Nutrient recipe that i might just have to try

Advanced Techniques
1

I am considering giving mixin this up a go. This will cover 100% of everything that is need and/or that can be used by a plant. WAY overkill if you grow in real soil, but might just be the Ticket for Hydro, Coco and peat. Will likely take me a LONG LONG time to get everything considering the total comes to over 700 to mix it, but at the volumes used, that will likely make at least 3 dry gallons of Nute mix. At 1 tablespoon per gallon of water, that should last a VERY long time.

Total Dry Mix Volume: 1 Gallon

Macronutrient Blend (Approximately 75% of Total Volume)

Ingredient Formula Function Volume
Ammonium Acetate NH₄C₂H₃O₂ Nitrogen & Carbon 2.5 cups
Monopotassium Phosphate (MKP) KH₂PO₄ Phosphorus & Potassium 2 cups
Potassium Acetate KC₂H₃O₂ Potassium & Carbon 1 cup
Calcium Acetate Ca(C₂H₃O₂)₂ Calcium & Carbon 2 cups
Magnesium Acetate Mg(C₂H₃O₂)₂ Magnesium & Carbon 1 cup
Ammonium Sulfate (NH₄)₂SO₄ Sulfur & Nitrogen 1 cup
Sodium Chloride (NaCl) NaCl Chloride ¼ cup
Potassium Silicate K₂SiO₃ Silica & Potassium ¼ cup

Micronutrient Blend (Approximately 20% of Total Volume)

Ingredient Formula Function Volume
Iron(II) Acetate Fe(C₂H₃O₂)₂ Iron ¼ cup
Boric Acid H₃BO₃ Boron 2 tablespoons
Manganese Acetate Mn(C₂H₃O₂)₂ Manganese 2 tablespoons
Zinc Acetate Zn(C₂H₃O₂)₂ Zinc 2 tablespoons
Copper Acetate Cu(C₂H₃O₂)₂ Copper 1 tablespoon
Sodium Molybdate Na₂MoO₄ Molybdenum 1 teaspoon
Nickel Acetate Ni(C₂H₃O₂)₂ Nickel 1 teaspoon

Vitamin Blend (Approximately 5% of Total Volume)

Vitamin Formula Function Volume
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) C₆H₈O₆ Antioxidant, Stress Resistance 2 tablespoons
Retinyl Acetate (Vitamin A) C₂₂H₃₂O₂ Growth & Cell Development 1 tablespoon
Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E) C₃₁H₅₂O₃ Antioxidant, Stress Protection 1 tablespoon
Thiamine Hydrochloride (B1) C₁₂H₁₇ClN₄OS Root & Shoot Growth 2 teaspoons
Riboflavin (B2) C₁₇H₂₀N₄O₆ Enhances Photosynthesis 2 teaspoons
Niacinamide (B3) C₆H₆N₂O Enzyme Function 2 teaspoons
Calcium Pantothenate (B5) C₉H₁₇NO₅Ca Root Growth 2 teaspoons
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (B6) C₈H₁₁NO₃•HCl Enzyme Metabolism 2 teaspoons
Biotin (B7) C₁₀H₁₆N₂O₃S Enzyme & Protein Synthesis 2 teaspoons
Folic Acid (B9) C₁₉H₁₉N₇O₆ DNA Synthesis 2 teaspoons
Cyanocobalamin (B12) C₆₃H₈₈CoN₁₄O₁₄P Microbial Root Health 2 teaspoons

How to Use in Peat, Vermiculite, and Perlite-Based Media

  1. Dry Mix Storage
  • Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
  1. Mixing for Nutrient Solution
  • Dissolve 1 tablespoon of dry mix per gallon of water for a balanced feed.
  • Stir thoroughly until completely dissolved.
  • Adjust pH to 5.8 - 6.2 for optimal nutrient uptake.
  1. Application Rates
  • Vegetative Growth: 1 tablespoon per gallon every other watering.
  • Flowering Stage: Increase Potassium Acetate & Monopotassium Phosphate by an extra ½ teaspoon per gallon.
  • Flush with Plain Water Only When Needed (e.g., salt buildup).

