Any GH FloraDuo Users?

[SirTOKESalot]

I ordered some yesterday from my local hydro shop, I have a few rounds of experience with FloraNova, shit worked awesome, just a nasty mess and it goes bad fast in the right conditions.

Duo is a 2 part Fert

FloraDuo part A (5-0-6)
FloraDuo part B (1-5-4)

I guess it is more tailored to fast finishing plants, They seem to have a better NPK ratio then the NOVA, but there are not very many post online with it, never mind grow-shows.

Quote fro GH site

"FloraDuo is a complete nutrient, especially designed for fast growing plants, with a marked difference between growth and flowering needs. It comes in 2 parts: FloraDuo Grow and FloraDuo Bloom. To guarantee the best results, and adapt it to all regions, we offer the “Grow” in 2 versions : one for hard waters, and one for soft waters. FloraDuo Grow “soft water” is for demineralised and reverse osmosis waters.

FloraDuo is highly concentrated : 4 ml/L are enough for a balanced and vigorous growth. Its price also is very attractive. FloraDuo is economical and cost effective.

FloraDuo is also user-friendly : by mixing 3 parts FloraDuo Grow with 1 part FloraDuo Bloom, you’ll address all growth requirements. Then, by reversing these proportions (3 parts Bloom with 1 part Grow), you’ll attend to all flowering needs. FloraDuo guarantees a perfect balance between growing and flowering. You need nothing else for abundant and healthy yields."

Regardless, I have Clones just cut, Seeds pooped and three plants 4 weeks into flower, Good place to start. I think.

I was using the MAxi KISS for a while here and i get lock, and just funky things going on with my plants "the bag got some humidity in it" so it could be tossing my measurements off. Regardless I wasn't supper happy after two rounds of MAXI, basically I am on the search for something that gill give me healthier plants without spending $300 on nutes every round.



The Box will be here this afternoon, then I start up with it in 2 days, In a month a might start a journal with the DUO if anyone is interested.

 

[Scrogerman]

ill watch with interest, although i cant see how its gonna be cheaper than using maxi?
G'Luck mate!

 

[SirTOKESalot]

I wasn't looking for something cheaper then maxi, I just felt my plants lost that soft glow with Maxi, It is still very cheap. Not a penny man my self.
Fist feed on my flowering ladies tonight.

 

[MPL]

I've been using it on some soil plants. Currently about 5 weeks into flower.

I am having good results with it so far in straight FFOF, though I think this would work far better in a soilless mix (SS#4 etc.). I bet the Duo line would rock the socks off of some hempy buckets.

It's very clean. It mixes quickly. pH is rock solid after a few hours. Even within 30 minutes of mixing the pH won't differ by more than 0.1, and after 24 hours of being churned with a pump the pH hadn't moved. Usually the pH stays within 0.2 from the minute I mix it until whenever.

It seems to last a long time too. I filled an 18 gallon Rubbermaid tub with a strong mix of Duo A&B, Protekt Si and some H202. I forgot about it for about 3 months. I grabbed the container the other day thinking it was empty and boom, it's still full of clear, clean nutrient solution. Not cloudy, nothing settled on the bottom, nothing on the surface of the water. I threw a pump in to get it aerated and mixed, measured the pH (it was a solid 6.6, which is within 0.3 of my normal mix for soil) and EC (it was at 1.0, which is where I had mixed it at). I added some H202 (29% @ 3mL / gallon) then used it to water some plants and they acted like they do on any other feeding.

I would say to start out at half-strength with it.

I'm going to try it under my 1k on a 4x4 flood table in Jan. I may post a journal, we'll see.

So far I'm very impressed with GH FloraDuo A&B.

 

[habeeb]

duo, ok stuff, not sure I like it better then the original series. seems like these days companies don't take there time... come on, the formulation is all backwards..

I have every ml written down in my notebook, I will give some examples tomorrow.

problem I came up against was Ca. no matter how you slice it, it's low in Ca in a balanced formula.

Honestly, I don't know who came up with the formula, as I know some people on here should be working for GH.. bunch of stoners I'm sure...

anyways.. sorry, I had very high expectations from them being they are GH products.. it's just they did not put in the time to see this product though, and I'm sure we'll see some tweaks along the years, I almost guarantee..

here is some plant pics with the duo line, in coco fiber, R/O water with my made up schedules.. more info tomorrow once again when i can go over the formulas I thought fit.. not much of a picture taker so what I have is what I have... never ran coco, or salts before.

 

[MPL]

Do you think the problem may be your lack of experience with that particular medium and salt-based nutrients in general? Also, how do you know your custom schedules are going to work well, considering your lack of experience?

