Powdered Nutrients vs. Liquid Nutrients
This article was written for a hydroponics supply company. Please note all mentions of and links to their website have been removed.
Under normal conditions, cannabis producers can expect to obtain yields that range between 3.36 and 3590 grams of dry flower per square meter. But in order to get the best yields possible, your plants need to have optimal access to light, water, and nutrients.
Nutrients are generally available in two forms: powdered and liquid. You’ll need to consider a few different factors to make the right choice for you and your plants. Let’s take a look at the differences between powdered nutrients and liquid nutrients so you can make the best decision.
What Are Powdered and Liquid Nutrients?
Using a cannabis fertilizer can help your plants grow much bigger, stronger, and quicker. You can purchase a number of different fertilizers that include various nutrients the plants need in different parts of their lifecycles.
Most nutrients come in either a powder or liquid form. Powder nutrients come as solid, dry powder. In order to use it, you mix the nutrient powder with water. The packaging will explain the correct proportions to use.
On the other hand, liquid nutrients come in a concentrated liquid form. You usually also add them to additional water, but the nutrients themselves are already liquid.
Convenience
Liquid nutrients are much more convenient for the user. Measuring a powder and dissolving it into water becomes a bit of work. Doing so can be difficult, especially if you are using cold water.
On the other hand, diluting liquid nutrients is much easier and more straightforward. The nutrients are already dissolved, so you need to just dilute the solution a bit. This can save you a lot of time and hassle.
Cost
When it comes to cost, powdered nutrients usually give you the best bang for your buck. This is because liquid nutrient prices include extra shipping costs since the fertilizer is dissolved in water. You are essentially paying for the extra water.
This is not a concern with powders, so the prices can stay low. You only pay for the powdered nutrients themselves.
Lifespan
Powders tend to last a lot longer than liquid nutrients, up to a few years, as long as they are stored properly. You should keep powders in a cool, dark, and dry place. While they may form clumps, this won’t cause any degradation of the nutrients themselves.
The shelf life of liquid nutrients is not as long as powdered nutrients. In general, you should use any liquid fertilizer within two years of purchase. Being in an aqueous solution allows the chemicals to undergo reactions, which can cause them to degrade over time.
The ingredients could react with each other, the liquid could evaporate, throwing off the dilution, and oxidation or microbial growth could occur. However, using up your liquid nutrients in less than two years can prevent these issues from occurring.
Weight and Waste
Powders may be easier to use for people who are concerned about weight. A large container of liquid nutrients can become quite heavy and cumbersome to use. It is a little easier for some people to handle powder and mix it in buckets they can carry.
Some people need to transport their nutrients. In these cases, having a powdered nutrient is often easier. There is less chance of spillage before mixing, reducing waste. In addition, the lower weight makes it much more convenient.
There is also less of a chance of spillage and possible waste when it comes to powdered fertilizer. Occasionally, a container of liquid fertilizer may leak, causing a loss. This occurs less frequently with powders.
Consistency
Powdered nutrients have a chance of not being as consistent in their blends as liquid nutrients. This is because larger particles will naturally move towards the top of the container, while smaller ones will sink to the bottom. It’s similar to the way a bag of potato chips settles.
When it comes to powders, there will almost always be a small amount of separation. However, it is usually not enough to cause any issues. However, liquid nutrients can take any kind of variability out of the equation.
Choosing Powdered Nutrients vs Liquid Nutrients
Both powdered and liquid nutrients have their benefits and downsides. The one you should pick will come down to your priorities. If you want a fertilizer that is easy to apply and use and is regularly consistent, you should choose a liquid nutrient mix.
Liquid nutrients may also be better if you have a lot of plants. You will use more, so you can ensure you’ll use your fertilizers before they expire. The liquid form also makes administering nutrients easier, especially if you have a microdrip system.
If you want a cost-effective fertilizer that is lightweight and easy to store, powdered nutrients may be a better option. This can help you save money, with a long lifespan and easy mobility.
If you are not sure what nutrient options would be the best for you, contact [redacted] for expert cannabis help.
How to Deliver Nutrition Products
When it comes to delivering powdered nutrients, you’ll need to begin by dissolving the powder into a liquid. Unfortunately, it can be a little difficult to get the correct dilution and have it dissolve effectively.
The easiest way to start is to dissolve the recommended amount of powder into a small amount of water and thoroughly mix the solution. Then add the rest of the water to bring it to the dilution you need. From here, mix it again before adding it to your reservoir system.
If you are using liquid nutrients, you should begin by shaking the container. This will help mix all of the components equally. Many liquid nutrients come with an “A” solution and a “B” solution, and sometimes a third part too. If yours does, make sure to shake all of them.
Then, measure the amount of each solution you need to use. The container will state how much, if any, additional water you should add to the solution. Thoroughly mix each part of the solution separately before adding it to the reservoir system.
If you are in doubt, be sure to thoroughly read the directions on the container.
Key Nutrients Needed for Cannabis
Whether you choose liquid or powdered nutrients, it’s important to choose a mix that contains the nutrients your plants need. The exact nutrients and amounts will change depending on where the plants are in their life cycles.
The main macronutrients they will need are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. In addition, cannabis plants require secondary macronutrients. These include calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.
There are also micronutrients. While these are still essential, the plants need them in much smaller doses. Manganese, boron, sulfur, iron, molybdenum, zinc, and copper are usually present in fertilizers, though in much smaller amounts.
While these nutrients are necessary for most plant life, each type of plant needs them in different amounts. An all-purpose fertilizer might be good for your lawn, but will not help your cannabis plants.
There is a wide variety of liquid nutrients available to purchase. By buying yours online, you’ll be able to choose exactly what nutrients you want based on what your plants need at a certain time.
Vegetative Stage
During the vegetative stage, the plant focuses on growing bigger and stronger. This stage starts after the first set of fan leaves that have a full set of leaflets appear. At this stage, the plant will only grow stems and leaves as opposed to flowers and buds.
Most vegetative stages last about four to twelve weeks. During this time, the plant needs high levels of nitrogen. Nitrogen helps regulate protein production and is important for leaf and stem growth. The correct levels of nitrogen now will affect its future size and strength.
Phosphorus and potassium levels do not need to be quite as high at this time. You might look for a 9-5-8 fertilizer during the vegetative stage.
Flowering/Bloom Stage
This stage is when cannabis plants grow their buds or flowers. The flowering stage will last about eight to eleven weeks. The time when it begins will depend on if your plants are indoors or outdoors.
Because flowering is nutrient intensive for plants, your cannabis plants will need a lot of nutrients, in particular phosphorus and potassium. The plants don’t need as much nitrogen at this time. A 5-9-9 fertilizer would be adequate.
The flowering stage is also a good time to apply biostimulants and supplements targeted for this stage. These can help optimize fertilizer absorption, which can lead to the production of thicker, more compact flowers that have a better flavor.
In addition, biostimulants and supplements may help increase the production of terpenes and cannabinoids while increasing the plant’s resistance to disease and stress.
Choose the Best Nutrition Options for Your Cannabis Plants
Cannabis plants need an optimum mix of nutrients during all stages of their life. You can choose from either powdered nutrients or liquid nutrients. Both offer their own benefits, and you should base your choice on what will work best for you.
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