Advanced Nutrients (Micro, Grow, Bloom) and Cal-Mag

[ArtistZanner]

Alright, so I'm using Advanced Nutrients 3-pack (Micro, Grow, Bloom). So far, in my opinion, my plants look good, no yellowing, nothing strange going on at all. But what's the deal with Cal-Mag? Is it something I absolutely should be adding along with the other nutrients? Or is it only for when there's a problem? I have to admit that all the information I'm reading and the videos I'm watching are confusing me. I'm not stressing my plants, no CO2 .... just growing and adding nutrients as directed. But even with the MGB, I suspect I'm not using enough. I was adding 3ml to a 5-liter jug, but today I read something on Advanced Nutrients website that says I should be using closer to 20ml per 5 liters of water.

Does anyone have any experienced with Advanced Nutrients Micro, Grow, Bloom and/or Cal-Mag? Thanks in advance.

 

[RGWD0202]

Alright, so I'm using Advanced Nutrients 3-pack (Micro, Grow, Bloom). So far, in my opinion, my plants look good, no yellowing, nothing strange going on at all. But what's the deal with Cal-Mag? Is it something I absolutely should be adding along with the other nutrients? Or is it only for when there's a problem? I have to admit that all the information I'm reading and the videos I'm watching are confusing me. I'm not stressing my plants, no CO2 .... just growing and adding nutrients as directed. But even with the MGB, I suspect I'm not using enough. I was adding 3ml to a 5-liter jug, but today I read something on Advanced Nutrients website that says I should be using closer to 20ml per 5 liters of water.

Does anyone have any experienced with Advanced Nutrients Micro, Grow, Bloom and/or Cal-Mag? Thanks in advance.

You’ll want to use it. Water/water/cal mag repeat, if you see any deficiency water/calmag/water

 

[ArtistZanner]

You’ll want to use it. Water/water/cal mag repeat, if you see any deficiency water/calmag/water

Do I use it each time I water when I'm using the Micro, Grow, Bloom nutrients? I already bought some, so I've got it on hand, I just wasn't sure if it was something I needed regularly, or only needed if a problem came up. Thank you for your help, much appreciated.

 

[ArtfulCodger]

I haven't run AN's nutes, but looking at the labels, they look pretty light for both Ca and Mg. Unless you have a lot of Ca and Mg in the water you're starting with, I would be adding calmag to every non-feed watering.

 

[GNick55]

we will have to see your plants before telling you what to do,.
20ml per 5 litres is insane

 

[ArtfulCodger]

we will have to see your plants before telling you what to do,.
20ml per 5 litres is insane

Don't underestimate how diluted AN nutes are.

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

I don't use a pre-mixed calcium and magnesium product. Instead, I use Epsom Salt for magnesium and gypsum for calcium. My plants don't seem to need much calcium but do need a lot of magnesium. It's probably because there's calcium in the water. I add the gypsum to my nutrient mixture and add Epsom Salt to the water. I watch the leaves to know what to add and when to add it.

 

[GNick55]

Don't underestimate how diluted AN nutes are.

View attachment 2296458

i hear ya
here’s my nutrients and i’m lucky if i get to half the amount they suggest,. the cost would be insane at the feeding rate

 

[ArtfulCodger]

i hear ya
here’s my nutrients and i’m lucky if i get to half the amount they suggest,. the cost would be insane at the feeding rate

I checked out of the liquid nutes game a while back.

 

[RGWD0202]

i hear ya
here’s my nutrients and i’m lucky if i get to half the amount they suggest,. the cost would be insane at the feeding rate View attachment 2296462

Yep, they definitely want to sell more products. Everyone says to start with half recommended, probably best to start with 1/4 of recommended. Just answering his question though, he should be using a calmag or some sort of a cal mag with that line, right? Depending on other factors obviously…

 

[m8ty]

Do I use it each time I water when I'm using the Micro, Grow, Bloom nutrients? I already bought some, so I've got it on hand, I just wasn't sure if it was something I needed regularly, or only needed if a problem came up. Thank you for your help, much appreciated.

