one week in flower advice please

gxsmit8

Well-Known Member
i have two la cheese and 2 no names from Supreme seeds, one in 5gal dwc, others in ffof 5 gal buckets. using flora duo, calmag, GH silica, GH flora blend and Hydroguard . dwc around 6.2 ph and water temps between 68 and 73, running 400 hps and 200hps with 150 flourescent to supplement. air temps getting down to 68 and highs around 78. humidity 50-60. ive been running dehumidifier when lights off to keep humidity down at night.
IMG_0766.JPG IMG_0765.JPG
after one week im just now seeing some pistils (fem seeds) and not much stretch. is this common? i feel like my last grow the girls flowered much quicker. any advice in ph, humidity or temps appreciated. i will get better pics tonight during "daylight" period
 

im4satori

Well-Known Member
the question is a bit vague but I will give a response and see if it helps you or not

some plants (depending on genotype) will show early and some late

some will fill out fat by week 5 and stop others wont start filling in until week 4 and fatten all the way until week 8so It varies

another bit of info likely not an issue here but.....
over fertilizing (specifically N or certain amino acids) can also slow flower production in favor of veg growth
im not suggesting this is your case im just giving you info

your plants look good as far as I can tell
but I notice you listed several bottles of fertilizer
I would advise caution in mixing especially using the silicate product as the additional potassium if not balanced could cause calcium or magnesium lock out (most likely magnesium first)

so if you happen to start showing magnesium def.. don't assume the answer is to ad more... the answer might be to reduce the potassium by not using the silica
 

gxsmit8

Well-Known Member
yes a bit vague, just looking for general advice. i need to be patient. the silica is only used in dwc and will be cut out soon. main nutes are Flora Duo A and B, isnt it common for most growers to use supplements or "add ons" to their base nutrients? i hear or read most people using cal mag and some sort of silicate, the Hydroguard is to prevent root rot in DWC.
 

im4satori

Well-Known Member
hydroguard doesn't count since it doesn't have nutes

yes most require calmag if there base nutes are lacking which often depends on your source water

the most common issue amongst hydro growers is getting the ratios between potassium calcium and magnesium correct

there is a balance between these 3 elements

all three compete with each other for uptake so

if your potassium is high itll affect your magnesium and then calcium and vice versa

if you calcium is high itll affect your potassium and magnesium

im not saying your out of balance between them...your plants look good... im just saying take caution in how you apply extra supplements to recognize your seeking the proper balance and that raising one element affects others

most of the time (maybe not you) people add silica addig extra K.... then they end up showing magnesium def and add more magnesium ... then they show calcium def and add more calmag
adding more adding more when the issue isnt solved by adding more magnesium it resolved by reducing the potassium from the addition of silica/potassium

again. im not saying this fits you
im just saying take caution with the silica not to use much and if you see an imbalance how to manage it

personally I prefer to foliar feed the silica and keep it out of my mix
 

im4satori

Well-Known Member
flora duo

is that botanicare?

what are the 3 NPK numbers on the bottles of your base nutes? and how much of each are you using?
 

gxsmit8

Well-Known Member
hydroguard doesn't count since it doesn't have nutes

yes most require calmag if there base nutes are lacking which often depends on your source water

the most common issue amongst hydro growers is getting the ratios between potassium calcium and magnesium correct

there is a balance between these 3 elements

all three compete with each other for uptake so

if your potassium is high itll affect your magnesium and then calcium and vice versa

if you calcium is high itll affect your potassium and magnesium

im not saying your out of balance between them...your plants look good... im just saying take caution in how you apply extra supplements to recognize your seeking the proper balance and that raising one element affects others

most of the time (maybe not you) people add silica addig extra K.... then they end up showing magnesium def and add more magnesium ... then they show calcium def and add more calmag
adding more adding more when the issue isnt solved by adding more magnesium it resolved by reducing the potassium from the addition of silica/potassium

again. im not saying this fits you
im just saying take caution with the silica not to use much and if you see an imbalance how to manage it

personally I prefer to foliar feed the silica and keep it out of my mix

really really good info. thank you.