Why This Formula?

:white_check_mark: Uses acetate salts where possible to provide carbon and improve uptake.
:white_check_mark: 1 gallon of dry mix is compact and lasts a long time.
:white_check_mark: Simple 1 tbsp per gallon dosing for easy use.
:white_check_mark: Covers all essential nutrients, micros, vitamins, and silica in minimal products

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Definitely cool to think about, but for $700 you could buy 225 pounds of MEGA CROP 1-Part – Greenleaf Nutrients

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So its like a 10-10-10 kinda mix? 7 bills seems like a lot of money to drop at one time. Thats basically the smallest you can do with the available materials? Maybe scale down if possible before fully committing.

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Oh for sure, this is more of a can I “build a better mousetrap” kinda thing. Megacrop 1 part and/or athena Pro is what i use now.

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More like 45-33-22. I have condensed it down and eliminated some, and got the total cost down to under 500, But following the recipe, with the volumes i would be getting, I can mix multiple batches, and it has a very low usage rate. I dont expect to be able to get it cheaper than the nute companies could make it, I cant buy wholesale from the distributor for the stuff nor can i buy pallet loads of it to get discounts that makes it more cost effective, I am pretty much going off Amazon pricing for package sizes are are between 1 and 5 lbs each.

Here is the Tweaked and updated recipe tried to condense into as few products as i could example getting the calcium from calcium nitrate instead of calcium being a seperate ingredient.

Custom Cannabis Dry Fertilizer Recipe (U.S. Volume Measurements)

Macronutrient Blend (Per 1 Gallon of Dry Mix)

  • Urea (46-0-0) – ¾ cup
  • Calcium Nitrate (15.5-0-0) – 1 ¾ cups
  • Monopotassium Phosphate (0-52-34) – ¾ cup
  • Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) – 1 cup
  • Potassium Silicate – ⅓ cup

Micronutrient & Vitamin Blend (Per 1 Gallon of Dry Mix)

  • Ascorbic Acid Powder (Vitamin C) – 2 tsp
  • Retinyl Acetate (Vitamin A) – 1 tsp
  • Tocopherol Acetate Powder (Vitamin E) – 1 tsp
  • Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) – 1 tsp
  • Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – 1 tsp
  • Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) – 1 tsp
  • Calcium D-Pantothenate (Vitamin B5) – 1 tsp
  • Pyridoxine HCL (Vitamin B6) – 1 tsp
  • Biotin Powder (Vitamin B7) – ½ tsp
  • Folic Acid (Vitamin B9) – ½ tsp
  • Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) – ½ tsp

Estimated NPK Value of the Blend

I will now calculate the final NPK ratio of this blend based on the provided ingredients. Let me work this out for you.

Estimated NPK Ratio of the Blend:

45-33-22 (Rounded from 45.2-33.1-21.7)

This is a high-nitrogen mix, ideal for aggressive vegetative growth and early flowering. Adjustments can be made for different growth stages.

Dosing Per Gallon of Water (Teaspoons of Dry Mix)

  • Vegetative Stage : 1 tsp per gallon of water
  • Early Flowering : 1¼ tsp per gallon
  • Peak Flowering (Mid-Flower) : 1½ tsp per gallon
  • Late Flowering (Ripening Phase) : 1 tsp per gallon

Tailored Feeding Schedule (800 ppm CO₂, 500W LED)(this is what my grow room averages on co2 and what my light is)

Vegetative Stage (Weeks 1-4)

  • Feed every other watering (3-4 times per week)

Transition to Flower (Week 5)

  • Increase feeding frequency to every watering

Flowering Stage (Weeks 6-9)

