GHE FEED CHART: GENERAL HYDROPONICS FEEDING CHART - USAGE GUIDE
07 FEBRUARY 2023
How to grow cannabis using general Hydroponic products and a feeding chart for autoflowers!
CONTENTS:
Read more
General Hydroponics has evolved a lot since its beginning more than 40 years ago, since then, they’ve been making their products with one goal in mind: improve and advance the quality of agricultural products and innovate through extensive research.
Based in Santa Rosa, CA, the company has dedicated decades to come up with solutions and system that can help anyone take care of a crop and get the best results possible, due to their effectiveness, their products have become extremely popular in North America and Europe, being of the most used products for hydroponic growers.
So if you’re a hydro grower or grow cannabis seeds in a sterile medium such as coco fiber, perlite, rock wool, or clay pellets, read along to learn the contents of General hydroponics nutrients, how to use them, top tips, and our recommended feeding schedule for beginners and more experienced growers!
1. MANUFACTURER’S RECOMMENDATIONS
First of all, it’s essential you read the following recommendations by General Hydroponics:
- Keep the nutrient solution at (or below) 24°C;
- Allow 5-25% runoff during each watering;
- Keep the pH between 5.5-6.5;
- For better results flush after 1-3 feedings.
- If your water is above 200ppm total or 70ppm calcium, use Flora Hardwater Micro instead of FloraMicro.
- When using both Armor Si and CALiMAGic, add Armor Si to the reservoir first.
- When using Armor Si and/or CALiMAGic, with Flora Series, these products should be added prior to adding FloraMicro.
Have in mind that they do not say it’s obligatory to follow their recommendations but by doing it you may have better results. For the most part, autoflowers are light feeders compared to photoperiods and you can get away with feeding them less. If you want to experiment it is recommended to cut the nutrition in half and see how your plants react. Bottled nutrients are not cheap and we hate to see people lose their money for no reason when the plants would be more than happy with a smaller amount.
2. THE BASICS OF ORGANIZATION
Before we get too deep into all of the general hydroponics, we want to help you stay organized using all the feeding charts to maximize efficiency. With all of the different bottles and names of nutrients, it can seriously get overwhelming when first using them so it’s always important to keep track of everything you grow. The two most important organizational tools you’ll need are a calendar and a notebook. We prefer using a dry erase calendar. Monitoring PH, nutrients used, and PPM can be extremely beneficial when trying to identify nutrient issues or plant deficiencies in the future. It is also good practice to keep updates on when equipment is cleaned to always remind you to do the work necessary to keep your grow in tip-top shape.
3. BASE NUTRIENTS
General Hydroponic are synthetic nutrients designed to be used in sterile substrates such as coco fiber, rock wool, perlite, clay pellets, or soilless hydroponic setups but can be used in soil depending on the purity of your water source.
General Hydroponics nutrients are designed for hydroponics but can also be used in soil.
If you’re growing in soil don’t worry, we’ll also provide a feeding schedule for soil but first, let’s learn about their products they can be beneficial working with microbes. FloraMicro, FloraGro, and FloraBloom is a 3-part feeding fertilizer and provides the base nutrients, which is most of the minerals needed for plant growth.
FLORAMICRO
General Hydroponics FloraMicro belongs to the Flora Series line and provides a constantly updated formula adapted to the latest scientific findings.
FLORAMICRO COMPOSITION
| Nitrogen (N) | 5.0% | Copper (Cu) | 0.01% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soluble Potash (K2O) | 1.0% | Iron (Fe) | 0.1% |
| Calcium (C) | 5.0% | Manganese (Mn) | 0.05% |
| Boron (B) | 0.01% | Molybdenum (Mo) | 0.0008% |
| Cobalt (Co) | 0.0005% | Zinc (Zn) | 0.015% |
Available in composition for hard or soft water, Flora Micro provides the micro, sub-micronutrients, and some complementary macronutrients needed throughout the growth and flowering process. When using water from a tap it is vital that you purchase a TDS meter that measures the parts per million inside the water. Checking the PPM of the water will get you an accurate reading for the amount of micronutrients which will show you if you need to purchase a RO filter or purchase water from the store.
