Hydroponic Feeding Formulas
Buying a pH buffered fertilizer is the easiest way to feed properly!!!
For Vegetative Growth
Most hydroponic formulas are purchased in 1 to 3 parts. Using any commercial product’s recommended rate works okay. The pH buffered fertilizers are most user friendly. Here are some basic formulas that work.
A. Calcium nitrate: 1.5 grams per liter (quart) or 11/2 teaspoons per gallon, dissolved in a small quantity of warm or hot water (1-liter) before adding to reservoir.
B. Potassium phosphate: 1/3 gram per liter (quart) or 1/4-teaspoon per gallon,
dissolved in a small quantity (1/2 to 1-liter) of hot water.
C. Potassium sulphate: 1/3 gram per liter (quart) or 1/6-teaspoon per gallon,
dissolved separately in warm or hot water.
D. Magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts): 1/4 to 1/2 gram per liter (quart) or 1/4-teaspoon per gallon, dissolved in warm or hot water (1-liter).
E. Chelated trace elements: 1/10-teaspoon per gallon or 1/2-teaspoon per 5 gallons, dissolved separately in warm water. Kelp, or kelp and a mineral powder can be used in place of chelated trace elements.
This solution mixture will be around 1,300PPM when read on a TDS meter. Solution should always fall between 1,000 and 1,500PPM, unless medium is being flushed with dilute solution (i.e. 800PPM) or with plain water (very briefly) to remove salts. The ph should be adjusted to fall between 6.0 to 6.6.
Option: Seaweed products, humic acid, and vitamin B-1 may be added in small quantities. The PPM should be no higher than 1,500 if other products are added.
For Flowering Stage
Most hydroponic formulas are purchased in 1 to 3 parts. Using any commercial product’s recommended rate works well. The pH buffered fertilizers are most user friendly. Here are some basic formulas that work.
A. Calcium nitrate: add 1.0 gram per liter (quart) or 1-teaspoon per gallon, dissolved separately in a small quantity of water (1-liter) before adding to reservoir. During late flowering, the calcium nitrate can be lowered to .5 to 1.0 gram per liter (quart).
B. Potassium phosphate: 2/3 gram per liter (quart) or 1/2-teaspoon per gallon, dissolved separately in a small quantity (i.e. 1/2-liter) of hot water.
C. Potassium sulphate: 1/5 to 1/4 gram per liter (quart) dissolved separately in hot water.
D. Magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts): 1/4 to 1/2 gram per liter (quart) or 1/4-teaspoon per gallon, dissolved separately in hot water (1-liter).
E. Chelated trace elements: 1/10-teaspoon per gallon or 1/2-teaspoon per 5 gallons, dissolved separately in a small quantity of water (1-liter) before adding to reservoir. Kelp, or kelp and a mineral powder can be used in place of chelated trace elements.
This solution mixture will be around 1,300 when read on a TDS meter. The solution should always fall between 1,000 and 1,500PPM, unless medium is being flushed periodically with dilute solution(i.e. have the PPM drop to about 800PPM) or with plain water briefly to remove salts.
The pH should be adjusted to fall between 5.5 to 6.3.
Options: Seaweed products, humic acid, and vitamin B-1 may be added in small quantities.
