Tag: GreenPlanet Nutrients

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What are Additive Nutrients?

An additive nutrient, or nutrient supplement, can be described as any plant food product that seeks to enhance natural patterns of development. Unlike base nutrients, which are designed to progress and maintain healthy patterns of growth and bloom, additive nutrients and supplements aim to promote specific actions, whether it be the development of large, dense flowers, trichome production, root growth, or rapid cell expansion. While the importance of base nutrient supplements is unparalleled in the lifecycle of a plant, additives also have an important role to play. By combining additives with clean, quality-focused base nutrients, growers can easily push their crop beyond its genetic limits. For new growers, discovering the function of unique nutrient additives can be a challenging task. So, before committing to a nutrient system, read the article below for more information on our selection of additives. 

Trying to figure out which GreenPlanet Nutrients product is an additive nutrient? Look out for the Additive Icon found on the front of our bottles.

Learn more about our Bottle Icons in the video above!

A Closer Look at Additive Nutrients

So what are additive nutrients? Unlike base nutrients, which can be described as a foundation for plant growth, additive nutrients are supplements that aim to promote specific actions and outcomes. There are a wide variety of additive nutrients. For example, GreenPlanet Nutrients manufacturers 16 nutrient additives, ranging from beneficial bacteria supplements, bloom boosters, carbohydrates, enzymes, and hormone inoculants. While all these supplements have different desired actions and outcomes, they all aim to enhance the natural growth patterns of plants. Let’s take a look at some of our most exciting nutrient supplements. 

Get a Variety of Benefits from Additive Nutrients

Massive Bloom Formulation: Blooming Supplement 

Plants require an incredible amount of nutrients during the peak of flower. Luckily, GreenPlanet manufacturers the king of bloom enhancing supplements – Massive Bloom Formulation. Balanced evenly with an N-P-K of 1-2-3 and loaded with carbohydrates and L-amino acids, Massive has been trusted by the growing GreenPlanet community for over 20 years. It promises heavy harvests and quality flowers. So, if you’re looking for a tested, reliable source of plant nutrition during the flowering stage, except no substitutes for Massive Bloom Formulation.

PK Spike: Blooming Supplement 

GreenPlanet Nutrients PK Spike is a great example of a clean, quality-focused bloom enhancing supplement. Formulated with high-grade phosphorus and potassium, PK Spike can quickly increase root mass, speed up the production of flower sites and strengthen a plant’s cell walls for the later support of heavy flowers. It’s also hyper-concentrated and extremely water-soluble. That’s why PK Spike is the ideal bloom enhancing supplement for growers in hydroponic gardens, AutoPot Watering Systems, or drip irrigation networks. 

Horti-rawk: Flower Hardener 

If the environmental conditions of a garden are less than ideal, for example, if temperatures or humidity percentages reach inadequate levels for extended periods, mature buds can become loose, lose rigidity, or become soft and sponge-like. Consider adding GreenPlanet Nutrients Horti-rawK to your existing feeding program to increase late-flower hardiness. Horti-rawk provides your plants with a hyper-concentrated amount of potassium during the later stages of the flowering period. This increase in potassium helps encourage the tight formation of mature flowers.

Rezin: Trichome Enhancer

Rezin is our blooming additive formulated to enhance the natural processes within flowering plants that produce flavor and aroma. Growers can begin using Rezin at any time during the flowering period to encourage plants to express and expand terpenes and trichomes in flowers and across sugar leaves. However, adding Rezin during the last week of the vegetative stage has been shown to increase the amounts of potential terpenes that will be ready for full expression in the later stages of flower. To ensure GreenPlanet growers get the highest quality product and result possible, our formula does not contain any plant growth regulators (PGR), artificial coloring or dyes, and can be used until the final days before harvest.

Liquid Weight: Carbohydrate Supplement

GreenPlanet Nutrients Liquid Weight contains an array of simple sugars like dextrose, sucrose, and fructose. To encourage the rapid growth of healthy bacteria, fungi, and protozoa in your root zone, pairing your regular feeding program with a surgery, carbohydrate supplement will help to speed up the growth rate of beneficial microbes. Plants spend an amazing amount of energy-releasing complex sugars like cellulose into the root zone. So, by supplementing your plant’s expenditures with additional carbs, you can be sure the beneficial microbes in your soil will be plentifully fed, which in turn will support the cultivation and growth of your living medium. Adding a liquid carbohydrate supplement to your feeding program during the flowering phase will encourage your plants to feed heavier, increase output, enhance yields, and lead to more desirable flavors, pigmentation, terpene density, and trichome expansion.

Root Builder: Beneficial Bacteria

GreenPlanet Nutrients Root Builder is densely packed with two strains of extremely active beneficial bacteria: Bacillus Licheniformis and Bacillus Subtilis. Both of these microorganisms have different roles in the root zone. For example, Bacillus Licheniformis is utilized quickly to break down soluble minerals and convert them to energy for the plant. On the other hand, strains of Bacillus Subtilis mainly support a plant’s immune system by producing molecules called iturins, which target and eliminate sources of harmful bacteria. Without healthy probiotic supplements like Root Builder, stressful environmental conditions, inconsistent irrigation, or a deficient feeding program may produce a diseased root zone incapable of supporting steady growth. 

Ocean Magic: Natural Kelp Additive 

Ocean Magic is a vegetative additive derived from cold-pressed Atlantic Sea Kelp, that delivers a variety of benefits to your plants. For example, the ingredients found in Ocean Magic support properties such as rooting and the reduction of environmental and plant stress. Used as either a root-soak or foliar spray, Ocean Magic contains special, natural plant hormones including auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins, which have been linked to promoting vigorous growth, branching, and increased resistance to stress in plants.

Whatever your style of garden, chances are, GreenPlanet Nutrients has the perfect base nutrient program. To access the programs available at GreenPlanet Nutrients, contact a member of the GreenPlanet sales team, or your local garden supply store for product information and purchasing inquiries. 

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What’s the Difference Between Dry and Liquid Fertilizer?

Unfortunately, not all fertilizers are created equal. That’s not to say that one product or feed program won’t perform as advertised, but as we’ve learned from experience, there are a mountain of factors that go into producing a bountiful harvest: plant genetics, environmental controls and growing systems usually trump the list of important inputs — fertilizer, on the other hand, whether that be liquid nutrients or dry fertilizers, are usually the last factor to blame for a less than success crop. However, we can’t discount the importance of quality inputs. That’s why choosing a fertilizer that’s right for you and your garden remains extremely relevant.

But how do we choose the right fertilizer? This, undoubtedly, is a challenging question to answer. It’s true — if you don’t know what you’re looking for, a wall-to-wall selection of plant food can be overwhelming. But have no fear, we’re here to help. Below, we’ll look at the difference between two popular choices of fertilizer: dry and liquid.

CLICK HERE TO BUY
DRY FERTILIZER
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LIQUID FERTILIZER

Things to Consider Before Choosing Dry or Liquid Fertilizer:

Before we look at the advantages of either dry or liquid fertilizer, it’s necessary to ask yourself a few questions. But even more important, ask yourself about your goals. Why? Well, your individual goals will drive the outcome of your crop. We know, it sounds strange. But consider this: if you’re a lazy gardener (take no offense, we exist), you’ll probably lean towards a nutrient system that requires little to no effort. However, if you’re the type of person who wants to manage every control in the garden, then there are more complex programs as well. Overall, before you commit to a specific nutrient system, consider the questions below: 

3 Questions to Ask Yourself

1. Do I want to grow organic crops?

If the answer is yes, consider selecting only organic fertilizer. This will narrow down your options for nutrient programs, but that only makes choosing easier! Check out Medi-One

2. What kind of system will I be using?

In other words, how will you be growing your plants? Hydroponically? In soil? In coconut fiber? Indoors, or outdoors? All good questions to consider, as your growing method will dictate the appropriate fertilizer, again, narrowing the field of available choices.

3. How much experience do I have?

Just like someone told you when you were young, “learn to walk before you run”. Annoying, yes, but sound advice. There’s no shame in being inexperienced. But if you are new, it’s important to question your experience with plant food. Some fertilizers are more complicated than others. So, consider choosing something easy-to-use with simple instructions.

What’s the Difference Between Dry and Liquid Fertilizer?

First things first: it’s not that one is better than the other. There are, however, differences; the most obvious being that dry fertilizers are made of powder, or granular minerals, and liquid nutrients are concentrates formulated from minerals or organic material dissolved in water. This difference dictates how the fertilizer will be used.

