help me clarify NPK and PPM

aeviaanah

aeviaanah

Well-Known Member
Ive been growing successfully for a few years and do understand what npk and ppm are. I was talking to a friend that has had some problems with feeding.

If i take a nutrient a 10-10-10 and nutrient b 5-5-5...mix them both at recommended dose will i get a mix of nutrient 15-15-15?

now why is there such a big difference in some of these products?

take for instance the flora series from gh. such small numbers when compared to maxi series. i will mix up my maxi series and he mixes up his flora series. both around 1000 ppm. his npk will be much lower than mine.

i just learned the importance of an ec meter and am getting ready to order one. i do use both the ph and ppm meter. can someone link me to a post showing the information i am after?
 
10-10-10 and 5-5-5 are the same thing, basically, so yes, you are right...they would add up to 15-15-15, if mixed that way. It'd also be the same basic idea, in that if you were to mix the 10-10-10 at 1/2 strength, that it would effectively become 5-5-5.
 
so there must be big debate over how much npk a marijuana plant needs?
some of these nutrient products' npks are 10x stronger than others designed for the same phase of the plants life.

so if i give 2x NUTRIENT A with 5-5-5 it would be equivalent to one times that of NUTRIENT B with 10-10-10? being that NPK are the only nutrients within the bottles and share identical derivatives.

would it be correct to say that if a 5-5-5 bottle was doubled, a macro nutrient would also be doubled in dose (to a lethal level).... even tho the npks are still at a safe level of 10-10-10?

i need some clarity here.
 
The N-P and K are your three main macro-nutes. The micros would double as well, but they wouldn't be any more lethal than the macros, at double strength, because all the beginning ratios, would remain the same(in relation to each other). I wouldn't go much stronger than that, though, because you're starting to approach "single-dose burn levels", like MG which is 24-8-16, and is known to burn your plants, if it's mixed full-strength(w/exceptions). Most cannabis-specific ferts are in the 'mid 0-10 range', so use that as a guideline, and you'll be safe. :)
 
aeviaanah said:
so there must be big debate over how much npk a marijuana plant needs?


Not really - read the label on the bottle and give that.



some of these nutrient products' npks are 10x stronger than others designed for the same phase of the plants life.

Because you only give one tenth as much
Click to expand...

You may like to read my link below on NPK
 
aeviaanah said:
would a nutrient lower in npk raise ppm less that a nutrient with higher npk?
Click to expand...


Oooh, that's a tough one to answer. Lemme put it this way...the NPK are your nutrients, so unless the manufacturer derived them from different substances, or used different fillers, the PPM would be the same for each, if they were both mixed at 10-10-10, for example. Another example, would be Calmag vs. epsom salts. When I mix my Calmag at full strength, it's PPM is somewhere around 100 PPM, and epsoms mixed at 1 tbsp per gallon, is over 1000 PPM. Does that mean there's 10x as much magnesium in the epsom mixture? No, not necessarily. It indicates that there's a shitload of 'filler salts' in the epsom, which is why I tend to avoid it. Hmm....was that any help?lol
 
jawbrodt said:
It indicates that there's a shitload of 'filler salts' in the epsom, which is why I tend to avoid it.
Click to expand...

Epsom salts is pure hydrated magnesium sulphate. MgSO4.7H2O

And nothing else.

Do not understand at all what you are referring to as ´filler salts´.
 
I think what you're asking, is.....If 500 PPM worked for brand A, would it also work if I switched to brand B? The answer is "no", generally. PPM is used to monitor the specific type of fert you're currently using, and shouldn't be applied to another brand,(should you switch) until you know for sure, that they're interchangeable. Most won't be.
 
Spanishfly said:
Epsom salts is pure hydrated magnesium sulphate. MgSO4.7H2O And nothing else.

Do not understand at all what you are referring to as ´filler salts´.
Click to expand...


