What are the basic nutes and how to use them?

Hello all, I am a relative newb when it comes to nutrients as there is a lot of conflicting info out there.

If I am wanting to just get ahold of the basic nutes to give to your plants, what are they and when do you know what to give your plants during it's different phases, and based on what the plant is doing?

Any info is appreciated?

I had no idea "NPK" even existed, as in that those where the basic nutes for a plant.

There are two basic forms of nutrients: Macro and micro-nutrients.

Macro Nutrients are your big ones: Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium - When you look on the label of any nutrient it should have a N-P-K ratio on it. For vegetative growth you want a high N (Nitrogen) level. For flowering, you want higher second two numbers P (Phosphorous) and K (Potassium).

Beyond that are you Micro-nutrients: Zinc, Iron, Magnesium, Silica, Calcium - These are all sold in additive nutrients. For example, Dyna-Gro's product called Protekt is merely a Silica nutrient which will improve your stems and make sure you're getting optimal nutrient uptake from your growing medium.

Keep reading up around here, there's a cornucopia of knowledge to learn around here.

Hmmmm, I theoretically have this 'Organic Miracle Grow' potting mix that is 0.10 - .05 - .05. Not sure what healthy ratios are for potting soil.

pelt1 said:

Hmmmm, I theoretically have this 'Organic Miracle Grow' potting mix that is 0.10 - .05 - .05. Not sure what healthy ratios are for potting soil.

Click to expand...

"Theoretically" I wouldn't use miracle grow potting mix at all. It's not as bad as a lot of people say for growing herb, but the main problem is that you can't talor change the nutes for the specific stages of growth. I've always tried to use nutes high in nitrogen for the vegging stage and nutes high in phosphorous for flowering. For m first grow ever, I used 20/20/20 all purpose nutes throughout the entire process and ended up burning the shit out of them. There are tons of products on the market, even some specifically for growing weed (although, not necessary).

Good luck and happy growing!

I was trying to avoid going the route of spending 1 million dollars on nutes. So was just looking into the basics if anything along with proper PH balanced water.

Seems like a potting mix with a higher nitrogen would be better initially, followed by nutes heavy in the P and K for flowering would be better. I'll see what is available at my local home depot, as the soil and nutes i have now I'll be returning for something else, as from what I've read I have things better suited for grass.

get a good potting soil, I use outdoor even for indoor...just preference...
get a 20-20-20 npk and use it during vegging... dilute it to about 1/2 potency or even 1/4.
get a 10-30-10 npk for your flowering... again dilute it. I've noticed (my) weed doesn't like full throttle feedings of nutes.

cale arant said:

get a good potting soil, I use outdoor even for indoor...just preference...
get a 20-20-20 npk and use it during vegging... dilute it to about 1/2 potency or even 1/4.
get a 10-30-10 npk for your flowering... again dilute it. I've noticed (my) weed doesn't like full throttle feedings of nutes.

Click to expand...

That is pretty much the plan after this thread. Thanks for the advice.

according to an article i just read. advance nutes micro,grow, bloom all have a ph ctabilizer in them and you can now grow your plant in any water from 4-8.5 and still have all the micro and macro nutes fill the root zone. so if you are not a ph savy guy like me this nutes would work great. i myself use cutting who offer the same type of stable ph in your resivour. so feel free to do like i have done. keep reading. one thing i do highly recommend give as much attention to where you are going to grow as much as your are into how you are going to grow. enviroment is a key factor very often over looked and i feel you should have your grow area up and running for a few days before you start your seeds. so it has stablized. it will save you head aches down the road