For example, liquid fertilizer will be measured and mixed with water before being fed to plants, while dry, granular products like BackCountry Blend will be broadcast on top of the medium and will slowly dissolve into the rootzone. Some dry fertilizers, however, like Bud Booster, will follow the same mixing and measuring protocol as liquid fertilizers, so be sure to consult the instructions thoroughly.

In short, the biggest difference between dry and liquid fertilizers are the advantages growers can expect from using one or the other. We’ve created a list below of the advantages of using either dry or liquid fertilizer in the garden:

Advantages of Dry Fertilizer:

CLICK HERE TO BUY DRY FERTILIZER
  • Cost Effective — Dry fertilizers are famously affordable. If you’re on a budget, this advantage might be the deciding factor. Read, “Our Affordable Fertilizer Solution for Outdoor Growing”.
  • Easy-to-Use — Simple and straightforward, dry fertilizers are great for new, inexperienced growers, or ‘lazy’, easy-going gardeners.
  • Simple to Store — Dry fertilizers are compact and easy to store. They’re also hyperconcentrated, so a little goes a long way.
  • Scalable — Coming in at a low-cost, easy-to-use and simple to store, dry and granular fertilizers are great tools for commercial gardeners.

Among all the variables which determine a successful growing season, access to quality nutrients is perhaps the most important. Any experienced grower can tell the difference between an outdoor crop well sown in rich nutrients, and one grown in a medium that leaves the plant wanting for more.

Advantages of Liquid Fertilizers:

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LIQUID FERTILIZER
  • Intricate Formulas — Liquid fertilizers are formulated with interesting and unique ingredients. Take GreenPlanet’s Massive as an example. You’d be hard pressed to find a similar fertilizer in powder form.
  • Specific Uses — Liquid feed programs often include products that have specific uses, like root expansion, micronutrient enrichment and stalk hardening; this, arguably gives the grower more control in the garden. 
  • Preciseness — Sure, liquid nutrients might be more time consuming, but using them correctly will prevent unwanted issues like overfeeding or nutrient deficiencies.
  • Quality Outcomes  — Serious growers, those who value quality above all else, tend to rely more heavily on liquid nutrients.

So, there are differences between dry and liquid fertilizers, but it’s not that simple — it all depends on how you want your garden to perform. Want to learn more about our fertilizer? Contact a member of the GreenPlanet sales team, or your local garden supply store for product information and purchasing inquiries.

What feed program is right for you? Answering this question depends on a few simple, yet important considerations, including gardening practices, previous experience, and cultivation system of choice. 

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Sprout Seeds and Root Clones Faster with Vitathrive Propagation Solution

Do your plants need a boost? Try GreenPlanet Nutrients Vitathrive Propagation Solution! Formulated to provide rooting clones, sprouting seeds, and growing and flowering plants with a major dose of plant-enhancing properties, Vitathrive is a necessary component of any expert grower’s feed program. The most important component of Vitathrive, thiamine or vitamin B1, is a major determining factor in a plant’s metabolism. Not only do B1 vitamins promote and establish a plant’s metabolism, but there’s also evidence that thiamine plays an essential role in plant growth and protection from diseases and environmental stressors. It truly is the perfect plant tonic. If you want to learn more about the power of Vitathrive Propagation Solution, read the following article for additional information.

What is Vitathrive?

Vitathrive is our vitamin and mineral-based supplement. With an N-P-K of 0-0-1 and loaded with vitamin B1, Vitathrive is the perfect additive nutrient for young plants, rooting seedlings, or fresh-cut clones. Use Vitathrive aggressively throughout the vegetative stage, on transplant day, and during any periods of stress to increase root growth, reduce internal stress, and strengthen any plant’s immune response. Vitathrive is also hyper-concentrated. Apply Vitathrive at a rate of 1-2ml per liter (4-8 ml/gal) throughout the entire vegetative and flowering cycle. If your crop looks sad, stressed, or shrivelled, give it a helping hand with a dose of Vitathrive.  

Watch the YouTube Channel, Grow Your Four, use Vitathrive to establish newly cut clones.

The Role of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Defense and Protection

Supplemental vitamin B1 (thiamine) has been a central part of agricultural research since the 1930s. But even in recent years, the role of B vitamins has been cited as a major contributor to plant health. For example, in an article published in 2018, experts argue that there is an overwhelming amount of evidence linked to thiamine and plant protection (Subki et al, 2018, p. 37). More specifically, the study cited found that thiamine carried antioxidant properties. This means that plants high in thiamine were more likely to be resistant to stressors such as low oxygen levels, high and low temperatures, light stress, fungal diseases, and pests (Subki et al, 2018, para. 10).  

Nutrient Uptake and Root Expansion

Plants ingesting additional vitamin B1 have also been shown to have increased nutrient uptake and root expansion, allowing growers to feed their crops with less inorganic elements. This evidence comes from a research paper published in 2017 that looks at the effect of thiamine hydrochloride on the growth and nutrient uptake of mustard greens (Sajjad, 2017, p. 265). The aim of the experiment was to identify differences in growth patterns and habits of nutrient uptake in two strains of mustard greens.

Soak the seeds in water an a B vitamin formula for 15 minutes. This will speed up the sprouting process.

(Robinson, 2012, p. 43 of The Grower’s Hnadbook)

The conclusion of the study was as follows: seeds soaked in an aqueous solution of thiamine had significantly stimulated growth patterns compared to regularly germinated mustard greens (Sajjad, 2017, p. 275). Also, there was a correlation found between vitamin B1 and increased vegetative growth (Sajjad, 2017, p. 275). The study found that plants fed with a solution containing 0.03% thiamine exhibited an increase in natural plant hormones. This increase in hormones resulted in higher rates of photosynthesis, faster growth, and increased nutrient uptake (Sajjad, 2017, p. 275). 

When to Use Vitathrive

GreenPlanet recommends using Vitathrive propagation solution when germinating seeds, propagating clones, or, throughout the entire vegetative period and from weeks 3 – 7 of the flowering stage. During propagation, Vitathrive will enhance the performance and germination success of seedlings and clones. The excess of thiamine will protect young plants from fungal diseases like pythium and exaggerate nutrient uptake, while the kick of potassium (0-0-1) will encourage early root stimulation. 

Cannabis plant cutting in rockwool cube with roots.
Early root stimulation will ensure your cuttings are quickly established in their grow medium.

These benefits are extended into the vegetative and flowering periods. However, the added protection from external stressors such as resistance to high/low temperatures, drought, excess humidity, pests, and disease is magnified as your plant’s uptake vitamin B1. Remember, vitamin B1 cloaks your plant’s in a protective aura. So, if your environmental conditions are less than ideal, or if you’ve come across pests or pathogens, consider adding Vitathrive to your established feeding routine. 

There’s no better time than now to start your garden off right with the help of Vitathrive. For all other inquiries, contact a member of the GreenPlanet sales team, or your local garden supply store for product information and purchasing inquiries. 

Works Cited

  • Subki, A. (2018). The role of thiamine in plants and current perspectives in crop improvement. B Group Vitamins – Current Uses and Perspective. Retrieved November 1st, 2021 from ResearchGate.net 
  • Sajjad, A. (2017). Effects of thiamine hydrochloride on plant growth and nutrient uptake of mustard. Applied & Pure Bio. Retrieved November 1st, 2021 from BiologyJournal.org

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How to Properly Flush Your Crop Before Harvest

Flushing is an extremely important part of the cultivation process. Most indoor crops have a lifecycle of around three months – two weeks for propagation, another two for the vegetative stage, and eight weeks for the flowering period. During this time, growers enrich their crops with base nutrients, vitamin supplements, bloom boosters, and more, each week scaling up their feeding ratios to ensure their plants are absorbing a heavy dose of carefully crafted elements. Fortunately for plants, these feeding programs are packed full of essential elements that maximize potential yields. However, a heavy harvest isn’t the only thing to consider – cleanliness is also a major factor that determines the quality of a crop. If you’re new to cultivation, read the following passage for a complete understanding of how to properly flush your crop before harvest. 

What Is Flushing? 