Honestly, I never looked into it. I used it once, saw the PPM was waaaay higher than any fert I had been using, and assumed that there was way too much of something that I didn't want in there, then went to Calmag.lol Either that, or it was waaaay more potent than I was led to believe. Either way, I don't let my runoff ever get much over 1000 PPM, so the epsom had to go. My bad. :)

Thanks for the clarification though. :)
 
I just give a teaspoonful of Epsom salts per gallon just 2 or 3 times during the grow - to supply my plants with the vital trace element Mg. Read my link below.
Do not use a PPM whatever that is. Probably just as well if it tells you to keep your plants deficient in Mg.
 
look at it like this ur ppms are your dinner plate and the NPK is the food..you cant serve a big dinner unless your plate is big enough..so if your ppms are low and the NPk is high ur ganna be hungry lol
 
Spanishfly said:
I just give a teaspoonful of Epsom salts per gallon just 2 or 3 times during the grow - to supply my plants with the vital trace element Mg. Read my link below.
Do not use a PPM whatever that is. Probably just as well if it tells you to keep your plants deficient in Mg.
Click to expand...


I don't think we're really doing anything any different. Epsom is just more potent, as opposed to Calmag. Calmag is recommended to be used every watering, whereas you use epsom periodically. Same thing, different routine.
 
i have a few plants that pistils are dying off already....some are 50 percent and others are around 25 percent dead pistils. is this normal for the beginning of week 4? could this be strain related, overnuting or what?

it always seems that when pistils die the nug stops getting bigger...am i right?
 
aeviaanah said:
Ive been growing successfully for a few years and do understand what npk and ppm are. I was talking to a friend that has had some problems with feeding.

If i take a nutrient a 10-10-10 and nutrient b 5-5-5...mix them both at recommended dose will i get a mix of nutrient 15-15-15?

now why is there such a big difference in some of these products?

take for instance the flora series from gh. such small numbers when compared to maxi series. i will mix up my maxi series and he mixes up his flora series. both around 1000 ppm. his npk will be much lower than mine.

i just learned the importance of an ec meter and am getting ready to order one. i do use both the ph and ppm meter. can someone link me to a post showing the information i am after?
Click to expand...
Sorry bro, I just noticed that you posted in my thread asking for help. I've been busy this weekend so I've only been on here for a few minutes here and there. :joint:

OK, NPK ratios are a bit confusing but this is how I understand them. A fert with a ratio of 10-10-10 will be the same ratio as 5-5-5. The difference is the concentrations. The numbers in each refer to the percentage of N, P, and K, respectively. :mrgreen:

PPM and EC are essectially the same thing just interpreted differently. EC stands for Electrical Conductivity. PPM is parts per million. Pure water won't conduct a current but if you start putting minerals in it suddenly it will conduct. The more minerals, the more conductive. PPM is simply EC which is converted into a more familiar measurement. This stuff is difficult to explain over the internet. You can use either ppm or ec it's personal preference. EC is supposed to be more accurate but it's really whatever you're comfortable. I'm a bit older so I prefer ppm.:weed:
 
doc111 said:
Sorry bro, I just noticed that you posted in my thread asking for help. I've been busy this weekend so I've only been on here for a few minutes here and there. :joint:

OK, NPK ratios are a bit confusing but this is how I understand them. A fert with a ratio of 10-10-10 will be the same ratio as 5-5-5. The difference is the concentrations. The numbers in each refer to the percentage of N, P, and K, respectively. :mrgreen:

PPM and EC are essectially the same thing just interpreted differently. EC stands for Electrical Conductivity. PPM is parts per million. Pure water won't conduct a current but if you start putting minerals in it suddenly it will conduct. The more minerals, the more conductive. PPM is simply EC which is converted into a more familiar measurement. This stuff is difficult to explain over the internet. You can use either ppm or ec it's personal preference. EC is supposed to be more accurate but it's really whatever you're comfortable. I'm a bit older so I prefer ppm.:weed:
Click to expand...


thanks for the post...ive learned a bit since i asked. :) appreciate it. ive had some hermie problems...removed the two plants with bananas. im crossing my fingers that seeds arent forming where pistils have been dying. every time i spot a seed (in undesignated areas) i pop it. im thinking of going and buying some dutch masters reverse...as this stops male flowers from forming.
 
aeviaanah said:
thanks for the post...ive learned a bit since i asked. :) appreciate it. ive had some hermie problems...removed the two plants with bananas. im crossing my fingers that seeds arent forming where pistils have been dying. every time i spot a seed (in undesignated areas) i pop it. im thinking of going and buying some dutch masters reverse...as this stops male flowers from forming.
Click to expand...
Sorry I was tardy to the party my friend.:cry:
 
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