Are you growing in soil? Do you have a PPM meter?

If you use R.O. water you want to add 150 ppm of cal-mag and water once a week, and when you feed once a month add 150 ppm of micro 150 ppm of grow and 150 ppm of bloom and 150 ppm of cal-mag for a total of 600 PPM. Stop the cal-mag in the last weeks of flower and switch to cal-sulfur.

Oh and Don't forget to add beneficial bacteria like great white or a similar product every time.

 

[ArtistZanner]

Are you growing in soil? Do you have a PPM meter?

If you use R.O. water you want to add 150 ppm of cal-mag and water once a week, and when you feed once a month add 150 ppm of micro 150 ppm of grow and 150 ppm of bloom and 150 ppm of cal-mag for a total of 600 PPM. Stop the cal-mag in the last weeks of flower and switch to cal-sulfur.

Oh and Don't forget to add beneficial bacteria like great white or a similar product every time.

I am growing in soil and do not have a PPM meter. My grow is a very basic version of what a lot of people on here are doing. I mean, I have basic nutrients, I think decent lighting and so far the plants are looking okay. I'm a true newbie, so cannot "read" the plant leaves just yet, though I do know that unusual leaves would indicate a problem.

 

[ArtistZanner]

Not that it matters, but I'm a "she". And here's what my plants are looking like, at least the biggest. I have a range of different sizes because I started out with a single bulb in my closet and then progressed to better lighting.

 

[RGWD0202]

Integrate the calmag in to your feeding schedule. The plant needs a lot of calcium throughout the grow, and when the lights begin to increase it’ll go through magnesium I see both cal and mag and sulfur just as important as the NPK, so use them all together, it’ll eventually be asking for it and you will have waited too long when you see the signs.

 

[chuck88]

Hi @ArtistZanner !

I did two grows with AN and did not add any Cal/Mag But I am on well water with ppms of ~500 and ph of 7.5

This was with ProMix HP and a 600w MH/HPS light.

For the numbers, can't help much other than to say I started at about 1/4 strength and worked up.

Since I was mixing a gallon at a time I converted the ml's to drops. Just found it easier to measure out amounts with a syringe directly from the bottles !

I would recommend a ppm meter, even a cheap $20 one. It will give you a better idea of where you're at...

Long story, short. I worked my way up from ~300 to 900 ppm's. Anything over 1000 and I got mild to Severe leaf burn

And if you are using any of their additives be aware they increase the ppm's too !

Your plants look good !

Nice green color and no signs of any deficiency or burns !

The smaller plant at the bottom of the image appears to have slightly lighter new green growth. If that does not turn a darker shade of green soon it may be a sign to slightly increase the feed.

Cheers

 

[chuck88]

BTW > not to bash AN but I found the cost of liquids a bit much and a PITA to work with

So I moved to Greenleaf's Mega Crop one part. And tried General Hydroponics Maxi line. Both powders, both much less expensive and a breeze to measure by dry weight !

And no obvious difference in yields...

Cheers

 

[ArtistZanner]

Integrate the calmag in to your feeding schedule. The plant needs a lot of calcium throughout the grow, and when the lights begin to increase it’ll go through magnesium I see both cal and mag and sulfur just as important as the NPK, so use them all together, it’ll eventually be asking for it and you will have waited too long when you see the signs.

Thank you. Is sulfur something I need to buy on it's own, or does it come in a combination with other nutrients?

 

[ArtistZanner]

BTW > not to bash AN but I found the cost of liquids a bit much and a PITA to work with

So I moved to Greenleaf's Mega Crop one part. And tried General Hydroponics Maxi line. Both powders, both much less expensive and a breeze to measure by dry weight !

And no obvious difference in yields...

