Plants need nutrients just the way humans need food. Nutrients provide the plants with energy as well as help them with various important functions! While soil-based nutrients are quite popular and commonly available, hydroponic nutrients are also in major demand, thanks to an increasing number of growers trying out hydroponics these days. However, many times these nutrients tend to be quite expensive. Over the course of this article, we shall be taking a look at some of the best cheap hydroponic nutrients for growers.
In addition to that, we shall also be looking at many other basic things that growers need to know – such as understanding the basics of nutrients and why they are important for growing marijuana plants. Furthermore, we take a detailed look at hydroponic nutrients. After that we deep-dive into the 5 cheap hydroponic nutrients which are great for giving your plants an added advantage. Post that, we look at the FAQs and then conclude!
Understanding Nutrients: Why are they Important?
As stated in the opening lines of this article, nutrients are very important because they’re almost similar to what food is to humans! Plants need nutrients in order to produce energy, as well as to ensure that their chemical composition remains stable. Nutrients help the plant in various ways as some nutrients help them with strengthening the roots while there are others which help them in absorbing the sunlight in a better manner. Then there are many benefits associated during the flowering stage as well, as nutrients help the flowers bloom better as well as ensure that they do not rot. In growing marijuana, nutrients help increase the quantity of the end product, as well as have a major impact on the taste and the potency (and in some cases the smell as well) of the weed.
Importance of Hydroponic Nutrients
Nutrients are usually administered to soil-based plants by mixing them with water and pouring that water in the soil. In hydroponic nutrients, the entire solution that is providing water to the plants will need to be mixed with the nutrient supplements and the whole system will have access to the same water supply. Hydroponic plants also require nutrients to grow and since they have no soil which absorbs the water and the nutrients, they need a constant replacement and growers need to ensure fresh nutrients and water is added to the system from time to time.
5 Cheap Hydroponic Nutrients That Will Help Boost Your Plants!
Here’s a closer look at the 5 cheap hydroponic nutrients which are the best options for growers who are looking forward to giving their plants a much needed supplement boost.
1. FoxFarm FX14050 Big Bloom, Grow Big & Tiger Bloom Liquid Fertilizer
- Start with Grow Big Hydro for abundant green growth
- Switch to Tiger Bloom at the first sign of bud set or flowering
For those looking forward to buying hydroponic nutrients, one brand that they can easily trust is that of FoxFarm, which has been around for quite some time and has been making plant nutrients which have been globally appreciated. This is a good ‘combo deal’ where you are getting three liquid nutrients for your plants! These are among some of the best cheap hydroponic nutrients and provide the growers with just the perfect combination.
The three bottles that you get here are: ‘Tiger Bloom’, which is to be used during the plant’s blooming/flowering phase, ‘Grow Big Hydro’, which is the first one to be used as it is used during the growth/vegetative stage. This fertilizer helps ensure that the growers will be getting a strong, green growth! Once you’ve used grow big and notice that flowering is beginning, it is the time to switch to tiger bloom. The third bottle here is ‘big bloom’, which can be used during both the phases of growth as it helps the plants grow stronger and ensures root strength as well as good flowering. All three bottles here are 32 ounces each. This is indeed a great product for hydro growers.
Pros
- Two nutrients dedicated to a phase and one for generic use
- Trusted brand
- Clear instructions which are simple to follow, beginner friendly product
Cons
- Not viable for large-scale growers
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2. General Hydroponics GH5100 General Organics Go Box GH
- General Organics Provides Gardeners With A Complete Line Of Premium Biological Plant Foods And Supplements
- We Combine The Time-Tested Ingredients Of Traditional Agriculture With Sustainable And Efficient Methods Of Modern Cultivation
General hydroponics is another huge name in the world of plant nutrients. All the products on this list apart from the first one come from the same company! This is just the perfect starter kit for those who are just starting off with their journey of growing plants hydroponically. This ‘go box’ comes with premium supplements! Here, you get a set of 8 bottles – these include the two main ones (16 oz each) BioThrive Grow and BioThrive Bloom. There are 6 sample nutrients as well, which come in 8oz bottles. These sample nutrients are BioWeed, BioBud, BioMarine, Clamond Black, BioRoot and CaMg+.
Coming to the two main nutrients that you will be getting here, they are BioThrive Grow and BioThrive Bloom. As their names suggest, the former is to be used during the growth stage while the latter is to be used when the flowering/blooming stage begins. These are just the essentials that the plants need, especially while you grow them on a hydroponic setup. Another thing that is quite appealing about these products is that they are very easy to mix and ensure that your plants get the best of supplements for a healthy growth.
Pros
- While not 100% organic, they’re quite close to organic products and work really well
- Easy to mix
Cons
- The smell of these nutrients might be a turn-off for some growers
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3. General Hydroponics Flora Grow, Bloom, Micro Combo Fertilizer set
- GH Flora Series is the original Building Block Nutrient System imitated but never duplicated; Contains complete Primary, Secondary and Micro Nutrients for...
- Users can adjust mixtures to suit specific plant needs; Enhances flavor, nutrition, aroma and essential oils in both hydroponic and soil cultivated plants
A set of three from General Hydroponics. These are considered among the best cheap hydroponic nutrients for those looking forward to grow their plants via that technique! These are three bottles, measuring 1 quart each (1 quart = 946 ml) and are just the complete package for hydroponic growers. The three nutrients that you get here are FloraBloom, FloraMicro and FloraGro. Here’s a detailed look at all three of them:
- FloraGro is the Potassium-rich nutrient which is great for your plants during their growth stage. When you look at the exact NPK composition here, it stands in at 2-1-6
- FloraBloom, as the name indicates, is great for plants which are in their blooming phase and when flowers begin to emerge. This is high on Potassium and Phosphorus and low on Nitrogen as it stands in at 0-5-4 when you look at its NPK composition.
