Southern AG Calcium Nitrate contaminated with oily residue

I've been pretty happy with Southern Ag's Biological Friendly Fungicide and thought I'd try their calcium nitrate when my last batch of power grow I got from Amazon ran out. I've always known calcium nitrate to be pure white like fresh snow. This product had a tinge of ugly yellow to it. Like a nicotine stained teeth type of yellow. When I mixed my usual amount with hot water there was a strange oily residue floating in the middle of the cup. A considerable amount too. I completed my first and only watering with it today, and sent it back to Amazon for a refund. I noticed another reviewer on Amazon had the same problem. No biggie, but if anyone else out there uses it be on alert. God only knows what the hell that residue actually is. I've already received my refund and reordered my usual stuff from power grow. Problems like this are exactly why I hate changing anything in my fertilizer regimen. Find what works and what suppliers are trusted then rinse, wash, repeat. I think the only reason I ordered the Southern AG is because I've had such a great experience with their BFF, and it was 1 day shipping. Won't make the same mistake twice.

i'd call SAG. i called them with questions about fungicide and they were very helpful

I see other ppl complained about the oily residue on amazon.

Renfro said:

I see other ppl complained about the oily residue on amazon.

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At least I know I'm not crazy now with others confirming the same problem Got some power grow on the way from Amazon. A little off topic, but I just ordered a 16# container of maxi bloom off ebay for $94.99. Found another vendor @ grow green michigan for $75.68 with free shipping. They seem to be cheap on everything. Looks like a great local Michigan vendor with very competitive prices.

I just read something on the hydro-gardens website that reminded me of this thread.

Renfro said:

I just read something on the hydro-gardens website that reminded me of this thread.

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That's interesting. The calcium nitrate I use comes in bead form and is pink but leaves no residue and dissolves cleanely. I don't think that Southern AG is hydroponic grade. In fact I know it isn't because it's coated. It doesn't mean it's bad just not intended for mixing into a nutrient solution. It's designed for side dressing and broadcasting directly into the garden.

This is what I use and looking at it further it also has some Urea nitrogen in it as well. Regardless, it doesn't have any coating on it so it dissolves easily with no residue from any coating. To ensure that you get water soluble salts for mixing into a nutrient solution it's best to purchase them from someplace like Custom Hydro Nutrients.

Renfro said:

I just read something on the hydro-gardens website that reminded me of this thread.

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I've been wondering what that stuff was. I left a review on Amazon regarding the oily contaminant. They wouldn't approve the review. God forbid people get an accurate assesment of what they're ordering.

xtsho said:

That's interesting. The calcium nitrate I use comes in bead form and is pink but leaves no residue and dissolves cleanely. I don't think that Southern AG is hydroponic grade. In fact I know it isn't because it's coated. It doesn't mean it's bad just not intended for mixing into a nutrient solution. It's designed for side dressing and broadcasting directly into the garden.

This is what I use and looking at it further it also has some Urea nitrogen in it as well. Regardless, it doesn't have any coating on it so it dissolves easily with no residue from any coating. To ensure that you get water soluble salts for mixing into a nutrient solution it's best to purchase them from someplace like Custom Hydro Nutrients.

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If you ever feel like donating that comfy chair holla at your boy I have not ordered from customhydronutrients.com before. I think when I was shopping for 25# of calcium nitrate after the Southern AG debacle I perused through their website, but a vendor on Amazon I've ordered from before was cheaper by about $10. How's the service over there? I hear good things about them.

Great service in my experience. I haven't purchased that much from them but they have everything you need to mix your own blends. They'll even mix a 2 part custom liquid fertilizer according to your specs at a 100:1 concentrate ratio for $30. I never got around to doing it though and now I'm going organic so I probably never will.

I can't part with my Captains chair. I need it for my command center.

I think you have to always be careful with what you buy from say Amazon, Walmart online, or eBay. People on there can pick up seconds, expired, buy outs, going out of business etc and turnaround and sell to you. You don’t know that unless you recognize the seller. Also on Amazon, I will check a seller’s Amazon store and if they are selling fertilizer, bathing suits, tooth paste, baby diapers, tires, sun glasses along with 2 dozen other products — or another words everything under the sun — I run fast the other way. These folks are buying what others are dumping and you don’t want it.