Nutrient Question

[anon0988]

I've been reading about plant nutrients lately in a college level textbook on plant physiology. In it it talks about how there have been scientific studies showing that plant yields (in general, non-specific to marijuana) scale linearly with the amount of nutrients the plant absorbs. This has caused me to have a few questions I figured some of you vets could answer.

1) Is it best to ride the line of almost nutrient burning your plants to achieve maximum yields?

2) How big of a difference do nutrients make in yields? Is it worth putting a ton of brain time into to figure out the best solution?

3) While I'm currently working with soil, which delivery method for nutrients seems to be the most effective? ExamplesHydroponic, Nutrient Film, Aeroponic, or Ebb and Flow) Or does it basically come down to individual preference?

 

[anon0988]

Also, thought of this after posting:

4) Does size of the root mass matter? Perhaps nutrient absorbtion can be maximized (and yields maximized along with it) by increasing the amount of roots available to take in the nutrients? If this is the case, is there a way to manage plant growth to allow maximum roots but still keep the overall plant size down (such as for an indoor grow)?

 

[northernfrost1]

Hey anon0988 and welcome to icmag!!

That's great to hear you've been reading up on how to feed plants. Are you growing any other plants currently or just cannabis?

I ask because as a fellow gardener, you may also realize that most plants grow well without adding a lot of additional nutrients (to soil) and still plats grow just fine. That being said...

1) I don't believe in force feeding plants nutrients. Would you like someone feeding you so much food everyday that you have trouble digesting it all? A healthy plant will look, well, healthy and one that needs more nutes will show signs of deficiencies.

2) For someone just starting out cultivating their own medicine, nutes will not make as big a difference in yield as temp, humidity, lighting, and air flow will make. I don't put any brain power into nute schedules and use a simple 1 part powder that mixes with water. Gets great results. Lots or people/vendors will list off all the nutes they are using and their schedule....it's not realistic for someone in their first year of cultivation to use many types of nutes without causing more problems than the help they are giving. KISS (search it on the boards here)

3) I've worked with all of the methods you mentioned except Nute Film. I use soil today, maybe next time I move I'll setup hydro, but it doesn't make too big of a difference if the rest of your environment is out-of-whack. To answer your question, people say coco fiber is the most effective at fast vigorous growth. But get all the other environment details fixed first.

At the end of the day, growing a fruiting or flowering plant is a game of the weakest link... Nutrients are the first place people go to try and pump more juice into their plants to try and make them grow better, then win reality a grower should step back and asses what the limiting factor With their grow is (rarely not enough nutes)

Hope this helps and please as as many questions as it will take to get comfortable.

Stay safe

 

[northernfrost1]

Also, thought of this after posting:

4) Does size of the root mass matter? Perhaps nutrient absorbtion can be maximized (and yields maximized along with it) by increasing the amount of roots available to take in the nutrients? If this is the case, is there a way to manage plant growth to allow maximum roots but still keep the overall plant size down (such as for an indoor grow)?

4) try air pots

 

[Keep goin]

Northernfrost speaks the truth...ENVIRONMENT is your number 1 concern...!!

Dial in your environment, that should be your big goal. As far as specific info on nutes. I had run amended pro mix, then coco grows for years. Then switched to hydro. I have tried pushing the nutes, and riding them "lite". If anything, I got the best results riding lite...

It's all about the surroundings. If you have the environment dialed and just provide solid nutrition you will do fine. Remember, less is more. Be patient...let em grow.

Larger root mass will help you, especially in a soil grow, you don't want to be root bound. Less drying out, etc. But all dependent on veg time and final plant size goal. Everything is relative.

Good Luck
KG

 

[anon0988]

Environment

Environment

So for environment, what's considered optimal. I've read low humidity (>50%) is best, as it helps prevent mold and such. My temp currently fluxuates between 70-85 F, is that a problem? For airflow I've got a 430 cfm 6" centrifugal fan sucking through a properly rated activated charcoal filter, I'm going to throw a fan speed limiter on whenever it arrives to bring down the airflow and noise. What other factors should I be trying to regulate?

 

[anon0988]

Ugh, sorry about how ugly that post is, I just woke up.

Humidity should be <50%, not >50%.

 

[OrganicOzarks]

The healthier the plant the more nutrients it will use from the soil. Plants take what plants need. You can bombard all the nutes you want, but you will be wasting money.

 

[northernfrost1]

Ideal

Ideal

Many right answers.

Nature is not ideal. Imitating Ideal nature is ideal.

77-87f daytime 19 hrs
63-73f nightime 5 hrs

this is perfection for North American and European Climate. Humans and Plants alike. (Think of the hand beneath the light to check light distance trick)

Go by your plant. Obviously if it is Big Bud or NL for example these temps and times I present are perfect but for something like an equator breed you want to imitate more of that climate.

Good luck & stay safe

 

[rangergord]

I've been reading about plant nutrients lately in a college level textbook on plant physiology. In it it talks about how there have been scientific studies showing that plant yields (in general, non-specific to marijuana) scale linearly with the amount of nutrients the plant absorbs. This has caused me to have a few questions I figured some of you vets could answer.

1) Is it best to ride the line of almost nutrient burning your plants to achieve maximum yields?

2) How big of a difference do nutrients make in yields? Is it worth putting a ton of brain time into to figure out the best solution?

3) While I'm currently working with soil, which delivery method for nutrients seems to be the most effective? ExamplesHydroponic, Nutrient Film, Aeroponic, or Ebb and Flow) Or does it basically come down to individual preference?

Key word about plants and nutrients above is ABSORB. Your plants will not absorb nutrients better if they are more concentrated. Concentrated nutrient solutions are taken up more slowly and can easily lead to burning of leaf tips.
As far as yeilds go, nutrients can make a difference if used properly and fertilizer companies are lined up to try to convince you their snake oil is the best.
Check out the KISS thread for proof that a complex and expensive nutrient regime is simply not required.
Ebb and flow or flood and drain is a great method as well as deep water culture. I use flood and drain. Root size. Yes, larger healthy root systems are linked to higher yeilds. This is something worth some attention. I put a cover on my flood and drain tray and cut holes for the 6" net pots. Now my roots are growing out all over from the net pot. When they were exposed to the air and light without a cover the root growth was limited to the bottom of the pots and tray. Deep water culture can grow some really nice root systems too.

 

[northernfrost1]

Rangergord is spot on with his technique and advice. Listen to this their tips!