- FloraMicro, which consists of multiple micronutrients can be used across both the stages of growth and is high on nitrogen and low on everything else, featuring a NPK composition of 5-0-1.
Pros
- Very simple to use and great for beginners as well as advanced growers
- A set of three for all phases of the growth of the plant
- One of the best cheap hydroponic nutrients when you look at the NPK compositions
Cons
- Not a good option for large-scale growers
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4. General Hydroponics 718281+718301 Maxigro and Maxibloom Fertilizer
- Maxigro and maxi bloom are stand-alone, water-soluble, dry concentrated nutrients
- Maxigro and maxi bloom will provide superior results when used with a wide variety of crops in all hy
A set of two nutrients from General Hydroponics, the MaxiGro and MaxiBloom are a little different from what we have seen here so far. While most nutrients here are in the form of liquids, these are dry concentrates! Among the best cheap hydroponic nutrients, these powders are to be mixed in water and they would mix well with them and then be supplied to the plants! Both the packs here are of 1kg each – 2.2 lbs for those who prefer the other system of measurement!
MaxiGro offers the growers with an NPK composition of 10-5-14, which makes it great for the growth stage of plants. This supplement will help ensure that the vegetation is thick and green. The MaxiBloom, which is to be provided during the blooming and the flowering stage of the plant’s life cycle, comes with a composition of 5-15-14 and helps ensure that the flowers grow well. These are among the best cheap hydroponic nutrients because they are basically a powder and that usually costs cheaper than liquids.
Pros
- Very cheap and economical option for growers
- Has quite a long shelf life
Cons
- Powder, so has to be mixed and dissolved in water – making it a little inconvenient for some growers
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5. General Hydroponics CALiMAGic Quart
- CALiMAGic is a concentrated blend of readily available Calcium and Magnesium
- It is formulated to assist fast growing plants by preventing secondary nutrient deficiencies
This is a 2-pack product, again from General Hydroponics. The company is one of the most trusted players in the markets for growers who are looking forward to buying cheap hydroponic nutrients. This is Calimagic – which is basically a clever wordplay on Calcium and Magnesium. These are two major nutrients needed by plants for various aspects of their development and growth. These are secondary nutrients which are great for your plants, especially during the bloom phase by making sure that there’s no problem such as rotting or burns. This has to be added 1ml per liter.
Pros
- Provides secondary nutrients Calcium and Magnesium
- Lasts for a really long time
Cons
- Lowers the pH level of the overall solution
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Frequently Asked Questions about Nutrients for Growing Cannabis
Here are the answers to some of the most commonly and frequently asked questions about nutrients for growing cannabis. You, too, might be having similar questions and this section attempts to answer just that!
1. What is hydroponics?
While most people tend to prefer growing their marijuana in soil, which is the traditional and old-school way of doing it, there’s a generation of new growers who are willing to experiment with that and are now growing using hydroponics, which is a water-intensive way of growing plants. Here, instead of having soil as the medium, you can either use coco coir, stone wool or other similar porous mediums or simply eliminate the medium completely! Here, the water (as well as the nutrients) reach the plants directly instead of having to go via soil – which ensures a faster growth and a higher yield as well.
2. What is the difference between regular nutrients and hydroponic nutrients?
Regular nutrients are taken up by plants via soil – they are mixed in water and then they are added to the soil, from where the roots of the plants absorb it. These nutrients are basically added to the soil which stores them for a long time. However, when growing hydroponically, there’s no soil and the water that is running through the hydroponic system is in itself carrying the nutrient-rich solution which the plants have a direct and easy access to.
3. What are the benefits of providing nutrients to plants?
Nutrients are needed to ensure that the plants are getting a good and sustained growth. Plants need nutrients to provide them an extra bit of support during various phases of their growth. Basically, during their vegetative stage, the nutrients help them provide extra density of greenery and during the flowering stages, nutrients help ensure that the flowers are blooming well. They also help increase the overall yield. Furthermore, another benefit of using nutrients is that they help the growers ensure that their plants are potent and have a good taste as well as a good aroma.
4. Why are pH levels important for nutrients?
pH levels need to be kept properly balanced in order for the plants to get sufficient nutrients. The basic thing that growers need to know is that if the pH levels go too low or too high, the nutrients that you are providing the plants get locked out and plants have a hard time absorbing them. This is why growers need to constantly monitor the changing pH levels. These levels should ideally be between 6.0 to 6.5.
6. Which is better: liquid nutrients or powder nutrients?
This is again a matter of personal choice – some people prefer using powder nutrients while others prefer using liquid nutrients. However we would like to highlight one major thing here since this is an article on the best cheap hydroponic nutrients, powder nutrients are cheaper compared to liquid nutrients. Powder nutrients also tend to have a longer shelf life when you compare them with water nutrients – they are a good option for large-scale growers or for those who grow in greenhouses as they need nutrients in a really large quantity. Liquid fertilizers and nutrients are a more convenient option for small-scale and home-growers as they allow them an easier operation.
Conclusion
To conclude, we hope that this article on the best cheap nutrients has helped you understand the needs of your plants in a much better manner and you now know which are the 5 best options you have! These are not only good nutrients but they’re also pocket-friendly as they are not as costly as some other options available in the markets. Nutrients are critical for growers as they help their plants stay protected as well as grow bigger and more potent. If there’s anything that you feel we’ve missed out on, or if there’s something you’d like to let us know about hydroponic nutrients, do let us know in the comments below or drop us a mail about the same!
Happy Growing! 🙂
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