Flushing, or a flush, is a term used to describe the action of rinsing a plant’s root zone with excess amounts of water. As mentioned above, growers enrich their crops with an array of nutrients in all stages of growth. These nutrients, which are essentially a combination of different micro and macroelements, tend to build up in the soil system over time. This accumulation of minerals happens not only in the root zone but also within the plant itself. While high levels of nutrients are needed to accelerate plant growth, the build-up of primary minerals such as nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium in freshly dried flowers can often leave the product with a harsh, bitter taste and blackened, tar-like ash. To avoid this upset, growers will often flush their crops to wash out minerals that have built up in the root zone over time.

To avoid dried flowers issues, growers will often flush their crops to wash out minerals that have built up in the root zone over time.

How to Properly Flush Your Crop Before Harvest 

  1. Start to flush 10-14 days before harvest
  2. Flush your plants until run-off
  3. Test the run-off samples and log the data
  4. Use beneficial bacteria
  5. Monitor your crop

#1: Start to Flush 10-14 Days Before Harvest 

There’s an industry consensus that plants in soil/soilless substrates need at least a 10-14 day flush. So, time your harvest correctly, and make sure to cease the use of plant food approximately two weeks before your crop’s harvest date. Or, follow the recommendations on your established GreenPlanet feeding program. For growers not using a feeding program, this mark will likely be around the sixth week of flower. However, if you’re managing a strain with a longer flowering time, be sure to consult strain-specific growing guidelines to ensure your crop has an adequate flush without becoming over-ripe. 

Example of where the Flush Period is indicated on GreenPlanet Nutrient FeedPrograms.

#2: Flush Your Plants Until Run-Off

The best way to completely saturate your medium is to water your plants until run-off. Start by watering your plants with plain, neutral water (with a pH of 7.0) until roughly 20% of the water runs out of the bottom of your container. For example, if your start by watering your potted plants with 1 Litre of plain water, at least 200mL should run out of the bottom of your container. This action will guarantee the flush of built-up sediment and mineral salts. 

Start by watering your potted plants with 1 Litre of plain water.

#3: Test the Run-Off Samples and Log the Data

If you want to be sure you’re flushing correctly, simply collect the run-off and test the samples with a conductivity meter. Start by flushing your plants until 20% of the water runs out of the bottom of your container. Then, collect some of the water in a container and test the sample with a conductivity meter. Finally, log the data and repeat the process every time you flush your plants. The data will ideally indicate a rapid decrease in salt concentration over time, meaning your plants are slowly flushing concentrations of salt away from the root zone, and are therefore becoming cleaner in the process.

Definition: Electrical Conductivity (EC)
The relative strength or concentration of a solution, or its ability to conduct an electrical charge. Other measurement solutions include the Parts Per Million (PPM) scale and/or Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) estimations. 

How Does EC work?
Salt emits an electrical charge (electrolytes) when in a solution. By testing the conductivity of that charge, you can get a reading of the relative strength of the solution.
The data will ideally indicate a rapid decrease in salt concentration over time, meaning your plants are slowly flushing the built-up sediment and mineral salts.

#4: Use Benefical Bacteria

Using a source of beneficial bacteria during the flushing process can have amazing benefits. Adding bacteria to the root zone speeds up the breakdown of hard to dissolve minerals. And so, since you’re trying to rid your plants of excess nutrient salts during this stage, using a beneficial bacteria supplement can lighten the load and ultimately accelerate the process of nutrient and fluid uptake. 

If you’re looking for a tested microbial supplement, try GreenPlanet’s Root Builder. Formulated with two sources of bacteria, Bacillus Licheniformis and Bacillus Subtilis, Root Builder can quickly increase microbial activity in the root zone, allowing for increased uptake, yield, and trichome formation.

#5: Monitor Your Crop 

It’s completely normal for plants to undergo physiological changes during the flushing period. In fact, it’s positive that certain changes take place. Since your crop is nearing the end of its lifecycle, it’s common for growth rates to slow, and for new colors to emerge. Also, due to the lack of nutrition during this stage, it’s likely that old foliage will begin to yellow and die off. But don’t worry, this is a normal transition sometimes referred to as “autumning-off”, or the process of a crop expressing autumn colors during the flushing process. Overall, the changes above are a good sign that your plants are nearing maturity. 

Plants undergo physiological changes during the flushing period, and old foliage will begin to yellow and die off.

Whatever your style of garden, chances are, GreenPlanet Nutrients has the perfect base nutrient program. To access the programs available at GreenPlanet Nutrients, contact a member of the GreenPlanet sales team, or your local garden supply store for product information and purchasing inquiries. 

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3 Tips for Growing in Coco Coir

Coco coir occupies a grey area between soil/soilless media and hydroponic gardening. While it may feel like soil, coco acts and performs much like a hydroponic system. For example, growers using a coco-based medium can expect to water their plants more often, feed with a slightly more concentrated nutrient solution, and irrigate plants at lower pH levels. But don’t let these conditions discourage you from experimenting with coco coir – the potential benefits of establishing plants in coconut mediums are incredible; it’s not unlikely for plants in coco to outgrow rival flora in peat moss or rockwool. If you’re thinking about making the move to coco, read the passages below for 3 tips for growing in coco coir. 

What is Coco Coir? 

Plant-grade coco coir is a simple byproduct of the coconut fiber industry. Between the husk and the coconut meat is a dense but fibrous layer of threads. When processed, the milk and meat of the coconut are usually combined or sold separately as food products, while the husk is sold to adjacent industries to be made into textiles or fabrics. The middle section, however, is set aside, ground up, composted, or thrown away; only recently has the coir been sold to agricultural industries for use in the garden. Although, this use of the coconut byproduct has led growers to rely on coco coir as a powerful medium with an array of potential benefits. 

While it may feel like soil, coco acts and performs much like a hydroponic system.

For example, instead of throwing away or composting the leftover byproduct, the fibers of the coir can be ground into a fine medium, washed, dried, and sold to growers in loose or brick form. Some coco medium manufacturers, like Royal Gold, even enrich the coconut fibers with a calcium charge to ensure the medium is ready to use right out of the bag. While using a coconut fiber medium, growers can expect a host of benefits. Read the following passages for the expected benefits and more tips and advice on growing in coco coir. 

Benefits of Using Coco Coir:

The coconut byproduct has led growers to rely on coco coir as a powerful medium with an array of potential benefits. 

Tips For Growing in Coco Coir

#1: Treat Coco like a Hydroponic System 

While coco coir fiber feels like a soil system, it behaves much like other hydroponic media. So, treat your coco medium like a hydroponic system. This can mean watering your crop less but at a higher frequency. Coconut fiber is light, airy, and highly porous, but it also has the potential to hold incredible amounts of moisture when saturated. If young plants in coco are over-watered, it can quickly damage a crop. So, start by irrigating your plants with small amounts of water once or twice a day, and increase the volume of liquid feed as your crop grows. 

Coconut fiber is light, airy, and
highly porous.

#2: Use a Calcium Magnesium Supplement 

Calcium and/or magnesium deficiencies are a common problem for growers utilizing coconut coir. To avoid these issues, consider supplementing your crop with a source of calcium and magnesium. Most high-quality fertilizers include a boost of calcium and magnesium. So why is additional cal-mag needed? This question can be easily answered when cultivators examine the relationship between coconut media and calcium/magnesium.

In short, the cation exchange sites in coco coir will lock on to the calcium-magnesium elements in fertilizer and render them unavailable to the plant. So, growers must provide a larger dose to ensure that Ca and Mg are available to plants. 

#3: Pre-Charge Your Medium

Some coco mediums are not pre-charged with a dose of calcium-magnesium. Read the label on your loose or brick coco and determine whether or not the manufacturer of the product enriched their medium with minerals. If the coco has been rinsed and dried but not charged with minerals, it’s highly recommended that cultivators irrigate and enrich their medium with a low dose of nutrients and a calcium-magnesium supplement before transplanting. This charge will provide young plants with a foundation of minerals upon transplant and further support root expansion and nutrient uptake in the vegetative stage. 

It’s highly recommended that cultivators irrigate and enrich their medium before transplanting.

Whatever your style of garden, chances are, GreenPlanet Nutrients has the perfect base nutrient program. To access the programs available at GreenPlanet Nutrients, contact a member of the GreenPlanet sales team, or your local garden supply store for product information and purchasing inquiries. 

