Nutrients

Plant nutrition in three steps

Every plant needs a base feed that supplies nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and the trace elements, matched to what it grows in. Soil feeds are gentler, because soil holds and buffers nutrients. Coco needs a coco-specific feed with extra calcium and magnesium. Hydroponic feeds are the most complete, because the water holds nothing back for the roots.

Additives sit on top of the base feed: a root stimulant in the first weeks, a growth or bloom stimulant through the cycle, a PK booster in the middle of flowering, and a flush product at the end to clear residues from the medium.

Measure rather than guess. An EC meter tells you how strong the feed is and a pH pen tells you whether the roots can take it up. Most crops feed best between pH 5.5 and 6.5 in water and coco, a little higher in soil. Meters, calibration fluids and pH adjusters are under Nutrient Management.

Brands and feeding charts

We stock Canna, Biobizz, Advanced Nutrients, Athena, Dutchpro, Hesi, House & Garden, Plant Magic, Vitalink, Intense, Mills, Atami and more. Every range has its own feeding chart: follow the chart for your medium and start at half strength while plants are young. If you would like help choosing a range, phone the shop or call in and ask.