Why Use Lucas Method?

J

jannabana69631

Member
OK...I have been using the Lucas Method. I am about 4 weeks into flower and all is good, but buds seemed small to me. I am using GH nutes and decided that last night I was going to use their recommended dosing for flowering which was 10ml micro & 20ml bloom. The only additive I use is calmag plus(RO water). I checked like 10 hours later and my buds have exploded! They are about twice the size. And my leaves are nice and perky. I am a newbie to this, but why do people choose the Lucas method?
I followed the doseage 8ml micro 16ml bloom. Is there usualy an increase in yield with the LM? Do so many people use it cause its easy?
What are your expieriences? Thanks people!
 
Serapis

Serapis

Well-Known Member
I'm not sure about 10 hours, but buds due tend to develop rapidly in size in weeks 4-6 in my experience, depending on several factors. I use the Lucas formula with GH Flora Nova series and get great results. I do use the Fox Farms solubles however, only because I already paid for them and at one pound per container, it's going to take several grows to use it up. :)
 
hellraizer30

hellraizer30

Rebel From The North
people use lucas for the simple formula, and most of the time its going to
give a newer grower a safe way to feed without nute burn. also the reason
is and I dont recamend it is he cliams at this formula you can go a hole grow
with doing a res change. Ive used lucas and everytime I ran into a def. and
small plant. as soon as I changed the mix to a higher ratio thing were alot better!!
 
Serapis

Serapis

Well-Known Member
Good points. I let the plant dictate the ppms...... I only follow the Lucas ratio, not the measurements. I've had a plant up to 1600 ppms because it wanted it and was asking for more.. I couldn't bring myself to go past 1600 ppm.

hellraizer30 said:
people use lucas for the simple formula, and most of the time its going to
give a newer grower a safe way to feed without nute burn. also the reason
is and I dont recamend it is he cliams at this formula you can go a hole grow
with doing a res change. Ive used lucas and everytime I ran into a def. and
small plant. as soon as I changed the mix to a higher ratio thing were alot better!!
Click to expand...
 
Beansly

Beansly

RIU Bulldog
Ok, I'll ask the obvious question,; what is the lucas method?
Is there a link someone could give me read the original tread?

:dunce:
 
PetFlora

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
If you are employing D2W (and you should) thn Lucas formula is unnecessary. At best it is a band-aid as recirculating spent nutes make no sense. They can only F-uo you rez ppms and pH
 
Serapis

Serapis

Well-Known Member
There is no such thing as recirculating "spent" nutrients. Nutrients that are spent, or used, are no longer part of the ppm solution. And My PH has never been more stable then when following the Lucas ratios with GH Flora products.

PetFlora said:
If you are employing D2W (and you should) thn Lucas formula is unnecessary. At best it is a band-aid as recirculating spent nutes make no sense. They can only F-uo you rez ppms and pH
Click to expand...
 
Cloner X

Cloner X

Member
Beansly said:
Thanks but I was wondering why this was supposed to work.
Click to expand...
The quick and simple answer: It's all about plant-specific nutrient ratios. Lucas came up with some generic ratios that can be adapted to by using various amounts of popular nutrients. Others have adapted Lucas' formula and dialed it in for their specific substrate/environment and it still proves a good/simple place to start.
 
Beansly

Beansly

RIU Bulldog
Ratios for efficient nutrient uptake I assume? Or ph balance? Isn't that why there's directions on the bottle?

hmm. Idk, seems unnecessarily complicated but ok.
Maybe i'll eat my words someday..
 
Cloner X

Cloner X

Member
Beansly said:
seems unnecessarily complicated but ok.
Maybe i'll eat my words someday..
Click to expand...
It might be more complicated of a process than most would undergo, but thankfully most don't have to since Lucas did his homework. There is a nutrient calculator at Angelfire for those that would like to figure it out for themselves. However, i wouldn't say it's unnecessarily complicated, because it saves those that follow the forumla - such as myself - a lot of money. Take the GH 3 part nute solution, for example. Using the version of the Lucas formula that i follow, which has been specifically adapted to growing in coco coir, i can cut out one part of the 3 part system. Everything my plants need to be perfectly happy can be found in a ratio of 6 parts Flora Micro to 9 parts Flora Bloom throughout most of the grow. If i simply followed the instructions on the bottle (which will be neither specifically tailored for MJ growing, nor for growing in coco coir) i would have had to also buy the Flora Grow and would be using all of them at a higher concentration than is necessary for healthy MJ development. Just sayin... ;)
 
homebrewer

homebrewer

Well-Known Member
jannabana69631 said:
OK...I have been using the Lucas Method. I am about 4 weeks into flower and all is good, but buds seemed small to me. I am using GH nutes and decided that last night I was going to use their recommended dosing for flowering which was 10ml micro & 20ml bloom. The only additive I use is calmag plus(RO water). I checked like 10 hours later and my buds have exploded! They are about twice the size.
Click to expand...
You're seeing what you want to see and you're going to really hurt your plants with the 10m and 20b feeding level. Mark my words.
 
Beansly

Beansly

RIU Bulldog
Cloner X said:
It might be more complicated of a process than most would undergo, but thankfully most don't have to since Lucas did his homework. There is a nutrient calculator at Angelfire for those that would like to figure it out for themselves. However, i wouldn't say it's unnecessarily complicated, because it saves those that follow the forumla - such as myself - a lot of money. Take the GH 3 part nute solution, for example. Using the version of the Lucas formula that i follow, which has been specifically adapted to growing in coco coir, i can cut out one part of the 3 part system. Everything my plants need to be perfectly happy can be found in a ratio of 6 parts Flora Micro to 9 parts Flora Bloom throughout most of the grow. If i simply followed the instructions on the bottle (which will be neither specifically tailored for MJ growing, nor for growing in coco coir) i would have had to also buy the Flora Grow and would be using all of them at a higher concentration than is necessary for healthy MJ development. Just sayin... ;)
Click to expand...
I appretiate your candor. Your answer actually re-peaks my interest in this lucas thing and now i'll now give it a second, harder look. Rather than someone basically calling me stupid and making me completely uninterested in the lucas formula. Thanks.
 
Cloner X

Cloner X

Member
Beansly said:
I appretiate your candor. Your answer actually re-peaks my interest in this lucas thing and now i'll now give it a second, harder look. Rather than someone basically calling me stupid and making me completely uninterested in the lucas formula. Thanks.
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It truly is a great place to start. One can always start simple and then add only what is necessary for your specific strains, environment and growing medium as you go along. Peace, pot and prudence!
 
Neumann

Neumann

Active Member
Like it's been said, Lucas is a good starting point, It will give you decent results and if followed correctly will be a simple grow. The thing is it's best used for a starting point, You get to understand what the plants requirements are and how to manipulate the formulas to give you the N-P-K-ratios you want. That's the key, it's the ratio's more than PPM. Read this http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/fourtwenty/articles/profiles.htm It's probably the best guide to understanding the Lucas formula.
 
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