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Why Growers Should Read the Guaranteed Analysis on Fertilizer

Plants absorb a wide variety of elements throughout their lifecycle. In total, there are 16 essential nutrients that plants need to maintain healthy patterns of growth. If you’re new to cultivation, choosing a nutrient product for your garden can be a challenging task. However, understanding the contents of fertilizer can help influence purchasing decisions. For example, inspecting the guaranteed analysis can be a great way to determine whether or not a nutrient product would be beneficial in your garden. Read the passages below to learn how to read the guaranteed analysis on fertilizer. But first, read the section below titled, “General Nutrient Considerations”, to learn about the elements that are required to keep plants happy and healthy. 

General Nutrient Considerations

Plants in any environment need a vast array of elements to maintain periods of vigorous growth. In total, there are 16 essential elements necessary for healthy and deficient-free plant growth. These elements are separated into three categories called, macro, secondary, and micronutrients, and are typically combined at an adequate rate within liquid, powdered, or granular nutrient supplements. However, growers must be aware of the combination of elements within fertilizers – inspecting the guaranteed analysis can assist in fine-tuning a cultivator’s approach to fertilization. 

What is a Guaranteed Analysis?

Law requires that fertilizer manufacturers display the contents of liquid, powder, and granular fertilizers on the back of containers in the guaranteed analysis section. This basic label describes the percentage of macro (primary), secondary, and micronutrients in each formula. So, if you’re interested in learning more about the importance of reading the guaranteed analysis, follow the sections below for more information.

Important Terms:

  • Micronutrients: Trace elements required in very small amounts. Includes iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), boron (B), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), sodium (Na), cobalt (Co), silicon (Si), and nickel (Ni). 
  • Secondary Nutrients: Calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S). 
  • Macronutrients: Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Important elements needed in the highest concentrations. Listed as the three numbers on the front of fertilizer containers- also referred to as N-P-K.

Why Read the Guaranteed Analysis?

Growers can reference the guaranteed analysis on the back of fertilizer containers to fine-tune nutrient enrichment and safeguard against nutrient toxicity and deficiencies. More than that, cultivators can inspect the different types of elements used in nutrient formulas to ensure they meet specific standards of quality. 

Reading the Guaranteed Analysis Examples:

Example #1: Cover Your Bases 

Before purchasing fertilizer, cultivators can reference the guaranteed analysis to ensure their plants are getting the necessary macro, secondary, and micronutrients to maintain healthy patterns of growth. Follow the example below to learn how to cover your bases!

Reference the guaranteed analysis on the back of fertilizer to ensure your plants are getting the nutrients they need to remain healthy and happy. Take GreenPlanet’s 3-Part for example.

If we examine the guaranteed analysis on the back of GP3 Micro, Grow, and Bloom, we can evidence all the essential elements needed for aggressive vegetative and flowering growth. 

GP3 Micro, for instance, contains an aggressive amount of the primary macronutrient nitrogen (N), as well as a long list of trace elements like iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), boron (B), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and cobalt (Co). The nitrogen and micronutrient component of GP3 compliments the other two parts of the program beautifully. For example, GP3 Grow contains essential secondary nutrients such as magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S), while GP3 Bloom is packed with highly concentrated sources of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). The combination of these products gives plants a wide variety of micro, secondary and macro elements to uptake during periods of growth and bloom. 

Click here to view GP3 Micro Guaranteed Analysis

Click here to view GP3 Grow Guaranteed Analysis

Click here to view GP3 Bloom Guaranteed Analysis

Example #2: Select Specific Elements

Growers might reference the back of fertilizer to select elements needed in specific stages of growth. Read the passages below to learn how reading the guaranteed analysis will help you pick and choose what nutrients your plants absorb.  

If your plants are experiencing a nutrient deficiency, the guaranteed analysis can be inspected for evidence of an element that might quickly remedy the issue. A calcium magnesium deficiency is a common problem in the garden.

Luckily, calcium and magnesium are major components in GreenPlanet’s Pro-Cal. So, if you happen to notice the development of a calcium or magnesium deficiency in your plants, growers can reference and incorporate Pro Cal into their feeding program to rid plants of nutrient deficiencies.

Click here to view Pro Cal Guaranteed Analysis

Example #3: Quality Controlled Ingredients

Not all ingredients are created equal. So, if you’re on the hunt for the best raw ingredients, reference the guaranteed analysis and read the “derived from” section. Read the passages below to learn more about the benefits of inspecting the source of elements in nutrient formulations. 

GreenPlanet formulates its nutrients with the cleanest raw ingredients. Let’s take Hydro Fuel Grow A&B as an example. At the bottom of the guaranteed analysis, you’ll notice a list titled “derived from”. While the guaranteed analysis describes the percentage of elements contained within the formulation, the “derived from” section describes the source of the element. This is important for a few reasons. First, some elements, like calcium, have different grades that range in quality and solubility. Calcium carbonate, for example, is generally regarded as a low-quality source of calcium because of its insoluble nature. Hydro Fuel contains no carbonates, bi-carbonates, unnaturally derivatives, or fillers. However, it’s always a good idea to quality assure the ingredients you’re feeding your plants by inspecting the guaranteed analysis. 

Click here to view Hydro Fuel Grow A Guaranteed Analysis

Click here to view Hydro Fuel Grow B Guaranteed Analysis

Second, some nutrient manufacturers, like GreenPlanet, include multiple sources of high-quality ingredients. For example, Hydro Fuel Grow (A) contains three unique sources of chelated iron (Iron EDTA, Iron EDDHA, Iron DTPA). Not all brands include multiple sources of chelated metals. So, before committing to a fertilizer, refer to the guaranteed analysis to quality assure the ingredients going into your garden.  

Whatever your style of garden, chances are, GreenPlanet Nutrients has the perfect base nutrient program. To access the programs available at GreenPlanet Nutrients, contact a member of the GreenPlanet sales team, or your local garden supply store for product information and purchasing inquiries. 

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What’s the Difference Between Our Base, Additive and Maintenance Products?

Base, additive, or maintenance

Whatever you grow, chances are, GreenPlanet Nutrients has the ideal nutrient system to support your crop. However, selecting a fertilizer can often be a difficult task. So, to help educate and encourage our clients, we’ve organized our catalog of products into three sections: base nutrients, additives, and maintenance products. To learn more about the products offered at GreenPlanet Nutrients, read the following passages below. 

The Difference Between Base, Additive, and Maintenance Products 

Base Nutrients

A base nutrient, or a base nutrient system, can be described as a crop’s main source of plant food. Furthermore, an adequate base nutrient program will likely contain a well-rounded list of macro and micro-elements, be highly concentrated, and provide your plants with essential minerals throughout periods of growth and bloom.

Additive Nutrients

An additive nutrient can be described as any plant food product that seeks to enhance natural patterns of development. And unlike base nutrients, which are designed to maintain healthy patterns of growth and bloom, additive nutrients aim to promote specific actions, whether it be the development of large, dense flowers, trichome production, root growth, or rapid cell expansion.

Maintenance Products

Unlike base and additive supplements, some of our products specialize in maintaining or preserving a particular area in a plant’s life cycle. So, while not directly considered a fertilizer, maintenance products help support specific actions such as pH stability, plant health, and general performance in the garden

More About Base Nutrients

Why are base nutrients important? Like us, plants are only able to digest certain elements throughout their lifecycle. So, a base nutrient could be described as any liquid or powdered plant food which contains most of, or all of the essential elements for plant health and stability. Although base nutrient systems vary in many ways, most notable in price, brand, and in the number of “parts”, an adequate base nutrient program will contain a well-rounded list of macro and micro-elements, be highly concentrated, and provide your plants with essential minerals throughout periods of growth and bloom.

More About Additive Nutrients 

What are additives? Unlike base nutrients, additive nutrients are supplements that aim to promote specific actions and outcomes. There are a wide variety of additive nutrients available on the market. For example, GreenPlanet Nutrients manufacturers 16 nutrient additives, ranging from beneficial bacteria inoculants, bloom boosters, and carbohydrates supplements. While all these supplements have different desired actions and outcomes, they all aim to enhance the natural growth patterns of plants.

Base nutrient supplements can be seen as your plant’s source of “meat and potatoes”, essential elements necessary for growing healthy crops. Additives on the other hand, if we stick with food analogies, can be described as a plant’s “dessert”, something that is not essential for survival, but if supplemented appropriately, can ultimately enhance the potential for size, flavour and appeal during flower.

Enhance Your Crop with Flowering Supplements and Additives

More About Maintenance Products

Why use maintenance products? Maintenance products are specialized products that assist in the general upkeep of the garden. Designed to be used periodically with base nutrients and additives, maintenance products support specific actions that aim to promote and optimize crop production and plant health. Some maintenance products such as pH Up and pH Down are essential for maintaining stabilized plant growth and are recommended for buffering nutrients during every irrigation cycle. 

