Making your own nutes

[abinorml]

Hey Z great show, I enjoy it a lot. Recently while shopping a local garden center I noticed dry bags of individual nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Is it possible to process these into hydroponic nutes? If so it would be a great savings as they are fairly inexpensive and the process could make an interesting topic.

[latewood]

1st...You need to start with greenhouse grade-water soluble minerals.

part 1: calcium nitrate/calcium-nitrogen

part 2: magnesium sulphate/epsom salts,
sulphate of potash/0-0-51,
MAP/mono ammonium phosphate
MKP/mono potassium phosphate

part 3: micro
I buy all my trace minerals in a chelated version, so that they are available throughout the ph spectrum. I make a gallon concentrate that is added 14ml per 10 gallons. I add iron seperately, because you use much more iron than any other trace mineral. 1/3tsp per 10 gallons

PH: I use phosphoric acid. 0-54-0

That's it. Shop around for that stuff.

You never mix nitrates, and sulphates until they have been pre-mixed in water to keep them from forming a paste, or concrete...

Mix 30-50 gallons at a time in a rubbermaid trash can.

An example of a 30g mix would be
Step1 part 1
Mix 8TBS of calcinit to 5 gallon bucket...dump in rez...add another 5g water = 10gallons cumulative

Step2 part 3 & PH
In 5g water. add 42ml micro concentrate, and phosphoric acid. 3/4 ounce
dump in rez...add another 5g water = 20gallons cumulative

Step 3 part 2 A bit different.
Now a 3TBS of magnesium sulphate to 2-3g water, 1/2 Tsp MKP, 1.5 Tsp MAP, stir until crystals dissolve...then add 2-3 TBS (depending on veg/flower) sulphate of potash 0-0-51
top off 5g ...add to rez. add the last 5g water = 30 gallons cumulative.

TBS tablespoon
Tsp teaspoon
g gallon
ph 5.8
EC 2.1
ppm 1500

Good Luck, I hope this helps you get started.

[Zandor]

There you go.

One thing to watch for is the source for the minerals. Some have more salts then others so for this plant you need to watch for that.

There is nothing wrong with mixing your own, I know Latewood does for his plants and garden. Just my personal slant is to know the source and watch for excess salts.

Peace

Z

[latewood]

I concur. You have to learn your mix, and how it effects your plants.

I would say that the 1st key to acheiving, a lower salt mix would again be by making sure that the big bags 50lbs are "Greenhouse Grade" other wise it will contain more salt, and parafin coatings...which clog everything up.

I can write about this all day, but I would rather answer Q & A, as you get ready to buy the necessary ingredients to mix your own.

Cost for original supplies...$200-300, depending on region and supplier. the calcinit is the best, and only calcium nitrate..It is produced in Israel by Yara. Hydro is big in then Middle east

epsom salts and sulphate of potash are available almost any feed and seed in 50 lb bags.
MKP, and MAP are expensive but come also in 50 lb bags. All the trace minerals I buy in 1lb tubs, except Boron-Solubor 5lb bag, and I buy molybdenum 2 ounces at a time. It is $70 a lb. Phosphoric acid...comes in 2.5g size. You have to buy that from an Agricultural supplier. like SouthernAg. Good luck, thanks Z. It was late, and I did not put in all of the pros and cons. I figured I would wait and see what type of responses came, and address them individually. Peace.woody

[abinorml]

Terrific information, Thanks