FLORAGRO
FloraGro stimulates structural and vegetative growth, strengthening roots, and providing most of the nitrogen, potassium, and secondary minerals in the Flora Series line. So no one gets confused, potash is potassium, potash is an old Dutch word and it means ash from a fire. Ashes from burning wood or other plant material that creates potassium
FLORAGRO COMPOSITION
| Nitrogen (N) | 2.0% |
|---|---|
| Phosphate (P2O5) | 1.0% |
| Soluble Potash (K2O) | 6.0% |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.5% |
The nutrients provided by the complete Flora Series allow you to perfectly satisfy the changing needs of your plants by varying the mixture and rhythm of their progress so you should use more of it during growth, and less of it during the flowering stage.
FLORABLOOM
FloraBloom provides the phosphorus and potassium inputs your plants need to increase their health and root formation during growth and helps to make the most of their genetic potentialduring the flowering stage.
FLORABLOOM COMPOSITION
| Phosphate (P2O5) | 5.0% |
|---|---|
| Soluble Potash (K2O) | 4.0% |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 1.5% |
| Sulfur (S) | 1.0% |
This product allows you to perfectly satisfy the changing needs of your plants by varying the mixture to the rhythm of their progress so you should use more FloraGro during the vegetative stage and more FloraBloom during the flowering stage.
4. USING MICROBES WITH GENERAL HYDROPONICS
Many people believe that since they are growing synthetically they can’t use any microbes, this is especially common with the hydroponic community. The truth is everyone can use microbial products to have a great beneficial impact on their plants’ health. The common misconception is that the synthetic nutrients will kill the microbes inside the media but this is completely false. While there is a slight possibility that a few microbes will die in the process this won’t matter in the end because most microbe products contain thousands and thousands of beneficial microbes.
What microbes do is protect the plant from potential pathogenic bacteria, this is very beneficial during the cloning or early veg stage since the plant is weaker and has less root zone. Microbes in simple words put up a no vacancy sign to all potential harmful pathogens. While being able to protect your plants from pathogens also allows the plants to absorb nutrition more effectively rather than absorbing it all at once. Microbes have a symbiotic relationship with plants and will store nutrition and distribute it to the plant as needed when microbes are added regularly.
5. BEGINNERS FEEDING SCHEDULE ML/L
Now that you know what the base products contain and provide to your plants, here’s a feeding chart for beginners growing photoperiodic cannabis.
Remember that this chart should be used as a guideline and it’s designed for growers using soft water in hydro, aero, coco, perlite, clay pellets or rock wool, so if you’re growing autoflowers in soil, read along for the chart you’re looking for.
6. SUPPLEMENTS
All the products mentioned above can be used without adding supplements but it’s highly recommended to use the following products if you want your plants to grow faster, healthier, and produce bigger and better buds.
Wondering why? Read along for their contents and the beginner feeding schedule for General Hydroponic products.
RAPIDSTART (ROOTS)
RapidStart is a root stimulator that promotes vigorous and healthier roots which results in faster growth, and bigger and better yields. This product can be used in all types of substrates such as pre-amended soil (or soilless mixes), coco, and hydroponic setups. Using mycorrhizal fungi with rapidstart will give you the best success giving the plant optimal nutrition and fungus allowing the rhizosphere to develop properly and quickly.
FLORABLOOM COMPOSITION
| Nitrogen (N) | 1.0% |
|---|---|
| Phosphate (P2O5) | 0.5% |
| Soluble Potash (K2O) | 1.0% |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.05% |
LIQUID KOOLBLOOM (WEIGHT)
KoolBloom is available in liquid and dry form, this product should be used from the beginning of the pre-flowering stage up to the last weeks of flower because it contains the compounds needed to increase the flowering sites and improve growth, resulting in denser buds, bigger yields and encouraging bud ripening.
