Hydroponic fertilizers....

[tucker85]

I was buying Hydroton at my local hydroponics store recently (by the way, some strange characters patronize those stores). I looked at all the very fancy nutrients and fertilizers that they sell. Have any of you experimented with hydroponics nutrients? If so which one and what was the result? Just curious.

[DelawareJim]

Tucker;

I use the Dyna-Gro line of ferts; Grow, Bloom, and KLN as well as Ray's MSU for well water. I've been very happy with all.

For me, the key to a good s/h fertilser is to be urea-free as that causes large swings in pH which can damage the roots, and to be easy to mix at 125 ppm N; the concentration I use.

And yes, there are some very strange birds at hydroponics stores. I remember searching on-line for the directions to a new store on the way to a club meeting in Maryland one time where several posts instructed visitors to park around the corner about a block way on a one-way street going to opposite direction because everyone "knew" that the State Police always kept surveilance on the store. I can just picture their disappointment when I get raided looking for my "grow" only to find a basement full of hydroponic orchids, emersed grown aquarium plants, and houseplants.

Cheers.
Jim

[jenmonkey]

I wondered the same thing doing the same thing not long ago! Because I'm a young, moderately clean and attractive woman, let's just say I got offered all kinds of help from the unwashed miscreants, but when I asked about semi-hydroponics, not a single one had ever heard of it. Big surprise. They tried to offer me every pot in the store (no pun intended) but I ended up just having "Skippy" (honest to god, that was his name) check me out for a couple of 10L bags of Hydroton.

It was only when I got back to my car and dropped the bags on the seat next to me that I noticed the pricetag. Take a close look, you'll see why I had to wipe away the tears from laughing so hard before I could drive home.

[tucker85]

Those are some funny stories. I hope we don’t wind up on a DEA surveillance list.

[Brotherly Monkey]

I use Floranova from general hydroponics. It's a pretty highly concentrated formula, so it's not bad on shipping, and one of the more reasonably priced quality hydroponics lines.


for a 150 ppm solution, it's about 1/4 teaspoon a gallon

[tucker85]

That’s interesting Floranova is actually the one I looked at. How has it been working for you? How long have you been using it?

[Brotherly Monkey]

only about 6 months, but it's a generally well regarded fert (used by Nasa) and haven't noticed any apparent negative effects


Also, the cost is pretty low if bought by the gallon: $60-65

[Ray]

Yeah, but NASA ain't growin' no orchids...

Pretty much ALL orchid growing is basically hydroponic, as the plant get no nutrients to speak of from the potting medium, just for the solutions applied.

Any fertilizer that gets kudos from orchid growers is OK; those designed specifically for orchids are probably better.

[RosieC]

My local hydroponic stores sells specialist orchid fertilisers which are the same products I see on offer from the Orchid Nursaries. They have masses of other hydroponic fertilisers as well, but I think stick with the ones designed for orchids.

[Brotherly Monkey]

"Yeah, but NASA ain't growin' no orchids..."

Certainly, but the point I was attempting to make was that it isn't some gimmick product, which due to the popularity of marijuana cultivations, hydro shops tend to be fully stocked with