Cheers

Hey @chuck88 Thank you for your comments and suggestions, very much appreciated. Okay, in regards to a PPM meter, is that something I use with the water or the soil? I will look into getting one. Thank you also for your comments on my plants. I started one batch, but then lost a couple plants and bought more seeds. Once they came up, I couldn't just leave them, so I actually have 2 batches. The first batch is approximately 17 days older than the 2nd batch. Once the 2nd batch catches up, I will be flipping them to 12/12.
I actually agree with you about Advanced Nutrients. I bought 500ml bottles and I can see that I will end up going through them pretty quickly before this is all said and done. I really wasn't sure which ones to go with and that's the only reason I went with AN. The powder ones you mentioned, do you mix that directly into the water? (Sorry to ask so many questions, but I don't really have anyone to ask). If you had one inexpensive brand to suggest, what one would you go with? There's so much stuff out there, and all those YouTube videos are pushing expensive name brands that are out of my price range.
Oh and just to say, today I mixed up some water and I didn't use the guide that's on Advanced Nutrients website. I decided to go with 5ml per 5 liters of water. I have a syringe so it makes it easy to measure it to anything between 1ml and 10ml's.
Appreciate everyone's comments, advice and suggestions.

 

[ArtfulCodger]

If you want to jump down the dry synthetic nutes rabbit hole, Greengene's Garden is a good place to start. He runs Jack's, but the principles apply to all of the dry salt lines...Jack's, Megacrop, Masterblend, etc.

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[chuck88]

Hey @chuck88 Thank you for your comments and suggestions, very much appreciated.

You are welcome ! So far a good start...

Okay, in regards to a PPM meter, is that something I use with the water or the soil? I will look into getting one.

You mix up your nutrients and check the water, then you adjust by adding more nutrients or water to dilute.

Thank you also for your comments on my plants. I started one batch, but then lost a couple plants and bought more seeds. Once they came up, I couldn't just leave them, so I actually have 2 batches. The first batch is approximately 17 days older than the 2nd batch. Once the 2nd batch catches up, I will be flipping them to 12/12.

You may want to consider some kind of training on the larger plants. Topping LST, etc. I like to top once above the fourth node, remove the first And second nodes and then train the remaining branches horizontally. I use soft wire to hold the branches down. I have a decent space so I flip to flower when my plants are 24" wide and the training/topping will help with keeping the finished heights down by at least a foot. And with supercropping you could keep the plants even shorter !

I actually agree with you about Advanced Nutrients. I bought 500ml bottles and I can see that I will end up going through them pretty quickly before this is all said and done. I really wasn't sure which ones to go with and that's the only reason I went with AN. The powder ones you mentioned, do you mix that directly into the water? If you had one inexpensive brand to suggest, what one would you go with? There's so much stuff out there, and all those YouTube videos are pushing expensive name brands that are out of my price range.

The powdered nutrients you mix directly into your water. Both GH Maxi brand and Mega Crop one part have feeding schedules on their web sites. If it is available where you are I would recommend the Mega Crop one part. And nothing else, you don't need bloom boosters, etc. They were out of everything except the 25# bags, cost me ~$120 Cdn and after three years (?) I have about 1/4 left
IIRC I spent $150 on AN for two grows (3 plants) and only had enough left over to do maybe another two plants !

Mega Crop – Greenleaf Nutrients Canada

greenleafnutrients.com

(Sorry to ask so many questions, but I don't really have anyone to ask).

Ask away, that is what this forum is for ! And there are no stupid questions, some of the terminology can be confusing at first

Oh and just to say, today I mixed up some water and I didn't use the guide that's on Advanced Nutrients website. I decided to go with 5ml per 5 liters of water. I have a syringe so it makes it easy to measure it to anything between 1ml and 10ml's.
Appreciate everyone's comments, advice and suggestions.

When I first started using AN they had an advanced/intermediate and beginners guide. Of course I went with the advanced guide and couldn't quite get the results I wanted. So I switched to using equal amounts of each and my Girl was happier!

This is the first plant I used AN on, an Early Miss Auto. Yielded +13 oz.dry. In a 2 gallon plastic pot with ProMix HP

BTW > you may want to think about starting a grow journal. It can be a place to keep all of your pictures, questions, etc. together and "we" can follow along and help with your progress...

Cheers