Nutrient mixing order

Nutrients
1

Mostly just curious. When mixing nutrients, should calmag come before or after the base nutrients? I googled this a while and see it both ways. So far I’ve been using this sequence:

  1. Silica
  2. Base nutrients (NPK)
  3. CalMag
  4. Trace minerals
  5. ph adjustment, if necessary

I don’t seem to have a problem. I start with a 5 gallon bottle of ro water with an air stone and allow each of these to sit for 15 minutes aerating before adding the next one. I see no precipitation or gelling. I use immediately after mixing.

The only questionable thing here is should base nutrients and calmag be swapped? In various forums I can find specific instructions each way. Since I’m not having any problems I suspect it really doesn’t matter much, but is there a definitive best practice?

Does this depend on the calmag sources? If the magnesium in calmag comes from epsom salt, I can get precipitate from the sulfur ion. My magnesium comes from magnesium chloride, so I don’t have that problem. Does this just side-step the ordering issue?

2

I have always done the silica then calmag then base then extras …

3

Same here.

4

I always start with silica, I use Jacks or MC1 so I don’t need calmag, but following for if I switch at any point

5

Silica, pH up, Jacks, auto mix in 1qt, pour into 2 gallon sprayer, consistent 1600 and 6.0 with our well water. My meter broke in December and i winged it for 2 months. New meter same numbers.

6

If you have a method of mixing that everything stays in suspension it doesn’t matter. The mixing instructions are there to help prevent precipitation.

7

Well water, silica, cal-mag, nutrients, yucca then hydroguard. Im using two different nutrient lines on 2 plants each.

I use Earth juice seablast bloom 4g and bloom master 3.5g ph ends up 6.0-5.9 without using any ph up or down.

I also use Jacks. Right now I’m using 4g part a and 2g part b and 1.5g of EJ Bloom master, no epsom salt ph ends up at 5.8

The Jacks I’m always worried about precipitation when mixing. Ive had to toss a few gallons. I’ve never had to toss any of the Earth juice mix