Grow Mediums Autopot EC Feed Program

[OzScott]

Thanks folk...

I've now readied a 10L nutrient mix with all the GP product line - I used 1/2 strength Plant Guard, 1/4 strength ProCal, 1/3 strength Grow, Bloom, Micro, Thrive, Rezin & Spike, full strength SWTF, 1/2 strength Cannazym, full strength Drip Clean - this mix came out as 320ppm EC 0.65 pH 5.8 (starting water was ~40ppm) - so I think not so strong like I was mixing previously and as per thread suggestions from you wise peeps. This mix will be enabled in the autopots this afternoon (24 hrs post plant flushing where pots currently sit at ~250ppm each pot with pH values of 6.1-6.4 across the pots).

Your comments re CalMag (ProCal) Olderfart are noted. I'll use this product with diligence. Your nutrient guide read was very informative.

As for the root problems with current grow - yes, the autovalves are working as should be on the autopots (brand new system) with the trays filling & emptying as required to operate. I too think that the clay balls were/are the potential problem (but also me too - dunno) - as they were purchased 2nd hand (supposedly washed & pH'd) from local hydro store, and in my foolishness I did not check the pH or buffer them before using same in the current grow (lesson learnt the hard way maybe), all other ingredients commercially purchased & new. Next grow will be using again commercially packaged & premixed coco/perlite (70/30), washed & pre-buffered, low EC <0.5, and pH stabilized - I'll be adding extra washed perlite myself to get to ~60/40 coco/perlite substrate ratio (and no clay balls).

So, my still ongoing nutrient application quandary is - in diluting/weakening vendor suggested base nutrient dosage mix values to obtain an acceptable EC for autopots - do I also need to dilute/weaken the other additives and supplements used in the mix at the same level - or only dilute/weaken the base nutrients and keep the additives/supplements at vendor suggested mix dosage rates (noting not all products actually affect mix EC levels of the nutrient mix)?

 

[Sportyridr]

My answer would be try and find another use where watered down won't matter if you have that available...otherwise I want my stuff mixed well and on point with the numbers for that stage...plus watering down cal/mag not such a hot idea anyways

 

[OzScott]

Thanks @Sportyridr - in reading as much as possible on this Autopot forum, I've come to the conclusion that base nutrients will allways be mixed in their manufacturer ratios to ensure Nutrient Element Ratios (NER) in the mix (I'm using a 3 part base nutrient), albeit the base nutes will be 1/2 or 1/3 strength as compared to manufacturer suggested dosing.

As for the supplements and additives (excluding ProCal) I'll be using half manufacturer dose recommendations throughout the grow (Guard, Thrive, Rezin, Spike).

ProCal product will be used full strength - ProCal 2-0-0 (Ca)1.5%, (Mg)0.5% & (B)0.02% (Fe)0.05% (Zn)0.02%)

I'm hoping this will be a correct feeding regime for my plants as long as I stick to appropriate EC levels throughout the grow phases.

 

[Sportyridr]

Thanks @Sportyridr - in reading as much as possible on this Autopot forum, I've come to the conclusion that base nutrients will allways be mixed in their manufacturer ratios to ensure Nutrient Element Ratios (NER) in the mix (I'm using a 3 part base nutrient), albeit the base nutes will be 1/2 or 1/3 strength as compared to manufacturer suggested dosing.

As for the supplements and additives (excluding ProCal) I'll be using half manufacturer dose recommendations throughout the grow (Guard, Thrive, Rezin, Spike).

ProCal product will be used full strength - ProCal 2-0-0 (Ca)1.5%, (Mg)0.5% & (B)0.02% (Fe)0.05% (Zn)0.02%)

I'm hoping this will be a correct feeding regime for my plants as long as I stick to appropriate EC levels throughout the grow phases.

Excellent, seems you have done the research...Hope it makes some fire

I to have landed here as well from autopot searching, been regged here when I started with a couple Autos but now don't do very many but throw one in the mix here & there as I have a bunch of seeds that I started with. Super pleased tho to have found this dedicated forum here for the autopot. I am a few weeks out from purchase due to summer humidity and family travel. I plan to have reservoir turned on Labor Day Weekend.

I'm will be doing Megacrop v3 + Silica, CalMag, Bloom 9/18 - last 3 are name brand DIY from opensalts

I will also add a week of Massive at 1/2 strength as well.

I've had excellent results not exceeding 1.2 ec.

 

[rz2p]

Another way to do it is rather than recalculating the measurements, just follow the ratios and dilute the solution down to your desired EC.

Forget about measuring using pipettes, medical syringes and stuff. Just figure out the ratios of your feeding schedule, and dilute to the desired strength.

I use REMO nutrients and the feeding schedule is simple. 1:1 ratio of everything start to end. I just use a heart shaped spoon that holds an unknown number of liquid and as long as I put equal parts of every nutrient, then we're good. I also don't care about how much water I start with because it doesn't matter. You dilute it down to your desired EC anyway. I can mix nutrients now in like 2 minutes and be done for the week. Just looking out for everyone!

I got 17.67 oz after dry between two plants. (one beside my dog was moldy...first grow, so I threw it all in the Garbage since I took it as a learning experience. Was probably 10oz too).

That was Stardawg Autoflowers from 420fast buds.

Second grow is at Day 49 Gorilla Cookies from 420fastbuds using autopots and I am hitting them pretty hard with nutes. Week 8 already at 830ppm (1.65ec) and they are happy so far. They are extremely large in the 4x4. And especially under the new light.

@OzScott Welcome to AFYou are going to need an EC pen and a PH pen/probe. That schedule for the GPS is way too much for Autoflowering plants and IMPO to high for even Photoperiod plants. 1.2 EC / 600 PPM not counting your starting water is the limit. Then thing is you want to keep the nutrients in the same balance to each other all of the time. So lets say you are in week 2 of flower and you want ~60% strength of the chart, that means 60% of each product. 60% of Grow,60% of Bloom, 60% of Micro and 60% of Rezin

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Read here about why you should be using ALL of the products in the line:

Tutorial - A word on Nutrients

The proper use of “salt” based fertilizer to grow Auto Flowering Cannabis. Salts: Natural and man made any chemical compound formed from the reaction of an acid with a base, with all or part of the hydrogen of the acid replaced by a metal or other cation. Learning how to use salt based...

www.autoflower.org