Seedling
Well-Known Member
In my mad quest to obtain as much knowledge about nute requirements for our beloved plant, I have some information on what I've learned and I'd like to share it with the group. This information is a collection from around the internet, from the General Hydroponics' (GH) website and beyond.
The standard Lucas Formula uses two of three products which make up the GH Flora series. The "FloraGrow" (not to be confused with FloraNova Grow) product of the three part Flora series is not used in the Lucas Formula. Lucas Formula only uses the FloraMicro and FloraBloom components of the series. Lucas Formula uses 8 ml of FloraMicro, and 16 ml of FloraBloom, per gallon, the entire grow, no other additives are required. The labels are as such:
Lucas Formula targets (parts per million) of 100N-100P-200K-60Mg as the requirements for marijuana through all stages of growth. Using 7.5 ml/gal of FloraMicro, and 15 ml/gal FloraBloom, 122N-99P-171K-68Mg is achieved. Lucas Formula rounds off to use 8 ml FloraMicro and 16 ml FloraBloom, so the N-P-K-Mg ppm will be slightly higher than the previously stated 122N-99P-171K-68Mg values using 7.5ml/15ml respectively. Using 8 ml FloraMicro and 16 ml FloraBloom, the N-P-K-Mg values are 130N-106P-183K-73Mg. The total PPM of the solution will vary depending on water quality used. Keep in mind that there are also other elements in the Micro and Bloom bottles besides the N-P-K-Mg, so the ppm will be higher than if you simply added together the previously stated N-P-K-Mg ppm. The following is a link from where the information was obtained, and a pic from that link:
http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/fourtwenty/articles/profiles.htm
Just for a price comparison, I will use one ebay seller that sells all the GH products, so as to get a rough idea of cost per gallon of res. Your prices may vary, especially since buying more bulk means cheaper rates. I'll use the one quart bottle prices for this comparison.
1 qt of FloraMicro is $16.71
1 qt of FloraBloom is $14.75
1 Quart=946 ml.
FloraMicro is $0.01766 per ml, or $0.14128 per 8 ml.
FloraBloom is $0.01559 per ml, or $0.24944 per 16 ml.
So using the FloraMicro and FloraBloom for the Lucas Formula at these prices, it costs $0.39072, or 39 cents per gallon of mixed (with water) solution, rounded off.
A quart of FloraMicro will treat 118.25 gallons
A quart of FloraBloom will treat 59.125 gallons
FloraNova Bloom is another product that can be used for the Lucas Formula, instead of using the FloraMicro FloraBloom products.
The label for FloraNova Bloom:
As you can see, FloraNova Bloom has a 4-8-7 N-P-K.
Lucas Formula for FloraNova Bloom is 8 ml per gallon. At 8 ml per gallon, using the ppm calculator on the bottom of the page at the following link, FloraNova Bloom N-P-K-Mg values are:
http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/fourtwenty/articles/profiles.htm#profilecalculator
FloraNova Bloom at 8 ml/gal has values of 90N-74P-123K-42Mg
A little lacking in all compared to the target of 100N-100P-200K-60Mg. In order to more closely achieve the target values, more than the recommended Lucas Formula of 8ml/gal is required. 10ml/gal would be closer to the target 100N-100P-200K-60Mg, at 124N-101P-169K-58Mg, but be a little higher in N and a little lower in K than target:
Price comparison:
1 qt of FloraNova Bloom is $22.
1 qt=946 ml.
FloraNova Bloom is $0.02326 per ml, or $0.18608 for 8 ml-per gallon of res (Lucas recommendation), or if bumped up to 10 ml to achieve target values, $0.2326 per 10 ml-per gallon of res.
So using the FloraNova Bloom for the Lucas Formula at these prices, it costs 18.608 cents, or 23.26 cents per gallon res depending on mixed strength.
A quart of FloraNova Bloom will treat 118.25 gallons at 8ml per gallon, or it will treat 94.6 gallons if mixed at 10 ml per gallon.
The last option I will list for the Lucas Formula is GH MaxiBloom. It is a dry powder with a 5-15-14 N-P-K.
Mixed at 7 grams per gallon of water, the N-P-K-Mg are 92N-121P-215K-65Mg:
Price comparison:
4.4lbs MaxiBloom is $32.53
1 lb=454 grams.
MaxiBloom is $0.01628 per gram, or $0.11396 per gallon of res.
So using MaxiBloom for the Lucas Formula at these prices it costs the least of the comparison at 11.396 cents per gallon of res.
A 4.4 lb bag will treat 285 gallons of res.
