Nute confusion

I've read "During our grow cycle the plant likes a fertilizer high in nitrogen. Something like 20-5-5. It uses the nitrogen for strong stem and leaf growth. After you change over to your flowering cycle you will want a fertilizer that is high in phosphorous and potassium. Something like 5-15-15 should work well. " ( I think this is from somewhere on RIU. Sorry theres no name in my notes).
I've also read "Big Bloom™ Liquid Plant Food (0.01-0.3-0.7)
Grow Big® Liquid Plant Food (6-4-4) Tiger Bloom® Liquid Plant Food (2-8-4)" (from fox farms site. The soil trio pack)
I've seen other sources telling me to use the higher percents and yet everyone loves fox farms. HUH? What am I missing here?

appleseed said:

I've read "During our grow cycle the plant likes a fertilizer high in nitrogen. Something like 20-5-5. It uses the nitrogen for strong stem and leaf growth. After you change over to your flowering cycle you will want a fertilizer that is high in phosphorous and potassium. Something like 5-15-15 should work well. " ( I think this is from somewhere on RIU. Sorry theres no name in my notes).
I've also read "Big Bloom™ Liquid Plant Food (0.01-0.3-0.7)
Grow Big® Liquid Plant Food (6-4-4) Tiger Bloom® Liquid Plant Food (2-8-4)" (from fox farms site. The soil trio pack)
I've seen other sources telling me to use the higher percents and yet everyone loves fox farms. HUH? What am I missing here?

Click to expand...

Don't let all this fertilizer info get you confused. It is not that hard.

Yes for vegging the plants utilize a lot of nitrogen for growth, and during flowering they use more phosphorus.

The higher number refer to chemical fertilizer, where as lower number refer to organic fertilizers.

more info on fertilizers can be found here https://www.rollitup.org/view.php?pg=faq&cmd=category&id=102

Also what type of setup do you have

dont be fooled by the numbers on the packages.... they can be misleading...

first off the numbers themselves are just a ratio of that specific nute in relation to the rest on the contents... so a nute that says 20-5-5 is 20%N 5%P and 5%K...


companies like fox farms, general hydroponics, and advanced nutes us super concentrated formulas, so their numbers appear a lot lower than some other companies.. but the nutes are way better...

for instance, i have a 55 gallon reservoir.. i use less than 3 cups of regular nutes, and less than 1 cup of additives, and it gives me an ec of 2.0, which is about 1400 ppms.. so a gallon has 16 cups in it... so there are 880 cups total worth of water i use in my res, and less than 4 cups of nutes, and it makes that big of an impact....

most of the time when you see huge numbers like 20-10-10 or something like that they are just the manufacturers trying to pull one over on the customer by making them think the product is stronger or better than it is.. just a marketing ploy... also.. usually the higher number nutes are dry nutes... so that changes the ratio numbers as well...

basically, if you stick with well known and used companies like fox farms, or GH, or AN then you will be fine... and again, dont let the NPK values mis lead you..

I'm currently a dirt farmer and don't really use chemicals at all but I'm going to do a DWC (deep water cultivation) then upgrade to bubbleponics when I've really got it down. Time to step out of the stone age. I do understand that NPK is a ratio but what confuses me is that recommended formulas vary the ratios widely. example:Iguana Juice Grow NPK: 3-1-3
Grow Big® Liquid Plant Food (6-4-4)
If 3-1-3 is the correct proportion then why when you dilute iguana juice is it 3-2-2? The ratios are different. Is this just an example of differing opinions on what the optimal feed levels should be? Is there a known BEST ratio or is it strain / climate related? Can anyone suggest any more recommended reading on this? Thanks.

Good link Keiko.