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#1
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Local Nutrients?
Hey guys, I have been reading up on hydroponics the last month or so and have almost everything I need but I am confused on nutrients. Are the nutrients you need not something that you can find locally at a garden supply/tractor supply type place or possibly wal-mart or lowes?
I have read a few places of using the water soluble miracle-gro, but problems arise in strength is the general thought behind reviews. Is there any way to get something suitable for a first run/first try that can be found locally? |
#2
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You will want nutrients that are made specifically for hydroponics. Even if water soluble, soil nutrients will be lacking the micro elements needed for healthy plants. I don't know of any tractor supply, wal-mart or lowes that carry hydroponic nutrients. You may find a nursery that carry's them, I know of a local nursery here that's planing to sell organic hydroponic nutrients this year. Just make sure the containers say for hydroponics, and the sales people are not just trying to sell you what they have on hand (that's happened before).
The first run/ first try is really the most important one (for most people anyway). After all, most people that don't have success on the first try generally give up on hydroponics thinking it's to hard or doesn't really work. I know many clam to use soil nutrients and have good luck, but not for long. In order for (water soluble) soil nutrients to work, you will need to add the micro nutrients that are missing. I used Miracle-grow myself on some plants when I was running low on hydroponic nutrients. They lived for about a month on them but started going down hill after about a week (as I expected), I finally got some more hydroponic nutrients and they started coming back, but never really fully recovered (to much damage was already done). The reason there is so much confusion on how strong to mix soil nutrients for hydroponically grown plants is simple, there not intended for hydroponic plants, and no mater how they mix them eventually there are problems. So they don't have directions for that, it's just a guessing game. Bottom line, I wouldn't recommend using anything other than hydroponic nutrients unless you were prepared for problems from the get go, and were willing to deal with trying to figure out the problems. For the first time hydroponic grow, you should try to eliminate as many problems as you can. Personally I used General Hydroponics Flora Series nutrients when I first started. There not the cheapest hydroponic nutrients, but I knew that General Hydroponics had been around for decades, so they had a lot of experience making hydroponic nutrients and I shouldn't have any problems with them (trying to eliminate as many problems as I could). |
#3
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To use the flora series nutrients, I have to buy the Micro, Grow, and Bloom series...correct?
I hate to come off cheap, but my first attempt is by far on a budget. I will post a few pictures once it's together. Is there anything that would work well for a little cheaper? |
#4
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Granth, I am brand new and no expert, but I went with CNS17 as my first nutes. Specifically "Grow" as I only have leafy and no flowerig veggies. CNS17 has all the elements and was the cheapest.
I'll post how that goes once I get the seedlings into the medium and growing. |
#5
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The difference is in the produce. I'll give you a quick example: The predominant vitamin in Tomatoes is "A". In soil grown tomatoes that you buy from your local grocery store, there is about 400 or so units of vitamin A per/pound. The FDA requires farmers to fertilize so that there is at least that much, and farmers know exactly how much fertilizer to use to arrive at that requirement. If you maximize your nutrients at home in a hydroponic system, you can have tomatoes that have 4 thousand units of vitamin A per/pound. This ratio holds true with almost all the veggies you can grow at home in a hydroponic system. Of course, that comes at a price; more nutrients. Nutrients cost money. GH makes what I think are the best nutrients available for the costs. If you feed your plants with GH nutrients at the suggested rate, you'll have some vitamin packed veggies for your own health and that of your children. One salad will be equal to ten salads of store bought produce. You can try some of the Miracle Grow products, but be careful not to over-do it with them. While good in small amounts on almost all veggies, they can cause some real problems on many veggies if used in too strong of a dose. Miracle Grow products and those like them are made for soil growers. Hydroponic Gardening is a whole new world when considering nutrient application. |
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#7
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I'm assuming that you don't have any local hydroponic supply stores near by because of the way your question was worded, so you will need to order on line in order to get any. I was fortunate enough to have some dry nutrients given to me to try out, and I have found that these have worked well for me. In fact I will likely use them exclusively in the future, simply because of cost compared to the General Hydroponics liquid nutes (not that I'm unhappy with the GH nutrients, other than cost). Virti-Gro The Verti-Gro Hydroponic Fertilizers and Nutrients - Organic and Hydroponic Growing for Commercial and Hobby Growers It's a 2 part nutrient, first part is the "hydroponic formula" (fertilizer) the second part is the "calcium nitrate." Both come as a dry mix, you mix 2 pounds each separately into one gallon water jugs. At that point you have both parts pre-mixed as a liquid concentrate (instructions are on the label). Then to make the nutrient solution you mix 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons (10mL to 15mL) of each part per gallon of water. The label says 1/2 to 3/4 ounces per gallon (1 fluid oz = 30mL). As with most all hydroponic nutrients it's better to mix it a little weak, especially in hot weather or for small plants (seedlings about 1/4 strength) . This is exactly what I have been using: 2 lbs. 5-10-25 Hydroponic Formula, SKU#: F510252, Unit Price: $11.95 (shipping $6.50) 2 lbs. Calcium Nitrate 15-0-0, SKU#: F15002, Unit Price: $8.95 (Shipping $6.00) This makes 250 gallons of nutrient solution mixed per instructions, more if you mix it weaker. For $20.90 + shipping $12.50 Total: $33.40. But they also have the combo package: Nutrient Combo 4 lbs ea. 5-10-25 & 15-0-0, SKU#: FCombo, for $39.95 (shipping included) $6.50 more than buying them the other way but it makes twice as much. Compared to the General Hydroponics Flora Series that makes 390 gallons of nutrient solution out of the 3 (part) gallons of liquid, each costing $25 or more + shipping for a total of about $100-$110 depending on where I order from, the virti-gro is much cheaper. $40 making 500 gallons, and for about $120 I can get the 25 pound quantity of both parts of the nutrients (including shipping), and it will make about 5000 gallons if mixed per instructions, more if mixes weaker. Anyway that's the way I'm leaning. |
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#9
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Ditto, thanks GF.
And thanks for the link. I'm anxious to get this system running (drumming fingers as starters have germinated and have no true leaves yet). |
#10
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What kind of time cycle should I be looking at for flooding my system and draining it? I have read 15 minutes flood with anywhere from 1-4 hours off, as well as flood for 15 minutes 4 times a day. Is it best for my aerators to be on constantly, or is it okay for them to be on the same time cycle?
I'm betting that it depends on plant size and need, but what should i be looking at for a beginning point? I hope to grow a Tomato plant and a batch of Spinach if they will work together in the same nutrient solution while still being in separate pots. Last edited by granth; 10-18-2010 at 08:17 PM. |
#11
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I would start out trying 30min on and 30min off, or (better) 15min on and 15min off (if the timer allows it). Keep an eye on the growing medium (you don't want it to dry out). If the plants wilt at all they are drying out (and/or water temp is too high). Disease can also cause wilting, but we'll just assume that's not a issue at this point. Basically just keep an eye on the plants and watch for singes. Quote:
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#12
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