Sure, Froggy.
I almost never go above a 1 EC (500ppm using the .5 ratio) with my mothers, and I try to keep the lights close enough to keep 'em from stretching, but far enough to slow growth a little. If your moms are smaller than mine (24-30"), I'd keep the EC even lower than that. You'll get a feel for them after a while; the idea is just enough food to keep 'em healthy, but not enough to invigorate their growth.
I am back to brewing organic teas for my girls.
I fill a 5-gal bucket with tapwater that's been allowed to sit out 24-36 hours to evaporate off the chlorine. I usually bubble it for a few hours, also, by adding an air stone and pump.
I add 6 tbsp of
Fox Farm Peace of Mind Starter dry fertilizer (3-4-3), 2 tsp molasses, 2 tsp Age Old water-soluble Mycorrizhae, 1 tps epsom salt, and sometimes I also add an enzyme (at about 5ml/gal).
This mix will bubble-brew for at least 24 hours, but no longer than 48. When it's had enough time, the EC is usually around 1.8-2 (900-1000ppm), with a pH of about 7.6. The mix should be a little frothy after 24 hours, and there should also be brown fungal growth on the airstone/hose/bucket sides- that is GOOD stuff, do not panic. I dilute it with RO or chlorine-free tapwater until it is around 500 ppm (1 EC), and set the pH between 6.5-6.8. I also top-dress the Roots Organic soil once every 6 weeks or so with a tbsp of dolomite lime, to insure there's enough cal/mag, and to keep the pH stable.
Every 6-8 weeks, I also like to use a flushing agent on my moms, to prevent toxic salt buildup. Watering twice between feedings really helps. I also use humic/fulvic acids on watering (not feeding) days.
So, the regimen goes like this.
1. Roots organic soil and plain water (or a light humic/fulvic/molasses mix) until the RO begins to run out of nutrients. This usually takes 3-6 weeks, depending on strain and container size.
2. Organic tea- as described
3. plain water
4. Water with humic/fulvic/molasses
5. repeat steps 2-5 indefinitely.
You may bump up the nutrients for your moms, or lower them, depending on what strains you're running. I keep an eye out daily for deficiencies, pests, and disease on all my plants. Sometimes I do throw in an extra feed, but never twice in a row. I also try to clone a day or two after step 4 or 5, so the plants are a little hungry and the cuts root faster.
If it seems my mamas need a pretty potent dose of nutrients, I will also occasionally add some Age Old Grow (12-6-6) to the mix. I still do not go above 1.2 EC when I do this, and only that high on a big mama.
Hope this helps; holler if you have any other questions.
