Your base nutrient is the only bottle you truly cannot skip. It carries every element your plants need, every week, from the first feed to the last. Everything else on the additive shelf is optional. Pick the base that matches what your plants grow in, feed it at the right strength, and most problems never start.
Pick by growing medium
| Your plants grow in | Buy a base made for it | On the shelf |
|---|---|---|
| Coco coir | A coco A&B, because coco holds onto calcium | Canna Coco A&B, Hy-Gen CocoGrow A&B, House & Garden Cocos A&B, Advanced Nutrients Sensi Coco |
| Water: DWC, NFT, clay pebbles | A hydro base, often split into grow and bloom | Canna Aqua Vega and Aqua Flores, Hy-Gen Hydro Grow A&B, House & Garden Aqua Flakes |
| Soil and potting mix | A soil base | Canna Terra Vega, House & Garden Soil A&B, BioBizz Bio-Grow |
| Anything | A general A&B that suits all media | Professor's Original A&B, Budrite A&B, Athena Blended, Mills Basis A&B |
What not to buy
In a University of Guelph study, potassium showed no yield response anywhere from 60 to 340 mg/L. Nitrogen and phosphorus helped up to a point, then too much cut yield. So if you run a complete base, a stack of PK boosters on top is not where your yield comes from. Feed the base well first.
- Start at 75% of the maker's chart.
- Mix in order: water, cal-mag, Part A, Part B, then pH last.
- Measure run-off EC and adjust in small steps of 0.1 to 0.2.
Our stage-by-stage numbers are in the feeding guide. Brand ranges: Advanced Nutrients, Mills, Rock Nutrients. Growing in coco? Add cal-mag.
Base nutrient questions
Which base nutrient should I buy?
The one made for your medium. Coco needs a coco base, water culture needs a hydro base, and soil needs a soil base. If you grow in coco and want 1 answer, most coco growers here run Canna Coco A&B.
Why are nutrients sold as Part A and Part B?
Some elements clump together and lock out if they sit concentrated in 1 bottle, mainly calcium with sulphates and phosphates. Keeping them apart stops that. Add A to the water, stir, then add B. Never pour A and B straight into each other.
Do I need a separate grow and bloom nutrient?
Depends on the line. Canna Coco A&B and Mills Basis A&B are made to run from start to finish. Others, like Canna Aqua Vega and Aqua Flores, split growth and flowering into 2 products.
How strong should I feed?
As a starting point, EC 0.6 to 0.8 for seedlings and cuttings, 1.0 to 1.6 in growth, and 1.6 to 2.2 for flowering and fruiting. Those numbers include your tap water. Raise it slowly and let the run-off tell you when to stop.
