Florapro (GH) VS Jacks VS Megacrop

[traverso2579]

I have just started a new grow and I have used maxigrow/bloom in the past and used my leftovers to start this grow but need more nutes. Any opinions? Im open to other nutes but am leaning heavy into budget but clean salt based because it's what I know.

Germ: with a 200w for lil guys and clone rack for clones

Veg: 4x8 with medic grow 12 bar starlink 1000w LED and medic grow mini sun 2 500w

Flower: Four 4x6 drainage tray tables (soil pots on top) with four 12 bar starlink 1000w LED

Drying room and cold room curently being constructed

 

[traverso2579]

Point out anything I fucked up on too

 

[traverso2579]

Megacrop has just peaked my intrest because it contains kelp, silica, and amminos

 

[cindysid]

Your plants look great! Why do you want to change?

 

[traverso2579]

Thank you very much! That is a very good question. I think it boils down to after being away for 5 years my stupid monkey brain thinks there must be something better

 

[TCH]

Are you running an automated system? Pumps and drippers?

 

[traverso2579]

Are you running an automated system? Pumps and drippers?

Thanks for pointing this out, Important info i left out. I am! 44 gal garbage can as a res, Submersible pump to 2GPH netafim woodpecker emitters to netafim netbow drippers.

I am a little worried about Megacrops kelp content with the drippers. The only reason im contemplating using a product with kelp is that I draw, mix, and use my whole res in a single day. I could be totally wrong, let me know if you think that is a recipe for disaster.

 

[TCH]

I'd look into Floraflex nutrients. They dissolve clean from what I understand.

 

[7CardBud]

You are probably using around 2kg a week of salts. With that rate of use I would buy a 3 part nutrient like Jacks, Masterblend or whatever can source locally. They run cleaner than Megacrap and you can always add silica to the solution and top dress with kelp meal. I think added aminos are a gimmick, plants make what they need.

 

[Drop That Sound]

 

[traverso2579]

You are probably using around 2kg a week of salts. With that rate of use I would buy a 3 part nutrient like Jacks, Masterblend or whatever can source locally. They run cleaner than Megacrap and you can always add silica to the solution and top dress with kelp meal. I think added aminos are a gimmick, plants make what they need.

Id say that is a great guess on salt usage. Much appreciated!

 

[7CardBud]

Even if you need to pay shipping, bulk agricultural salts will be the best value. I hit around $0.02 gallon from locally sourced products. Base salt is about $70 per 11kg, greenhouse grade Calnit is $40 per 22kg, Epsom is $30 per 22kg.

The 5-12-26 is a great general purpose formula. I grew everything outdoors this year using it, all the usual summer herbs and veggies....and maybe some of the Devil's lettuce. My only complaint was it was slightly high in Nitrogen for tomatoes.

I know Jacks makes a no Nitrogen formula now and Masterblend has a tomato formula that is lower Nitrogen, which would also probably make a great flower/finish formula.

 

[Billy the Mountain]

I used a few bags of MegaCrop over the summer. While it worked great, it's not a good choice for use in a reservoir imho. It never dissolves 100% and leaves a bunch of sediment in the bottom of the bucket. It matters not if it's RO or tap water, hot or cold, manually stirred, or a power mixer; there's always undissolved material. I don't think it's salts precipitating out of the solution, more likely fillers or binders, but undesirable nonetheless.

I still used MC in my my current run for early vegging before I switched on my irrigation system.

Kind of a shame, because otherwise it seems to be an excellent nute: sensible ratios and a compelling price.

I use Maxi Gro/Bloom; it dissolves 100% and the reservoir stays crystal clear.

 

[traverso2579]

I used a few bags of MegaCrop over the summer. While it worked great, it's not a good choice for use in a reservoir imho. It never dissolves 100% and leaves a bunch of sediment in the bottom of the bucket. It matters not if it's RO or tap water, hot or cold, manually stirred, or a power mixer; there's always undissolved material. I don't think it's salts precipitating out of the solution, more likely fillers or binders, but undesirable nonetheless.

I still used MC in my my current run for early vegging before I switched on my irrigation system.

Kind of a shame, because otherwise it seems to be an excellent nute: sensible ratios and a compelling price.

I use Maxi Gro/Bloom; it dissolves 100% and the reservoir stays crystal clear.

Thanks for the personal experience with MC. Really helps me with my decision!

 

[1212ham]

I used a few bags of MegaCrop over the summer. While it worked great, it's not a good choice for use in a reservoir imho. It never dissolves 100% and leaves a bunch of sediment in the bottom of the bucket. It matters not if it's RO or tap water, hot or cold, manually stirred, or a power mixer; there's always undissolved material. I don't think it's salts precipitating out of the solution, more likely fillers or binders, but undesirable nonetheless.

I still used MC in my my current run for early vegging before I switched on my irrigation system.

Kind of a shame, because otherwise it seems to be an excellent nute: sensible ratios and a compelling price.

I use Maxi Gro/Bloom; it dissolves 100% and the reservoir stays crystal clear.

I'm mixing your recipe of ArmorSi, calmag, Maxi, epsom (in that order) with rain water and getting a little brown sediment. Just a few gallons will clog a coffee filter. The rain water went through a 5 micron carbon filter.

I'll try the next batch with RO or Maxi only in my hard tap water.

 

[Under the Radar]

I ran megacrop for years. I didn’t like how much build up it left behind on hoses, valves and the res.

I’ve since switched to jacks and it is fairly easy to dissolve and runs clean.

 

[thumper60]

Thanks for the personal experience with MC. Really helps me with my decision!

Like billy says I have been running MC for 3 yrs love it but I hand water an theres always sediment.

 

[traverso2579]

I got some MC for handwatering and Florapro for the netafim netbow's. What's everyones thoughts on silica?

As far as addatives im thinking floralicious+, liquid and dry koolbloom, silica, and the rootwise full line. Deff need to get some cal mag set up im sure il need that as well running RO, cant wait for my larger holding tank.

 

[7CardBud]

I found the 3 part nutrients supply plenty of calcium with Calnit when using rainwater and then I use silica as pH up. KISS method for me, the special additives don't really add much if the grow is dialed in.

 

[traverso2579]

Thanks 7Card! That makes me feel much better about about leaving out extra suplements. And you are ABSOLUTLY right KISS. Thanks for reminding me.

GH has kind of bounced me around and also says that florapro must be used in a whole bag formulation. So i will be going with Jacks 3 part, silica, and possibly rootwise microbes.