so i can foliar feed silica? i was foliar feeding with a small mix of the flora blend and some cal mag, but did it only a few times. plants didnt react adversely. what ratio do you use for silica foliar feedings?
 

im4satori

Well-Known Member
one more thing

if your showing magnesium def...use Epsom salt aka magnesium sulfate
if your showing calcium def...use calmag

don't use calmag to cure a magnesium def...its more calcium than magnesium
 

im4satori

Well-Known Member
really really good info. thank you.

so i can foliar feed silica? i was foliar feeding with a small mix of the flora blend and some cal mag, but did it only a few times. plants didnt react adversely. what ratio do you use for silica foliar feedings?
I use it strong

1x every week or two

im not sure what the % amounts are in your brand

but silica blast for example;
you could mix it as high as 1 oz per gallon

I mix mine combined in neem oil or azamax 1oz per gallon to prevent pests and mildew
 

im4satori

Well-Known Member
really really good info. thank you.

so i can foliar feed silica? i was foliar feeding with a small mix of the flora blend and some cal mag, but did it only a few times. plants didnt react adversely. what ratio do you use for silica foliar feedings?
don't spray the calmag or the duo

theres no purpose and could cause more harm than good
 

gxsmit8

Well-Known Member
flora duo

is that botanicare?

what are the 3 NPK numbers on the bottles of your base nutes? and how much of each are you using?
its a two part from General Hydro. the A part is 5-0-6 and B part is 1-5-4 its about a 3 to 1 for veg and 1 to 3 during flower (approx.)
 

im4satori

Well-Known Member
things for spraying

silica
kelp
amino acids (veg only)
Epsom salt to cure magnesium def
whatever you use for bugs

nothing else
and don't spray unless theres a good reason
 

im4satori

Well-Known Member
its a two part from General Hydro. the A part is 5-0-6 and B part is 1-5-4 its about a 3 to 1 for veg and 1 to 3 during flower (approx.)
ok
give me a day or so and I will runn your numbers for you to make sure your K:Ca:Mg ratios are within range
 

im4satori

Well-Known Member
go ahead and give me the calcium and magnesium % numbers for the part a and B and tell me the Si and K % on the silica
 

im4satori

Well-Known Member
just looking at the base nutes

theres already more than enough K
I wouldn't use the silica in your reservoir mix at all

when I get the calcium and magnesium info I will shoot you the numbers
 

gxsmit8

Well-Known Member
ok
give me a day or so and I will runn your numbers for you to make sure your K:Ca:Mg ratios are within range
the silica is Armor Si by GH says its the highest amount of Silica on the market. i dont have the specs in front of me. the GH Flora Blend is a compost tea, NPK is .5-1-1 and Cal Mag is also by GH and is 1-0-0.

I really appreciate all your help.
 

im4satori

Well-Known Member
example

4mls A
12mls B

N 85
P 69
K 158

which are good ratios for npk with the K already being high

after we get the % info for the calcium and magnesium we can add in the calmag and Epsom salt needs to get your K:Ca:Mg ratio balanced
 

im4satori

Well-Known Member
the silica is Armor Si by GH says its the highest amount of Silica on the market. i dont have the specs in front of me. the GH Flora Blend is a compost tea, NPK is .5-1-1 and Cal Mag is also by GH and is 1-0-0.

I really appreciate all your help.
I don't need to count the flora blend for now

I have the calmag info already
just need the % info from the base nutes (dou a&b) showing the calcium and magnesium
 

im4satori

Well-Known Member
when you get home you can look at the bottle of armor Si and itll tell you the % info

if you want me to tell you how to mix the foliar spray
 

gxsmit8

Well-Known Member
I don't need to count the flora blend for now

I have the calmag info already
just need the % info from the base nutes (dou a&b) showing the calcium and magnesium
in flower im running 7.5 ml per gal of the B and 2.5 of th A for hydro and nothing yet for soil, just plain RO as im not showing any deficiencies in FFOF added 20% perlite and about 20% manure/organic soil .5 .5 .5

hydro is at 1100 ppm and 6.2 ph
 
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