LIQUID KOOLBLOOM COMPOSITION
| Phosphate (P2O5) | 10.0% |
|---|---|
| Soluble Potash (K2O) | 10.0% |
FLORALICIOUS PLUS (AROMA)
Floralicious is a growth enhancer and contains nutrient supplements designed to boost growth, this product can be used both in the vegetative and flowering stage and contains exactly what you need to improve plant growth.
FLORALICIOUS PLUS COMPOSITION
| Nitrogen (N) | 2.0% |
|---|---|
| Phosphate (P2O5) | 0.8% |
| Soluble Potash (K2O) | 0.02% |
| Humic Acid | 2.0% |
| Sea Kelp | 20.0% |
Sea kelp is used as an all-natural plant growth hormone. Kelp is the fastest growing plant in the world and this is why gardeners use it to give the plants a boost they need to gain more vigor and growth. Using kelp during flower will cause some weird growth patterns like fox tailing so pay attention to the ratios and amounts that are being used based on your growth cycle.
FLORAKLEEN (FLUSH)
Florakleen is used to eliminate nutrient build-up and can be used in all substrates during cultivation, and also between crops to clean the systems of accumulated salts which can obstruct irrigation but mainly when flushing in soil, to help preserve the original taste of your plants.
7. EXPERIENCED GROWERS FEEDING SCHEDULE ML/L
Now that you know what the base products and supplements contain and provide to your plants, here’s a feeding chart for experienced cultivators growing photoperiodics.
Remember that this chart should be used as a guideline and it’s designed for growers using soft water in hydro, aero, coco, perlite, clay pellets, or rock wool, so if you’re growing autoflowers in soil, read along for the chart you’re looking for.
8. EXTRA SUPPLEMENTS
If you are already using all of the products mentioned above and want to take your harvest to the next level, here are the extra supplements you are looking for.
ARMORSI (DEFENSE)
ArmorSi provides Silica and Potassium, these minerals increase your plant’s strength and stress resistance, which result in bigger yields and also improve structural and foliar growth. Silica allows your plants to withstand more stress of all kinds. When using silica you will notice your plants become much more pliable allowing you to bend and train your plant much easier without breaking branches. Silica also helps protect the plants’ rootzone allowing the plant to get much drier than usual without any negative consequences. And finally, it helps prevent pests, when bugs get a taste of a plant with silica they get grossed out making the bug leave the plant and find an easier target. This is a must for growers who want overall healthier plants.
ARMORSI COMPOSITION
| Soluble Potash (K2O) | 4.0% |
|---|---|
| Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) | 10.0% |
DIAMOND NECTAR (WEIGHT)
Diamond Nectar is a mix of humic and fulvic acids which facilitate the absorption of nutrients by the roots and a stimulator that promotes rapid and vigorous plant growth.
DIAMOND NECTAR COMPOSITION
| Phosphate (P2O5) | 1.0% |
|---|---|
| Soluble Potash (K2O) | 1.0% |
| Low Molecular Humic Acid | 0.01% |
This is a product designed to accelerate nutrient absorption through a natural process called chelation, this works by grabbing immobile minerals and transporting them into the roots and plant tissue for faster and bigger growth.
FLORABLEND (AROMA)
FloraBlend is a mineral blend used to help plants grow a more vigorous root system and a stronger structure, this will provide a more sturdy plant with a visible increase in stems, foliage, mass, and root network.
FLORABLEND COMPOSITION
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.5% |
|---|---|
| Phosphate (P2O5) | 1.0% |
| Soluble Potash (K2O) | 1.0% |
CALIMAGIC (VIGOR)
CALiMAGic provides the supplemental calcium, magnesium, and iron your plant’s need to avoid common deficiencies and allow them to thrive without affecting growth and yields.
