A couple questions about nutrients

First off when you mix base nutrients how do you add the n-p-k values?

For example I am using the lucas formula with AN Jungle Juice. The micro is 5-0-1 and bloom is 0-5-4. Is the mix simply 5-5-5 or since I'm using 1 part micro to 2 parts bloom is the micros value cut in half to 2.5-5-4.5?

Also since I am in late flower I have thought about ditching the Lucas formula and just using AN Overdrive which is 1-5-4. Trying to lower the nitrogen intake before harvest. Thoughts?

...show some pics

Of what, my nutrients? You can find them on AN's website haha

I'll see what I can do later for ya

Bump Any input before I change my resivoir?

KDiaz said:

First off when you mix base nutrients how do you add the n-p-k values?

For example I am using the lucas formula with AN Jungle Juice. The micro is 5-0-1 and bloom is 0-5-4. Is the mix simply 5-5-5 or since I'm using 1 part micro to 2 parts bloom is the micros value cut in half to 2.5-5-4.5?

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Adding NPK values works like you stated above, however, you need to take into account the potency of the product. If your 5-0-1 is twice as concentrated as your 0-5-4, you can't just average them.

Also since I am in late flower I have thought about ditching the Lucas formula and just using AN Overdrive which is 1-5-4. Trying to lower the nitrogen intake before harvest. Thoughts?

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Bloom boosters are highly incomplete and a great way to screw up a grow is to try to get fancy with a product that has a fancy label. Ditch the overdrive and use the micro and bloom bottles you already have. If AN did a decent job of ripping off the 3-part formula from GH, then those two bottles are all that you need.

Do I also need to point out that 0-5-4 is a lot like 1-5-4? Hopefully you got suckered into buying that product and didn't buy that on your own.

@HB So if I buy a 3-0-0 product from 1 company and a 3-0-0 from another both with just N, one could be more "potent" meaning more PPM per ml?

That's what I was wondering if it would give me the macros that I need. 1-5-4 and 0-5-4 may be a lot a like but we have to take into account the potency! HahaNow if we can just work on your people skills...

patlpp said:

@HB So if I buy a 3-0-0 product from 1 company and a 3-0-0 from another both with just N, one could be more "potent" meaning more PPM per ml?

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We're not talking about single element products here. An example of what I'm talking about is that hydroplex (0-10-6) is almost 50% more concentrated than liquid koolbloom (0-10-10). Flora micro (5-0-1) is more than double the ppm of LKB. One cannot just average products to get an overall NPK, though I guess that depends on how exact one wants to get. The elemental makeup and concentration level both need to be considered.

homebrewer said:

We're not talking about single element products here. An example of what I'm talking about is that hydroplex (0-10-6) is almost 50% more concentrated than liquid koolbloom (0-10-10). Flora micro (5-0-1) is more than double the ppm of LKB. One cannot just average products to get an overall NPK, though I guess that depends on how exact one wants to get. The elemental makeup and concentration level both need to be considered.

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I always understood it that the N-P-K ratio on the label IS the indicator of the concentration. NPK represents the percentage of each element by mass. Any product with equal NPK numbers will have the same PPM thus the same concentration if the measurement were strictly N-P-K. Your Dyna-gro Grow has an NPK of 7-9-5 and is twice as concentrated as another product labeled 3.5 - 4.5 - 2.5. (provided it has equal remaining ingredients) Concentration is a product of elemental mass in a given weight of solution. That is why powdered nutes are labeled with such a high NPK, they contain, by weight, much more nutrient in a given volume. WHen the OP mixes his 2 products together (mixing say 1 tsp of each) he does indeed reach the NPK of 2.5 - 5 - 4.5 PER TSP. If he were to dose a gallon of water with both tsp's he would obtain the same PPM as if he used a 5-5-5 product. So the fact that his new solution took twice as much (2 tsp) than that of the 5-5-5 product, which only required 1 tsp, it has half the concentration. The OP should also be aware that adding NPK's is not the only elements you are adding. There is also Calcium,magnesium,sulphur and others. HB's example of hydroples and GH exemplifies that.

Hydroplex, according to the feed schedule, has 116 ppm @ 2ml/gal ; LKB, by utilizing the PPM equation on the bottle , supplies 70 ppm. (converting tsp to ml). Yes, Hydroplex has more ppm's as measured BUT it also has Magnesium, Amino Acids, trace minerals and Vitamins in it. GH Micro is LOADED with Calcium.
Maybe it's a terminology thing here. I don't know maybe if you called it stronger instead of more concentrated? You say since the PPM's are higher, it is more concentrated. I agree to the extent that one product has more total concentration of salts than another thus is more concentrated in that respect. I see concentration in a formula mass perspective with solute/solvent mixing. The more of an element in a given volume, the more concentrated it is. So my example of your Dyna-gro would apply.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary

I'm fricking babbling on about nothing, I'm medicated and probably off my rocker.

Patlpp - You're correct that NPK values are based on actual percentages (I prefer to look at them by ratio) BUT not all companies give an accurate NPK value. H&G for example has a different NPK value listed on their Aqua Flakes bottles than is registered with Oregon's Department of Agriculture (H&G told me they only list 'minimums').

I don't know what these companies are allowed to get away with in regards to labeling standards but personally if I want to do some NPK math, I get my meter out and start testing. One thing is for certain though, it's a lot easier to use 1 bottle of plant food whose NPK ratio is idea rather than mixing and matching several.

Yea did you see this H&G PDF?

http://www.house-garden.us/articles/why-have-the-npk-numbers-changed-on-house-garden-products/

Big Mike isn't the only one getting shit!!
I can just imagine the administrative cluster-f**k any company has to go through dealing with some of these bureaucracies. It sounded like "OK screw it, label them down in the dirt and be done with it"!! I can understand that.
Now if people hated H&G wouldn't you think they would reference the Calif incident much like they did with AN and Oregon? I think Botanicare also went through some massive violations too.