– Maintenance Products are only available in Canada –

Combining Base Nutrients and Additives in a Feed Program 

GreenPlanet offers growers four distinct liquid feed programs: the 1-Part Medi-One, the 2-Part Dual Fuel, GP 3-Part, and the Hydro Fuel 4-Part. But what feed program is right for you? Read the passages below for more information on the feed programs available at GreenPlanet. Or, click the button below for advice on choosing your ideal nutrient system. 

1-Part Medi One Feed Program 

A complete, organic feed program formulated for the medical grower. 

Medi One is a balanced blend of organic ingredients that encourages vigorous growth in the vegetative stage and resinous aromatic flora production in the flowering stage. Medi One is also OMRI listed. This means that the ingredients that go into producing Medi One are backed against industry standards for organic fertilizer production. 

Feed Program Contains: 

2-Part Dual Fuel Feed Program  

A simple and highly concentrated feed program designed to save growers time and money.

Whether you’re a novice cultivator with your first grow tent or a master grower producing on a commercial scale, our 2-part Dual Fuel Feed Program gives you the ability to fine-tune your garden to ensure you get bigger and better yields! Simple and easy to use so you can scale up or down without the headache.

Feed Program Contains:

3-Part GP3 Feed Program

Formulated for the veteran grower, GP3 offers increased flexibility, control, and reliability. 

GP3 is the OG of 3-part feed programs. It’s the 3 part base nutrient system that has been tried and tested by seasoned growers throughout the years. If you want a product backed by veteran growers, then this is the feed program for you.

Feed Program Contains: 

4-Part Hydro Fuel Feed Program

The classic and easy-to-use formula for the traditional hydroponic garden.

The 4-Part Hydro Fuel Feed Program gives growers extreme control over both vegetative and flowering growth with two specific formulas for each stage of production. The base nutrient component comes in four parts: A&B Grow and A&B Bloom. 

Feed Program Contains: 

Your green-thumbed adventure starts here! To access the programs and products in this blog, contact a member of the GreenPlanet sales team, or your local garden supply store for product information and purchasing inquiries. 

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What are trichomes and why do they result in high-quality cannabis?

Macro of trichomes on a cannabis plant.

When it comes to cannabis, experienced growers prefer quality over quantity. The truth is, growers today want to produce bigger trichomes, not flowers. Unlike its flowers, cannabis trichomes hold a wealth of psychoactive, medicinal, and therapeutic properties. The market’s changed; instead of gigantic, dull cannabis buds, growers are far more interested in producing tight flowers, covered with a dense layer of crystalized trichomes.

Grow Trichomes with GreenPlanet Nutrients Rezin

What are Trichomes?

Trichomes are small, dome-like glands that coat the leaves and buds of mature cannabis plants. They are resinous and oily, but also have a glass, or crystal-like appearance. Trichomes also have functional properties. For example, experts argue that trichomes can mitigate leaf and flower temperature, leading to a stronger plant that’s more resistant to bouts of extreme heat or cold (Wagner, 1991).

Also, the hair-like structure of resin glands leads professionals to believe that trichomes can act as a pest-deterrent and defence mechanism via their oily nature and the production of chemical compounds (Wagner, 1991). Fruits, vegetables, and flowers produce trichomes across the plant kingdom. However, specific glands in cannabis have been praised for their unique psychoactive and medicinal compounds.

Trichomes are small, dome-like glands found on the buds of mature cannabis plants.

Important Compounds Found in Cannabis Trichomes

THC

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the primary psychoactive compound found in cannabis. While perhaps the most prevalent, THC is one of at least 113 cannabinoids found in marijuana plant tissue. THC forms heavily in the lipid glands of exposed plant matter like flowers and leaves as an evolutionary defence response to stress, pests, and environmental conditions. 

Molecular chemical structure of cannabinoid THC Tetrahydrocannabinol
THC is one of at least 113 cannabinoids found in marijuana plant tissue.

When taken, tetrahydrocannabinol is absorbed into the bloodstream and travels to the brain, attaching itself to the naturally-occurring endocannabinoid receptors located in the brain. This attachment can distort and affect perception, pleasure, thinking, coordination, and movement. In short, THC is the compound in cannabis responsible for making the user feel “high”. However, there are also medicinal and therapeutic uses for THC. For instance, THC has had success in treating pain, discomfort, and bladder overactivity for people with multiple sclerosis. 

CBD

Cannabidiol or CBD is another immensely important compound found abundantly in cannabis. Also a primary active ingredient in hemp, CBD has been championed widely for its therapeutic and medicinal benefits. And unlike THC, CBD does not cause a “high” when ingested. Potential medicinal benefits are as follows: insomnia relief, acute and chronic pain assistance, inflammation ease, depression support, and arthritis aid (Perez, 2021, para. 1). 

Molecular chemical structure of cannabinoid CBD Cannabidiol
CBD/Cannabidiol is the most well-known and abundant non-psychoactive cannabinoid found within the cannabis plant. CBD has also been championed widely for its therapeutic and medicinal benefits.

CBD can be ingested in many forms, including oils, herbs, patches, capsules, lotions, sprays, and even bath bombs. Since CBD is a therapeutic compound without any psychoactive effects, individuals using or prescribed CBD may experience a more relaxed and regulated mood, reduced muscle pain, and low fatigue. 

THCA

Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), the precursor of THC, is also found in the resinous glands of cannabis plants. Unlike the smaller molecular compound THC, THCA’s chemical composition is too large to fit into the endocannabinoid receptors in the brain, making it a non-intoxicating active ingredient. In order for a cannabinoid compound to become intoxicating (like THC), the molecule must be small enough to attach itself to a type-1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1). The shape and size of the THCA molecule, however, is too large to make this CB1 to cannabinoid connection. 

Molecular chemical structure of cannabinoid THCA Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid
THCA’s chemical composition is a non-intoxicating active ingredient.

Remember, THCA is the precursor to the intoxicating compound THC. The chemical conversion comes from a simple process called decarboxylation, or the rapid application of heat and light. Heat removes the carboxylic acid group from THCA, altering the THC chemical structure. This makes it the perfect shape to fit into the endocannabinoid system. But like other compounds found in trichomes, THCA alone has amazing health benefits. For example, recent studies have shown that THCA can promote dietary and immune system recovery and function (Ruhaak, 2011). 

CBN

Cannabinol (CBN) comes from the breakdown of THC in mature cannabis plants. CBN isn’t as psychoactive as THC, but it can still produce a calming, therapeutic effect after consumption. Since CBN doesn’t necessarily produce a “high”, it’s often overlooked as an unimportant cannabinoid. However, there are several benefits of CBN being examined in recent studies. For instance, studies have shown that concentrations of CBN have antibacterial, neuroprotectant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Cannabinol also has a minor sedative effect, leading researchers to believe that future studies will yield further medicinal evidence for the use of CBN.

Molecular chemical structure of cannabinoid Cannabinol CBN
CBN, or Cannabinol, has antibacterial, neuroprotectant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

What’s most interesting about CBN is its interaction with other cannabinoids. Dr. Ethan Russo, a neurologist responsible for popularizing the “entourage effect”, says CBN itself isn’t a sedative (Rahn, 2020, para. 5). But when combined with other cannabinoids like THC and CBD, cannabinol can work synergistically to influence certain therapeutic effects.

Grow Trichomes – Not Flowers

Cannabis buds are valued on much more than size – strain, terpene concentration and cannabinoid content all play an essential role in determining the value of raw flower. But how do we grow trichomes? 

GreenPlanet product aficionado, Sonny, is here to give you all the info on Rezin.

Enhance Trichomes with Rezin

Bring fire to your crop with Rezin, our trichome, flavor, and aroma enhancer. Formulated with trace amounts of molybdenum and vitamin B1, Rezin can be used in both the flowering and flushing periods of growth to boost essential oil, trichome, and resin content.

Rezin contains no plant growth regulators (PGRs), artificial coloring, or dyes. And, since it contains only a trace amount of a single micronutrient, Rezin will not impact the EC/PPM of your nutrient solution. Rezin will help promote aromas and flavors to bring out the best qualities of your plants in both the late-stage and flushing period.

Rezin is the answer to ensure your flowers are covered in beautiful, frosty trichomes.

