Reddit mentions of General Hydroponics HGC718281 MaxiBloom Plant Food For Flowers, 2.2 lb

MaxiBloom is the easiest and I believe cheapest bet. Breakdown of cost: 2.2lb=997gms, 7gm per gl=142gl solution. $14.54/142=.10gl. And follow the Lucas Formula. Big Thanks! To MrMajors for pointing it out to me :)

Yeah MG has a nasty habit of downvoting things that work but don’t look cool or are cutting edge.

I use maxibloom powder as my main nute. 5-15-14, calmag included. Plus suppliments of course (add N in veg, PK in flower), but I could get by fine with just maxibloom.

I’m pretty sure GH and Scott’s are all the same company.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NXVZQUW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_yXzMAb40A1Y7D

General Hydroponics MaxiBloom for Gardening, 2.2-Pound https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NXVZQUW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_yrnfzbR1PEFQ5 So this is all you need and your set ? You won't need anything else ?

Yeah, Maxibloom is 100% complete and can be used in hydro, soilless or even soil (although I never use it in actual soil). At 1/2tsp to 1tsp per gallon a 1kg bag goes a LONG way. Growing like 14 plants in 5 to 20 gallon pots I went through just a little over 1 bag in a season from April til late August. Best thing ever IMO, peppers and tomatoes love it. Makes growing in inert soilless mix a snap.

It's pretty cheap too, $14.50 for a 1kg bag on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-MaxiBloom-Gardening-2-2-Pound/dp/B00NXVZQUW

I can't find any good pics of my tomatos but this is an Aji Lemon Drop pepper in a 20 gal pot of promix + perlite that was fed nothing but maxibloom its whole life: http://i.imgur.com/GdmaZj6.jpg

In dirt in my raised beds for peppers and tomatoes I amend the soil with cow manure compost, turkey manure compost & top dress with tomato tone.

In containers I like to grow in ProMix BX and I use General Hydroponics Maxibloom which is a dry, water soluble 1 part complete fertilizer that has all the macro & micro nutrients you need. It grows amazing peppers and tomatoes and doesn't require any additional supplements like cal-mag or epsom salt. From planting out til end of season it's the only thing I use for my peppers & tomatoes.

Plus it's super cheap at $12.49 for a 2.2lb bag on Amazon. If you have ever heard of the Lucas Formula Maxibloom at 7g/gallon of water is spot on.

For seedlings I like to use kelp & fish emulsion until planting out.

https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-MaxiBloom-Gardening-2-2-Pound/dp/B00NXVZQUW

Here's what I have so far and my quick write up.

My dad started the tomato plant that I am using in soil. He had too many for his garden, so I used that instead of starting one from seed in rockwool. My next plant will be started from seed.

I picked up a 5 gal bucket and Lid from Home Depot. <$5.

I cut a hole in the Lid to fit the 3" Net Cups. I put one right in the center. I quickly found out the cup it too small to support the plant so I had to use a support stick. I just bought this 6" net cup bucket lid.

The plant is supported in Expanded Clay balls. I chose this material as apposed to 'Hydroton, Coco coir, Viagrow stones, pearlite...' because from my very little research I found the clay to be the most environmentally friendly and easiest to use, disclaimer: I could be very wrong here.

The nutrient solution used General Hydroponics Maxi Grow. Simple to use, add X scoops per X gal of water. I am about to switch to Maxi Bloom. She is flowering and starting to produce fruit. I do now know when the best time to switch solutions. I am learning by experiment here.

To keep the nutrient solution oxygenated, I used this Air pump,two of of these air stones, and tubing. Any items will do, I used this products because I know an employee of Penn Plax and got them for cost $. Any pump will work, I got a two outlet pump for future expansion.

You should also be sure to have the correct pH for your particular plant. Here is a chart and a great site. I used this pH Test Kit and pH adjust.

It's that simple. Right now the plant is outside and gets about 8 hours of sun. I plan on keeping it outside as long as possible, then will bring it in and have to choose a light source for it.


tl;dr What I used for my first DWC tomato plant experiment. Step 1: Click all links above. Step2: Buy. Step 3: Tomatoes

Edit: Also, Watch this video

Most hydroponic nutrients are going to be acidic so they'll be bringing the pH down by themselves.

To get your solution into the ideal pH range for hydroponics (5.5 - 6.5 pH although preferably somewhere between 5.8 - 6.2 pH) you will normally only need to use pH down.

Mixing up pH up might save you a few $ but it could also be unsafe and as well as that you'll have way more pH up than you'll ever need. Imo it's unsafe to mix these chemicals yourself and you won't be using much pH up anyway so just buy a small bottle of it.

pH down is either going to be phosphoric acid or sulfuric acid suspended in water. The pH down I use is 85% phosphoric acid in water which is the same percentage you'll get if you buy phosphoric acid by itself.

