Lucas Formula

[MedScientist]

Whats your medium and feeding schedule?

I grow in 1 gallon bags of Turface with microfiber wicks, over a res. I just top off res by pouring through Turface.

Well, that's what I did this summer outdoor, and temp indoor, till I convert back to my vPPK. Top fed every 2 hours, with no res below plant (wicks used to drain PWT out of bucket only), then drains back to Master res to be pumped back on top for Explosive growth!

Both versions are Very low maintenance!

 

[•Moby•]

I tried various organics in dwc and regretted it every time. Snot, slimes, algaes and what not... no thanks!

I've tested my extract a few times in hydro now, most notably a several month (no dump) DWC bucket that let lots of light into the solution. Before I dumped it the water was still crystal clear, and I'd used the manure extract and KNF calcium acetate the whole time. I'll have to look around for the photos I took, 'cause I don't see them in my album. ;(

Fun fact, adding rabbit urine and rabbit manure to a pond will (to a point) increase the clarity of the water and the health of the pond. Especially useful for fish ponds. Go look it up!

Grow beginner here.

Been thinking about using the vinegar eggshell calcium for the plants.

Recently noticed that Sango coral does pretty much have 2:1 calcium to magnesium.
Do have it as supplement here in powder form, seems ideal to use for calmag.

Thoughts on that?

Is the KNF calcium made with molasses or vinegar?
maybe I mix up things.

Wasn't sure if/how well it's compatible with synthetic grows or if only usable in organic.

 

[•Moby•]

Send me a sample Doug!

Ive ran H3ad's modified Lucas formula 6 ml micro 9ml bloom per gallon for past 4ish years. I'm in coco, and haven't had the calming problems.
I've always wanted to try the original Lucas.
I do always add some sort of silica of some sort. Right now I'm using CalSil, I've only used it a couple weeks.

What's your opinion on diatomaceous earth as silica source?

Been looking around for a source for cheap silica here in germany, found this stuff but am hesitant to buy, not sure how well it would work and how to dilute it.

Am using diatomaceous earth as topdress in peat organic at the moment but want to switch to either coco or true hydro in the future for indoor and organic on the balcony.

Aspirin seems to be another option

 

[Douglas.Curtis]

KNF calcium acetate is eggshells soaked in vinegar till the vinegar changes to a neutral pH. Perfect for any grow without restriction.

Magnesium sulfate (epsom salt) brings mag and a bit of useful sulfur at a stupidly low cost, for great results.

 

[anaconda6985497]

What's your opinion on diatomaceous earth as silica source?

Been looking around for a source for cheap silica here in germany, found this stuff but am hesitant to buy, not sure how well it would work and how to dilute it.

Am using diatomaceous earth as topdress in peat organic at the moment but want to switch to either coco or true hydro in the future for indoor and organic on the balcony.

Aspirin seems to be another option

"Interesting choice! Diatomaceous earth can be a pretty good source of silica. I use it as a soil additive—it helps strengthen plants, making them more resistant to stress and pests.

If you're planning to switch to coco or hydro, just keep in mind that silica doesn’t dissolve super easily, so you might need to watch the pH levels.

For dilution, you usually only need a small amount, but it’s best to check the instructions on your product. And yeah, aspirin can sometimes help trigger a plant’s natural defenses, but that's more of an extra experiment. Good luck!

 

[Orange's Greenhouse]

Grow beginner here.

Been thinking about using the vinegar eggshell calcium for the plants.

Recently noticed that Sango coral does pretty much have 2:1 calcium to magnesium.
Do have it as supplement here in powder form, seems ideal to use for calmag.

Thoughts on that?

Is the KNF calcium made with molasses or vinegar?
maybe I mix up things.

Wasn't sure if/how well it's compatible with synthetic grows or if only usable in organic.

Egg shell takes very long to dissolve and provide bioavailable calcium. At the same time you have rotting egg shells which are especially vile. Don't see the benefit here.

CalMag contains chelated iron. Just using Dolomite is not a replacement.

 

[Douglas.Curtis]

Egg shell takes very long to dissolve and provide bioavailable calcium. At the same time you have rotting egg shells which are especially vile. Don't see the benefit here.

CalMag contains chelated iron. Just using Dolomite is not a replacement.

Cal/Mag contains nitrogen and is a ripoff

KNF Calcium acetate.
Brown the egg shells, crush the shells, add 11 parts vinegar to 1 part shells. Wait a week or so till pH hits 7 then filter and bottle. SUPER available calcium in a very stable form.

 

[Orange's Greenhouse]

What's your opinion on diatomaceous earth as silica source?

Been looking around for a source for cheap silica here in germany, found this stuff but am hesitant to buy, not sure how well it would work and how to dilute it.

Am using diatomaceous earth as topdress in peat organic at the moment but want to switch to either coco or true hydro in the future for indoor and organic on the balcony.

Aspirin seems to be another option

Diatomaceous earth is as soluble as sand (not at all). Topdressing it helps with certain soil borne pests but does nothing to the plant. If you want a powder that provides bioavailable silicon get wollastonite (calcium silicate).

Using potassium water glas is possible. You have to dilute it first at high pH. After that pH can be lowered to the desired level (eg using fertilizer as acid).

