I was hoping to get a few opinions from the growers here.

I'm growing in a mix of 2 parts Potting Soil, 1 part perlite, 1 part vermiculite. No other additives.

I picked up some PowerGro 24-18-12, which contains the micronutrients

Boron 0.02% Molybdenum 0.0005% Copper 0.05% Iron 0.1%
Manganese 0.05% Zinc 0.05% Ethylen diamine tetra acetate 1.00%

Directions: mix 1 tsp per 4 litres of water.

I've read so many different opinions. The Marijuana Growers Guide (https://www.1stmarijuanagrowerspage.c...uana.html#c9-2) says Rapid-Gro (23-19-17) is popular brand amongst growers. I assume my PowerGro would work the same.

A friend says that this ratio is bad though; and he was dead set on his brand called Advanced nutrients. He couldn't explain why though, so i would like to hear opinions from other people.

[sproutco]

Do you have dolomite lime in your soil for calcium and magnesium? Best to probably leave out vermiculite from the mix as it can be too heavy and water retaining. Plants grow best when nitrogen and potassium are equal. A good fert for veg might be 20-10-20. You fert will still work. Good at least it has all the micros although not in a really good proportion. You may find it beneficial to do the following:

> Add potassium nitrate every fourth fert instead of the powergro. 1/2 teaspoon per 3.8 liters (1 gallon). This will boost the potassium the regular fert is low in. Potassium nitrate is the ingredient in some stump removers at hardware stores like a homedepot or lowes. Grants, high yield, and dexol are some brands but there may be others. Just check the label for ingredients. Using this also gives your soil a break from applying all that phosphorus. It can build up in the soil and cause deficiencies like zinc trouble.

> About every third fert add 1/4 teaspoon of both powdered gypsum + epsom salts per 3.8 liters (1 gallon) of water along with the power gro. If you do not have dolomite lime in the soil, add this everytime. This boost calcium and magnesium. It also adds sulfur your ferts don't have or dol. lime.

> Adjust the ph of your fert water after mixing to 6 using and acid or base. Homestyle things you might use are in my signature below "how to make your own ph up and down".









Be sure to check out, how to make a soilless mix below in my signature. Lots of good hints in there.

Thanks Sprout!

I just need to add a few more peices to the puzzle then i think i'll have this thing figured out.

Advanced Nutrients is a brand name of nutes specificaly designed for growing cannabis. You will come to see with experience what works and what doesn't.
I have many brands of grow formula and pretty much had the same results from all of them.

Thanks rule!!

I imagine when i get this figured out i'll look back and wonder what all the fuss was about.

Its my first time round, and i've probably been a touch too cautious.

Its funny because i'm constantly battling the thought in my mind if i've overfertilized or underfertilized; or Overwatered/underwatered. Growing in soil seems to be a bit of an art versus a science.

I've got 8 plants growing at the moment. 4 were grown one way and the other 4 another.

I have two different problems in each batch Batch 1 has nice light soil, but the plants have been transplanted twice. They are droopy with brown spots all over the older growth. My first diagnosis was nute burn on their last transplant. Although It may be a deficiency (Calcium? Manganese?).

Batch 2 were only transplanted once and have more growth and generally look healthier. The soil was alot heavier for some reason and was worried about overwatering them (Soil take 8-10 days to dry out). They however have golden/yellow leaves at the bottom. and the Top leaves are getting golden/yellow leaves starting on the outside border of each leaf. My first diagnosis was they were overfertilized. I flushed them. A friend of mine thought they were nitrogen and sulphur deficient. A small dose given last night of worms castings tea (terracycle plant food) definenately perked up this batch.

Both batches were started at the same time, using Ambrosia seeds. Temps sit around 75 degrees. Humidity has been high at 70 % lately.

OK. the PLAN OF ATTACK. Check PH of water and Adjust. Flush all 8 pots with water. Apply mixture of 1 tsp PowerGro with 1/4 tsp Gypsum and 1/4 tsp Epsom salts.

Do you guys like to water, then fert, then water, then fert ect ect? Or low dose fert, then low dose fert, then low dose fert ect ect


Sorry bout the long winded post

[sproutco]

CLF = constant liquid feed. Apply weak ferts with every watering. Make sure you read those brief hints I gave carefully. Adjust the ph of the fert water after you have added gypsum, epsom, powergro, etc...

Sounds like you have ph issues.
I find it best to get nutes that are ph buffered, which seem to work out nice for me.

I went on a big hunt for gypsum powder and couldn't find it :P I called about 12 stores and couldn't find anything.

Ahh well...

I went and checked out a local hydro shop close by and saw that they had the Advanced Nutrients. I was discouraged by not finding the gypsum so i went ahead and bought the Grow/Micro/Bloom package. Pretty pricey at $35.00 but will last me a long time.

I mixed up the ferts and water and PH tested. My water was fairly acidic, so i went back to the store and bought some "PH Up" for $5.00. Put about a 1/4 tsp of that in the water and that bumped my PH to about 6.7.

Fed the plants each a cup of water/ferts last night. My healthy batch of plants really took nicely to the advanced nutrients. They really perked up and are starting to gain a nice green colour to them. My other batch with the spots on them are still looking a little rough; but one out of the four is responding nicely.

Anyways, all the info was apprecieted from you guys. If i can ever find the powdered gypsum i might try doing a little experiment with my next cycle. I'd like to grow 2 plants sproutco's method, and 2 plants with advanced nutrients. I imagine the results would be similiar.

Thanks again

[sproutco]

Try a lower ph in your fert water. Above 6.5 even in soil may cause you trouble.

Ok i'll try.

Its a little tricky knowing the actual PH

The store was out of PH test strips, so i was forced to purchase the PH drops.

The chart for the drops is fairly limited.

For example. Yellow is 6.0, light green is 6.5, and darker green is 7.0 ect.

By eye balling the colour my ph was between 6.5 and 7.0