What are the types of fertilizers?
Fertilizers are mainly divided into two categories, chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers.
Organic fertilizers, also known as farmyard fertilizers, are mainly animal excrement, and have the characteristics of multiple types, wide sources, and longer fertilizer efficiency. Most of the nutrient elements contained in organic fertilizers are in an organic state and are difficult to be directly used by crops. Instead, through the action of microorganisms, a variety of nutrient elements are slowly released to continuously supply nutrients to crops. Organic fertilizers have slow results, but have long effects and low pollution. They are suitable for large-scale outdoor planting and can effectively improve soil fertility.
Chemical fertilizer is abbreviated as chemical fertilizer, which is a synthetic nutrient element made by material and chemical methods, also known as inorganic fertilizer. Including nitrogen fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer, potash fertilizer, micro-fertilizer, compound fertilizer, etc. They have the following common characteristics: simple composition, high nutrient content; fast fertilizer effect and strong fertilizer; some fertilizers have acid-base reaction; generally they do not contain organic matter and have no effect on improving soil fertility. There are many types of chemical fertilizers, and their properties and application methods vary greatly. The use of this kind of fertilizer is costly and effective, and long-term use will pollute the soil and water. This kind of fertilizer is more suitable for indoor or greenhouse planting.
What kind of fertilizer is used to grow hemp? How to control the proportion of nutrients in fertilizers?
When planting hemp, it is more suitable to use chemical fertilizers, which have quick results and good results. We can purchase nitrogen fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer, potash fertilizer and micro-fertilizer separately and mix them in proportions to make our own compound fertilizer. The skilled use of this method is the most suitable for growing hemp. Or you can choose the mature fertilizer products on the market. When choosing, we don’t need to pay attention to what crops the fertilizer is suitable for. Focus on the ratio of each element, that is the most important.
Various elements are often present in chemical fertilizers as the following compounds, which can be added to plants individually or in mixture.
- Nitrogen: urea and ammonium bicarbonate
- Phosphorus element: solid diammonium phosphate
- Potassium element: potassium sulfate
- Sulfur: All fertilizers containing sulfate do not need to be added separately
- Calcium element: calcium chloride
- Magnesium element: magnesium sulfate
- Manganese element: Manganese sulfate
- Copper element: copper sulfate
- Iron element: Ferrous sulfate
- Zinc element: zinc sulfate
- Boron element: Borax
- Molybdenum element: molybdenum sulfate
These compounds are mixed with each other, except for the slight reaction between calcium chloride and sulfuric acid compounds, no chemical reaction occurs in other mixing. Most of the fertilizers on the market use these compounds to produce fertilizers, and finally add some inert substances to retain the activity of the fertilizers. If it is freshly used, just consider the ratio. In the process of soil planting, there is no need to consider the fertilization of trace elements. In hydroponic planting, it is sufficient to keep various trace elements at the following concentrations.
- Calcium 100～200 ppm
- Magnesium 20～60 ppm
- Manganese 0.1～0.8 ppm
- Copper 0.01～0.05 ppm
- Iron 1～5 ppm
- Zinc 0.05 ppm
- Boron 0.5 ppm
- Molybdenum 0.01 ppm
The concentration of these elements fluctuates slightly and does not affect the health of hemp. These elements exist in the soil in soil cultivation, and hydroponics need to be added separately. When applying chemical fertilizers, we mainly consider the elements N, P, K, PH value and growth period.
Growth period element ratio and concentration
N – P – K
3 – 1 – 2
270-90-180 ppm
Proportion and concentration of elements in the early and middle flowering
N – P – K
2 – 1 – 7
60-30-210 ppm
End of flowering
N – P – K
0 – 1 – 2
0 -50 – 100 ppm
The concentration of macro elements cannot exceed 300ppm, otherwise it will burn the roots. As for the specific configuration, the concentration and proportion can be adjusted according to the performance of the plant. The following is my commonly used configuration ratio, the unit concentration is about 30ppm.
- Seedlings 2-1-2
- Early nutrition plant 4-2-3
- Vegetal 10-5-7
- Changes in nutrition to flowering cycle 7-7-7
- Early flowering 5-10-7
- Mid-term flowering 6-15-10
- Late flowering 4-10-7
- Final harvest 0-0-0
This is a customized fertilizer ratio according to the number of weeks. It takes 85 days from seedling to harvest for this variety.
- Growth period first week: 3-1-2
- Growth period 2nd week: 3-1-2
- Flowering period 1st week: 3-1-2
- Flowering period 2nd week: 3-1-2
- Flowering period 3rd week: 1-1-2
- Flowering period 4th week: 1-1-2
- Flowering period 5th week: 1-1-2
- Flowering period 6th week: 1-1-2
- Flowering period 7th week: 0-1-2
- Flowering period 8th week: 0-1-2
- Flowering period 9th week: 0-0-0
- Flowering period 10th week: 0-0-0
The focus of the process of DIY fertilizer is from shallow to deep, from light to thick. Try to reduce the concentration of various elements as much as possible, and fertilization is not afraid of less, or too much. Then gradually increase the concentration based on your own experience. When buying compound fertilizer directly, you can also refer to the above ratio, and then just dilute it. There are many fertilizers suitable in China. Most of these fertilizers are used to grow tomatoes and peppers. They are cheap and easy to use. We recommend “Jia Jiale” and “Stanley Compound Fertilizer”.
Now there are fertilizers specially used to grow hemp, and I recommend 5 kinds of special fertilizers with good reputation.
FoxFarm Liquid Nutrient Trio (FoxFarm Liquid Nutrient Trio)
Fertilizers of this brand are both hydroponic and soil culture. They are divided into growth, flowering, and flower stimulating.
General Hydroponics Flora Grow Bloom Micro Combo
This brand is specially made for hydroponics, adding these fertilizers does not need to consider the normal micro-elements at all. When using these fertilizers for soil culture, the concentration can be increased appropriately, and it is more appropriate to be about 1.5 times.
Gorilla fertilizer (Advanced Nutrients Bloom, Micro, and Grow)
This brand is more famous, it is specially used to grow hemp, contains all the nutrients, has different products according to different growth periods, and can also adjust the PH. Just follow the instructions when you use it.
Biobizz (Biobizz Bio Grow, Bio Bloom, Bio Max)
This brand is an old brand for more than 30 years, and many beneficial bacteria are added to the fertilizer. There are also different products according to the growth period. This brand cares about the taste very much. The cannabis grown with this brand tastes good, and there is no need to wash the roots before harvesting.
Botanicare CNS17
This brand is mainly cheap, but the exchange rate and shipping costs are not cheap. Mainly divided into growth period and flowering period.
The above is the introduction of compound fertilizers. When using compound fertilizers, we must keep the same brands used in the early and late stages. If the brands are different, chemical reactions or excessive nutrients may occur, destroying the growth environment of the plants.
When using chemical fertilizers, it will always change from less to more. Novices should not just adjust the concentration according to the instructions. It is recommended to adjust to about half of the specified concentration. When fertilizing, 3 days to once a week.