CALIMAGIC COMPOSITION
| Nitrogen (N) | 1.0% |
|---|---|
| Calcium (Ca) | 5.0% |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 1.5% |
| Iron (Fe) | 0.1% |
By using it properly, you can prevent rot, nutrient block, and yellowish leaves which is very common amongst cannabis growers, resulting in an overall stronger plant and preventing micronutrient deficiencies. General hydroponics does a fantastic thing by not putting calcium and magnesium in the same ratios as phosphorus. With some hydroponic nutrient companies, they will have a cal/mag product that is suggested to be used in flower with the original feeding schedule. During the flower cycle, you mainly need two macronutrients: phosphorus and potassium. When using cal/mag and working with high amounts of phosphorus you risk locking out the phosphorus with too much calcium. Regardless of pH or any other factors too much calcium will lock out phosphorus very aggressively leading you to think there is ph lockout. It is always important to diagnose an issue effectively before trying to correct anything; an incorrect diagnosis will lead to more issues down the road.
Related story
A Comprehensive Guide to Cannabis Plant Nutrient Deficiencies and Solutions
FLORANECTAR (FLAVOR)
FloraNectar contains essential minerals and molasses that benefit the soil and the plants while allowing you to take the aroma and taste of your harvest to the next level by regulating the metabolism processes and achieving a balance between respiration and photosynthesis, resulting in a higher yield and better quality flowers.
FLORANECTAR COMPOSITION
| Soluble Potash (K2O) | 1.0% |
|---|---|
| Magnesium (Mg) | 0.5% |
| Sulfur (Su) | 0.5% |
| Cane Sugar | 17.5% |
| Molasses | 5.0% |
The sugars inside the floranectar do something amazing to the plant, similar to the boost we get from having a dose of natural healthy sugars. Even though we may not realize it, plants need carbohydrates just as people do but it does more than giving the plant a sugar rush. Plants make sugars from the sun which is the plant’s version of energy. What the plants will also do with the sugars they created from the sun is to send them down to the root zone to secrete sugars for the microbes to eat. Microbes love to eat sugars and will multiply the population drastically with additives like molasses and cane sugar. The more microbes you have the more effective nutrient absorption is.
DRY KOOLBLOOM (RIPENING)
Apart from the denser flowers provided by the Liquid Koolbloom, Dry KoolBloom enhances the terpenes and cannabinoid production while promoting a faster ripening.
DRY KOOLBLOOM COMPOSITION
| Potassium Chloride (KCl) | 5-10% |
|---|---|
| Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4) | 5-10% |
This product is used during the ripening stage (last week of flower) to increase the intensity of the flowering process, resulting in bigger and better flowers.
9. EXPERT GROWER FEEDING SCHEDULE
Now that you know what the complete line of General Hydroponics products contains and provides to your plants, here’s a feeding chart for experienced cultivators growing photoperiodic cannabis.
EXPERT GROWER FEEDING SCHEDULE ML/L (VEGETATIVE STAGE)
Remember that these amounts may change depending on the strain and growing conditions you’re growing in, these tables should be used as a general guideline and you should always pay attention to how your plants react and adjust the nutrient dose according to those signs.
Also, have in mind that this table has been designed for those using soft water, if you’re watering with hard water it’s recommended to use the Flora Hardwater Micro to avoid having problems along your grow cycle. Less is always more when feeding plants with any type of nutrition. It is significantly easier to add more nutrition next feeding than flush the plant out from over-fertilization.
EXPERT GROWER FEEDING SCHEDULE ML/L (FLOWERING STAGE)
This chart should be used as a guideline and it’s designed for growers using soft water in hydro, aero, coco, perlite, clay pellets, or rock wool, so if you’re growing autoflowers in soil, read along for the chart you’re looking for.
