Good Sunday everyone,
Was wondering if any one has experimented or tried out the General Hydroponics “Lucas Formula”? How did you like it? What’s your thoughts on it? Outcome/results?
Starting an auto run and using 1 vivosun self watering tray that I’d like to try out the “Lucas Formula” with. I am aware that it’d be optimal for DWC but not breaking out the bucket just yet.
Also… any, if any advice about the self watering trays would be greatly appreciated as well. This will be my first time using one. I looked up to see if I need to put an air stone in it and I couldn’t find any thing that would be beneficial or negative so just going to forget about that.
Thank you for the help, advice, and wisdom. Happy growing 
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I’m not sure who now may be using lucas formula but a couple of members that have moved on used it. I’ll place links to their journals below.
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So I’ve used GH for several years now, starting with the trio and had great success with different “Formulas”.
I never followed the " Lucas Formula", but looking at it just now, it looks like a solid Formula to me.
The past 2-3 years I’ve been useing nothing but General Hydroponics Maxi series, “grow and bloom” and love it.
It’s a 1 part powder grow for veg and bloom for flower of course.
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I use GH Lucas formula, great results. I add Silica, root guard, and towards the last 3 or 4 weeks I add a bloom enhancer.
This is about 12 days after flip, running lights at 13/11 for another week and a half then 12/12 for 3 weeks then finish at 11/13
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I’m in soil, and the plant I’ll be using the formula with will be sitting in a self watering tray (wicked). Do you think some form of root guard would be in my best interest to use?
@Mntmannw
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In my opinion root guard will help keep root rot away, it’s usually 1 teaspoon per gallon of water, but I’m no expert, let me tag a couple others that might know.
@dbrn32 @StonedCold13 @Dman1969 @kaptain3d
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I never used such a product. Maybe @Low or @Retiredoldguy ? 
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Brand? There are several root products. Generally Bacillus is the main ingredient commonly used with any hydroponic like set up.
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Very important! The stuff used in hydroponic grows to help fight root rot is usually a single active ingredient while a microbial inoculant intended for soil grow is usually many active ingredients. Even if some ingredients are in both they could be counter productive in the wrong environment.
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@Low do you consider a self watering base hydro.
I guess I’m trying to figure out if root guard would be beneficial even though I’m in soil but there’s standing water. I’m not ready for my Dec bucket in this run just yet and a friend is letting me use the self watering base.
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Soil and standing water make me nervous. It’s not hydroponic but would benefit more from the bacillus product. Only because your chances of root rot goes up in soil that stays wet. Typical soil needs a dry back. Living soil likes to stay moist. Soilless media is typically used for this type of grow.
I’m not really sure how you should proceed. Ive never used soil in this manner. I know I’ve seen a few mention using soil with what sounds like autopots or something similar but I’m not sure who to tag.
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I have. It’s functional but messy, and it’s a fungus gnat factory.
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I don’t/haven’t grown like this either. I think the air gap between bottom of pot and top of solution or water level will provide necessary amounts of oxygen to roots, but this is more of a thumb/eyeball assessment than factual statement.
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It works okay IME if you (1) use an inert medium like coco and (2) continuously agitate the solution with an air line or pump.
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I’m going to get some root guard just to be safe and see how it goes.
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So I decided to save the “Lucas Formula” for my DWC bucket and when I break it out.
I have some left over Rhize nutrients that I’m going to use instead.
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