Dry measuring techniques?

So I’m a new Jack’s user, and have only used liquid nutes in the past. I see people keeping their stuff in some kind of tupperware container and spooning it onto a scale tray, but I’m a little too messy at that for my tastes, so I filled up some old Ibuprofen bottles and just pour/tap in what I need. This has been working out pretty good for me, but are there other ways out there that would be better? I’ve never really done this kind of measuring before.

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I keep mine stored in the original bags in my lung room that keeps a consistent 76 degrees and 55% RH. For measuring I use a digital kitchen scale and a clear 2.5 gallon plastic container for mixing. Sorry no help on other methods Growmie :love_you_gesture:

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Looks good to me! I also use the original bags, and no problems in the past year. But it is stored in a well conditioned space as well. I place a shot glass on the scales, and press the net button. The scales with calibrate to 0 with the glass on it.

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I use quart Mason jars to contain my working supply of Jack’s. I also use a paper Dixie cup on the scale which I can throw away as it gets dirty. A tablespoon is used to measure out nutes on the scale pan.

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I still store the bulk in the original container. It’s the measuring out with a spoon each time that seemed to get dust and bouncy calcium balls all over the place. I guess I’m just clumsy :laughing:
My math says I can get about 45 gallons of Part A @ 4g/gal out of a full bottle, so I only make a mess once in a while this way.

Dixie cups sounds like something worth looking into…

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Use a shot glass and save a tree! Just kidding. With all the plastic containers and solo cups that I put in the trash, I have no right to criticize a few paper cups.
But seriously, over the last five years I have come to realize how much waste can be generated by growing your own. I have moved away from fabric bags to plastic pots. Also found a lot of soil and nutrients bought that is not needed. Have tried reusable mediums but now use coco, but not sure if it will be reused or not. My first run of coco went on the compost pile after harvest.
I will admit, I do this to save a couple dollars, and not so much green. All though green is a nice bonus.
Believe me, the people in grow supply chain have no problem with you wasting their products, as long as you buy more from them. With me it more the old saying, “Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.”
Sorry I seem to have swerved out of the subject lane.

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I’m totally on board. I reuse all my hydroton, convert broken netpots into cloning rings, use 1/8 of a rockwool cube, and run as small of a res as I can. I need to come up with a reusable cloning collar next, I have some ideas. But yeah, a lot of what drives my own designs is elimination of the whole consumer process.

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I really enjoy only having to buy organic soil between harvests :wink:

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I’ve been a machinery operator my whole life. I’m out of my wheelhouse if there’s no machinery to operate. :laughing:

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Hydro is cool and very hands on. Here is the easiest way that I have found to clean up the hydro stones. Put the clay stones with the old roots in a tub. Fill the tub about 2/3 full with water. Gently stir this a couple times a day for about two to three days. The clay stones will float and the roots will become waterlogged and sink to the bottom. Then just scoop the clean stones off the top. Then you can sterilize them with water peroxide bath.


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Most of my hydroton sinks, only maybe 20% float. I only use 6" baskets though, so not a lot of roots.

I take coffee mate creamer containers and put the powders in them and close them. If u want a more of a seal put a piece of plastic over the top then screw lid on. It keeps alot more moistures out the mix in containers than bags do so far here. I just leave 2ozsolo cups in each container to scoop out. I put a solo cup on the scale zero it out measure my mix after all 2 or 3 parts r weighed I go to sink add like quarter cup of all hott ass water to each part to dissolve good. When I mix in container it’s in order of A E. B if I run epsoms. Otherwise A. b. If I don’t run epsoms I do add like 3 to 5ml per gallon of cLmag. I run led so led will eat up cal mag at a faster pace so a small bump up there helps. Adding the water and dissolving each part makes for a faster mixup on the nutes u won’t have to wait 10 to 20 mins between each part u add. Hope this is of some sort of help to ya. Also idk if I’ve seen anyone run it or.nor if u run the original ratios it
A. 3.6
B. 2.4
E. 1.2

If u run the A @ 4 and B @2 I don’t know.of.id add the epsoms as altering the a and b parts brings up the calcium in the mix. Incase I do this and notice an issue arise possibly why

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@Bubbala G’day fellow machine operater.cannot believe you still buying hydroton balls,good in a way but cmon mate,we are penny pinchin here :slight_smile: lol fark the balls just go perlite is cheaper.bahaaa love a loader can fill any hole hee hee.

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Haven’t bought hydroton in years. Bought it when I first started back into hydro and haven’t bought any since. I’m pretty stingy that way :grin:

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@Bubbala farkin funny me top same when was young bought all the sh@it lol gd 1.will smoke ya in a bobcat tho just saying :)edit or a d9

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My bottles look nearly the same. I think they were melatonin gummy bottles.
I however do not weigh the product as I don’t think it has to be that exact. I use 1/2 tsp part A and 1/2 tsp part B in a gallon of RO water. Lands on 5.8 pH every time and I have zero issues with the grow. I grow in Coco Coir. Been doing this now into my 3rd year of grows. Not saying weighing it out is wrong, but Jacks is very forgiving and a little more/less of each part wont hurt the plants. I omitted the Epsom a while back and don’t see any difference. The mixes for many other uses outside of cannabis for Jacks does not include Epsom on their schedules. Apparently there is sufficient magnesium in part A to cover the plants needs.

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Alot of ways to use jacks with all the different mixes. But the sulphur in the magnesium sulfate will help increase the terpenes imo.

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Lots of great insight! I see a common theme over storage conditions and have a question about that. Where I live, most big garden supply departments are in an outdoor section of the store. Being up north, there’s a huge range of temp/humidity, but all the fertilizers, chemicals, etc., are just kept out there, like my garden shed. Actually, my bag of epsom salt was out there for over 3 years, and it still seems fine. I thought these dry chems had a really good shelf life, but is there something different about these I need to be aware of, that causes all the storage concern? Or is it just an abundance of caution type of thing?

@Bubbala , if you use the Jack’s Tap, I’d advise keeping it in an air tight container. Mine was kept in the bag and it drew so much moisture it is a liquid. I’ve since dumped it in a quart mason jar. I’ve heard others mention on here about the same thing happening to them. I’m going to finish it then switch to their other line.

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@Fishyswaw, how did you like the performance of the Jacks tap? I have started using the RO formula, and like the way it mixes. But not sure if it is as good as the 321?