Adding supplements to DWC?
- Thread starter TriPurple
- Start date
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
I would stay away from them. Having tried many different additives in my day, I've found that most of them are useless- or worse.
Humic/fulvic additives settle out. Hygrozyme slimes everything! Sugar will feed pathogens. Etc, etc.
I feed dry nutrient salts, like those from Jacks or my preferred supplier, Hydrogardens.com.
Keep in mind that most organic fertilizers and additives are designed to become available as the microherd breaks them down into forms the plant can use- or in the case of sugars they're there to feed the microherd and not the plant. If your plant is in DWC and being fed fully available nutrients, there is no need for the microherd at all- and in DWC there's no place for them to live, anyway.
Humic/fulvic additives settle out. Hygrozyme slimes everything! Sugar will feed pathogens. Etc, etc.
I feed dry nutrient salts, like those from Jacks or my preferred supplier, Hydrogardens.com.
Keep in mind that most organic fertilizers and additives are designed to become available as the microherd breaks them down into forms the plant can use- or in the case of sugars they're there to feed the microherd and not the plant. If your plant is in DWC and being fed fully available nutrients, there is no need for the microherd at all- and in DWC there's no place for them to live, anyway.
Banana444
Well-Known Member
What about rapid start? Was reading thru some treads and most experienced growers just used base nutes but a couple times i heard rapid start from gh was a good additive, cant remember if they were talking dwc. I got it in the starter box just wondering if its worth using or will cause problems in rdwc. Trying to clean shit and throw away stuff i will never use.
Smokenpassout
Well-Known Member
How about additives like calmag, silica, and carb products for flower fuel.
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
Cal mag is comprised of nutrients that are already in a good hydroponic mix, so just use that.
Silica is better ON your plants than in them if you use it at all. Don't add it to the RDWC water.
Carb boosters are for the microherd in soil. You'll have no soil and no microherd. So don't use it.
In fact, use nothing you're not sure of its function.
Vumar
Well-Known Member
Hydroguard? Thats a microbe thats added to RDWC/Hydro and is very effective. Many bacterial and fungi colonies are formed inside and around the actual root zone itself. You don't necessarily need soil to hold beneficial bacteria/microbe.
Vumar
Well-Known Member
Also when do you stop foliar feeding silica? When the buds actually start to form? I am assuming you meant foliar feeding by saying silica is better ON the plants. I've just always added it to the res and noticed thicker stalks and healthy growth.
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
My experience has pointed towards simplicity; keep water temps in the sixties, keep the water flowing and keep your oxygenation levels up, however you do it. Maintain this environment and your system will eat problems and spit them out with no special sauces at all.
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
When I add it to my system, it sends pH haywire. No bueno. I spray it to help raise leaf surface pH to ward against powdery mildew. Some no doubt helps plant tissues, if it does that. I dunno.
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
See, you're using specialty stock solutions, aka water bottles, for your nutrient sources. I get how cal-mag would be a useful additive in that scheme.
I skip past that whole mess and get a two part dry nutrient to which I add epsom salt and MKP for extra P. DONE. And for pennies on the dollar compared to 'hydro' nutes.
Vumar
Well-Known Member
Post a link to some dry nutes you'd order? I'm further researching...
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
Www.hydro-gardens.com
Edit: look for;
5-11-26 plus micros 'hi.K' hydroponic mix
Yara Liva brand calcium nitrate
Monopotassium phosphate (MKP)
Get your epsom salt at Wal-Mart, the basic stuff with nothing added.
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Vumar
Well-Known Member
Yeah I found and read the original postings. Good stuff, I can't believe people customizing micro mixes though. I never took chemistry in high school and college never required it. Maybe it's time I do blow some stuff up... You wear a mask when mixing yes? I have $400 safety prescription glasses that're OSHA approved but no respiration devices =(
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
What?no!
Olympus Mons
Well-Known Member
I've done a lot of DWC and agree with most of the comments. A three part nutrient (or two part if you use Lucas) is all you need. However one additive that I prefer not to live without is compost tea, the kind formulated by Heisenberg on this site. I have never had slime since I started using it. A little cal mg is fine if your strain requires it. I also add AN's Big Bud, but make sure to add compost tea at the same time as this additive can cause slime. But the bigger buds are worth the risk for me.