should be able to get stuff from people like Yara or ICL in the UK.
 
Beachwalker

Beachwalker

7,055
313
Dear Mr. Fudge



Thank you for your enquiry to Solufeed.



Our bread & butter business is supplying commercial horticulture, so whilst we are able to make bespoke blends I am afraid there is a minimum order quantity of 1 tonne (50 x 20 kg bags).



At this time of year we run down our stocks and use up our odds and ends, but in the spring we will be producing a commercial strawberry product we call “Coir low N” (see analysis attached), which is 6:14:30 analysis with 5% MgO. The composition and the trace element loading is designed for strawberries grown in coir. If this product is of interest to you it would be easy to supply you from stock once the season gets going – typically in March. If you would like to get back in touch then, I think we may be able to help.



Note that whilst we routinely include sufficient magnesium in our blends, we do not include calcium nitrate. The normal method of use of soluble powder blends is to make up a 10% concentrated stock solution (e.g. 10 kg in 100 litres of water) which is then further diluted ~1:100, typically with a water powered dosing pump like a Dosatron. In concentrated solution the soluble phosphorus will react with the soluble calcium to form insoluble calcium phosphate in the stock tank. This results in a muddy sediment, blockages and loss of nutrients. For this reason the calcium and the NPK fertilizers are kept in separate stock tanks, and only come together when they mix in the irrigation pipework at final rates of dilution. This final dilution is a very weak solution (~1 g per litre) and so although the reaction does still take place, it occurs very slowly and in practice does not present a problem.



Regards,

Dick Holden

Managing Director


Total N
6.40​
NO3 N
5.8​
NH4 N
0.6​
P2O5
14.5​
P
6.34​
K2O
31.2​
K
25.84​
MgO
5.2​
Mg
3.13​
SO3
13.858​
S
5.54​
Na
0.226​
B
0.019​
Total Cu
0.017​
Cu EDTA
0.017​
Total Fe
0.320​
Fe DTPA
0.320​
Total Mn
0.150​
Mn EDTA
0.150​
Mo
0.0070​
Total Zn
0.080​
Zn EDTA
0.080​
EC
1.202​

Not quite what I was hoping for, but that means im sorted in the spring, guess Ill have to bite the bullet and pay over the odds for masterblend, Will only be the premix base though, Ill use my own sources for cal nit and mag sulph

Bonus is. I dont think he has any idea why im enquiring. either that or he writes a good poker face
DICK HOLDEN ??

Is he from Upton Mass. ??
😎
 
BillFarthing

BillFarthing

Supporter
472
143
Thanks for the PM Mr. Fudge.

Mix up homemade Hammerhead powder. It's 1g./gallon (~4L), 1 tsp./5 gal.
 
Rooke

Rooke

1,342
263
Hey y’all I’ve been using GH flora nutes for the past 4 years now and it’s getting pretty expensive up here in Canada 120$ per gallon. I used about 6 gallons on 9 plants this past summer. I’m hoping to grow 22-23 plants this coming season and considering using Mega Crop anyone using it? I’ve heard good reviews but I also heard it’s pretty costly thoughts???
 
Aqua Man

Aqua Man

26,480
638
Hey y’all I’ve been using GH flora nutes for the past 4 years now and it’s getting pretty expensive up here in Canada 120$ per gallon. I used about 6 gallons on 9 plants this past summer. I’m hoping to grow 22-23 plants this coming season and considering using Mega Crop anyone using it? I’ve heard good reviews but I also heard it’s pretty costly thoughts???
Its cheap... I use it. I still prefer the version 1 thats no longer available. I cant help but feel mixed on the new 2 part. It works but something like jacks i may try also and see. The version 1 mega crop is awesome but since then.... im torn.
 
Tubilcain

Tubilcain

21
3
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.
Grotek is making an affordable silicic acid now. Have you tried it? Gro-silic
 
N

Newber

838
143
look up wizard npk, I haven't tried his stuff, but buddy was paying 200 a week in nutrients and now does this and loves it. For me I just do 1 stage fox farms, not unreasonable for my needs, but I do drain to waste/coco, hes in a brain tank system
 
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Tubilcain

Tubilcain

21
3
look up wizard npk, I haven't tried his stuff, but buddy was paying 200 a week in nutrients and now does this and loves it. For me I just do 1 stage fox farms, not unreasonable for my needs, but I do drain yo waste/coco, his in a brain tank system
N P K does not contain silica

Guess I should have googled it first. lol
 
Tubilcain

Tubilcain

21
3
the title was about nutrients, if it's about silica I use power si but it is pricey
I can't get power SI in my area. I can get elite 92, but so expensive. $200 for 1/2 litre. But growtek started making a salicic acid I am trying. 1 litre was $102. And it is the same application rate as elite 91. All I need for 400 litres is 60 ml. There is no fiz acion like the Elite91. First time I put some in and turned my back to walk away, the fiz action made me turn around. You could hear it. Does SI do that? Just curious.
 
N

Newber

838
143
nope, no carbonation or fizz...but Amazon maybe? I'll def look into growteks version
 
X

xuecheng

1
1
This jacks brand may not be quite what we are looking for as hydroponic growers but I am sure there are other similar alternatives with different nutrient profiles.

*Has anyone used this product, or a similar product with good results?*
:wondering:wondering



Thanks :passingjoint:
This is interesting. I never really thought about growing on hydroponics.
 
JohnnyApp

JohnnyApp

62
33
Hydrobuddy.com, a very accurate scale and elemental salts, such as calcium nitrate, magnesium sulfate and mono potassium phosphate. Cheapest solution possible, and your ingredients list is already printed on the back of your favorite lineup, your welcome 😉
 
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