@Cap_Ron I just looked at something before mixing today the plant is exactly 3 weeks old from popping out of the dirt. On the feed chart what week am I in in the vegetation cycle as it matters to how much nutrients to give.
Correct! Some people misunderstand the pH Perfect technology because AN does an awesome job making nutrients, but doesn’t do very well getting the information out explaining it. Many people assume that mixing the pH perfect nutrients is going to bring your solution to a specific pH range, but that’s not the idea of it. The nutrients are chelated in a way so that they’ll be available to the plants in a much wider pH range than normal. If you’ve ever seen those charts that show the ranges that different nutrients can be absorbed at you know what I mean, but you can ignore those charts because of the pH perfect nutrients.
As far as what week, it’s a little open to interpretation. I don’t count the seedling stage as a week, so in my opinion you’d be looking at week 2 of veg, but some people would say week 3. Either way, I’d make sure whatever you mix doesn’t exceed 600 PPM. If you mix something stronger, that’s fine, you can just dilute it down to a safe range with more rain water. So diluting to make it weaker is fine, but adding more after mixing isn’t good. I mean if you add part A, then B, then C, and then you take a reading and it’s too weak, it’s too late to add more part A.
But in that case, you’d be able to make it stronger with some B-52 if you needed.
I’d say for right now, if you got to around 400 to 450PPM with your base nutrients, and then went up to around 550 with some B-52, it would be a good first feeding.
@Cap_Ron thanks Ron I’ll post some numbers when I’m done mixing. I always try to do the research on my own when I get stuck is when I make a post. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Yah that’s a + for sure. How about at the very end is there any need to flush one time to get everything out or is it still not necessary?
There’s lot’s of people who still swear by the flush at the end of the grow, but not me. The research doesn’t lie, and I have a lot of confidence in what Bruce Bugee says.
For the final week I just give them Flawless Finish instead of the rest of the nutrients, but I don’t run any extra amounts through them.
@Cap_Ron
Feed preparation advanced nutrients in this order utilizing 1/4 strength of the recommended full dose of week 2 veg.
Micro - Grow - Bloom - Voodoo Juice - B-52
Results below broken down into each component…
Rainwater
pH 5.98
Ec. 31
PPM. 15
After adding Micro
EC 246
PPM. 123
After adding grow
EC. 360
PPM. 180
After adding bloom
EC. 437
PPM. 221
After adding B-52
EC 537
PPM. 268
After adding Voodoo juice
EC. 539
PPM. 270
After adding Bud Candy
EC. 567
PPM 283
PH. 5.94
That’s great! Now you have a foundation to base future feedings off of. As low as the PPM’S/EC came out, you can plan on approx 25% or so stronger next time.
One thing you can change is to make the Voodoo Juice last. B-52 can be after the base, and then Voodoo Juice.
And one more thing. You’ll get the most benefit from the Voodoo Juice if you let the soil get partially dry between feedings, but not too dry. The microbes/fungi have a tough time surviving when the soil gets completely dry, and then they have to start over.
And one more thing, lol, in my opinion if you’re going to get used to one type of reading, I’d make it EC, not PPM’s. I started out with PPM’s, and then it took my brain a really long time to get used to the EC numbers, but EC is a much better measurement. The PPM or TDS is actually nothing more than an EC reading converted to a different format, but the EC is the true number.
@Cap_Ron the ec/ppm I have no problem learning the EC. It’s just another number. Throughout the entire grow my magic number should never exceed 600 PPM correct?
What happens if you get later into the flowering and it requires more nutrients at higher levels.
Example. Justin theory let’s say week 7 a flowering requires a significant more amount of bass nutrients. Let’s say the base nutrients came out at 570 ppm does this mean I cannot utilize any additional additives whatsoever no matter how important they are?
You can definitely feed stronger than that as she grows. The low PPM suggestion was just for the first couple of feedings.
Once she’s in bloom you can get as high as around 700PPM/1000EC if she’s a hungry girl. I usually increase a little at a time until I see the start of yellow tips, then I level it off and stay right in that range. They’re all a little different in their nutrient needs.
