“Add calmag” seems to be a regurgitated answer that gets thrown around a lot on these forums.
Yeah... And the biggest issue with that is that
there is no element called "calmag." It's
two elements. Walk into a fast food place, order a sandwich, and tell them to put cheese on it... and if the droid behind the counter replies, "Okay, I told the cook to add extra cheeseandcoleslaw to your sandwich," and you might get a little annoyed, lol. Especially if you don't like coleslaw - or feel that the amount of coleslaw already on the sandwich in the first place was, in fact, already adequate.
IDK. I have a bottle of a calcium plus magnesium (and a little nitrogen, IIRC) product, too. But it's a small bottle
- and I also have a big sack of calcium nitrate and a fairly good sized one of Epsom salt in case I have a plant with a deficiency in one but not the other... and a pH meter to allow me to ascertain whether the deficiency might actually be a nutrient lock-out situation.
I'm on a strict budget for this first grow, I decided I won't buy additional CalMag until I don't see that my plants need it.
Sometimes the grower who barely has two pennies to rub together can do as well - or even better - than the one with fistfuls of cash. After all, lol, he/she will (hopefully) tend to make sure that es actually
needs a product before purchasing it. Alice, I just mentioned, above, two products that might be helpful (alone or in concert), calcium nitrate and Epsom salt. The latter can be found at most every grocery store and pharmacy (which means that generic "store brands" are available) and there might even already be some in your bathroom cabinet, at least if you're older than 25, lol (I
think that's when I stopped laughing uncomprehendingly every time I heard someone say, "That's going to hurt in the morning!"). The calcium nitrate product is commonly found at larger plant nurseries... and at real farm feed/supply stores. Many of them sell the stuff
by the pound for those who do not need - and/or cannot afford - a 50-pound bag of it. As with most dry nutrients, a little goes a long way. Just be aware that calcium
nitrate contains nitrogen in it - and that, therefore, you might find it advantageous to reduce the level of nitrogen in your nutrient mix when adding Ca(NO₃)₂ to it. Most calcium nitrate labelled for agricultural use is typically around 15½% nitrogen (15.5-0-0) and 19% calcium. Calcium seems to be the second most important element after nitrogen to cannabis plants (and to plants in general; they probably use more of it than they do phosphorous).
If I add calcium nitrate, I'll do so first, and ensure that it's thoroughly dissolved before adding anything else. My concern is with not wishing to precipitate out / create gypsum. I don't know how valid a concern this is. If I'm adding silicon, though, I'll probably add that first, ensure it's completely dissolved, and then add the calcium nitrate. I never adjust pH until I've added everything (else) that I'm going to, because such additions will tend to change the solution's pH anyway. Is this in line with everyone else's thinking in terms of mixing nutrients, or...?
it may be the borderline year for getting this salt 