Calcium Nitrate

burrr

Well-Known Member
What is it good for, and why do some ferts use it and other don't? Can anyone elaborate on the different kinds of nitrogen salts used in ferts, and what their pro's and con's are?
 

ylem

Well-Known Member
fertilizer grade calcium nitrate is 15.5-0-0 NPK and 19% calcium by weight. its usually used as a slow release nitrogen top dressing for greenhouses and large beds. unless you're going big, calcium nitrate isn't necessary. just use some good sheep manure or vegetable compost.
 

ylem

Well-Known Member
thats probably what they use now instead of potassium nitrate for their nitrogen base. calcium nitro is called norwegian saltpeter, its not as reactive as other nitrogen compounds - just another chemical nitrogen amendment.
 

squarepush3r

Well-Known Member
CaNO3 is a good source for fast acting nitrate nitrogen, and also calcium. It is suitable for hydronponics, be careful of mixing with sulfates and the calcium and sulfur can form gypsum.
 

delta9nxs

Active Member
hi, burr! i've been using the jack's hydroponic special 5-12-26 with calcium nitrate for about a year and a half. the jack's part is everything but the calcium nitrate and both must be used together. it can be mixed by several different methods but the easiest is to mix by meter. the ratio for mixing this way is 1/.67. for example, i have a .5 meter and i want 600 ppm. i take any unknown quantity of water and add 360 ppm jack's first and stir until it goes into solution. then i add 240 ppm calcium nitrate to get 600 ppm total. 240/360 = .666. 750 ppm is 450 ppm jack's and 300 ppm calcium nitrate. again 300/450 = .666.

this is the most stable and predictable nutrient package i have ever used. it is designed for distilled and therefore reverse osmosis water and jrpeterslab suggest a water analysis only if you are not using ro. we have found that most tap water under about 100 ppm will work well with it as is. if your tap water is greater than that and you don't want to go to ro filtering you can send them a water sample along with 35$ and they will give you precise mixing instructions for your water.

this product used this way is so ph stable that you will not use your meter after you get used to it. you will not need ph adjusters.

mixed as i have described above you get 150-52-215, which is approx the 3-1-4 ratio everyone is talking about now. it grows the hell out of weed.

i use no additives such as bloom boosters and feed at a continuous 600 ppm for life. i am growing large, healthy, high yielding plants with no displays of any problems.

you will not need cal-mag products either. magnesium in the base formula is over 6%.

well, good luck and i hope this info helps you, later.
 
My tap is 120 ppm, 1/4 tsp of the Jacks and 1/8 tsp of the calnit per gallon takes me to 550 ppm. It may not have a fancy label or a high price tag but it rocks, I wouldn't use anything else.
 
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