FAQs

An unopened bottle, properly stored (cool environment, out of sunlight, sealed container), can last for many years.

Once opened, we still recommend storing in a cool, dark place, but encourage growers to use the bottle within 6 months.

Properly stored (cool environment, out of sunlight, sealed container) the FloraNova series should last up to one year without any problems.

Either way will work. If you are using a nutrient for the first time and are not familiar with how it is going to affect your pH, you should mix your nutrient first. Let the solution sit for about 15 – 20 minutes and then check the pH and adjust accordingly. Keep track of how much pH Up or Down you add to the solution. Typically pH Up will be required if you are using Reverse Osmosis filtered water. If you are using unfiltered municipal water or well water with a pH of 7.5 or above, you might need to use a small amount of pH Down or possibly none at all. Once you know how much pH adjusting solution you use in your reservoir, you can add it first of you like. Remember that temperature affects pH so make sure your water temperature is consistent when mixing your nutrient solution.

Our Feedchart Usage Guide explains how to interpret and use General Hydroponics® Pro Feedcharts. It is intended as a companion piece to General Hydroponics® Pro feedcharts for FloraPro®, FloraSeries®, and Maxi Series™.

Each set of feed charts illustrates Aggressive, Medium, and Light Feeding recipes.  (For most modern production systems, we recommend the Medium Feed strength).

Aggressive Feed: Best for larger, multi-topped plants, where planting density is low and crops are irrigated less frequently.  Plant density 0.25-4 per 16 sq ft

Medium Feed: Suitable for most modern production systems. Best for medium-sized plants and medium planting density, where crops are irrigated frequently. Plant density 4 -10 per 16 sq ft

Light Feed: Best for smaller plants, grown in high-density layouts and using pulse feed or very high frequency, low-volume irrigation events.  Plant density 11- 20 per 16 sq ft

Each feedchart download includes two versions — Weekly & Growth Phase — and you can choose either version based on your needs.  

Weekly Feedchart: The weekly version divides each fertilizer recipe by week from the Seedling/Cuttings stage through Harvest. 

Growth Phase Feedchart: The Growth Stage versions include fewer recipes geared toward key growth stages, and are intended for large-scale commercial operators who require simplified fertilizer recipe counts for complex fertigation systems.

3-Part Feedchart: Our 3-Part programs use only the base nutrients in FloraSeries®: FloraGro®, FloraBloom®, and FloraMicro®. This program is perfect for growers who want to keep it simple, whether they are a large commercial grower trying to simplify their operation, or a first time hobbyist just trying to get their bearings.  

6-Part Feedchart: The 6-Part feedcharts include six total products: the three base nutrients in FloraSeries®, plus three additional liquid fertilizers supplements: CaliMAGic™, Liquid Koolbloom®, Floralicious® Plus.  

• CALiMAGic™ is a concentrated blend of readily available calcium and magnesium, assists fast growing plants by preventing secondary nutrient deficiencies. 
• Liquid Koolbloom® is formulated to provide a boost to the nutrients necessary for maximum floral yields. 
• Floralicious® Plus contains essential plant nutrients that are known to encourage essential oil production and improve plant vigor. 

10-Part Feedchart: Our custom performance plan includes ten total products: the six products in the Pro Performance charts, plus four additional supplements — used individually or together — to fine tune your recipe to address any remaining challenges with your plants and their growing environment.  

• ArmorSi™ adds Silica to strengthen and help protect plants from stressful conditions.
• Rapidstart™ is a proprietary blend of plant nutrients to promote superior root growth and development.  
• Ripen® contains essential plant nutrients needed for flower maturation to support abundant flowering, with greater oil and fragrance production,
• FloraKleen® helps flush out accumulated salts from the rootzone.

Fast growing crops consume large amounts of nutrients and water so it is important to keep an eye on the reservoir every couple of days. Also consider the size of the plants(bigger plants, more water consumption) and how warm and dry the environment.(hotter, more transpiration).

Absolutely! All of our nutrient blends contain the necessary elements for plant growth. Start with the formula ratios identified on the label for the specific plant or crop you are growing, and then adjust and experiment until you find the right formula for your specific need.

For further information, refer to our feedcharts.

Of course. Make sure you use a weaker nutrient solution than you would for root feeding. Avoid foliar feeding in the heat of the day and under excessive sunlight. Generally, the best times to foliar feed are in the early morning and late afternoon. Make sure you spray the undersides of the leaves. This is where the stomata or “lungs of the plant” are located, and where maximum absorption occurs.

In hydroponics, the plant roots are constantly provided with all the water, oxygen, and nutrients they need. The challenge for the grower is to keep up with the plant’s needs and to avoid damaging it with either excesses or deficiencies of minerals. As a general rule, a plant consumes more nitrogen during the formative or vegetative stage and more phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium as it flowers.

Throughout its growth cycle, the plant will also consume calcium, sulfur and micro nutrients such as iron, manganese, boron, molybdenum, copper and zinc.

