Is there ANY real data on the impact of nutes on grow quality? Nature or Nurture?

Like everyone else who grows hydro, I've spent a fortune on nutes promising various benefits to my plants. Bigger...more buds...greater potency...stickier buds...self-harvesting..etc., etc. Ok..I lied about the harvesting..

Assuming that genetics are controlled for....and that basic NPK nutrients for growth and survival are provided, is there any REAL scientific data demonstrating that one combination of nutes is any better than any other combination in a HEAD to HEAD comparison or is the grower community being deceived by the nutes-makers into buying this additive or that one, when most of the variation seen is due to genetics...not nutes?

By REAL scientific data...I mean adequate sample size, adequate controls, reproducibility, and statistical demonstration of differences between nutrient combos. What's the deal? Are we just suckers buying this stuff cause its advertised as being good, or are there real tangible benefits?

Inquiring minds want to know....

People who don't know any better spend a lot of money on nutes and it's not entirely their fault. Certain nute companies claim to make 'cannabis-specific' nutrients with cool names, amazing artwork and charge a hefty price because we can afford to pay it. The truth is that cannabis isn't this anomaly of a plant that requires nutrients or additives or NPK ratios that no other plant would need. You wouldn't know that by picking up your latest issue of Grow Big magazine with the glossy ads and pseudo professors making claims of this and that. At the heart of growing any plant is the 17 essential macro and micro nutrients and when you're feeding your plant these foods in the amounts that are required by the plant given their stage of growth, you'll get the biggest, healthiest plants and yields. Check out my GH vs DynaGro thread in my signature. DynaGro is one of the only nute companies that I know of that offers complete plant nutrition in one bottle. No fancy labels or claims, just the bare-bones essentials that every plant needs. To add to that, the pH never needs adjusted.

So to answer your question:

Assuming that genetics are controlled for....and that basic NPK nutrients for growth and survival are provided, is there any REAL scientific data demonstrating that one combination of nutes is any better than any other combination in a HEAD to HEAD comparison or is the grower community being deceived by the nutes-makers into buying this additive or that one, when most of the variation seen is due to genetics...not nutes?

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Basic NPKs for growth and survival are being provided by many nute companies but some of the raitos and additives are total crap. I think in general, NPK ratios of 3-1-2 for veg and 1-3-2 for flower are ideal along with the secondary macro and micro nutrients. Find plant food with roughly these ratios and those will be your ticket to great results. And remember, it's not about the fancy label or claims, it's about what is in the bottle.

FWIW, I like 1-2-1 or 1-2-2 for flower. But I'm no scientist.

Amen, bro!

I read your grow thread through and I really liked your experiement. Nice work!! I've been a GH user for a couple of years now. My eyes are opening and my pocket book is closing.

I just gotta ask one thing....are you in any way connected to DynaGro or is your recommendation free of bias?

I gotta admit...I'm sucker for nice artwork until I see the price of the product! *grin*

Do we need some kinda consumer protection agency for growers??

BlackThumb99 said:

Amen, bro!

I read your grow thread through and I really liked your experiement. Nice work!! I've been a GH user for a couple of years now. My eyes are opening and my pocket book is closing.

I just gotta ask one thing....are you in any way connected to DynaGro or is your recommendation free of bias?

I gotta admit...I'm sucker for nice artwork until I see the price of the product! *grin*

Do we need some kinda consumer protection agency for growers??

Click to expand...

Sorry I didn't respond to this sooner. I am in no way connected to any nutrient company as my degree is in finance and am highly under qualified to work in the field of plant science. I use botanicare products in the dirt, GH in hydro, and as you can see I'm currently testing DynaGro. I'm testing DG in effort to simplify my upkeep and as it's turning out, it is probably the best hydroponic formula available to us. While we can all get great results with a lot of different nutrient companies out there, the question comes down to; how much do you want to pay for the same results (at best)? How much upkeep to you want to do on a daily basis? How many different products do you have to buy to get 'complete' nutrition and if it's a handful of bottles, do you mind the hassle of the complicated schedules that are associated with them? My comparison has a few weeks to go, stick around and judge for yourself. If you don't like my results, disregard my advice.