The 85% phosphoric acid is VERY strong and you'll need to be very careful with it, it will burn skin or even wood if you spill it.

85% phosphoric acid is also very potent. I usually need 5-10 drops (Somewhere around 0.1 ml - 0.2ml ) to get from 6.9 pH to 6.0 pH.

 

I'd highly recommend buying some hydroponic nutrients instead of miracle grow. A bag of General Hydroponics MaxiBloom will last you a long time. 7 grams mixed into 1 gallon of water will give a gallon of full strength nutrients which has a high enough EC/ppm even for a fully grown plant. I suggest taking a look at this article, taking note of the MaxiBloom reccomendations.

Your plant would at this stage only need 1/4 to 1/2 strength nutes (1/2 at most).

When I was using 7 grams of MaxiBloom to 1 gallon of water and leaving it over night the gallon would go to 5.8 pH overnight by itself, the MaxiBloom has a buffer into it.

The best way to mix it up is to get a small bottle, add the 7 grams of powder then add some very hot (but not boiling water) and then shake it until the powder is dissolved. After that, pour the small bottle of nutrients/water into a gallon jug and then add 1 gallon (3.785 litres) of water.


Sorry for the long post, lol, I'm quite passionate about this topic.

I'd highly suggest following the K.I.S.S (Keep it simple stoner, err stupid lol) lucas formula way of growing. All this means is giving the plant everything it needs in a single step formula, the general rule being giving it more fertilizer past this wouldn't increase your results because the plant simply can't make use of it past what you already gave it.

What I use to achieve this is General Hydroponics MaxiBloom, you can pickup a 2.2lb bag for less than $13 on amazon. You only need 0.75-1 teaspoon per gallon of water (depending on the rate of which each individual plant requires its nutes), 1 bag easily lasts me 2-3 grows and I'm using close to 300+ gallons of water per grow.

You don't need any other nutrient in veg, this is it (well, besides silicia for thickness & seaweed after transplants to hasten recovery/help prevent shock). Yes it's a bloom nutrient but the nitrogen levels are more than sufficient for veg, the maxigro line for example would only result in more elongated/lanky plants without increased light/Co2.

To dissolve the mixture is simple, I fill my sink with warm water, fill a mason jar half way with water and add my 1 teaspoon in. I let the mason jar sit in the warm water shaking the jar periodically until it's completely dissolved. Add it to the gallon and you're ready to feed!

Please don't be dissuaded by my lengthy explanation, it's rather easy as hell! Liquid nutrients are a waste when it comes to veg nutes imo, you're mostly paying for water.

Maxibloom flower is all you'll need for basic growing. 7+ grams per gallon (for the explanation on the method) and you can get it here. I just did this for a tent in a soil grow and it worked pretty well. You might have to dial the amount depending on your strain and plant size but once you find it, you won't need 5 different additives to mix.

Doesn't get any easier or cheaper than this for beginners.

For lettuce:
https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-MaxiGro-Gardening-2-2-Pound/dp/B00NQANQAC/ref=sr_1_25?srs=3029221011&ie=UTF8&qid=1498793863&sr=8-25

For tomatoes:
https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-MaxiBloom-Gardening-2-2-Pound/dp/B00NXVZQUW/ref=pd_bxgy_86_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00NXVZQUW&pd_rd_r=N34HAQYTWQ06PBVKJ5Q6&pd_rd_w=AjPTO&pd_rd_wg=pRXDh&psc=1&refRID=N34HAQYTWQ06PBVKJ5Q6

If hydro does not work out for you, you can still use these products for regular gardening.

Could try some MaxiBloom

I've had some peppers do this during this growing season. I can't say for sure what it was but giving them some calcium seemed to helped. So either they are having trouble absorbing the calcium or they just weren't getting enough period.

First round I just used some random calcium supplements I had around the house that I crushed up and dissolved in water. I've moved up in the world now and I switched my fertilizer to this. It has a nice amount of magnesium, calcium, and a couple other micro-nutrients.

So far the issue hasn't returned so I must be doing something right.

these?

General Hydroponics MaxiBloom for Gardening, 2.2-Pound https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NXVZQUW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UfwEybVRY0PTH

General Hydroponics Liquid Kool Bloom Fertilizers, 1-Quart https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DV8TBQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_PgwEybNG19KZF

how long will each of these last me? what's the better bang for buck?

Working great for me:

https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-MaxiGro-Gardening-2-2-Pound/dp/B01N1TQZ21/ref=sr_1_4?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1484365456&sr=1-4&keywords=general+hydroponics+maxigro

https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-MaxiBloom-Gardening-2-2-Pound/dp/B00NXVZQUW/ref=sr_1_3?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1484365487&sr=1-3&keywords=general+hydroponics+maxigro