Still confused about nutrient schedules

SchweeDubz

SchweeDubz

Well-Known Member
I decided I'll be going with the Earth Juice line up. I've heard this is best used by creating a "tea" via an air pump and letting the nutrients sit for a bit. I understand that you add x amount of nutrients per gallon of water and that that water is supposed to sit with the pump for 24-48 hours before use. A few things I'm not as clear on...

1. EarthJuice is supposedly acidic. Do I test pH and adjust AFTER nutrients? After the mix has brewed?
2. Am I supposed to use the entire gallon, or rather, try and only brew the exact amount of water I'll use per watering? For 6 indoor plants it seems like I could start brewing gallon batches and eventually 5 gallon batches?
3. Do I need to create a mix from scratch before every feed? If my previous mix is only half used, I toss it and start over?
4. If done correctly, should I be preparing mixes roughly once per week?

Edit: I figured it was worth mentioning; I am planning on using Fox Farms Ocean Forest. I'm mostly planning on not adding anything except a bit of perlite.
 
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greasemonkeymann

greasemonkeymann

Well-Known Member
SchweeDubz said:
I decided I'll be going with the Earth Juice line up. I've heard this is best used by creating a "tea" via an air pump and letting the nutrients sit for a bit. I understand that you add x amount of nutrients per gallon of water and that that water is supposed to sit with the pump for 24-48 hours before use. A few things I'm not as clear on...

1. EarthJuice is supposedly acidic. Do I test pH and adjust AFTER nutrients? After the mix has brewed?
2. Am I supposed to use the entire gallon, or rather, try and only brew the exact amount of water I'll use per watering? For 6 indoor plants it seems like I could start brewing gallon batches and eventually 5 gallon batches?
3. Do I need to create a mix from scratch before every feed? If my previous mix is only half used, I toss it and start over?
4. If done correctly, should I be preparing mixes roughly once per week?

Edit: I figured it was worth mentioning; I am planning on using Fox Farms Ocean Forest. I'm mostly planning on not adding anything except a bit of perlite.
Click to expand...
most nutrients are inherently acidic.
You sure you don't want to simply amend the mix and go water only?
seems like a lot of hassle..
and if you brew a tea, letting it sit is the last thing you want.

I don't bother ph'ing anything.
for the record i'm not a subscriber to ANY nutrient "lineup"
borderline asinine to imply that you need five to seven bottles of anything to grow herb, that's ridiculous, but if that's your goal, then go for it.
 
Indacouch

Indacouch

Well-Known Member
Remember ffof soil has food in it and it also buffers ph by itself ....I use ffof myself and I never ph my water rather it has nutes or not ....so don't start feeding right away with ffof it has food ....and as far as when you do start feeding try to figure out how many gallons it takes to feed your whole garden .....then get a tank big enough to hold that amount and mix the nutes you need in that .........EXAMPLE if your food says one tbs per gallon and you figure out your grow takes 10 gallons to water the whole thing then you'd add 10 tbs to your tank of water ...also when you do start feeding start at 1/4strength and work your way up ......good luck
 
SchweeDubz

SchweeDubz

Well-Known Member
cool thanks, so do you use nutrients with every watering or just that first water of the week or?

also, EJ has the grow/catalyist mix where you create the tea and i'm wondering if I should use that right away, even in a low dose, to promote additional beneficial life in my soil.
 
backtracker

backtracker

Well-Known Member
SchweeDubz said:
I decided I'll be going with the Earth Juice line up. I've heard this is best used by creating a "tea" via an air pump and letting the nutrients sit for a bit. I understand that you add x amount of nutrients per gallon of water and that that water is supposed to sit with the pump for 24-48 hours before use. A few things I'm not as clear on...

1. EarthJuice is supposedly acidic. Do I test pH and adjust AFTER nutrients? After the mix has brewed?
2. Am I supposed to use the entire gallon, or rather, try and only brew the exact amount of water I'll use per watering? For 6 indoor plants it seems like I could start brewing gallon batches and eventually 5 gallon batches?
3. Do I need to create a mix from scratch before every feed? If my previous mix is only half used, I toss it and start over?
4. If done correctly, should I be preparing mixes roughly once per week?

Edit: I figured it was worth mentioning; I am planning on using Fox Farms Ocean Forest. I'm mostly planning on not adding anything except a bit of perlite.
Click to expand...
Brewing it is not necessary the soil will break it down. You need to take a stick/dowl and first stir the EJ good then shake it otherwise it will separate and you will end up with a thick goo about 1/2 way through the bottle. Mix the EJ up and water it in just follow the directions on the side of the bottle for weak, strong, extra strong and use the catalyses as part of the fertilizer. earthworm castings, catalyses, fulvic acid, kelp extract, molasses and rock dust makes a great simple tea that won't screw with your fertilizing program and you can mix it with your fertilizer or spray it on. I fertilize every other watering with liquids. after they get going but young plants don't need much until they get some roots and leaves going but you can foliar feed them to give them a boost.
 
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