Billyboat
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Are you changing from calcium carbonate because of how expensive it is? I'm a big fan of calcium carbonate just don't know enough about it yet. Subd. For sure .Quick question...
Last 9 months I switched from cal nitrate based cal mag product to a cal carbonate product...
I recycle my soil.
I want to switch back to cal nitrate but want to make sure that the cali nitrate and carbonate won't bond and do some crazy stuff on me in the soil.
Any ideas?
Are you changing from calcium carbonate because of how expensive it is? I'm a big fan of calcium carbonate just don't know enough about it yet. Subd. For sure .
I'm all ears
Im 99% sure calcium carbonate absorbs through foliageNo I have a theory that the cal carbonate is not as readily available to the plant as cal nitrate is.
But I don't know.
I just felt like I had less issues with cal nitrate.
That's not a theory, it's true. Breaking that CO3 bond is very difficult and requires some stronger acids, IIRC. That's the molecule you wanna watch out for--CO3--because that's the molecule that causes pH issues (higher alkalinity). If it's already 'broken' down it shouldn't cause a problem, though.No I have a theory that the cal carbonate is not as readily available to the plant as cal nitrate is.
But I don't know.
I just felt like I had less issues with cal nitrate.
That's not a theory, it's true. Breaking that CO3 bond is very difficult and requires some stronger acids, IIRC. That's the molecule you wanna watch out for--CO3--because that's the molecule that causes pH issues (higher alkalinity). If it's already 'broken' down it shouldn't cause a problem, though.
It's an issue I have to be cognizant of with my OD beds, because I irrigate with completely unfiltered well water and it's very high in carbonate hardness levels. Also known to be a problem in ag areas that are irrigated with ground water/aquifer water over prolonged, extended periods of time.
I used CaCO3 for about a week. My plants turned a lighter color and were generally unhealthy.
I never had a problem with the Nitrates. They bounced back after switching back.
How broad are the leaves? On my very narrow sativa leaves I get curl right away with nitrates, thus i made the switch, but on the indica's I'm seeing that I need to revert back. They are light green and run pH is not stable. Was using carbonates in my brew since that's made with RO.
It did not matter if I ran pure OG's, Sativa's or Indicas. If I used CaCO3 in my Cal/Mag or the Earth Juice PH Up, I noticed my plants yellowing. Im in coco coir and something is not right when its used.
Botanicare Cal/Mag, Calimagic and my homemade MBferts mix all work great and they are all nitrate based.
My CaliMagic says it's CaCO3..but has Mag Nitrate in it..I def think it's not on par with CalMag+..but with brotanicare I care more about dropping it from the reggie quicker. Though my hungry strains are harder to maintain than if they had that boost from the CalMag+..especially that Ewok and White AJ..hungry sativa types. I never accounted for it being lack of nitrate from the CalMag, but more not feeding them enough. Got me wanting to try a bottle of CalMag+ again..lol. I'm in BG soil..and not CoCo..I'm too accustomed to soil-feeding to try CoCo.
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