I hope you find this info informative. I've read so much on the Lucas Formula and these GH products in the last couple weeks that I feel I am well informed on the subject, but not all knowing, for sure. If you have any questions I will try to help and give links if possible.
The standard Lucas Formula uses two of three products which make up the GH Flora series. The "FloraGrow" (not to be confused with FloraNova Grow) product of the three part Flora series is not used in the Lucas Formula. Lucas Formula only uses the FloraMicro and FloraBloom components of the series. Lucas Formula uses 8 ml of FloraMicro, and 16 ml of FloraBloom, per gallon, the entire grow, no other additives are required. The labels are as such:
Lucas Formula targets (parts per million) of 100N-100P-200K-60Mg as the requirements for marijuana through all stages of growth. Using 7.5 ml/gal of FloraMicro, and 15 ml/gal FloraBloom, 122N-99P-171K-68Mg is achieved. Lucas Formula rounds off to use 8 ml FloraMicro and 16 ml FloraBloom, so the N-P-K-Mg ppm will be slightly higher than the previously stated 122N-99P-171K-68Mg values using 7.5ml/15ml respectively. Using 8 ml FloraMicro and 16 ml FloraBloom, the N-P-K-Mg values are 130N-106P-183K-73Mg. The total PPM of the solution will vary depending on water quality used. Keep in mind that there are also other elements in the Micro and Bloom bottles besides the N-P-K-Mg, so the ppm will be higher than if you simply added together the previously stated N-P-K-Mg ppm. The following is a link from where the information was obtained, and a pic from that link:
http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/fourtwenty/articles/profiles.htm
Just for a price comparison, I will use one ebay seller that sells all the GH products, so as to get a rough idea of cost per gallon of res. Your prices may vary, especially since buying more bulk means cheaper rates. I'll use the one quart bottle prices for this comparison.
1 qt of FloraMicro is $16.71
1 qt of FloraBloom is $14.75
1 Quart=946 ml.
FloraMicro is $0.01766 per ml, or $0.14128 per 8 ml.
FloraBloom is $0.01559 per ml, or $0.24944 per 16 ml.
So using the FloraMicro and FloraBloom for the Lucas Formula at these prices, it costs $0.39072, or 39 cents per gallon of mixed (with water) solution, rounded off.
A quart of FloraMicro will treat 118.25 gallons
A quart of FloraBloom will treat 59.125 gallons
FloraNova Bloom is another product that can be used for the Lucas Formula, instead of using the FloraMicro FloraBloom products.
The label for FloraNova Bloom:
As you can see, FloraNova Bloom has a 4-8-7 N-P-K.
Lucas Formula for FloraNova Bloom is 8 ml per gallon. At 8 ml per gallon, using the ppm calculator on the bottom of the page at the following link, FloraNova Bloom N-P-K-Mg values are:
http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/fourtwenty/articles/profiles.htm#profilecalculator
FloraNova Bloom at 8 ml/gal has values of 90N-74P-123K-42Mg
A little lacking in all compared to the target of 100N-100P-200K-60Mg. In order to more closely achieve the target values, more than the recommended Lucas Formula of 8ml/gal is required. 10ml/gal would be closer to the target 100N-100P-200K-60Mg, at 124N-101P-169K-58Mg, but be a little higher in N and a little lower in K than target:
Price comparison:
1 qt of FloraNova Bloom is $22.
1 qt=946 ml.
FloraNova Bloom is $0.02326 per ml, or $0.18608 for 8 ml-per gallon of res (Lucas recommendation), or if bumped up to 10 ml to achieve target values, $0.2326 per 10 ml-per gallon of res.
So using the FloraNova Bloom for the Lucas Formula at these prices, it costs 18.608 cents, or 23.26 cents per gallon res depending on mixed strength.
A quart of FloraNova Bloom will treat 118.25 gallons at 8ml per gallon, or it will treat 94.6 gallons if mixed at 10 ml per gallon.
The last option I will list for the Lucas Formula is GH MaxiBloom. It is a dry powder with a 5-15-14 N-P-K.
Mixed at 7 grams per gallon of water, the N-P-K-Mg are 92N-121P-215K-65Mg:
Price comparison:
4.4lbs MaxiBloom is $32.53
1 lb=454 grams.
MaxiBloom is $0.01628 per gram, or $0.11396 per gallon of res.
So using MaxiBloom for the Lucas Formula at these prices it costs the least of the comparison at 11.396 cents per gallon of res.
A 4.4 lb bag will treat 285 gallons of res.
I hope you find this info informative. I've read so much on the Lucas Formula and these GH products in the last couple weeks that I feel I am well informed on the subject, but not all knowing, for sure. If you have any questions I will try to help and give links if possible.
