can someone with some experience hone in on this topic and explain to me why GH has 2 brands with very similar names?
I've used Flora Series 3-part with Pro-Mix HP (with 20% perlite added). I liked it *a lot*. Fed every 2 days. It's ph buffered which helped the medium's ph be stable (even though I used 1-2 Tbsp / gal dolomite, I think the ph buffering was a benefit). I used it with the so-called "useless" schedule[1].
What I didn't like was the *volume* of nutrients I was using. It seemed a little expensive and tedious measuring out all that stuff, especially for different plants at different stages of growth.
I considered Lucas Formula (which eliminates Part #1). Or, Flora Nova 2-part. I liked that it was more concentrated. Also that it has some additional non-synthetic stuff in it like fulvic acid. Also thought about GH Maxi Bloom (dry) because I didn't like the idea of everyone in the supply chain shipping water all over the place. Why not dry?
I ended up going to dry Grow More Sea Grow[2].
I also used Koolbloom Liquid and Dry. I used Liquid from early bloom all the way through late flower. Started about 2ml/gal and got to 5ml/gal after I could see calyxs in the buds. Continued at 4-5ml/gal to late bud. I did not reduce the Useless values while using liquid KB. If you see nute burn, reduce base nutes a little. But, I didn't have to.
Used 1.25g/gal powdered Koolbloom in the two weeks prior to going water only for 2 weeks. (I don't flush. Just water only and let the plant finish itself off, cannibalizing nutrients, etc.). I reduced base nutes by 50% per "useless."
I'm continuing to use Koolbloom dry/powdered with Grow More Sea Grow.
I also used Botanicare's CalMag+. If I needed to buy more, I'd try General Organics' product which has no nitrate (nitrogen). Mick941 recommended that.
I used Botanicare's Silica Blast. I bought GH's ArmorSi. Hydro guy said he thinks it works better.
Also use Botanicare's Liquid Karma and Alaska Kelp ($8 Home Depot).
One thing to be careful about: When I researched sentiment about Flora Nova 2-part, I read that it's not intended for all these add-ons. Maybe calmag if you use ro water to replace lost minerals. But, seemed like a few people said adding more stuff messed it up somehow. Also, someone said you had to shake it for a long time to get it consistent.
[1]
http://forum.growkind.com/showthread.php?t=35174#.U_aku2PE5EJ
Normally people use GH 3-part's 3-2-1 (1-2-3 in bloom) at half-strength. So it's 7.5-5-2.5 ml/gal (for example). Useless is a grower who went higher and developed a schedule (including what to do when using a booster late in flower).
[2] It's about the same simplicity, quality and cost as Jack's Classic. It's more organic than Flora Nova. I notice a
much better taste. I'd like to try something else, but for the $40-50 I paid for 12lbs total stuff (1 veg, 2 bud products) it's going to last about 2-3 years at about 5/8 tsp / gal.
https://www.rollitup.org/t/grow-more-fertilizer.621368/#post-10664097
I've backed off the quantities in that post, doing about 50-75% of what it says. I was fighting serious acidity in early flower. Thought it was my medium, not enough dolomite, etc. Switching to feed-water-feed or 50-75% strength every watering helped. Now I'm playing with which way is better.
