I've changed things around a little the last few months. I was having issues with my ph levels in the coco medium. Before I was using 1ml/gal pro-tekt, 3ml/gal dyna grow, 3ml/gal cal-mag plus and 1ml/gal uc roots. I'd feed at 5.7-6.0 solution going in and I'd always get a runoff of 5.1 or lower(in flower, no issues in veg). This was feeding in veg through flower. I never have an issue in veg feeding this way (1gal pots feeding up to 2x a day). I tried taking homebrewers advise and cutting back my grow and cal-mag usage but was met with deficiencies in an effort to cut down on salt build up. Once I'd transition into flower is when my issues would arise. Ph wouldn't be stable and would always come out lower than what was going in. Now I'm using in flower .5ml/gal pro-tekt, 3ml/gal grow, 3ml/gal cal-mag plus .5ml/gal uc roots and 5ml botanicare tea (every couple days I'll add .5ml gal of mag pro). Not much of a difference from previous. Instead of doing a wet/dry with the coco watering just once per day I'm now keeping the medium moist (ex gf loves that word...NOT) with a feeding at the levels described in the AM then giving just a PH'd to 5.8-6.0 of 5ml/gal botanicare tea in the evening. Getting a slight run-off with each watering. This has completely changed my runoff ph. and consistently stays within .3 of what goes in. I'm seeing explosive growth and the best plants I've done to date. I think just giving a ph'd watering instead of the tea would give similar results but I'm loving this tea addition. Just thought I'd share some of my results.
Dyna-Gro vs General Hydroponics (Dumpster Grow)
- Thread starter homebrewer
- Start date
homebrewer
Well-Known Member
I would argue that the calmag isn't needed but if you're getting good growth then stick with it I guess.
Watering technique is really underrated. Where some folks might think they're seeing a deficiency and a need to tweek their food, a lot of times the solution is much simpler like watering more frequently.
I tried to cut back on the cal mag but the plants hated me. Even at 3ml/gal, it's not enough in flower so I included mag-pro in addition at a low dose every few feedings (seemed like a mag def). This combination had been incredible. I think changing my watering technique has helped some but it seems splitting my feed with a compost tea AM/PM has helped ring in my ph issue as well as the obvious of making nutrients more available. I'm just about 1/4 way through a run so I will see how the yields go but so far I'm very happy with this combo. I'll report back with updates in a few weeks.
supdro
Well-Known Member
Like you I ran cocoa with Dyna Gro and thought I was calcium issues it was really magnesium rust spots. What kind of deficiencies are you getting
When I tried to cut the cal mag down I was seeing both mag and cal deficiency. At my current 3ml per gal I get just mag def but mainly only in flower (keep in mind I'm running LED if that matters). I added mag pro .25-.5ml/gal into the mix instead of more calmag to help keep nitrogen a little lower as I'm getting plenty in my current mix.mag pro and calmag have the same nitrogen values but I'm using less than I would of the calmag so it helps. Super critical and humboldt blue dream love my current mix. My Amherst sour is still very slightly mag def but she'll keep getting the same mix.
BTzGrow
Member
Good Day all, just signed into RIU and found you via my brother who got here before me. I've been using the Dyna-Gro exclusively since about a month into this my first grow. I have been supplementing some Cal-mg from Bonicare about every other watering and not nearly at the levels called for. Looks like I have a bit of reading to catch up but will chime in once I'm up to speed. Glad to find you and this thread.
homebrewer
Well-Known Member
You don't need to add cal/mag with DG base nutrients and I'd actually be surprised if cal/mag is needed with any other plant food that already contains calcium and magnesium.
BTzGrow
Member
Very interesting and I'm interested in following up on this. I started Bonicare Cal-Mag because early on in the grow before I really started using the DG I had some major problems with brown edges and was suggested I had a Mag deficiency. Tried foliar spraying with Epsom Salts to no eval and started theCal-Mag & DG at about the same time and the issue finally went away.
I have been looking at the Mag-Pro 2-15-4 that DG carries and seems to have a lot of benefits to the flowering stage especially. What do you think of it?
homebrewer
Well-Known Member
If you have a plant problem, the only 2 things people say is 'it must be your pH' or 'you need more cal/mag' and I'd be willing to bet that often times neither is the issue.
Magpro is not needed.
BTzGrow
Member
I have to say, I like your approach. From the beginning I paid attention to pH, even though my first meter was a piece of crap. So when a deficiency was attributed to calcium or magnesium what the hell do I know. I have to say, the regular use of ProteKt and Grow/Bloom has been very good. There is a part of me that appreciates the feeding chart from DG as positive advice. I have been looking for ways to increase bloom and nug/colas size and it seems that's what Mag-Pro is touted to do.
At this point, I'm going to roll with the idea "if it isn't broken, don't fix it." Reducing or eliminating Cal-Mag would make things easier. BTW what do you think about Bacillus Root Inoculant such as Bonicare Hydroguard?
homebrewer
Well-Known Member
Just concentrate on plant health and the yields will follow. Pro tip: master pruning techniques like topping, bending, supercropping, etc. for a real bump in yield.
Magpro *could* increase yields but only if you're currently missing the elements it's supplying.
I'd also recommend making your own protekt with distilled water and potassium silicate in powder form. It's super easy and takes the cost down to about $10/gallon.
BTzGrow
Member
Thanks for the tips. I have been working with a few different pruning techniques. I topped early on in veg above the 5th node and then again on the 2nd node out on each of the pairs of branches below the fifth node. Then when tall enough in veg I put in a 3.5inch netting as a screen. Later on I started tying down with soft ties to keep apical dominance from happening. I feel the plant is quite health in its final stages of stretch and have been doing some major defoliation on lower fan leaves and even some higher ones that are shading too much. Here's a current picture of my Skywalker, started Dec. 3rd, hoping for a harvest in 4-6 weeks.
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homebrewer
Well-Known Member
Nice job!
ToneOZ
Well-Known Member
Pics missing?Here are the three products:
...and the ladies.
