Potency of mz Nutes help?

Ok guys I have some plant fertilizer that I was planning on using for a grow box op i was about to start but i am gettin worried. It is a natural seaweed derived liquid fertilizer called "Neptunes Harvest". It has an N-P-K of 7-4-3. Does that mean it would be less potent than a say 20-10-10? If so, i should add more to the soil than i would add a 20-10-10? Really need some help on this guys

First off, Neptune's Harvest is a brand. Which of their products are you referring to? I don't know of any NH ferts with an NPK of 7-4-3.

What matters most about the fertilizer nutrient levels is the ratio of each nutrient to each other one. For example, a fertilizer with an NPK of 1-2-3 would work the same as a 2-4-6 fertilizer made of the same ingredients, you just have to use twice as much. The NPK #'s are the percentages of each nutrient in the fertilizer before mixing and they always become far more dilute after mixing. That 1-2-3 fertilizer might end up closer to .01-.02-.03 in the final solution. So, the base fertilizer might be weaker than another, but that only means that you'll mix more of it with water. So again, the important part is how much of one nutrient there is in relation to the others, because you can't separate them.

Ok rhanks man i thought i should add more to the mix but i didnt want to kill the plants so when in doubt, ask. Also, i think you may be right the npk might be .7-.4-.3. So if the npk is .7-.4-.3 does that mean 3 tablespoons of that in water equals 1 tablespoon of say 20-15-10 (approximately of course)

Here's a product on their site. You can click the column on the left to find other fertilizers. Let me know which one you have. http://www.neptunesharvest.com/fs-136.html

For example, a fertilizer with an NPK of 10-10-10 is composed of 10% Nitrogen, 10% Phosphorus and 10% Potassium. Now, the mixing instructions on the back might say something like, 2TBS per gallon of water. There are 256 TBS in a gallon of water. The total 258 TBS is now made up of 1/129 fertilizer. Take the NPK values and devide by 129, which gives 0.0775-0.0775-0.0775. So after mixing, your fertilizer that started out as 10% of each macronutrient becomes a liquid diluted to just over seven one hundreths of a percent of each macronutrient. Any fertilizer you use that has equal amounts of N, P & K, can be diluted to the exact same strength as the 10-10-10 fert.

I have 2 types, a 2-4-7 i believe and one with a blue lable that is ripped and i cant find the npk but i believe it is 7-4-3. Both recommends 3tbs to a gallon. Other than those i have a 0-20-0 fert (bout 1 tbs a gallon). Is there a way i could add potassium without buying another fert? Also, what are some trace/secondary elements a should look for in soil or fert?

The 2-4-7 has roughly the right ratio of P to K for the average flowering, you would just add some extra N. You can use 2TBS of the 2-4-7 and 1TBS of the 7-4-3 per gallon to get a ratio near 5.5 -6- 8.5, which is a good flowering ratio.

This is Palm Bunch Ash: http://www.planetnatural.com/site/organic-potash.html It's where we get extra K for flowering. It's cheap, lasts a long time and is the only strong source of organic Potassium I've found. There are many types of ashes that contain nutrients and most are very high in K. They're also usually very alkaline. You can, of course, make ashes yourself but between needing materials to burn and not actually knowing what is in the ash you're making, it's usually worth the 20$ or so to just buy ash-based fertilizer with a guaranteed analysis.

The most important micronutrients are Calcium and Magnesium. Other ones the plants need are Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Boron and Sulfur. Pretty much everything else the plants either don't need or need so incredibly little of that they hardly qualify as even micronutrients.

Cool man, thanks for the link
On watering, i read i should water with nutes every other time i water. How often should i
Water with micronutes? I read aomewhere that dissolvong 1 tbs epsom salts in water can supply some micronutes. How else can i add some, or will my potting soil cover them?

My opinion of what you're talking about is that good, organic fertilizers have the right levels of micronutrients already in them. That's a big part of what makes organics good- they tend to naturally have just the right amount of micros. All of our micronutrients come from regular organic fertilizers. For example, we use Bone Meal for P but it also supplies Calcum, Iron, Magnesium, Zinc and Sulfates- everything in the Epsom salts and much more.

We've never used Epsom Salts or any other Micronutrient additives (except Superthrive) and have never needed to. Unless you have analyses of your fertilizers showing a missing micronute, or if the plants show a micronute deficiency, I wouldn't add more than a pinch of extra Micros. Remember that they are micronutrients for a reason- the plants don't need and likely can't tolerate very much of them.

Thanks for the help man. I hope to get these seeds in the ground by next saturday.

Ok i have deterMined that one is a 2-3-1 and one is 2-4-1. Looks like im gonna need to rethink my strategy for feeding... What should i do for vegetative?

You're looking for a ratio close to 3-2-2 (6-4-4, etc.) for veg. Your 2-3-1 is closer to this than the 2-4-1 but both are highest in P. Keep in mind that variety is almost always a good thing so while the 2-3-1 may be better for veg, adding a little of the other may supply different micros and whatnot. I'd keep an eye out for a good source of N and another for K. Fish Emulsion is cheap, liquid and high in Nitrogen. High-N Guano is more expensive, better and doesn't burn as easily as the F.E., but needs to be made into teas or mixed into the soil. Even more so than men, good K is hard to find. The more common version is Muriate of Potash, a strong chemical fertilizer available at most garden centers. We use the previously mentioned Palm Ash.

Ok i got my seeds in the ground a few days ago. I was getting worried i wouldnt find a good fert in time when i came across a miracle-gro npk 24-8-16 lying around! Unfortunately, some solutions bring more questions...
What should i do to balance out the balance of phosphorous? I have the 24-8-16 miracle grow, the 2-3-1 neptunes harvest, and the 2-4-1 neptunes harvest to mix to find a good balance.
Also, what effect could it have on my plants using organic and chemical ferts? What should i do about worrying about "chemical burn"?

MVNugs


(the neptunes harvest is a liquid fish/seaweed blend, the miracle grow is a dry powder if it helps)

Don't try giving MG to seedlings. It will only hurt them since you have other, better ferts. Start with a half strength mix using the Neptune's Harvest stuff.

No i was planning on starting the organics around 2 weeks of age then eventually adding the MG about 1 month of age.

That could work. Only a little benefit can be had from MG before burning sets in so don't use too much. Getting something different during the next month before using the MG, would be very good for the plant, both in veg and when it's flowered. If money is a problem, many garden centers sell ferts like Blood, Bone & Kelp Meals in bulk by the pound. You could get even just a half pound at a time for a dollar or two depending on the prices and different ferts.

What do you mean by. " Only a little benefit can be had from MG before burning sets in so don't use too much"? (call me a newfag but i thought mg was like a golden standard). The box reccomonds about 1 teaspoon to a gallon of water for indoor plants, doesnt seem like alot to burn the soil.

Miracle Grow is the crap standard. It's for people who know nothing about plants growing houseplants they hardly care about. It's a happy meal when Guanos are a four-course dinner featuring filet mignon. Plants can live on it but they won't win any beauty contests. The 1tsp/gal probably won't hurt the plants but it likely won't help them more than the Neptune's Harvest. That said, plants do like variety so a pinch of the MG at least shouldn't hurt. If you want to use it, mix up the NH stuff first and then add 1/4-1/2 strength MG.

I was really just planning on using it to supply nitrogrn and some potassium. im also not looking to spend tons of money on this grow (my first), its a styrofoam box powered by high power household flourescdnts. Simplicity is the name of the game in this scenario. Thanks for all the help, maybe my next grow ill get good guano if this one goes well.

MVNugs

+rep by the way