  • Feed every watering (daily in fast-draining media)
  • Increase dose to peak at week 7-8

Ripening Stage (Weeks 10-12)

  • Gradually reduce feed concentration
  • Maintain EC stability until final weeks

Here is the flowering stage version:

Flowering Stage Cannabis Nutrient Recipe (Lower Nitrogen)

Macronutrient Blend (Per 1 Gallon of Dry Mix)

  • Urea (46-0-0) – ¼ cup (Reduced for lower nitrogen)
  • Calcium Nitrate (15.5-0-0) – 1 cup
  • Monopotassium Phosphate (0-52-34) – 1 ¼ cups (Increased for bloom support)
  • Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) – 1 cup
  • Potassium Silicate – ⅓ cup

Micronutrient & Vitamin Blend (Per 1 Gallon of Dry Mix)

  • Ascorbic Acid Powder (Vitamin C) – 2 tsp
  • Retinyl Acetate (Vitamin A) – 1 tsp
  • Tocopherol Acetate Powder (Vitamin E) – 1 tsp
  • Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) – 1 tsp
  • Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – 1 tsp
  • Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) – 1 tsp
  • Calcium D-Pantothenate (Vitamin B5) – 1 tsp
  • Pyridoxine HCL (Vitamin B6) – 1 tsp
  • Biotin Powder (Vitamin B7) – ½ tsp
  • Folic Acid (Vitamin B9) – ½ tsp
  • Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) – ½ tsp

Estimated NPK Value of the Flowering Blend

I will now calculate the final NPK ratio of this modified bloom formula.

Estimated NPK Ratio of the Flowering Blend:

18-49-32 (Rounded from 18.1-49.5-32.4)

This low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus, and high-potassium formula is optimized for bud development, terpene production, and resin formation while minimizing excess vegetative growth.

Dosing Per Gallon of Water (Teaspoons of Dry Mix)

  • Early Flower (Weeks 5-6): 1 tsp per gallon of water
  • Mid-Flower (Weeks 7-8): 1¼ tsp per gallon
  • Peak Bloom (Weeks 9-10): 1½ tsp per gallon
  • Ripening (Weeks 11-12): 1 tsp per gallon

Tailored Feeding Schedule for Maximum Yield

Transition to Flower (Week 5)

  • Feed every watering (daily in fast-draining media)

Full Flowering (Weeks 6-10)

  • Increase dose to peak at Week 9-10
  • Maintain consistent EC/ppm levels

Ripening Phase (Weeks 11-12)

  • Gradually reduce feeding strength
  • Maintain potassium and phosphorus levels for density
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You might also notice that i dropped all the micros, that is because i found this product that can cover ALL of the micros WAY cheaper than the powders.

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But with the Same base items I can do both a Veg and Flower blend, just by adjusting the ratios. 45-33-22 is CLEARLY not Ideal for flowering way too much nitrogen, 18-49-32 is better, but I still might reduce the nitrogen by half in the flowering blend, just to be sure.

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It seems to me that this is super complicating, adding extra cost, and creating another job to add to all the other growing tasks. I understand if one would do something like this just to say “I made it myself”, other than that with all these ingredients you might as well just do a living soil. Personally if im going to buy all the ingredients seperate and fertilize DIY style its going to be with amendments and going the living soil route. Just my 2cents. I also wanted to add to follow along with your post.

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I am not an organics guy, but i get your meaning. For me it was more, there is really no truly complete fertilizer that covers every single thing a plant can use for optimal growth for those who grow in coco,peat and hydro. Sure there are great products that can grow plants very well, Megacrop 1 part is awesome, but it doesnt contain everything. For those who grow in actual soil, this would be a pointless waste of time and money for sure, because most soil, unless its been stripped by over farming has all of this in it, just need to make sure the ph is right so there is no lock out issues.

But for those that grow in an Inert media, none of the lines out there cover ALL of this, and honestly, If i Bought all the premade nutrients i would need to get ALL of the things in this, I would still end up spending as much if not more.