Remember, to enhance the smell and taste of cannabis, grow trichomes, not flowers! For more information on the products or information mentioned in this article, contact your GreenPlanet representative directly, or your local garden supply store. 

Works Cited 

  • Rahn, B. (2020). The entourage effect: How cannabis compounds may be working together. Retrieved December 1st, 2021 from Leafly
  • Ruhaak, L. (2011). Evaluation of the cyclooxygenase inhibiting effects of six major cannabinoids isolated from cannabis sativa. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. Retrieved December 1st, 2021 from J-Stage
  • Perez, L. (2021). 9 science-backed benefits of CDB oil. Retrieved December 1st, 2021 from Forbes Health 
  • Wagner, G.J. (1991) Secreting glandular trichomes: More than just hairs. Plant Physiology. Retrieved December 1st, 2021 from National Library of Medicine

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How to Choose a GreenPlanet Liquid Feed Program

GreenPlanet offers growers four distinct liquid feed programs: the 1-Part Medi-One, the 2-Part Dual Fuel, 3-Part GP3, and the 4-Part Hydro Fuel. But what feed program is right for you? Answering this question depends on a few simple, yet important considerations, including gardening practices, previous experience, and cultivation system of choice. If you’re an organic farmer, for instance, the only suitable GreenPlanet feeding system would be the 1-Part Medi-One program, a fully organic nutrient program that offers growers readily available organic elements for both indoor and outdoor operations. While cultivating practices are perhaps the most important determinant when choosing a nutrient program, there are many factors that go into selecting the ideal feeding system. If you’re interested in learning about what GreenPlanet feed program would suit your garden, read the following passages for more information. 

Find the right feed program for you grow with this quick comparison video

Click here to browse a complete list of GPN liquid feed programs

What is a Feed Program?

A feed program is a schedule of plant nutrition that can be mapped in terms of fertilizer dosage, ratio, supplementation, and use over time. Usually containing several bottles, a complete feeding program should contain supplements including a base nutrient fertilizer, a vitamin supplement, a bloom booster, a source of carbohydrates, and a trichome enhancer. By combining the inputs in a feeding program, prompted with other factors which produce a confident yield, growers can expect their garden to produce the most quality-driven harvest possible.

Here is an example of the 1 Part Medi One Feed Program. Visit our resource center to download each feed program.

Using the above 1 Part Medi One Feed program as an example to indicate what a complete feeding program should contain:

3 Questions to Consider Before Choosing a Liquid Feed Program 

1. Do You Want to Grow Organic Crops?

This question refers to the example above – if you’re interested in growing organic crops, consider only selecting fertilizers made with organic elements. High-quality fertilizers are typically divided into two categories: synthetic and organic. Synthetic, or mineral-based fertilizers are formulated from direct sources of bioavailable elements. Organic fertilizers, however, are formulated from naturally sourced compounds that become available to the plant once they are broken down in the root zone. In short, synthetic fertilizers feed the plant, while organic fertilizers feed the soil. This consideration will drastically impact the choice of fertilizer available to growers, as only select feed programs, like GreenPlanet’s 1-Part Medi-One, are specifically formulated with organic elements.

Tip: Keep an eye out for the OMRI logo on organic fertilizers. The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) reviews the manufacturing processes of all organic fertilizers against industry standards of production and ensures that all organic products meet necessary levels of quality. 

Click to read Medi One’s Role in an Organic Garden

2. What System or Medium Are You Using?

This question refers to your method of growing. Some fertilizers aren’t suitable for use in specific systems. So, base your fertilizer of choice on your method of growing. Organic fertilizers, for example, can be made from extremely thick, viscous materials like fish hydrolysate, while synthetic fertilizers are usually formulated with highly concentrated amounts of soluble minerals. In short, some fertilizers are designed for use in specific systems. If you’re unsure whether or not a specific fertilizer would be suitable for use in your garden, ask a GreenPlanet sales representative, or, refer to the “medium approved” icons available on our fertilizer containers and feed charts. 

On the back of each GreenPlanet Nutrient product, you’ll be able to find the For Use Icons for approved medium use

For Use In Icons (Medium Approved Icon List)

3. How Much Experience Do You Have?

There’s no shame in being a new grower. But if you’re new, it’s important to question your experience with plant food. Some fertilizers are more complicated than others. Complex fertilizers, like our GP3 program, come in multiple “parts”, and need to be buffered, balanced, and measured in varying ratios over time. Even for the most talented growers, these complex feeding programs can be complicated to manage. All of the parts of a base nutrient program are made up of similar elements, the only difference between them is the method of mixing and ratios during irrigation. So, it’s a good idea to question both your capabilities as a gardener and how hard you’re willing to work before selecting a fertilizer. 

Choose a GreenPlanet Liquid Feed Program

After considering the questions above, it’s time to find out which GreenPlanet Nutrients feed program is right for you. GreenPlanet offers growers four liquid feed programs: the 1-Part Medi-One, the 2-Part Dual Fuel, GP 3-Part, and the Hydro Fuel 4-Part. Below we’ll discuss the major differences between these nutrient systems and figure out which program would work best for your garden. 

1-Part Medi-One Feed Program 

Simple and Organic – Perfect for Medicinal Gardeners

If you’re looking for a well-rounded, organic feed program, look no further. GreenPlanet’s Medi-One feed program is an OMRI-listed, one-part, organic base nutrient system. The base nutrient component of the 1-Part program, Medi-One, is composed of multiple organic sources including hydrolyzed, slow-steamed Atlantic Menhaden, sea kelp, and naturally sourced potassium sulfate. Medi-One also boasts the impressive, yet balanced N-P-K ratio of 4-3-3; and, because of the slow steaming of inert ingredients during the manufacturing process, Medi-One is an overflowing reservoir of important micronutrients like copper, boron, manganese, and zinc.

Click Here to view GreenPlanet’s 1 Part Medi One’s Feed Program

Other supplements like Ocean Magic, Massive, Liquid Weight, and Rezin are included in the 1-Part Medi-One Feed Program. Ocean Magic is a vegetative additive derived from Sea Kelp and is a natural source of plant hormones that increase root development, vertical growth, and horizontal branching. Massive is our premier flowering additive, while Liquid Weight is a simple and clean source of soluble carbohydrates. The 1-Part program also includes Rezin, a trichome enhancing product with the power to increase the expression of resinous trichome heads. 

2-Part Dual Fuel Feed Program 

Concentrated and Effective – Great For Small and Large Scale Operators Alike 

Boasting an aggressive NPK ratio, high concentration rates, and a stable pH range, the Dual Fuel program is unmatched by competitors in terms of content, value, and reliability. GreenPlanet’s Dual Fuel feed program is the perfect choice for growers who want to produce a clean harvest, free of headaches, mishaps, and challenges. The base nutrient component of Dual Fuel is divided into two parts: Dual Fuel 1 & Dual Fuel 2. Dual Fuel 1 is the nitrogen (N) and micronutrient heavy component of GreenPlanet’s 2-part system, while Dual Fuel 2 compliments the feeding program by being packed full of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).

Click Here to view GreenPlanet’s 2 Part Dual Fuel Feed Program

Along with Dual Fuel 1 & 2, GreenPlanet’s 2-Part program is sold alongside premier additives like Vitathrive, Massive, Liquid Weight, and Rezin. Vitathrive is our plant vitamin supplement, designed to discourage stress and promote early root growth. Massive is our premier flowering additive, while Liquid Weight is a simple and clean source of soluble carbohydrates. The 2-Part Dual Fuel program also includes Rezin, GreenPlanet’s aroma, and flavor enhancer. 

3-Part GP3 Feed Program 

Intricate and Balanced – Made For the Expert Grower

GreenPlanet’s 3-Part GP3 feed program consists of a three-part base nutrient system and several additives that enhance both vegetative and blooming growth. The base nutrient component consists of three parts: Grow, Micro and Bloom. Made for the expert grower, GP3 offers plants everything they need in 3 bottles. From essential micronutrients like copper, boron, and zinc, to balanced levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, GP3 is fed to plants in varying ratios throughout stages of propagation, growth, and bloom, making it the perfect stack of fertilizer for growers who want nothing but the best.