@Cap_Ron good morning Ron. At lights on this morning I gave the girl a haircut much needed see the before and after below…
I gave her her first feeding today of news that we mixed yesterday. The runoff numbers are high due to the fact when I took a scoop of dirt to do the slurry test last week from the plant I put a replacement scoop a freshly charged dirt back in I’m assuming that’s why those numbers are high… Nevertheless here is the runoff
PPM 1270
EC 2570
pH 6.09
She looks very happy! I’d say with those runoff numbers it would be best to keep the next feeding right around the same low strength as this one was. Then when the runoff goes back lower, you can gradually increase the strength of the feedings.
She’s going to start growing really fast soon!
@Cap_Ron copy that on the strength staying the same for the next couple feeds and keeping a close eye on the runoffs. I appreciate you buddy!
@Cap_Ron when utilizing the feed chart from advanced nutrients I’ve edited it to reflect 1/4 strength of their recommended full strength for week two and three (as per your suggestion)
Week 4 which is theoretically the last week in the vegetative cycle I’ve opted to half strength of there nutrients full strength recommendation.
I’m assuming I should continue one half strength therefore after for a couple weeks to see how she reacts then move to 3/4 strength of their recommended full strength. ???
Do you have you or should I at any point get to the advanced nutrients full strength recommendation? Or is that simply too hot for autoflowers?
Thank you in advance
I’ve never gone anywhere near full strength with autos, especially because I feed at every watering.
At this point you can only have a good general idea of how you’re going to proceed, but you’ll refine or fine tune your plans based on your runoff EC and how they look.
Based on your last runoff I think it’s fine to stick with the same strength as last time. If the runoff EC comes out lower, you can gradually start increasing strength of future feedings. It’s safe to go up around 75EC at a time.
Then you can keep your eyes open for a few things. If they start to get too dark green overall, you can stop increasing or back off a bit. If they’re a perfect shade of green, but you start to see the beginning of yellow tips, then you can stop increasing and stay right around that level.
Typically speaking, once they hit flower, I like to find their happy zone as fast as possible and then stay as consistent as I can unless I notice something off. They’re all a little different. I’ve had some autos where I’ve gone all the way to 1300EC before I saw yellow tips. Others start showing it anywhere over 900EC.
If I have multiple autos that like different strength feedings, I mix the total amount for the one that likes the strongest. Then I dilute down individual portions for the ones that need weaker feedings.
Makes good sense to me thank you
@Cap_Ron it’s incredible, if you recall this girl’s in a 3 gallon pot / bag. To get 20% runoff in a 3 gallon pot you need to give 3L of water.
Also if you recall I just fed her her first runoff nutrient feed on Thursday the 13th it’s only Saturday the 15th and she’s bone dry. She truly is a pig.
Nevertheless, she’s not showing any signs of starvation or thirst so I’ve mixed her new batch of nutrients at 1/4 strength same as last time and I’ll feed her at lights on in the morning…
After mixing 20 minutes later this is the results of what will go into her tomorrow morning…
EC 616
PPM 309
pH 6.09
(No need for me to adjust the 6.09 pH correct?)
Also after feeding her in the morning I’ll post the runoff report. Hope you’re enjoying your weekend!
That looks fine, and correct on the pH, no need to adjust.
The runoff you get tomorrow will guide your next feeding.
Yeah, the roots have most likely filled the majority of the space in the 3 gallon pot by now, so she’s going to be drinking quite a bit, and she’ll be growing at really fast pace pretty soon.
Thank you, hope you’re enjoying the weekend as well!
You are the best thank you
Second feed… 07/16/23
**** IN ****
EC 616
PPM 309
pH 6.09
****. OUT ****
EC 1583
PPM 784
pH 6.14
Salt %. 0.07
****** Health/glamor shot ******
Looking great! I’d stay right in that same range for the next feeding, and once again the runoff will guide you from there.
And just for reference, it looks like the device you’re using for TDS testing is in the 500 scale. Not important, especially if you stick with the EC readings, but good to know in case you’re talking with someone else and they ask.