But really, I just wanna see if i can “build a better mousetrap” so to speak lol

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Damn it fellers. :joy:
this is why I just walk outside and pick up a bucket of dirt.
:rofl:

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I’m so far removed from anything synthetic - I have no idea how any of it works.

I grew with miracle grow in 2002 - ive come along way.

But if synthetics is your jam - def a few experts here.

If I can highlight a great thread about mixing your own salts - here is an excellent read.

I would never consider miracle grow now - it was in 2015 I discovered Jadam and then later KNF. I’ve respun that and rely heavily on living soil.

I’d recommend exploring some of these methods - I have not been able to come close to the product quality that I have reached with natures way.

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I don’t know man, a lot easier to use an available base mix and play w/ MPK, CaSO4, CaCl, MgSO4 or whatever and organic/sterile additives to find a nice blend. No point in hunting a perfect nutrient b/c everything you grow will have different requirements.

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Sort of, it will require different Levels of them, but the vast majority of plants require the same nutrients and can uptake everything on the list above. They simply require varying amounts of it.

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I do use some Organic Inputs, I use mycos to optimize uptake, and I do use LAB and FPJ, for the beneficial bacteria. But have no desire to go full organic, I have had cannabis from full organic living soil and full synthetic nutrients, and honestly I couldn’t tell the difference in flavor or in the high.

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I use it for my outdoor it’s just convenient and cheap.

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and it works shockingly well for Cannabis. I have used it indoors and while its not my primary go to, it is effective.

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Of course it works well - it works well with almost any plant - it’s designed to do this. Plants love miracle grow.

I’m going to sound like a hippy here… but if you don’t mind. :joy:

Cannabis is a bioaccumulator - for this reason I only use inputs that are safe for my consumption. If I can’t eat it I don’t want to smoke it either. I don’t feel comfortable eating a spoonful of bright blue miracle grow.

Laugh all you want but this comes from years of running a food distribution company - I’ve seen how many producers treat our food at many levels, from the farms and orchards - to the productions spaces.

Miracle Grow has its place for sure - a well rounded, all purpose fertilizer. Kids will feed white carnations food dye to see the effects and sure enough the plant takes on the dye. We know that what is in the soil becomes one with the plant. I don’t want to smoke that shit. Use it on your rose bushes and non consumables.

As for ‘cheap’ sure, more so than cannabis specific nutrient lines, but not cheaper than worm shit once you’ve got a solid system to use organic food waste to make free castings or the like.

But this is coming from someone who hunts for moose poop and bat shit - so calling me bat shit crazy isn’t a too far off.

Don’t get me started on taste and quality differences… I’ve been in many circles and I will stick to my guns on that. It’s night and day once you’ve seen both optimum examples.

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I don’t have room for such things.

I don’t want to tell you what 4 square feet costs me. And the Mrs wouldn’t take kindly to one I expect.

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What’s wrong with hippies brother?
:face_with_raised_eyebrow:

:rofl:

I am almost certain that I have smoked things worst than moose poop and bat shit many times in my life. " That which does not kill us makes us stronger" .
:rofl:
Seriously though I get what you are saying.

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Well you really shouldn’t be eating ANY plant fertilizer, they are all varying degrees of toxic, However, the Blue color is from copper, which, in trace amounts, is a required nutrient for humans, after plants have turned it into a safe form.

Honestly, I cannot tell a difference. Neither can 99.9% of people. There have been numerous blind taste tests on various foods organic vs synthetic raised, and even the most Diehard organic food eaters are wrong on which is which, about 95% of the time, and often say with full confidence that the Synthetic is the organic and it “taste more like” whatever fruit or veggie is Suppose to taste like.

Ill just drop this right here for a lil factual comedy. I wish I could find the full episode on youtube, but it only seems to be on paramount plus now.

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