Finding the best supplements

[NebulaHaze]

What are your favorite supplements and why?

Here are some of the most common "classes" of supplements:

• Sugar or carbohydrates - improve taste/smell and possibly increase bulk
• "Bloom Enhancers" - These offer a variety of non-nutrient ingredients that may help the plant grow better or more efficiently in some way (often contains things like amino acids and humic acids)
• PK Boosters & "Shooting Powders" - With this type of supplement, the main ingredients are just Phosphorus and Potassium. Sometimes they also contain a little bit of sulfur or possibly other ingredients.

However, lots of supplements are a mix of the three. What supplements are you using and what benefits have you seen so far?

[insomniaczzz]

I didn't use any supplements during veg. Here is the U.S., it's impossible to find potting soil made specifically for cannabis. For us, trying to make our own mixture was out of the question. We planted in a premix called Baccto Lite. Between the soil mix and watering with natural spring water, our pH levels have been a consistent 6.5.

I bought some Kushy Kush to use during bloom cycle but have not used it yet. Is it okay to use even if we do not have kush plants. Will it be okay to use on our white widow and haze seeds once we get them to bloom stage? If not, what would you recommend.

[Royal Nugs]

I didn't use any supplements during veg. Here is the U.S., it's impossible to find potting soil made specifically for cannabis. For us, trying to make our own mixture was out of the question. We planted in a premix called Baccto Lite. Between the soil mix and watering with natural spring water, our pH levels have been a consistent 6.5.

I bought some Kushy Kush to use during bloom cycle but have not used it yet. Is it okay to use even if we do not have kush plants. Will it be okay to use on our white widow and haze seeds once we get them to bloom stage? If not, what would you recommend.

There are actually a few places that sell soils specifically for cannabis. Build a soil and Kind soil are a couple right off the top of my head. I consider all of the Fox Farms soil mixes, more or less, designed for cannabis. Hell, even home depot sells Black Magic (evil corporate soil). I'm currently running Fox Farms Coco Loco with Kind Soil. It's my first time with a "soil" mix and I'm loving it so far.

I don't know much about the Baccto Lite but I read this and immediately was concerned... "BACCTO LITE™ Premium Potting Soil includes starter and slow-release fertilizers" Sounds a lot like a Miracle Gro type soil. It doesn't mention that it's organic so I'm assuming it's a salt based nutrient. Slow release means you may burn your plants if you add any nutrients. Which slow release nutrients they put in there will definitely effect how you should move forward. I wouldn't recommend using any nutrients until you see deficiencies. Luckily, you're in the right place as Nebula has you covered.

I'm familiar with Kushy Kush. It's made by advanced nutrients, specifically designed for kush strains. I'm not sure of the how or why it's good for them but I personally wouldn't run this on non-kush plants. I'm sure it would be fine, but not optimal. If you want a bloom booster, try big bud. I had great results with that in hydro. You can run it the whole flowering period too instead of using their other boosters which are designed for different phases of bloom. There's plenty of other bloom enhancers out there, but some contain artificial PGR's (Plant Growth Regulator) which are known to be a carcinogen. Kelp is a natural PGR so if you're going organic...

I also like AN's Bud Candy (carbohydrate supplement). As soon as I add it, I've noticed a sweeter aroma from the girls and the end product has this as well. It also feeds beneficials in your media and keeps them happy.

According to my uncle, all you need is a seed, a medium, and a base nutrient. Anything more is bells and whistles. He's been doing it for 15 years and he can grow some fire.

[NebulaHaze]

I agree you don't want to use anything with extended release nutrients for cannabis. They work okay in the vegetative stage but they slow release nitrogen for months and that suppresses bud growth in the flowering stage when you want lower levels of nitrogen.

In addition to the other great suggestions for cannabis specific soils (Kind soil, Fox Farms soil, etc) you can also get an "organic potting mix" at the local garden store. Any mix labeled that way usually has decent soil and a relatively low level of supplemented nutrients, so it gives you a fresh canvas as far as nutrients. Unless there's already perlite mixed in, get extra perlite (looks like little white pebbles - it will be a bag in the same section) and mix it in so you've got about 20% perlite in the soil. Add even more perlite (no more than 40-50%) if you plan on using a lot of nutrients since it helps improve drainage and makes the soil dry out faster.

As far as the Kushie Kush supplement, I couldn't find much information about exactly what's in it so I'm not sure. It looks like a standard PK booster (extra source of phosphorus and potassium) so it seems you could probably use it, but I'd definitely contact the company with questions. In my experience nutrient companies will usually get back to you in just a day or two and they're usually very helpful!

[Pankace]

I'm using CANNA's line - Aqua Vega, Aqua Flores, and their bloom supplement, PK 13-14. I hope I get good results.

[Royal Nugs]

I hear Canna works great. You running in coco?

[Pankace]

No. I'll be doing rockwool/Hydroton in DWC buckets.