Ok, that makes sense. So if, upon mixing the nutes according to the label you’re over the target ppm, you add more water to dilute it until you hit the target. Is there a scenario where your feed water could be under the target ppm? Would you remake the solution with less water?
I think in general you want a balanced feed. An even goal of 1000PPM of balanced nutrients.
My water comes out at 300PPM, so I only have 700PPM of feed to work with before hitting 1000PPM. If the PPM goes too high, it causes issues. If the right balance of nutrients isn’t dissolved into the solution, even though it’s 1000PPM, it causes issues.
Following the jacks 3-2-1- schedule, it’s very easy and covers almost everything you need. I do add silica, as it’s not in jacks formula.
For example, I mix in 6 gallon jugs. So I weigh out the same exact amount of Jacks A+Epsom salt and disolve that in warm water. I use about a gallon of water. Then I do the same with B. The 3rd gallon I mix everything else in, for now it’s just Silica. Once I have that all in the jug I fill it up to 6 gallons and check the PH. I add PH adjustments as needed. Then I check the PPM.
I started with the liquid fertilizers and it’s much more complicated and much more expensive as it takes multiple bottles to have a balanced feed.
After that, It depends absolutely on the genetics and enviroment they are in. Maybe one of your strains/phenos wants 1200PPM, maybe another only wants 800PPM. The plant will take what it wants. That is why you measure run-off PPM, to see what you are putting in and getting out to gauge what your plant is eating. IF it becomes imbalanced, or out of PH range, a flush will reset it but that is usually what is seen as a toxicity or deficiency. If my PH drops too much, then my plant can’t uptake X nutrient. If it drops even more, it’s like it’s starving but everything it needs is right there, just out of reach. Some plants might gobble up the nitrogen, some might not. The 1000PPM of the jacks 3-2-1- provides an even balance and in most case scenario’s proper balanced nutrients, if the rest of the variables are within a margin of acceptability works out great. From there, experience will teach out over time and grows. Kind of like a " trick of the trade" through experience rather than something that can easily be written or explained you will start to see and adjust things as needed, when needed.
For a basic just get there with good results, a balanced feed at 800-1200PPM will get you there.
Glowing reviews for jacks 321. I suspect I’m going to receive the fox farms trio as a Christmas gift but if jacks is really that great maybe I’ll get some. Think I can get away with just the A and B? Easy enough to grab a cheap bag of Epsom salt
A, B and Epsom is all you need. But I would also add silica.