Cal/Mag source

I'm wondering what I should use for a cal/mag suppliment for my grow. Here's the situation. I will be using Super Soil and R/O water. The reason for the R/O is due to the fact that our water comes out at about 540ppm so it's really hard and a ph of 8.0. The ph isn't an issue as it can be adjusted, but the water is like a rock, way too hard so hence the R/O. Now the super soil has some epsom salt and dolomite in it as well. My question is what is a good cal/mag suppliment and should I use it every watering or should I keep an eye for a deficiency then use it? If the plants are getting enough from the soil is harmfull to be suplimenting the water as well? I used to use bottled spring water from Walmart with good success, but the R/O costs less than half in the end and is more convinient too. Your insights would be greatly appriciated, thanks.

I have the same question....looking forward to a response. I just picked up Cal Mag yesterday and planned on adding it as a light feed to every watering. Seems like this should be a pretty straight forward topic, if you use RO should you replace the lost minerals with calmag?

You guys are on the right track for sure. Each strain is gonna be different on how much cal mag it requires, I would start on the lower side of things...

Since your super soil has epsom salt I would probably shy away from using it heavily ... if at all.

Cal mag is important so make sure you have a source of it in your soil or in the water you use.

I use RO water and it comes out @ ~2ppm, to supplement i add epsom salt and dol. lime to the soil mix, they don't get calmag in the water until they're good & established in veg and then it's 5ml/gal GO calmag nearly every watering/feeding/tea until the end, haven't had issues since. When i was growing in an unnamended mix i was always having defficiencies even with calmag in watering. I think it's very important to have calmag physically in your mix, one way or another.

dolamite lime.

this should be in your super soil, I know its calcium not sure about mag, but epsom salts for mag.

I use ro as well and add calmag 1tsp a gallon everytime, GO calmag+

From my digging around it looks like GO calmag+ is pretty well liked and recommended. It doesn't have any N in it and is organic as well. Too bad my local shop doesn't carry any liquid camg so I will look online. Anyone have a favorite online source for their GO CaMg+?

Thanks everyone...with all the research, this isn't spelled out very clearly and it makes perfect sense. Great info.

add oyster shell powder to soil mix for extra Calcium and i guess more epsom salts..

rocknratm said:

dolamite lime.

this should be in your super soil, I know its calcium not sure about mag, but epsom salts for mag.

I use ro as well and add calmag 1tsp a gallon everytime, GO calmag+

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The dolo lime knocks out 2 birds with one stone. Plenty of Mg.

dannyboy602 said:

The dolo lime knocks out 2 birds with one stone. Plenty of Mg.

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no way dolo lime only is a sure way to get a mg def..

mikeharold said:

From my digging around it looks like GO calmag+ is pretty well liked and recommended. It doesn't have any N in it and is organic as well. Too bad my local shop doesn't carry any liquid camg so I will look online. Anyone have a favorite online source for their GO CaMg+?

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Yep! Both myself and other growers I know recently started to use this method exactly, after having Cal/mag problems with pure water. Now I'm using RO or distilled water, with about 4 mls per gallon of General Organics CalMag+ with every watering, and Subcool's Super Soil- No problems at all!
I'll try and come back tonight to post a couple pics of various genetics grown with the above method....

Also here is place that has great prices, and I believe does free shipping for orders over 100 bucks or something-
http://waytogrow.net/store/product/2515/Ca-Mg-+-quart/

Cool, just what I was hoping to hear! Would love to see some pics of what you have going on. It turns out my local shop DID have the CaMg+. I had asked about some calmag when I was picking up some things for my super soil and he said they didn't have any and just used epsom salt. I guess he was thinking I ment powdered calmag. Went in yesterday to see if he would order me some and there it was, a bottle sitting right there on the shelf!

mikeharold said:

Cool, just what I was hoping to hear! Would love to see some pics of what you have going on. It turns out my local shop DID have the CaMg+. I had asked about some calmag when I was picking up some things for my super soil and he said they didn't have any and just used epsom salt. I guess he was thinking I ment powdered calmag. Went in yesterday to see if he would order me some and there it was, a bottle sitting right there on the shelf!

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Nice! Yeah , my lights flip on later tonight so you can count on a couple pics to follow. Peace!

Cal mag By botanicare. Works rather well. Just remember the leaves will never heal once they are damaged. I tried epsom salt one one plant and she did not respond well but once she got a few feeds of cal mag so started to take off.

The thing I didn't like when researching was the fact that Botanicare has some N in it. I will be in super soil and shouldn't (hopefully) need any extra N. I don't plan to give nutes except for some teas unless needed towards the end so the N wasn't appealing to me. I've been reading that it works just fine though. Just personal preference on my part. Thanks for the input, it all helps.

I also prefer GO over botanicare because botanicare has synthetic chelating salts in it, which has bad effects on your soil microlife.

Da Almighty Jew said:

no way dolo lime only is a sure way to get a mg def..

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No, Dolomite lime has both Calcium and Magnesium. The type I use has a 2:1 ratio of Calcium:Magnesium, which seems to be the rough percentage for most Dolomite Lime products. Dolomite Lime will supply enough Magnesium provided it has the time and conditions to break down.

Chances are the original poster doesn't need additional Magnesium since he put Epsom salts in already. He's more likely to get a Calcium deficiency anyway, which Dolomite Lime prevents effectively.

bshdctr said:

Nice! Yeah , my lights flip on later tonight so you can count on a couple pics to follow. Peace!

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Ok.....so I went down last night to take a couple pics and found out that I have MUCH bigger problems to worry about, with no time to fuck around- ROOT APHIDS! FUCK! ARGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH! Sorry, just had to get it out.

Anyways, GO Calmag and Sub's soil kicks ass. Sorry I can't put up pics now but I'm off to the store to by some SNS 203....

Ah man that sucks! Hope you get them sorted before they can do any real damage, best of luck.

Here is a site that has just about any ammendment with values given. All Organic. I believe they are in the state of Washington. http://www.soilminerals.com/Minerals_and_Fertilizers.htm I have the book they offer, got it about 2 years ago. If looking to make your own soil I would suggest getting the book. If you are able to get soil tests done, after reading this book maybe once or twice you will learn to properly adjust any soil. This will save many years of experimental soil mixtures. Their NEW 4-8-4 mix might be something I may try out soon. Check it out.