I know what you mean. Every time I hit up the local grow shop I cringe at the thought of how much money I could pour on my plants. Im trying to stay totally organic.. as in CHEAP!
Yeah, I was surprised that I had to cough up $15.00 for the fox farm bloom nutes. It could've been a hell of a lot more, tho. I don't mind paying the money that's needed to give me the results I want. But I'd rather not pay for overpriced b.s. that has no basis in science - other than what everyone already knows about.
The young, white, skinny, sullen, indifferent, most likely stoned young gentleman at the hydro store told me that I didn't need the tiger bloom. (They were out of it at the time anyway). I'm hoping he knows what he's talking about. I think it's fine. If I see a N deficiency, I can always give it a boost of fish emulsion.
Here's some pics from the day after doing the feeding. And of my other girl trying to stay cool on the hardwood.