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

Big Mike makes that claim all the time. He thinks he's a higher power.

I got the higher part down...a power though, not so much.

I am back to tweaking around a little bit on the K:N ratio. And I got a feeling it may should be different through stretch and after stretch.

Gotta say I am well happy with K:Ca:Mg of 3:2:1

Plus I tried a foliar spray with a little extra B and Zn...just for fun.

I would put the Custom Hydro formula up against any of the nute companies though...and I would kick their ass...OH YEA!!!

K:N of 1.5 through stretch, 2.0 after.

I think that is pretty freakin close. Maybe 1.75 after stretch...at least in coco.

But anyways...what would the official Custom Hydro formulae be...before and after?

I also find myself settling in at 100 ppm N in veg...125 N during stretch...and I am debating switching back to 100 after stretch (gotta play that one by ear).

I now see stretch as the time to really push it. It is kinda when hormones, auxins and enzymes are hitting on all cylinders kind of like adolescence was for me. I could freakin eat everything I wanted and it just gave me energy...a most excellent cycle of things.

I am kinda looking at:
Veg....100:40:150: 100:50
Stretch 125:40:185:125:60
Flower: 100:60:175:117:60 (notice how at this point all of the N and Ca can be supplied with CaNO3)

I find I can hit that 100 ppm N after the second set of true leafs for seedlings and use it right up to 4 ft tall plants in 8 gallon air pots. Total N use naturally rises as the plant drinks more water...I kinda like that better than increasing the concentration.

Of course, next week I prefer to think of myself as in the learning phase and flexible...others might say indecisive.

I think that a better way to get the 'perfect' ratio is to let the plant do it itself. This is done by ensuring proper PH and that the rootzone is provided suppliments such as fulvic/humic acid aswell as beneficial microbes.

Fulvic / humic acid will chelate the metal ions, making them more available to the plants (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn) and the beneficial microbes will hold nutrients and help them be used by the plants as they are needed. Proper PH will ensure the availabiltiy of all nutrients to the plants.

With these areas taken care of, it's not necessary to have "perfect" ratios. As long as the plants have enough of everything, the plants will use the nutrients they need and the beneficial microbes will balance out the rest.