Aspirin contains salicic acid. That is completely different than silicic acid (silicate). Aspirin contains no silicon.

 

[Orange's Greenhouse]

Cal/Mag contains nitrogen and is a ripoff

KNF Calcium acetate.
Brown the egg shells, crush the shells, add 11 parts vinegar to 1 part egg shells. Wait till pH hits 7 then filter and bottle. SUPER available calcium in a very stable form.

Why not buy calcium acetate directly and skip the hassle?

I don't see the connection between it containing nitrogen and being a ripoff. Or why either is relevant if you promote dissolving egg shell in vinegar. Both are expensive and result in a fertilizer that contains nitrogen.

 

[Douglas.Curtis]

In what country are egg shells or vinegar expensive?
In what country do egg shells and vinegar contain nitrogen???

While I can understand the convenience of buying off the shelf, a year supply for most growers can be done in a quart jar on a counter. Filtering through coffee filters is very simple, and the end product is very high quality. The super low expense/time/effort involved makes it an ideal quality replacement for commercial offerings.

Cal/Mags are a ripoff because there are stupidly inexpensive, yet high quality, sources of calcium and magnesium readily available. Sources which do not contain nitrogen and usually a higher quality of product.

 

[Orange's Greenhouse]

In what country are egg shells or vinegar expensive?
In what country do egg shells and vinegar contain nitrogen???

While I can understand the convenience of buying off the shelf, a year supply for most growers can be done in a quart jar on a counter. Filtering through coffee filters is very simple, and the end product is very high quality. The super low expense/time/effort involved makes it an ideal quality replacement for commercial offerings.

Cal/Mags are a ripoff because there are stupidly inexpensive, yet high quality, sources of calcium and magnesium readily available. Sources which do not contain nitrogen and usually a higher quality of product.

Expensive for a fertilizer.
Egg shells contain protein. Not that much in the shells themself but they are never clean. The egg bits contain nitrogen.

If you take a quart of your concoction that yields enough calcium for 500 litre of hydroponic feed solution. That's hardly a year's supply.
Vinegar is 5 % acetic acid, or 0.84 M. Assuming it is quantitatively converted to calcium acetate by dissolving caclcium carbonate in the egg shell that yields 66 g, or 0.42 mol.
For reference, that would cost about a dollar if you buy calcium acetate directly.
If you want cheap get calcium nitrate (0.1 $), gypsum or calcium lactate (both 0.55 $).

 

[Jabapc]

heres a couple of pictures from earlier grows small closet one to two plants back then a 315 cmh now a SpiderFarmer SF2000

 

[Tynehead Tom]

I started out with the Lucas formula and have used many different nutes over the years with pretty good results some with additives some without, thinking about going back and maybe just adding in some Phosphorus in flower maybe a cal mag if theres any signs I need it . any thoughts. I grow in DWC.I tried Coco but fungus gnats drove me crazy

I have been using Lucas formula for a lonnnggg time now.
If you use General Hydro Flora micro and bloom with the lucas ratios , you should not need to add magnesium as it is well represented in the flora series. Calcium is best supplemented with Gypsum such as that from Diamond K.
I run in Sunshine Mix 4 soilless mix which I ammend with Agricultural Gypsum and Dolopril which helps balance PH in that medium and supply essential nutrients found in those products. If for some reason my plants show calcium or magnesium issues I do have GH Calimagic on hand as well as epsom salts and gypsum. I also use GH Koolbloom at certain stages of flower and taper off micro proportionally.
If the lucas ration being used is correct and PH in the correct range unless they are total calcium or magnesium whores , not much supplementation should be required other than the calcium/sulphur provided by adding gyspum to the equation.

 

[Countryboy]

I use lucas formula in ebb flow with 'hydro-rocks and 'diotomic rocks'. Seems to work well, except when ya do a tub change at the wrong time and hit them up with too much N, stretching does occur.
ps-lucas is/was a cool guy. He had a small gathering and some went to visit in Cali. We watched whales from his porch.
pps- It not really the 'lucas' formula, it should be the 'pH' formula. They came up with the spread sheet.

peace

 

[Jabapc]

I dont think I can add gypsum to my hydro

 

[Tynehead Tom]

I dont think I can add gypsum to my hydro

look at Diamond K versus agricultural grade.

 

[Orange's Greenhouse]

I dont think I can add gypsum to my hydro

It works if you have agitation in the res. Gypsum dissolves at 2.3 g/L in simple solutions. That's 0.5 g/L calcium, well above the 0.15 g/L in a typical feed solution. The other elements and chelating agents should increase solubility for nutrient solutions.

I added a aquarium wave maker to my res. It won't fully dissolve the gypsum I have but it's good enough to get healthy plants. After the stretch is over I replace half the calnit with gypsum (on a Ca basis).

 

[Jabapc]

have it ordered I grow in 5 gal buckets 4 gal in veg 3 gal in flower when roots fill the buckets I'll try and replace the cal mag I have with this and epsoms how much per gallon would you suggest to start if I'm right it would be 58 ppm cal per gram and 46 per gram of sulfur thats quite a bit.

 

[Countryboy]

I dont think I can add gypsum to my hydro

Not with that attitude