Click Here to view GreenPlanet’s 3 Part GP3 Feed Program

Along with GP3 Grow, Micro, and Bloom, GreenPlanet’s 3-Part program is sold alongside premier additives like Vitathrive, Massive, Liquid Weight, and Rezin. Vitathrive is our plant vitamin supplement, designed to discourage stress and promote early root growth. Massive is our premier flowering additive, while Liquid Weight is a simple and clean source of soluble carbohydrates. The 3-Part GP3 program also includes Rezin, GreenPlanet’s aroma, and flavor enhancer. 

4-Part Hydro Fuel Feed Program 

Classic and Easy to Use – Designed for the Easy-Going, Traditional Garden 

The 4-Part Hydro Fuel Feed Program gives growers extreme control over both vegetative and flowering growth with two specific and balanced formulas for each stage of production. The base nutrient component comes in four parts, A&B Grow and A&B Bloom, two formulas for each stage of growth. But don’t let the excess of nutrients fool you into thinking Hydro Fuel is complicated – GreenPlanet’s 4-Part feed program is one of the simplest, yet most effective nutrient systems on the market. For example, each of the Hydro Fuel pairs is mixed in equal ratios. This makes the 4-Part program extremely easy to master and maintain. 

Click Here to view GreenPlanet’s 4 part Hydro Fuel Feed Program

The 4-Part Hydro Fuel Feed Program is sold with products including Vitathrive, Massive, Liquid Weight, and Rezin. Vitathrive is our plant vitamin supplement, designed to discourage stress and promote early root growth. Massive is our premier flowering additive, while Liquid Weight is a simple and clean source of soluble carbohydrates. The 4-Part Hydro Fuel program also includes Rezin, GreenPlanet’s aroma, and flavor enhancer. 

AutoPot Watering Systems Feed Program 

Stable and Extremely Water-Soluble – Made for the AutoPot Watering System

Easy-to-use grow systems demand an easy-to-use feed program to match. That’s why we worked closely with AutoPot to formulate 2 new feed programs based on our original Dual Fuel and GP3 Liquid Feed Programs. To grow successfully with AutoPot, you need a nutrient program that is highly water-soluble with clean ingredients. Without it, you run the risk of clogged AquaValves and feed lines from excess build-up. Nobody wants to perform emergency grow system maintenance in the middle of their cycle due to their choice of nutrients. The 2 Part AutoPot Dual Fuel Feed Program and 3 Part AutoPot GP3 Feed Program give AutoPot growers peace of mind with clean, simple, and high-quality sources of nutrition for their plants.

Swipe the image to see either the 2 Part or 3 Part Autpot Feed Programs

The Dual Fuel and GP3 AutoPot feed programs are sold with their respective base nutrient and additives including PK Spike, Vitathrive, and Rezin. Made to be extremely stable and water-soluble, PK Spike is the designated bloom booster in the AutoPot feed program. Vitathrive is our plant vitamin supplement, while Rezin is formulated to increase trichome and essential oil production.

Jason Ralph-Smith, Managing Director at AutoPot Global, put Dual Fuel to the test at the AutoPot Facility.

Whatever your style of garden, chances are, GreenPlanet Nutrients has the perfect base nutrient program. To access the programs available at GreenPlanet Nutrients, contact a member of the GreenPlanet sales team, or your local garden supply store for product information and purchasing inquiries. 

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Tips on Treating and Preventing Root Rot

Root rot is the archnemesis of the hydroponic gardener. If left untreated, root rot (pythium) can spread like wildfire and quickly disrupt natural growth patterns. At the extreme, rot can potentially devastate a crop and leave nothing but the withered and maimed structure of once happily growing plants. But how do we treat root rot? Or better yet, how can we avoid it? Like most problems in the garden, root rot can be avoided by following a routine of care and consistency; however, when problems arise, tools and techniques are widely available to help remedy issues like root rot. Read the following passages for tips on treating, preventing and managing root rot: 

What is Root Rot? 

Root rot, or pythium, is a fungal root disease that can be induced and identified in various indoor, outdoor, greenhouse and hydroponic crops. While pests like fungus gnats can transfer the pythium pathogen, the most likely cause of root rot is a lack of drainage, oxygen, or the unmitigated presence of moisture in soil/soilless containers. Roots exposed to rot will cease to expand, become dark, and in the most extreme cases, develop a reddish-brown sludge that will quickly consume the root ball.

Reddish-Brown Sludge
Dark & No Longer Expanding

Plants outside soils are also susceptible to root disease, especially if they share the same water. For example, most hydroponic systems have a central reservoir responsible for expelling and recirculating water back and forth from containers, buckets or net pots. If a single plant becomes contaminated, the likelihood of pythium exposure to the rest of the garden is exponentially increased. If left to rot, root disease in hydroponic systems can be the most devastating.

Avoiding and Preventing Root Rot

In Soil/Soilless Mediums 

Among other causes, root rot in soil systems is most likely caused by insufficient drainage, damp soil, overwatering or a poorly functioning root system. So, to avoid root rot in soil gardens, invest in a porous medium or inert compound that loosens dense or muddy soils: peat moss, coco, perlite, volcanic pebbles, and vermiculite are all good examples of highly porous mediums. Also, allow these medium sufficient time to dry out – approximate the weight of a completely saturated plant and compare this weight with a plant in need of water. Root rot can be easily prevented in mediums like peat moss and coco by giving your plants sufficient time between irrigations. These tips and regularly supplying your plants with root-enhancing additives are a sure way to keep root disease at bay. 

Peat Moss // Coco // Perlite // Volcanic Pebbles // Vermiculite
These highly porous mediums will help improve drainage.

In Hydroponic Systems

Unlike soil systems, water-based gardens are more susceptible to root rot, especially if the nutrient solution is shared between plants or water temperatures are left unmitigated. Hydroponic systems like deep-water culture (DWC), flood and drain (ebb & flow) and aeroponic are at the most high risk for developing rampant root disease – it only takes a single plant to become contaminated to put the entire crop at risk. 

Pythium, in hydroponics, is usually induced by high or unstable water temperatures. Oxygen levels are low in water temperatures above 72°F (22°C), and when mixed with acidic plant food, a hydroponic system can quickly become the perfect breeding ground for plant disease. To prevent root rot in hydroponic systems, manage and monitor the temperature of your nutrient solution. To ensure your plants maintain regular periods of growth, attempt to stabilize your water temperature around 65°F (18°C).

 The ideal water temp is around 18-22C

Identifying Root Rot

Identifying root rot can be challenging, especially since the root zone is not visible to gardeners. So, rely on your plant’s foliage as an indicator of potential root disease. Here are some foliar characteristics of a plant with root rot: withered or drooping leaves, discolouration, mutated growth and decreased water and food consumption. 

Upon noticing a massive decrease in water and food consumption, growers can monitor the daily drinking habits of their plants. This can be done in both hydroponic and soil-based systems. To monitor the water consumption of plants in hydroponic systems, measure the water level of your reservoir daily. If your crop’s water consumption does not increase over time, root disease has likely affected the health of your plants. In soil-based systems, approximate how long your plants can dry out completely. If the time between waterings regularly decreases, root disease may have begun to affect your plant’s metabolism negatively. 

David “The Garden Sage” Robinson explains how to identify plants affected by root disease.

Preventing Root Disease

After identifying the characteristics and causes of root rot, it’s best to do what you can to prevent it from occurring rather than limping your crop through the final weeks of harvest. The best way to combat root rot is to avoid it completely by implementing a source of beneficial microbes to help keep root zones healthy. For a quality source of beneficial bacteria, use GreenPlanet Nutrients Root Builder. 

Click to find out more information about Root Builder

So remember, quality controls like resistant genetics, stable systems, care and consistency all play an essential role in treating and preventing root rot. Need support in the garden? GreenPlanet is here to help! For more information on the products or information mentioned in this article, contact your GreenPlanet representative directly or your local garden supply store. 

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Medi One’s Role in an Organic Garden

There has always been a large debate centered around the benefits of organic versus synthetic farming. It’s clear that mineral-based fertilizers have their place in specific hydroponic systems, for instance, in recirculating reservoirs or aeroponic applications. But for gardeners who prefer to produce crops in coco or peat-based mediums, the debate is left wide-open, as a drain to waste garden utilizes chemicals, organics or mixed-method approaches to nutrient enrichment easily and with little resistance throughout the plant’s life cycle. Being that the garden is full of variables, the choice that will provide a heavier, more quality-driven crop is often shadowed by more important factors such as plant genetics, environmental conditions and gardening techniques; although, in specific situations, it’s evident that choosing the right fertilizer can make or break a garden.  