I mean no offense, but you state that there are problems with the nutrient, then state that it's your first time growing with that particular set up.

I'm not a GH fanboy. I don't think Duo is the best there is, and I may not continue using it, but I do like it, and your experiences are completely different than mine.

here is some plant pics with the duo line, in coco fiber, R/O water with my made up schedules.. more info tomorrow once again when i can go over the formulas I thought fit.. not much of a picture taker so what I have is what I have... never ran coco, or salts before.

 

[habeeb]

MPL,

well, I state that on the fact of formulas. I've read on nutrients long enough to know what is balanced, and what is not.. and duo is not balanced however you slice it. also comparing lucas formula and head formula, you get a very good sense what is in proportion, combined with mixing bottles, and having used flora line myself some...

I am new to salts and coco, I did not say new to growing, which my "home" was organics and peat. common concepts follow over no matter what platform your using...

obviously our experiences will differ, as you've ran it with nutrient loaded soil to begin. you did not run using straight coco with R/O. were are playing very different fields here to being with, and couldn't even being to compare as coco and peat are to very different mediums.... you should know

also, I did not say I've never used coco or salts, I said 'ran', not 'never used'. Ran, implying the general sense on this site, of running a flower session / cycle of flowering plants. I use to keep mom's in coco, I have used salts before in coco, and yes, I don't have that much experience in coco or with salts in general to clear the air.






anyways, on to the formulas, here is there charts, which yes we all know charts suck.. :

strong grow: 255n / 34p / 290k / 29mg / 141ca
mild general: 96n / 34p / 131k / 26mg / 47ca
normal general: 190n / 68p / 263k / 51mg / 94ca
transition ( summed to 2ml instead of 2.5ml ): 150n / 82p / 236k / 56mg / 66ca
mild bloom: 111n / 68p / 183k / 50mg / 47ca
strong bloom:127n / 103p / 235k / 74mg / 47ca




you know what the problem is? this is a new product, and a new product in every way should trump the old product, and I didn't get that from this. I had much better experience from using the flora line then a new product. the say about all the "bio activators" , but really, I don't see better performance.

their playing the competition game, and it's not working out well for them. trying to get out a 2 bottle like everyone else, and try to advance there image as being competent to release 2 bottles, instead of the "old" 3 bottles. obviously as seen, there is few people using there new product, which shows me complete failure. everyone likes the old line, and then nothing is improved. a new product should cancel the older generations of products, and this product, the flora duo does not do that.. why keep the older line if this product uses new tech, and is more advanced?????

I also had high hopes, being from GH, but they let me down on this one.

only other comment I can make, is whatever is in the product, has the ability to pump out algae compared to the flora.

 

[Hydro-Soil]

General Hydroponics FloraDuo:
5ml FloraDuo Part A and 15ml FloraDuo Part B per gallon of Reverse Osmosis water.
(Edit: I stand corrected. The lucasformula.com has that as the formula... never used it and it's only 'close' not exact, as pointed out below. )

That's Lucas mix for the Duo series. Plenty of Calcium, even when using RO.

Stay Safe!

 

[MPL]

Fair points. I am reserving final judgement until I have a chance to try it on my flood tables in Jan.

I have run Floranova per Lucas so should have some basis for comparison.

MPL,

well, I state that on the fact of formulas. I've read on nutrients long enough to know what is balanced, and what is not.. and duo is not balanced however you slice it. also comparing lucas formula and head formula, you get a very good sense what is in proportion, combined with mixing bottles, and having used flora line myself some...

I am new to salts and coco, I did not say new to growing, which my "home" was organics and peat. common concepts follow over no matter what platform your using...

obviously our experiences will differ, as you've ran it with nutrient loaded soil to begin. you did not run using straight coco with R/O. were are playing very different fields here to being with, and couldn't even being to compare as coco and peat are to very different mediums.... you should know

also, I did not say I've never used coco or salts, I said 'ran', not 'never used'. Ran, implying the general sense on this site, of running a flower session / cycle of flowering plants. I use to keep mom's in coco, I have used salts before in coco, and yes, I don't have that much experience in coco or with salts in general to clear the air.






anyways, on to the formulas, here is there charts, which yes we all know charts suck.. :

strong grow: 255n / 34p / 290k / 29mg / 141ca
mild general: 96n / 34p / 131k / 26mg / 47ca
normal general: 190n / 68p / 263k / 51mg / 94ca
transition ( summed to 2ml instead of 2.5ml ): 150n / 82p / 236k / 56mg / 66ca
mild bloom: 111n / 68p / 183k / 50mg / 47ca
strong bloom:127n / 103p / 235k / 74mg / 47ca




you know what the problem is? this is a new product, and a new product in every way should trump the old product, and I didn't get that from this. I had much better experience from using the flora line then a new product. the say about all the "bio activators" , but really, I don't see better performance.

their playing the competition game, and it's not working out well for them. trying to get out a 2 bottle like everyone else, and try to advance there image as being competent to release 2 bottles, instead of the "old" 3 bottles. obviously as seen, there is few people using there new product, which shows me complete failure. everyone likes the old line, and then nothing is improved. a new product should cancel the older generations of products, and this product, the flora duo does not do that.. why keep the older line if this product uses new tech, and is more advanced?????

