Could I complete a healthy grow using only the following?
Unadulterated Sunshine Mix #4 right out of the bag
Pure Blend Pro Grow
Pure Blend Pro Bloom Soil
Liquid Karma (can also be used as a pH down)
Cal-Mag Plus (if needed)
Dechlorinated tap water
Thanks
Dont see why not. Is the sunshine mix aereated? I started with them in early 2000s. Worked fine.
You could also substitute dry amendments for all those bottles add compost and worms. Cheaper. Organicer.
$0.02
Yep. There’s a lot of perlite in SS#4 and it’s pretty airy stuff.
https://www.sungro.com/retail-product/sunshine-mix-4-aggregate-plus-with-mycorrhizae/
"A premium mix for indoor growing, Sunshine® Mix #4 with Mycorrhizae contains a higher amount of horticultural perlite for plants that prefer greater air porosity. Its our classic #4 boosted with endomycorrhizae. This product contains RESiLIENCE®, which may improve resistance to wilting. Low phosphorus fertilizer has been included to better support mycorrhizae establishment and growth. Start your own feeding program within 14 days of planting or seedling emergence. "
I never realized that Liquid karma could effectively be used as a pH down. Makes sense as to why my mixes almost level out to 6.3
I would add Silica to that list. Also Cal/Mag, is needed, IMHO.
Thats the liquid kelp! Itll ph water to a perfect 6.2-6.3. I used liquid karma as a cheapass organic ph for years myself.
@MommyGetTheCummysOut
I use botanicare and promix hp, pretty much the same as sunshine #4
Works well.
I’m a big fan of the tea, use every watering/feeding, vitamino, grow and bloom, and use hydroplex in late flower.
I just use the gro bloom and calmag.
Do you all feed at the recommended amount labeled on the bottles?
I have only used their Cal/Mag+. Seems to keep the plantd happy.
Howdy @MommyGetTheCummysOut , quarter to half strength base nutrients should be enough. Some use just the Pure Blend Pro grow for veg and Pure Blend Pro bloom for flowering with good results, others use the entire line with all the additional supplements like Liquid Karma, Cal-Mag, Sweet, and Silica Blast. Some cultivars will respond to the entire line with supplements better than others. Base nutrients at quarter to half strength keeping an eye on the leaf tips for burn, supplements at close to full strength if you go with them. Many blessings and much love
I never use the recommend amount. Do as stated using quarter to half amount max. I tend to do quarter feeds so that way my plants get constant nutrients that are not going to cause harm or stress. I usually water my plants about 3-4 a weeek depending on the medium. Soiless mediums will need more waterings but less time to water.
Soil mediums retain water more but tend to take longer to apply the amout of water needed. I use fabric pots and hate seeing water pouring from the side so I water gradually and even as possible.
Going from GH Flora Nova to this, there’s a slight cost increase by volume but overall I still prefer the Botanicare. It mixes more easily and at a glance, I just like the ingredient contents better.
I wrote up my own chart based off the Botanicare chart. I used a slightly reduced feed, I use 15ml of Grow or Bloom where the chart calls for 18, I use about 3-4ml cal mag where it calls for 5. I use 4ml/gal Liquid Karma from early veg to late flower. I use 2ml Hydroguard seed to chop. Oh and the Hydroplex I use 2.5ml/gal for weeks 3-5 flower, bump up to 5ml until week 8-9 then reduce to 2.5ml.
I use there cal mag hydroplex ans sweet tried the pure blend but im almost 100 percent sure the plant food was bad like been sitting on the shelf for years so stayed away. But there cal mag is solid and hydroplex just watch out with the hydroplex it drops ph like crazy and have to use a crap ton of ph up to get it back up. Also I use the grape sweet pairs with kushes very well adds abit of berry sweet to the kush dank. The sweet aswell can go bad i only buy the tiny bottle just to get threw the crop.
I did, their Pure Pro Blend line, and their CNS line. I think that is what it’s called, that was 8-9 years ago now.
I loved their products I bought and used.
What do you pH your water and nutes to since you’re using soilless and not soil?
Between 6.2 and 6.8 sometimes I don’t bother
Me neither. I haven’t checked in years.
A somewhat new bit of info by Bruce Bugbee, he states that ALL media should be 6.5 pH. I personally aim for about 6.1 - 6.2 with my Botanicare mixes, what I’ve noticed with soilless media is that the rootzone pH can increase as buildup increases. Even with decent runoff, you’re still at a potential risk of salt-buildup and I personally think watering ata slight lower pH of, say 6.1, equates for that potential pH increase at the rootzone.
FWIW I grow in coco and I mix my Botanicare nutrients with plain un-aerated tap water.
I estimate my pH at 6.7 based on my tap water specs.
I never water to run off. I will occasionally dry back due to laziness.
I have noticed though, that I have a half gallon of bloom on the old side and it’s separated. No big deal, just needs a shake before every use. If I don’t shake it it comes out looking like calmag.
Although I do occasionally get issues when I let them dry out too much.
