Nutrient makers call for best formula (self-made nutrients only)

Hi there!
I am wondering if there are some nutrient makers around here and if there was at least some consensus about an adequate formula for cannabis. (vegetative and "fruiting stage) Call it recognized and approved if you like...

It happens that I am working on a formula for amaranth (Amaranthus) and could use some of the results of the work that has been done by MJ-growers. Amaranth is from the same division and plant class (Magnoliophyta and Magnoliopsida) as cannabis stativa. Also, some of the common aspects of the plant(s) are very identical: as in stem strength, foliage (partially) and high seed production, - at least with the grain varieties. Hence, nutrient requirements should be very similar.

Please don't get me wrong here, I am not expecting or asking for purely scientific data but for commonly used formulas with nutrient making. Most preferably in elemental NPK, Ca, Mg, S, and trace element data.

Best would be "classical" data that is commonly required with nutrient making!

Example:
N= 160
P = 50
K = 200
Ca = 190
Mg = 48
S = 65
Plus trace elements (all in ppm).

If there is some work that has been done with transposing well working commercial products into this kind of data (as shown above), that would be great too. Otherwise I could transform some "recognized" commercial product into elemental data myself, under the condition I'll get all ingredients, Ca, Mg and S, etc included. On the other hand, a "teaspoon per gallon of any Wonder-bloom" or a simple NPK- formula of some "teaspoon manufacturers directions" isn't good (complete) enough for the "transfer" and unfortunately of any use to me. Please understand that I am not looking for this kind of input. Data of total concentrations used by some fellas isn't required here either, as the actual concentration will in fact depend of the formula in use.

Thanks and Cheers!!!
Heisenberg

Looks like there weren't that much nutrient makers around here either - or there are but they aren't frequent visitors and haven't noticed this thread yet. Could someone give me an idea how good my chances are to find some "kindred souls" here?

Im pretty sure no one around here designs nutrients. If thats what your looking for?

We just fight over wich is best.

Hi Doc,

Actually I was - as I can hardly be the only-one...
Aware of the fact that it isn't everybody's cup of Chai, - I still don't get why there are so few nutrient makers and even less designers "around"!

You bet.... at least let me know which-one made it through the finals, then!

Advandced Nutrients claims to make products geared towards cannabis production. Cant say they work any better than the rest.

I like general hydro, fox farm, and bio bizz. They all do very well with weed. You wont find the people who produce these on any forum though. Let alone a ganja forum.

Perhaps as 'passive' readers, though... I presume.
They could always send me a PM, - their secrets are 100% safe with me!

Sorry, as a non-native English reader/writer I can't make sense of this. Would you be so kind and explain this again? Sorry again and thanks!

Recommended fertilizer rates (kg/ha) for amaranth production

Days after sowing/transplant
Nutrient preplant 10 20 30

N 48 30 8 8
P 64 8 8 0
K 48 15 8 0

Hey there, welcome to the Garden!

I have made plenty of nutrient formulas for greenhouse cultivation of many varieties of plants. To start I need to know what media you are using, and the method of cultivation you plan on using. What size of an operation as well. I take it you are going to be doing quite a bit of plants, therefore making it impossible to use store bought nutrients of high quality on several acres of farm land. If indeed you are field growing, the first place to start would be in a soil test. Once that is established you can go from there. If you are using hydroponics, a well balanced nutrient formula would be a good start, with careful regard to the amount of N and P, as these are the two that make the difference in harvest times and yield of amaranth. I feel that you would most closely follow the vegetative feed schedules of cannabis rather than the bloom.

Here is one example: cannabis satavia
SEEDLING (2-3 weeks...look for 4-5 sets of alternating nodes before moving to veg)

N 150
P 100
K 150
Ca 75
Mg 75
S 25-50
Fe 15
Cl 15
Mn 7
Cu 9
Zn 3
Total: 600ppm

VEGETATIVE/PRE-FLOWER (2-4 weeks)

N 300
P 100
K 200
Ca 100
Mg 100
S 50-75
Fe 25
Cl 25
Mn 10
Cu 15
Zn 5
Total: @1000pm

FLOWER (strain dependent-usually 6-8 weeks)

N 300-400
P 400
K 200
Ca 100-150
Mg 100-150
S 100-150
Fe 25+
Cl 25+
Mn 10
Cu 15
Zn 5
Total: @1300-1500ppm

FLUSH/HARVEST (2 weeks)
N 0
P 75
K 75
Ca 50
Mg 50
S 50
Fe 25
Cl 25
Mn 10
Cu 15
Zn 5
Total: @400ppm


Nutrient Values And Their Relationships - Cannabis-World

Marijuana Grower's Handbook ( there is a table in the nutrient section that is widely accepted as a pretty good starting point)

Damn I had to put my joint down for that one

I think Im a bit confused by the question.

And ganja just means cannabis. Or so Ive been told.

Hi and thanks EMj!
That looks at least somewhat like the thing I was actually looking for, although I am a bit confused with the rather "uncommon" data in the nutrient formulas, that I can even detect at the first glance.

Firstly let me answer to some of the questions and give you an idea what it is about. The data about field fertilization are welcome and useful but not yet required at this time and in this phase. I'll focus on hydroponic culture first - have actually started to experiment with some 30 different varieties.

1. Water is excellent with only around 50 ppm, low calcium, Mg and probably no chlorine.

2. Various media is available and used, from coco husk to coarse sand and gravel. I have actually settled for a mix of rice hulls, coarse sand and some (washed) 10% rough coco husk ships.

3. I am using passive (kinda drip to waste), drip and recycle (with the above mix) and even E&F systems with gravel as media.

4. I am mainly interested in specs for grain varieties of amaranth, as the leafy varieties (sprouts and toddlers) are quite hassle free and easy to grow (with standard leafy nutrients) and in no time.

As I said, I am a bit confused with some of the data you have kindly posted. The formulas do actually not look "well balanced" and much different from what I had imagined and normally use. Especially the high Phosphorus content in some formulas. As I understand nutrient formulas, phosphorus is rarely needed over 55-60 ppm, unless you want to stress or push a plant to change cycle or avoid any further vegetative growth. Some exceptions also consist in adding excessive P to ensure enough availability in case a specific formula is highly diluted (used in 1/4 strength). For instance, decent seedling formulas contain relatively high P, for that very reason. But otherwise (at least for commonly grown veggies and species) there is rarely need to ad more than 60 ppm of phosphorus to a decent hydroponic formula, as this element isn't required- and can't even be absorbed in higher quantities.

I am also confused with the high content of all trace elements, are you sure they are correct? Just an example: Fe is normally used in quantities as low as 3-5 ppm, while this formula indicates 15, 25, respectively 25+. I have never ever seen any formula with such high micro nutrient content before. Why is that, is there an explanation for this high content?

The relative Sulfur and Calcium content aren't exactly conclusive either, as both should actually be relative to N and Mg content. When using classical components (raw materials). Because when calculating formulas for nutrients those elements are always in a certain correlation. Example: you need to use magnesium sulphate and calcium nitrate - and both are components that always deliver relative quantities of S compared to Mg, respectively Ca in relation to N. I could give a few more examples how those commonly used components and their elemental content are related, but not sure if it's wanted or instantly understood by any lay people...

Looking forward to some clearance and explanations about those interesting- but for my understanding actually very unusual formulas and data.

@ Dr.Budz:
When you say: "Let alone a ganja forum." what does that mean...?
As I truly don't understand what you are saying here. Simply express it in different terms please. Thanks!