Chemical Fertilizers

Marijuana Horticulture

by Jorge Cervantes

The diversity of hydroponic fertilizers is amazing. Local shop owners know which ones work best in the local climate and water. local store owners know a lot about the local water and the growers’ needs. They are in a perfect position to develop their own nutrient solution or adapt one that works well with their water. A few manufacturers do not do their homework and make bad nutrients. Most manufacturers are conscious and manufacture excellent fertilizers. As always, read the entire fertilizer label and follow the directions.

Soluble-chemical fertilizers are an excellent choice for indoor container cultivation. Soluble fertilizers dissolve in water and are easy to control, and they can be easily added or washed (leached) out of the growing medium. Control the exacting amounts of nutrients available to the plants in an available form with water-soluble fertilizers. The soluble fertilizer may be applied in a water solution onto the soil. In general, high quality hydroponic fertilizers that use completely soluble food grade nutrients are the best value. Avoid low quality fertilizers that do not list all necessary micronutrients on the label.

Chemical granular fertilizers work well but can easily be over applied, creating toxic soil. They are almost impossible to leach out fast enough to save the plant.

Osmocote chemical fertilizers are time release and are used by many nurseries because they are easy to apply and only require one application every few months. Using this type of fertilizer may be convenient, but exacting control is lost. They are best suited for ornamental, containerized plants where labor costs and uniform growth are the main concerns.