10. CHART FOR GROWING AUTOFLOWERS IN SOIL
Because soil is and contains organic matter, instead of using all the products mentioned before you’ll have to use the following Bioproducts from General Hydroponics. Growing with general hydroponics is ultimately the easiest way to grow cannabis. Soil is the battery for the plants and when growing with soil compared to hydroponics you are ideally trying to feed the soil and not the plant. Healthy and active soil will allow the plant to thrive with very minimal effort. Soil is also a fantastic buffer for the plants allowing you to water with a much wider ph range without having any ph issues down the road. All around soil growing with general hydroponics nutrition is an extremely safe way to grow your plants and it makes it incredibly fun to learn!
RIPEN
Ripen is a product that provides all the nutrients needed for the last weeks of flowering, the minerals contained encourage plants to ripen faster and use all the nutrients that are still stored in your plants, resulting in better quality flowers and a bigger harvest.
RIPEN COMPOSITION
| Phosphorus (P) | 6.0% |
|---|---|
| Potassium (K) | 5.0% |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 3.0% |
| Sulfur (S) | 5.0% |
BIO ROOTS
Bio Roots is a natural product designed to stimulate root growth and resistance to fungi on clones and plants in the vegetative stage, this product acts in the root zone, working along the beneficial microorganisms present.
BIO ROOTS COMPOSITION
Phosphoric Acid (H3PO4) 1-3%
BIO PROTECT
Bio Protect is a natural concentrate that should be used as a foliar spray to increase your crop’s resistance and defense against bugs. The amino acids and natural essential oils in this product create a layer on the leaves that strengthen your plant’s immune system, allowing your plant to withstand a bug attack and repel the bugs.
BIO BLOOM
Bio Bloom is a stimulant made from natural ingredients that improve growth and beneficial microorganisms activity in the root zone.
BIO BLOOM COMPOSITION
| Fruit Oil | Up to 1% | Sodium Alginate | Up to 3% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humatic Acids | Up to 1% | Seaweed | Up to 10% |
| Pectinate | Up to 1% | Organic Matter | Up to 84% |
Thus improving nutrient absorption and transportation which results in larger leaves, bigger flowers, and an increased yield while boosting the immune system.
MINERAL MAGIC
Mineral Magic from General Hydroponics contains Montmorillonite as the main ingredient and it’s a powdered additive formulated with natural silicate and marine organic extracts, a very important complement for the correct development of the plants in any culture medium, resulting in higher resistance against harmful fungi and stronger branches and stems.
AUTOFLOWER FEEDING SCHEDULE FOR SOIL (ML/L)
Now is the moment you’ve all been waiting for, if you were looking to use your General Hydroponics fertilizers with autos in soil, here’s a chart especially designed for autoflowering cannabis.
Just remember that this feeding schedule is a guideline because all strains are different so you may have to adjust the amounts if your plant is showing symptoms of nutrient deficiencies or are not growing as they should. If you decide to grow with soil it is recommended to put 15% worm castings inside the pot you will be growing in. Worm castings are a great sore of microbes and they will work incredibly well with the general hydroponics line.
If you are growing photos in soil you can still use this table, but you’ll have to double the dose of all products used in the autoflower feeding chart.
11. SHOULD YOU FLUSH BEFORE HARVEST?
So you have now been taught how to grow with general hydroponics but the most important step comes at the harvesting stage. Almost all cannabis growers you talk to will say flushing is the most important thing when it comes to harvesting. This isn’t necessarily true as new studies coming out have proven that on a blind taste test cannabis consumers preferred the flower that had not been flushed before harvest. When the cannabis flowers were tested for mineral content it showed no difference compared to the ones that were flushed for seven, ten, and fourteen days which proves unflushed flowers were safe to consume. Now, this isn’t to say that you should never flush your plants because odds are that you’ve been doing it for years with great success. If you are someone who likes to get rid of all the chlorophyll in your plants before harvest then you should do what you like. This could be a fun experiment you can do in your home grow using general hydroponics to see which plant you prefer to smoke, you might be surprised!
