Feeding Nutrients???

S

Smokenpassout

Well-Known Member
What methods do you use to fees nutrients and why? I have heard of feed, water, feed. Then some say feed, feed, water. Which method is safest. I would think simply alternating back and forth between feeding and plain watering is best? Or perhaps feeding then plain watering, and plain watering again....although that would really decrease the opportunities to feed.
 
I feed,feed, water in veg only. In bloom it's feed all the way to flush. But I'm growing 3' plants in 2 gallon containers. And I never feed over 800 ppm's.
 
I feed my plants 3-6 times daily using a solution cut to 1/6 of what is recommended by the instruction.
I also spray right outta the res.
If you are going to use regular dose feedings pour it around the base of the plant(s) and avoid pouring it on the base of the plant(s).
 
bird mcbride said:
I feed my plants 3-6 times daily using a solution cut to 1/6 of what is recommended by the instruction.
I also spray right outta the res.
If you are going to use regular dose feedings pour it around the base of the plant(s) and avoid pouring it on the base of the plant(s).
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So do you ever let your soil dry up for strengthening root system? im Confused i think. Tell me more about this feeding 3-6 timez a day. Do you feed different nutes sepratley?
 
I am in soil, so I let the soil dry up a good 4 days or so between watering. Drying is slow with led, small fan, and temps of 70. Nutrient strength in 1/4, first feed.
 
Smokenpassout said:
What methods do you use to fees nutrients and why? .
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I feed every watering. The only reason I've heard for alternating feed/water is to let the soil microbes recover from the nutrients (assuming you're using synthetic nutes). But, to me it seems like it comes out the same way either way. If you feed every watering you'll feed less than if you feed every other watering. So, less nutrients all the time seems like it would have the same effect on the soil biology than alot followed by none.

I think it has to do with what you feed. If you feed things like humic acids, mycos, etc., it might be good to separate that from synthetic nutrients. Feed them with the water-only feeding. But, if you feed something simple (a scoop of Jack's Classic, for example), I don't see any reason to overfeed followed by "starvation."

(I get better results with 20% or more runoff, especially later in the grow. At least every 2-3 feedings. I think it's like, instead of adding new food to the existing plate which has been partially eaten and not the same ratio of nutrients as when it was first given, by pushing out what's there it's like giving a fresh plate.).
 
Smokenpassout said:
I am in ffof soil with perlite. I feed organic base nutrients. My supliments are organic too.
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You might want to ask in the organic forum. I don't know if there's any reason to feed infrequently or divide your feed and supplements into different waterings.
 
Really it seems that not using nutrients in every feed is fairly common practice. I thought it was in order to avoid burning and overfeeding.
 
jarvild said:
If I don't feed my 3' plants in 2 gallon pots every time in flower I see yellowing the next day.
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It sounds like you found the sweet spot where you're feeding exactly what they need. Have you tried feeding more in one feeding, then water? I think if you overfed (followed by water only) it would work for you.

I'm not advocating that method. Just saying I think it's a proverbial "six of one, half-dozen of the other." It should come out the same either way. But, I think it's better to keep a steady stream of food coming instead of irregular supply.

It also has to do with whether you feed purely synthetic nutrients, or if you use organic components. Organic material depends on a biology in the soil to make nutrients available. The plant drives that process by (at least) secreting sugar. With organics I can see differentiating between supplying food and using water-only to supply inoculants to the root zone (the biology).

I use Grow More Sea Grow which is a mixture of synthetic and organic. I feed every watering. If I get more into organics (supplementing with myco, azo, teas) I would try feeding more in one feeding, followed by a watering with only the goodies.
 
Nutrient use depends a lot on grow style. What sounds silly for soil medium growers might/may/does work perfect in other growing mediums.
I've found that in soil grows where heavier nutrient mixtures that are used it is best to pour the fertilizer around the outer limits of the root area and never directly on the base of the plant.
Watering frequency depends a lot on humidity, which also has a lot to do with location. The local enviroment will pretty much dictate how much and when. Unless you want to purchase and pay for usage of enviromental control systems.
Atmospheric pressure also has a role in how much nitrogen you can safely use. Nitrogen dissipitates faster at higher altitudes.
 
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