We can buy raw N-P-K (as well as minerals).
You can get raw potassium, but it's very expensive and will explode violently when you get it wet.
Stick with salts.
Are you saying the calmag supplements use the wrong ratio?
Yes. The best ratio is around 2 calcium to 1 magnesium by mass. Believe it or not, the most frequent cause of magnesium deficiency is actually caused by too much calcium, and vice versa.
People may use calmag supplements for the same reason they use PK supplements: the two deficiencies tend to go hand in hand with our plants -- and it's an ease-of-use matter.
That's not exactly true. the reason P and K go together is because monopotassium phosphate (KH2PO4) is the most economical and most effective source of phosphate for hydroponics. There's really no other reason. If you want K without increasing H2PO4, you use potassium nitrate or potassium hydroxide. The more you know abuot inorganic chemistry, the more obvious it is that there are only a few combinations that work. Calcium nitrate is the only feasible form of calcium that will work in hydroponics. It's more than just a good thing to have, it's absolutely essential to use calcium nitrate if you want calcium in your solution. The only other alternative is calcium chloride, and that would send chlorine levels through the roof.
I just don't know if calling people fools is the best evangelical strategy. I can see how there are better alternatives, but there are extremely experienced growers using calmag supplements. Calling them fools sounds more about building yourself up than promoting an alternative. (Look at Blue's reaction.). In that context, "better" can be situational. For a new grower, they may not be comfortable with mixing their own N-P-K fertilizers, nor attempt to target Ca and Mg deficiencies independently when the combo is well accepted even among experienced growers.
Not saying you don't have a valid point. But, just that your approach may not be realistic. Flys, honey, etc.
Best regards.
I don't need to attract flies. You guys aren't doing me any favors. On the contrary, you should all be thanking me for the free chemistry lessons. Not to be arrogant, but it's clear that the majority of posters in the nutrient section could learn a lot about chemistry from me. If you were actually my students, I'd ask you to drop my class. I'm trying to reach the scientists, engineers, and mathematicians, not those with their heads stuck deep into the sand.
Your argument doesn't change my belief that those who insist on buying cal-mag+ despite knowing what's in it are fools. Those who are ignorant aren't fools, but once you become educated, you're a fool to keep believing the lies. I can only put the truth out there, but I can't force anyone to accept it. What's in those bottles is much simpler than people are led to believe. Even if i had a full journal of pictures from start to finish, I wouldn't want to post it here to people who haven't' even downloaded hydrobuddy yet. That's just lazy. Go download hydrobuddy and open your eyes to inorganic chemistry.
Those "expert" growers using cal-mag+ should stop and think for a second. You don't need pictures to exercise common sense. Sure it may work, but it's blowing money needlessly on diluted salts that could easily be purchased dry, with MORE control, and without the bullshit (like dye).
Furthermore, it would be 100x easier to help noobs if they didn't all use a different brand of the exact same thing. It's like people using GH flora 3 part can't figure out that AN 3 part is the exact same product. It's all the same, and there's really
no other way it can be.