Another interesting fact about flushing is that the cannabis industry is the only agriculture industry that flushes out the nutrition before harvest which is quite interesting why we are held to a different standard than other crops.
12. GENERAL HYDROPONICS - FAQS
General Hydroponics are the true OGs of the hydro nute game, with over 45 years of experience. Started out of a simple garage set-up, the unbelievable growth that now (and for a long time) sees the company as truly one of the largest and most trusted nutrient companies worldwide, is nothing short of ridiculous. This growth, and their place atop the market, can be attributed to a few factors:
- The emphasis the company places on focusing on the product first, and the marketing second. The nutrient market, and the cannabis market more generally, is awash with companies making bold claims that are simply not backed by any real science or research. Not the case with General Hydroponics.
- Their commitment to continue pushing the envelope, and bringing innovative new products to market. General Hydroponics is not a brand that relies on the same range year after year. They always have something new to offer, and it is always backed by real science.
WHAT KIND OF PRODUCTS DOES GENERAL HYDROPONICS OFFER?
General Hydroponics offers a wide range of hydroponic nutrient solutions, additives, growing media, and other garden supplies. Their main product line includes nutrients for hydro and soil gardens such as Flora Series 3-Part Nutrient System, FloraKleen, and Micro Nutrient Series. They also offer additives and other products for a range of uses, including:
- CALiMAGic - GHs CalMag booster, for increased plant vigor
- Liquid KoolBloom - denser buds, bigger yields, and enhanced bud ripening
- Rapidstart - root development and health
- Floralicious plus - growth enhancer and aroma booster
- Florakleen - eliminates nutrient build-up in hydro systems
- ArmorSi - increased plant strength and stress resistance
- Diamond Nectar - promotes rapid and vigorous plant growth
- FloraBlend - increases plant structure and aroma
- FloraNectar - contains essential minerals and molasses to boost the flavor
- Ripen - end of flower booster
- Mineral Magic - boosts resistance against harmful fungi, and promotes more vigorous branch strength
WHAT MAKES GENERAL HYDROPONICS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER NUTRIENT COMPANIES?
General Hydroponics offers some of the best nutrient products available on the market. They are renowned for their consistency and quality, as well as the innovative products they produce. They have a full range of nutrient concentrates, including base nutrients and supplements to suit any grower’s needs. They also have a range of organic products, as well as systems and tools for growth.
APART FROM THIS FEEDING CHART, WHERE CAN YOU FIND THE PERTINENT INFO NEEDED ON GH PRODUCTS?
They also provide detailed instructions on how to use their products and troubleshooting guides on their website. Additionally, they have a very helpful customer service team who are always available to answer any questions and help you out with any problems you might have.
ARE GENERAL HYDROPONICS PRODUCTS SAFE TO USE ON CANNABIS CROPS INTENDED TO BE USED TO PRODUCE EDIBLES?
Yes, General Hydroponics products are safe to use on cannabis crops intended to be used to produce edibles, as long as you follow the directions and use them in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Unlike some of the competition, all the ingredients are completely natural, and none of them are harmful to consume.
ARE GENERAL HYDROPONICS PRODUCTS SAFE FOR USE ON ORGANIC CANNABIS CROPS?
Yes, General Hydroponics products can be used on organic cannabis crops. In fact, they have a range of specifically designed organic products that are perfect for growing cannabis in an organic environment. Of course, it is important to follow the directions and use them as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
DO YOU NEED TO SHAKE UP THE NUTRIENT BOTTLES BEFORE USE?
Yes, no matter what nutrient company you decide on, you should always give the bottles a good shake before use, as this helps to mix the nutrients together evenly. Bottled liquid nutrients can separate pretty easily, and rather quickly - so always give them a good old shake-up before use!
or argue it 
I use desktop calendars, dry erase gets erased around here (kids 
).
.
. Good marketing = more sales 
