Do nutrients go bad?

[ellz]

Hey GWE community. I was just curious as to what people thought about nutrients and expiration dates. Have you noticed that nutrients "go bad" after a certain amount of time or can they last with proper storage? I'm asking because my first grow as about 2 years ago and I had some left over nutrients from it that I have since reused (just for my first round of nutrients). I only chose to do this for two reasons:

1. I'm at the very beginning of my grow and a weaker than normal nutrient mix due to degradation isn't a huge deal because I'm already thinning the feeding schedule dose by half.
2. I'd like to not waste anything and since it's been sitting in a dark garage with low humidity and average temps (60ºF - 75ºF on average) I had hoped they'd still be good.

So what say you GWE growers? Do you think I should toss the old and put in new or can I finish off the old ones then use my new stuff?

I did buy new nutrients so I can swap if the overall consensus seems to think that is best. I for one am not sure because this is my second hydro grow ever. I will add that I haven't found any actual "expiration dates" on any of the bottles. They could have gotten rubbed off due to use last time. Not sure.

Thanks in advance!

[alltatup]

Hi ellz, some of my Future Harvest nutes have an expiration, after 3 years, while others don't. Write to your nute company and ask them.

[Obi-Wan]

Everything I’ve purchased has an expiration/best by date on the label. Some sellers place their price tags over the dates which is infuriating to me. Synthetic would be less of a concern than organic so in my case I’m not concerned about the date on my base nutrients. I do check the dates on my enzyme and beneficial bacteria bottles as the expiration dates on those are more relevant. If I was using an organic line of bottled nutrients for my base NPK’s I would pay more attention to the expiration date. As far as the nutrients that you have, if they’re synthetic and you can see crystals inside the bottle I’d toss them, it can happen over time and it’s best to move on from them at that point. It’s normal to see white crystals form in the cap area but they shouldn’t be forming inside the solution.

[ellz]

I have the crystal stuff around the lid but not in the bottle. Thanks for the info.

[SoOrbudgal]

I have had some ferts get like crystals from being 2yrs old and just shake it up well. I don't purchase gallon cont. of ferts/nutes just quarts or smaller and then it last couple years. But yes I do have exp. dates

[CaptainWiese91]

Just looked at my voodoo juice. It expired 2019😂. Still using it, with no problem at all👍🏻 I just shake it very well. Have no problems at all.

[Obi-Wan]

Did anything really good happen? Shaking dead beneficial bacteria won’t bring them back to life and feeding dead beneficial bacteria to your plants won’t hurt them but is the product actually doing what it’s supposed to. My guess based on experience is that it’s not. When I add beneficial bacteria I expect to see certain results. When I add them and don’t see those results I discard the bottle and buy a new one. Some things are best purchased in smaller bottles.

[CaptainWiese91]

When I write i have no problems - it’s means my plants like them. And if I have roots problems it fix it.
I’m sorry to hear your bad experience- maybe your stored your products wrong - I don’t know. But as long as I can see my plants have benefits from it - I’ve use it

[CaptainWiese91]

I even used it on my 6 small seedlings yesterday - it’s morning here now, and I can already see they had benefits from it. So my experience- it works fine

[Gluteous]

Don't see how an expiration date would be needed/accurate on ferts. Any kind of "Best if used by" is bogus

[Jordann]

Yes best if used by.....translates to..... throw it out and spend more money on our products.

[ellz]

Good point Jordann!

[CaptainWiese91]

Jordann exactly what I’m thinking. I don’t have problems and my plants like what I’m giving them.
Even my CANNA PK 13/14 expired in April - It’s still works

[Jordann]

Yep used lots of expired general hydroponics ferts. They have some natural products that I wouldn't be so sure about like the bud boosters and things like that but I don't really use much if those as I'm not convinced they do much aside from Make the company money lmao. I boost Buds all on my own don't need their snake oil.

[CaptainWiese91]

Ive bought Bud candy once - half of my plants got it and the other half didn’t. Could not see or taste the different to be honest.

[Jordann]

I agree @CaptianWiese91 done the same things and have not noticed anything worth spending the money. The main thing that gives you better buds is the proper use of n p k. And lots of care and LST.

[CaptainWiese91]

Jordann Totally agree on this one👍🏻
my critical kush week 3 of bloom today.
only gave blooms nutes twice👍🏻

[Jordann]

Nice plants looks like they're good producers.

[CaptainWiese91]

I really hopes so! First time I’m trying this strain😆
As long as I hit the NPK ratio right - I should be okay 👍🏻

[quirk]

There's nothing on earth that doesn't have an expiration date. Common sense separates the wheat from the chaff.

[ellz]

No need to get snippy. It's just a question.