I've got a question that has plagued me for a long time - why is it hydro "grow" foods are usually higher in K than N?
My understanding is that N is different in soil than hydro. In soil it is hard to keep the N in the soil. My dad grew corn on a farm when I was a kid and he would say he needed to add more N than P and K because the N would leave the soil on its own while the P and K would only go away if the plant ate it. So if he used 20% more P and K than the corn needed next year it would still be there and he could used 20% less P and K but would need to add 100% N each year regardless of last year.
I grow weed hydroponically and I maintain N levels that are consistent because the plant always gets fresh measured nutes. I need less N because I am not trying to compensate for lost N. The N is never more than 2 weeks old.
What do you think of this explanation? My dad is a farmer not a scientist so maybe my info is wrong? But I think the logic and info sounds good to me.
On another note: I have been reading this thread and the thing that confuses me is that in the Al. B. Faqt he says he get 20% more by using the PK boost in the 6th week of flowering. Is he compensating for a deficiency or did the PK boost make bigger buds? If it was a deficiency than why not use the PK boost the whole time? If not a deficiency than this goes against the give the plants what they need, they will only use what they need idea. An idea I like.