Organic growing is a great option for coco or peat-based mediums!

So, why the debate? Although the benefits of using an organic nutrient arguably rival that of synthetics, there are two simple worries associated with the use of organic fertilizers in the garden: control and nutrient availability. In an average organic garden, fertilizers like blood meal, worm casting or bat guano, are pre-amended into the medium of choice, and then are left to “cook-off”, releasing available elements to the plant as they as they are broken down by humic acids, microorganisms and fungi. This process, however natural, can often lack control and speed for gardeners that are focused on perpetual production. Furthermore, miscalculating the amending process is a common mistake, and can be devastating to a crop.

Despite these worries, there is one product available in today’s market, GreenPlanet Nutrients Medi One, which settles the debate between synthetic and organic fertilizers, as this one-part base nutrient offers the control and availability of a synthetic fertilizer, with the added certification and sustainability of organic production. 

What is Medi-One?

Medi One is an OMRI Listed, one-part, organic base nutrient. Meaning, Medi One is a certified organic product that can be used as a foundation for plant growth and general health throughout the entirety of a plant’s life cycle. As discussed above, organic supplements are usually composed of single-sourced entities, like worm casting, kelp or bone meal. Medi One is formulated from multiple organic sources including hydrolyzed, slow-steamed Atlantic Menhaden, sea kelp, and naturally sourced potassium sulphate. Not only does this fertilizer supply your crop with the balanced NPK ratio of 4-3-3, but due to the steaming process of fish and kelp which preserves naturally occurring amino acids, Medi One is an overflowing reservoir of important micronutrients like copper, boron, manganese and zinc. 

Front Label Icons
Back Label Icons

Referring to our icons above. FRONT LABEL: Medi One is our Liquid  Base Nutrient which you use throughout the Vegetative and Flowering Stages of growth. BACK LABEL: You can use this product within a coco based medium, continuous liquid feed program, and a soil/soilless medium. Medi One NPK Values are 4 – 3 – 3

Readily Available Elements

Because Medi One is a liquid fertilizer, the aggressive growth and blooming powers of this nutrient system are readily available for your plants to uptake. Similar to a synthetic fertilizing program, the nutrient enriching qualities of Medi One will be available to your plants within hours of fertilizing. But even more exciting, because of all the hidden organic benefits this fertilizer has to offer, Medi One will continue to break down in the soil over time, continually enriching your plant’s root-zone with crucial nutrients until their next irrigation. Upon flooding your medium with Medi One, vibrant and rich sources of vitamins, amino acids, microorganisms and fungi will begin to cultivate a living space in the root-zone. In short, this process of microbe enrichment will help to speed along the ecological processes of nutrient uptake and delivery. 

Medi One enriches your root zone with readily available organic elements.

Award-Winning Nutrient Formula

Along with the help of supreme genetics and careful growing conduct, Medi One was the nutrient system that helped cannabis educator, John Berfelo, win the Medical Cannabis Cup award in 2011 with his prized strain, Medi-Kush. In the article titled, “The Story Behind My Award-Winning Medi Kush Strain”, Berfelo explains the process of strain hunting the sugar-coated, tri-coloured flowers once known to the market as, “Christmas Kush”.

John Berfelo’s Medi Kush, grown with Medi One.

For John, this strain offered him extraordinary pain relief; and so, it was only a matter of time before he was able to find seeds, and begin the journey of cultivating this plant at home in a medicinal garden. Five years after popping the first of his seeds, Berfelo entered the organically grown “Medi Kush” into the private grower’s category of the Medical Cannabis Cup competition, taking home first prize in 2011, and later placing second in 2012. 

Use and Concentration 

Medi One is perhaps the easiest to use organic fertilizer on the market. In a liquid concentration form, applying Medi-One throughout the plant’s life cycle in indoor, outdoor and greenhouse operations couldn’t be simpler. Depending on the size and durability of your selected crop, mix Medi One in your desired quantity of water at a rate of 1-5 ml/L (4-19 ml/Gal) of water twice per week, making sure to shake the bottle before use and adjusting the pH to a range of 5.8 – 6.5 depending on your medium. For the best results, consult GreenPlanet’s Medi One feeding chart.

Click Here For The Medi One Feed Chart
Click to use our Nutrient Calculator

Settling the Debate

With the recent interest in organic supplements, GreenPlanet’s Medi One is here to settle the contentious debate between the potential benefits of synthetic versus organic fertilizers. With all the control and availability of a synthetic fertilizer, Medi One is the only certified organic product on the market today that can deliver the quantity and quality you expect from an award-winning nutrient. And so, if you’ve ever thought of crossing over into the world of organic farming, your chance is finally here with the help of Medi One.

Now is your chance to access the rich and diverse compounds of Medi One. Contact a member of the GreenPlanet sales team, or your local garden supply store for product information and purchasing inquiries.

Check out our Resource Centre for more product information

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What an OMRI Listed Product Can Do For Your Garden

Organic gardening is the process of enriching plants with naturally occurring materials, which at harvest time, arguably produce the cleanest and most unadulterated food and flower products available on the market. The practice of organic gardening, however, is not entirely about the production of clean and tasty crops – the roots of the trade foremost stem from philosophies that value the environment. Unlike the processes of commercial farming, where growers benefit from a variety of inorganic ingredients, like chemical fertilizers and pesticides, organic growing utilizes natural properties and elements to supplement plant health and stability. By facilitating plant growth through naturally occurring entities, the organic community can encourage tenets such as soil biodiversity and a decrease in waste and pollution, which, if cared for, can ultimately promote and maintain centers of flora and fauna diversification over time.  

To maintain standards in the field of organic agriculture, organizations such as the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), help manage the industry of inert fertilizer production, ensuring the inputs to your garden are sustainable, ethically sourced, and otherwise meet the certification standards of OMRI listed products. 

What is OMRI?

OMRI is a non-governmental organization that manages the standards of inputs that go into producing certified organic gardening products. In addition, OMRI verifies the sources and procedures of production which go into the manufacturing process of fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides, ensuring that the compounds which go into these products meet organic standards.

In order for a product to become OMRI listed, the manufacturer must provide OMRI with data like an ingredients list, the manufacturing process, the formula of production, and other necessary information to verify the product’s efficacy against organic standards. You can find OMRI-listed products in all places of the industry, from soils and mediums to liquid and soluble fertilizers. To check if a specific fertilizer is ‘certified’ organic, consult OMRI’s most recent product list.

What an OMRI Listed Product Can Do For Your Garden

Although there are many benefits of using an organic method of gardening, there are some more specific advantages growers can expect when using an OMRI-listed product in the garden.

A Consistent Product

As a consumer, purchasing a product with an OMRI stamp is one of the safest bets you can make in the production of an organic garden. Because of the measures taken by OMRI in the certification process, consumers can expect a product that will produce clean food and flower crops consistently. 

Quality Driven Ingredients

Organic gardening is all about quality. By picking an OMRI-listed fertilizer over chemical, or uncertified supplements, you can ensure your garden will be cut above the rest at harvest time. Part of the process of OMRI certification is the payment of quality assurance testing by fertilizer manufacturers against organic standards; manufacturers pay the fee for OMRI testing whether or not their product gets a stamp of certification. As a result, the transparency OMRI provides, along with other foundations of material testing, evidently leads to the production of quality-driven organic products in the marketplace. 

Certified Organic Crop Production

Although OMRI tests specific organic inputs against standards in the production of crops, it does not certify food or flower products as organic in nature. To become a certified organic producer of crops, there are many other steps that gardeners must navigate. As a result, other institutions that act as food/fiber certifiers look at many factors in the process of farm certification, for instance, where, how, and with what techniques crops are produced. However, if your potentially organic farm was using an OMRI label fertilizer in the production process, the decision to certify your garden as ‘organic’ would become much easier for certifiers.

Ready To Grow With An OMRI Listed Fertilizer?

Looking for a reliable OMRI-listed product? Try our award-winning base nutrient Medi One. Medi One is the only certified organic product on the market today that can deliver the quantity and quality you expect from an award-winning nutrient. So, if you’ve ever thought of crossing over into the world of organic farming, your chance is finally here with the help of GreenPlanet.

To access the rich and diverse compounds of Medi One, contact a member of the GreenPlanet sales team or your local garden supply store for product information and purchasing inquiries. 

Click Here to view our 1 Part Medi One Feed Program

Check out our Resource Centre for more product information

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