I also had high hopes, being from GH, but they let me down on this one.

only other comment I can make, is whatever is in the product, has the ability to pump out algae compared to the flora.

 

[habeeb]

Fair points. I am reserving final judgement until I have a chance to try it on my flood tables in Jan.

I have run Floranova per Lucas so should have some basis for comparison.

MPL,

sounds good. I hope I was not to harsh.. I'm good now

I would love to see it ran in hydro, please be on the lookout for what I mentioned of the algae also. if you look at the GH blog you will see someone using duo I believe with the coco mat, ad having algae outbreak, not sure if it's normal, haven't run hydro...... also as notes it grows on the top of coco very easily when using the duo, and with the flora I did not see any algae. could it be something in the bottle that grows algae very easily??? I can't say

also, I learned I should reserve my words.. I have much to learn.

can I ask what hydro formula you plan on? you said you ran the lucas floranova, so wondering what your plan of attack is on the setup? are you gonna get it as close to lucas or run the chart or? very interested, as I plan on running some hydro, so I'm debating what nutes to use.. as bottles laying around serve no purpose.

well, letting you know I'm good now.



anyone else with some duo experience, please chime in

 

[habeeb]

General Hydroponics FloraDuo:
5ml FloraDuo Part A and 15ml FloraDuo Part B per gallon of Reverse Osmosis water.

That's Lucas mix for the Duo series. Plenty of Calcium, even when using RO.

Stay Safe!

hydro-soil. have you rant his formula, and if so, what media?

I also would not say this is lucas.. is does add up that most of the time a more balanced solution looks to be from the bloom formulas, but lucas formula.. I think more like, sort of is more appropriate..

5A/15B : 127n / 103p / 235k / 74mg / 47ca

not what I call lucas so to speak. as the Mg/Ca ratios are much off. and the K being a little over 200 "target".

also there would be some very interested people in learning about Mg/Ca ratios being the Mg the ladder in the solution. which is usually taught the other way round being an ideal solution of Mg/Ca ratios of 1:2.. Which by my eyes make sense though, as Ca I think is used in force as it's non-efficient up-taken nutrient, and the lack of rootmass from early plants only make it harder to use.. but I am interested none the less, and always love learning....

I think a more ideal formula would be ( for hydro that is assuming we are talking of lucas formula ):

6A/11B : 130n / 75p / 210k / 55mg / 56ca

this comes in under the 20ml used ( 5A/15B ) mentioned, and saves 3ml a gallon. that is money saved, nutrients saved, earth less harmed in our hobby. I think a point to make in any formulation of nutrients is trying to be as efficient as possible when doing anything. if people were to create a more balanced formula, we would be running longer times from res dumps, and more efficient use of resources ( money, bottles ).. plants can tolerate very un-even formulas, but should we be? as I said, that's waste when dumping res and waste to buy more and thus more money spent..


I still don't see the duo being better then the 8/16 formula? anyone else? am I missing something? as lucas said, at one bottle the nova can't be beat, only the problem being solubility / shaking... I am about using as less bottles as possible a the end of the day, which I'm sure everyone would agree, that's not a bad thing to have, the simpler the better.


the problem I see with the duo line is a little to much K, tad much N, and the Mg / Ca ratios very off. could they not tweak the lucas formula and put less P in a new shiny bottle? but I guess at the end of the day who am I to say that works? they would have to be packing some major improvements in formulation to have the mg / Ca ratios where they sit. my opinion once again.

anyone feel free to add upon, dissect, scrutinize , as the more we learn of the duo line the better..



off the topic and on lucas, the problem being P being to high, as we've come to the realization long ago that P is being pumped out way to high these days.. just take PBP and the low P, but it manages just fine... I think we should take into factor, the best ratio of "non-waste" as I'm sure most are dumping res to early, and in return polluting the earth with excess of chemical that did not get used up... my thoughts again.

if I offend anyone, I am sorry, that's not my case at all, just spilling my ideas once again..

