Need help understanding nutrients

Hey all,

I'm currently in the research phase reading all that I can before I decide if I want to take the plunge and grow for medical use. I'm having a hard time understanding nutrients.

I'm thinking of doing a grow using coco coir and pearlite and using Fox Farms Trio hydro for nutes, unless you can recommend something better. I understand the numbers on the bottles are for Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium but what I do not understand is all of the other elements mentioned in the plant troubleshooting guides. Like boron, iron and copper for example.

If the Fox Farms trio is only nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, then where the hell do the other elements come from? Do I need other bottles of nutes to add them or are there traces of each in every bottle of nutes?

Just can't seem to wrap my head around nutrients for some reason. Every grow video I've watched on youtube someone is using something different and they never really explain what they do. Is there a list of essential nutrients for noobs to use as a shopping list anywhere?

The FF Trio is a Great Starter Kit! The Trio has Everything You Will need from start to finish. Use the Big Bloom during all stages of growth since that is where the micro nutrients are and it is also a catalyst designed to work along with the other two(Grow Big and Tiger Bloom). use all of them at 1/4 strength and work your way up from there. also remember to PH your water a very important step(after adding nutes of course)! GL and Happy Gardening!

Fox Farms is good but more of an advanced nutrient in my opinion. I use the trio (Open Seasame, Beastie Bloomz, Cha- Ching)mixed with Canna Nutrients Vega and Flores because I'm a lazy bastard and it seems to work better than the straight up Fox Farms line.

Nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium are considered to be the 'Primary' nutrients which plants need, which is why an N-P-K is listed on each fertilizer label (P&K are listed as oxide equivalents while N is elemental, but you don't really have to worry about that).

Calcium, magnesium and sulfur are referred to as 'secondary' plant nutrients, while mineral elements like iron, copper, boron and manganese are trace/micro-nutrients.

Some fertilizers/plant foods will list the minimum contents of nutrients besides N, P and K. Others don't list this on the bottle but that doesn't mean they are totally devoid of the other nutrients. Generally speaking if you are going to use liquid nutrients you want at least single part Grow and Bloom formulas, and may also want a trace mineral formula. Calcium is one nutrient that is often lacking in one-part liquid plant foods. Ca (and possibly Mg) are typically already present in potting soil/mix because it usually comes pre-limed (which is calcium carbonate or calcium magnesium carbonate).

Liquid Ca/Mg formulas are also sold for hydroponics and soil. It may be necessary to supplement Ca\Mg if you are using water with a low dissolved solids content, like rain water, reverse-osmosis, multistage filtered or bottled water. Tap water often has calcium, magnesium and other minerals already dissolved in it and may have excessive amounts (hard water).