I’m growing four autoflowers in a 2×4 tent/2 Rapid LED lamps, using Roots Organics Original Potting Soil; Buddha Grow; Buddha Bloom; Trinity as well as Recharge. I was given a sample bottle of Roots Organics Cal Mag and for the life of me I can’t figure out what to do with the darn thing. Looking at the bottle, one could be excused for coming to the conclusion that you use it like the other bottled products. But I’ve noted others saying that it’s not the case with Cal-Mag in general. At first we used di$tilled water by the jug the grocery store and to it I would add epsom salt because I read that distilled water requires it. After some good advice here (thank you!) I just allow tap water to sit for a couple of days before adding recharge and no longer add epsom salt; everything seems fine now water-wise. What I’m wondering is should I treat perhaps one jug of water with the Cal-Mag periodically, like once a week or two, or monthly at half the recommended amount. Go by what it actually says on the bottle? Or not use them at all until something goes wrong; in which case I’m afraid I’ll misdiagnose? Is Roots Organics Cal-Mag different than others or rolling your own? I feel like I’m stuck on an easy problem and there’s something I just can’t see; I’m sure others have run into the same question. I’ve reached out to the manufacturer and I’ll post their reply here when I receive it.
Many thanks for the great advice and for the entertaining, inspiring and informative podcast! 🙂
MC
Just a hard question really in this case. Most soils are amended with a calcium carbonate source like lime/dolomite or oyster shell flour. But not roots organic, this is your ph buffer(keeps soil from going acidic). Also a lot of their soil mixes contain a good portion of coco which can rob calcium and magnesium from the plant. Usually you would use calmag for deficiency issues or calmg hungry plants but in this case your almost using it as a ph buffer and extra to help out with the coco. Their product is not a calcium nitrate as most are, it’s a calcium carbonate magnesium carbonate source. I would just be cautious in using it. Mainly you’ll want to monitor runoff ph. If things get to dropping too low then I’d suggest using it once a week. Using too much will lockout potassium and phosphorus so that’s why I recommend being cautious. It will be interesting to hear what they recommend.
Thank you Just Coolin. The gentleman who gave me the sample bottle inferred that I would likely need it at some point, I assume based on the other Roots Organics products I was buying and perhaps with knowledge of the municipal water. I guess?
Hopefully Aurora Innovations will get back to me soon. Then I will have two expert grower’s opinions (many thanks guys!) as well as the manufacturer, from which to triangulate my position, so to speak. 🙂
I am curious what monitoring runoff ph is however?
MC
Keep it on hand as maintenance. See a calcium deficiency starting, use it. No deficiency, store the bottle in a cool, dark spot.
Otherwise, you would mix it in first to come up with a dosage. Your tap probably has enough to not need it, but using it without seeing your plants ask for it could lead to worse problems than a simple deficiency.
Thanks Coach Steve. “Keep it on hand as maintenance” Hey, I got that part right at least. Well, it’s a start anyway, ha ha.
I will look up what a calcium deficiency looks like and take it from there. 🙂
MC