FloraMicro®, the foundation or “building block” of the FloraSeries system, provides nitrogen, calcium, micronutrients and trace minerals, which are essential for a comprehensive hydroponic plant diet. By adding FloraGro® to FloraMicro, the plant will receive additional nitrogen and potassium, stimulating structural and foliar growth. To stimulate flower and fruit development, FloraBloom® is added to provide the necessary phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and sulfur.

pH is a measure of the hydronium ion H3O+. It is based on a logarithmic scale from 0 to 14. “Pure” water has a pH of 7.0. If the pH is less than 7, the solution is acid. If the pH is greater than 7 it is alkaline. Because the scale is logarithmic and not linear, a pH of 6 indicates ten times more H protons than a pH of 7, and a pH of 5 indicates 10 times more protons than a pH of 6.

No, Dry KoolBloom® works on the premise that the plant is shocked into mass flowering. Shocking the plant too much can cause rotting, bloom loss and in extreme cases plant death.

Yes. The reservoir should be drained and rinsed every 7-14 days, depending upon plant size and nutrient usage. It should definitely be drained and cleaned whenever you change the nutrient ratio formula. It is also a good idea to rinse off the growing medium (expanded clay pebbles) each time the reservoir is cleaned. Plant waste will tend to accumulate on the growing medium.

Yes and no. The FloraNova series is designed to use one part at a time, but in a time of transition it may be beneficial to mix the two at half strength each (makes a full strength nutrient solution). Use FloraNova Grow® in the vegetative stage and FloraNova Bloom® in the fruiting/flowering stage.

Note: If your plant is not fruiting or flowering plant, FloraNova Grow® is all that you will need to use.

For further information, refer to our FloraNova feedchart.

Yes and no. The Maxi Series is designed to use one part at a time, but in a time of transition it may be beneficial to mix the two at half strength each (makes a full strength nutrient solution). Use MaxiGro™ in the vegetative stage and MaxiBloom™ in the fruiting/flowering stage.

Note: If your plant is not a fruiting or flowering plant, MaxiGro™ is all that you will need to use.

For further information, refer to our Maxi Series™ feedchart.

They can. Rinse the growing media (especially important when using rockwool) before using it. We suggest you check the nutrient solution pH and ppm(see above) and adjust the solution accordingly.

To obtain an approximate sodium chloride TDS value, multiply the EC reading (in milliSiemens/cm) by 1000 and divide by 2.

To get an EC value, multiply the ppm reading by 2 and divide by 1000.

Thus, if your EC is 1:
1 * 1000/2= 500 ppm.

And if your ppm is 500:
500 * 2/1000= 1 EC

The best method is prevention. If you keep the solution away from light, i.e. keep the lids closed and all openings sealed, you can prevent algae from growing. If you already have algae in the system you can remove it with a brush, or use hydrogen peroxide (3ml of 3% H2O2 per gallon of solution) to remove it. If there are particles floating in the nutrient solution, be sure to flush the reservoir and growing chamber with ample water, and then start with a new batch of nutrient. If the problem is severe, make sure you have the algae completely flushed out to avoid the risk of clogging some of the flow lines in the system.

Never mix the nutrients together in their concentrated form, as this will cause nutrient “lock-out,” making some minerals unavailable. It is best to begin by adding FloraMicro®, stirring well, and then adding FloraGro® and/or FloraBloom®. If both FloraGro® and FloraBloom® are used, add one, stir well, then add the other.

1. Start with a reservoir of fresh water, adding concentrates one at a time and thoroughly stirring each one in to prevent nutrient lockout. Shake each bottle well before pouring.
2. If using any silicon products, like Armor Si^™, add them to your reservoir first.
3. Next add any calcium sources – start with supplements, like CALiMAGic™. Following any supplements, add FloraMicro®, which also contains calcium.
4. If using FloraBloom®, or any other bloom supplements that contain phosphorus, like Purpinator® / Terpinator®, add it following your calcium products.
5. If using FloraGro®, add it to your reservoir now.
6. Any additional supplements can typically be added in any order at this point, except organics, like Floralicious®, which should be added last.
7. Adjust pH to match the recommended range for the crop you’re growing.

Refer to feedcharts for guidance on measurements by growth stage.

Be sure to watch Jesse walk you through the process of mixing FloraSeries® here ⟶

pH is adjusted by using an acid to lower it or a base to raise it. General Hydroponics® pH Down and pH Up are designed for this purpose. Many acids and bases are extremely corrosive and dangerous, so care should be used.

Conductivity is really a measure of the nutrients in the solution. Low conductivity implies a low nutrient concentration, which usually results in nutritional deficiencies and slow growth rates of your plants. One can look at the situation, as a higher conductivity is more food for your plants. However, be careful of very high levels as this can burn and or kill the plant.

Ventilation is often overlooked as a problem. Plants absorb nutrients when the water molecules in the leaves respire (i.e. evaporate). Better ventilation aids a high transpiration rate, which translates into a greater rate of nutrient uptake. Remember that ventilation means changing the air, not just blowing it around the room (circulation).