 

[Hydro-Soil]

Nope.. you're not wrong, it's close but not quite lucas. Personally I haven't used the Duo line, no.

I get excellent results with the Maxibloom. Only thing I'm changing is picking up a bottle of Flora Bloom... so I can cut out the micro and use straight 16ml/gallon of bloom for the last few weeks. No additional calcium or nitrogen so they're not there to get flushed out at the end.

The other issue you're going to have is coco is not an inert medium... it does react with the elements in your nutrient mix. This is why rez and H3ad switched to 6 Micro / 9 Bloom for coco. Don't know how that works out with the Duo.

I would definitely spend some time looking for info on Duo and coco... and Lucas. lol

Stay Safe!

 

[MPL]

Not too harsh at all Habeeb.

I don't generally have an algae issue at all as I run H202 in my res. Not sure I'd be able to really judge this characteristic.

I haven't really planned my January cycle out yet but I may post here as things shape up.

I'm not quite as worried as you about cost per gallon at this point. I don't mind adding Ca and Mg if indeed Duo comes out short on either.

 

[MPL]

This is interesting...

Scroll down to about the middle on the Duo section. No idea who maintains that site though, so not sure how reputable it is.

 

[SirTOKESalot]

wow where have I been?

Thx you three for tossing around some knowledge. So far so good in my Promix.

The cuttings love the stuff, i have some 3 week old sprouts that enjoy as well, My plants in flower are doing fine, It is hard to tell if there is a boost in production, but we will find out, son enuff.
I find I have been feeding a much lower TDS then I was with Nova or MAXI, with no ill results.

But yeah So far Love the ROCK STEDY PH, its supper easy to mix up oh yeah and clean.
Neer future I will be attempting Organic, I study soil alot in school and I never seem to use it.

 

[walindour]

I have been using the Duo for a little while and I'm currently 2-3 weeks from finishing flowering. I use a blumat drip setup and the Duo is really awesome. I can attest to it keeping the plants fairly green if you use A in flowering but I am just now going to kick that out of the cocktail. I have only been following the generic ratio GH lists on the bottles and adding a little Diamond Nectar. Keeps the ph very reliable and stable.
Works well for me at the moment too.

 

[habeeb]

This is interesting...

Scroll down to about the middle on the Duo section. No idea who maintains that site though, so not sure how reputable it is.

to me this is just crazy...

lucas formula at 255 N ?????? K at 262...

are these people crazy? also there just copying the bottles instructions..


I'm all for people wanting to help people, but come on, that site is all about lucas, and I don't think there quite there yet...

 

[humanYoda]

MPL,


strong grow: 255n / 34p / 290k / 29mg / 141ca
mild general: 96n / 34p / 131k / 26mg / 47ca
normal general: 190n / 68p / 263k / 51mg / 94ca
transition ( summed to 2ml instead of 2.5ml ): 150n / 82p / 236k / 56mg / 66ca
mild bloom: 111n / 68p / 183k / 50mg / 47ca
strong bloom:127n / 103p / 235k / 74mg / 47ca

??255n 262k ??

lucas is a bloom formula. yes?

 

[MPL]

On my soil plants I started seeing some minor P deficiencies and a slight Mg deficiency as well. They are 2 or 3 weeks from harvest though so I'm not terribly surprised. I use tap but it registers an EC of 0.0 on my meter so I treat it like RO. Towards the end of flowering I have sometimes had Mg deficiencies with several different nutes, so I'm not ready to point the finger at the FD for this, especially since I use preloaded soil. Growing in straight hydro will give us a much better picture.

Anyway, for their last feeding I hit them with a 1:3 mix of A:B with a half dose of Floralicious+ and everything looks great.

I am now flushing for at least the next 2-3 weeks so will not have anything to report regarding FloraDuo (FD) until I start my next cycle on Jan 1.

 

[SirTOKESalot]

On my soil plants I started seeing some minor P deficiencies and a slight Mg deficiency as well. They are 2 or 3 weeks from harvest though so I'm not terribly surprised. I use tap but it registers an EC of 0.0 on my meter so I treat it like RO. Towards the end of flowering I have sometimes had Mg deficiencies with several different nutes, so I'm not ready to point the finger at the FD for this, especially since I use preloaded soil. Growing in straight hydro will give us a much better picture.

Anyway, for their last feeding I hit them with a 1:3 mix of A:B with a half dose of Floralicious+ and everything looks great.

I am now flushing for at least the next 2-3 weeks so will not have anything to report regarding FloraDuo (FD) until I start my next cycle on Jan 1.

I use koolbloom so should not be an ish, but feel free to toss some pics up man, thx for keeping us posted.