Why buy premixed fertilizer?

[TheBudWhisperer]

I was browsing around the local hydro store looking for some interesting new ferts to use. I checked out the ingredients on some of the more popular bottled organic ferts and they all said pretty much the same things- guanos, seaweed, etc. I didn't get any of them since I was looking for something to augment my current guano teas & whatnot and every commercial fert has the same stuff in it I already use. So why bother buying premixed ferts when making teas will have the same nutrients and be fresher? I imagine that buying bulk guanos would be less expensive than bottled, pre-made teas as well, and also take up less space before they're mixed. Can anyone provide some info on why they use premixed, other than to avoid the chore of making teas?

Thanks,
Whisper

 

[Guest]

Humics and Fulvics available in PBP. Making teas is an art I haven't mastered. I'm afraid I will overdue it...

 

[irie-i]

i asked myself the same question, use premixes if you dont have alot of time, or if you cant source the ingredients, or if youre unsure to experiment

i love to experiment so i started making my own teas and im way better off for having done so

 

[Suby]

TBW that's right, what's the point...

The point is we are a consumerist society and some would rather pay for it that make it, we've lost confidence in the fact we can do things on our own.
There are some exceptionnal bottled ferts like Age Old and the FF and PBPro and especially the LiquidKarma are amazing for quick results and reliability.
I like doing things myself, i do alot of research into organics and i spend alot of time talking with old school gurus (teachers and lab chemists) to get a feels for what goes into a good tea and usually the answer is the same, it's a balance.
The same ingredients don't always bake the same cake, proportions and brewing times and purity and quality of material are all factors here.
I think as organic growers we owe it to ourselves to be self sufficient, in theory al elements of a tea are widely availble and relatively cheap.

Where the bottled nutes have us beat so far is in their use of off the radar elements like spirulina, cane sugars, mychorizal elements, prebrewed microbial and fungal agents.....etc.

 

[I.M. Boggled]

The modern marvels of advance plant science at ones fingertips in an easy to pour bottle is a awfully easy thing to get used too...
Ain't it cool, kinda pricey(!) many times, but still very cool just add water and use.
Many Companies are currently developing coming out with "pre-mix" "certified organic" product lines that the true natural sourced nutrient purists are demanding and a clamoring for these days.
Neither of these following are specifically organic, but are damn good products none the less, (and probably for the best )
Flora Nova Bloom from General Hydroponics comes to mind as being pricey yet probably worth the investment, as would the the Pure Blend Pro line being the "best buy"/ cheaper per gallon,the last time I looked, they (Botanicare, American Agritech) also make a specifically branded "Pure Blend Pro for soil" that will deliver da goods.

I've used Flora Nova before and the hardest part was the shakin' the literal sh*t up in that jug into proper aqueous suspension each and every time before use, pretty darn thick stuff, especially if its been sitting around awhile.
Some pour it out of the container and get the lumps and bumps out before its initial use if thats an issue at hand.
Guaranteed to clog an areoponics system everytime, hehe
Add a wee bit of Liquid Karma and stand back and watch 'em grow.

Where the bottled nutes have us beat so far is in their use of off the radar elements like spirulina, cane sugars, mychorizal elements, prebrewed microbial and fungal agents

Quoting our friendly neighborhood "guineapig" here...

another Innovation could possibly be the application of "phytochemicals" such as yucca extracts and aloe extracts which contain certain beneficial enhancers which do wonders for plant physiology.....other enhancers include Chitosan from the exoskeletons of crustaceans and the plant extracts "zeatin" and "betaine"....these "phytochemicals" are mentioned in the thread on "Biodynamic Agriculture" in case you are interested in further research.

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=17893&highlight=yucca+aloe


Calculating Nutrient levels By Lucas
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=21254

BAT GUANO

MOLASSES...Types & Sugar Content (fyi)

Seaweed / Kelp 101 & 202

Humic vs
Fulvic

(FYI)Chitin / Chitosan / Chi: Cutting edge Product for Better Plant Growth

 

[TheBudWhisperer]

Thanks for the replies all. Boggled- I checked out your links there, great info.

 

[vonforne]

Humics and Fulvics available in PBP. Making teas is an art I haven't mastered. I'm afraid I will overdue it...

If you think you will overdue it, just dilute until you are happy with the mix. Who is to say that the pre-mixed isn't to strong also. You must dilute that. The Hydro store guy ask me to buy his "worm tea" and said "What if you make your tea to strong" and my reply was..."Who is to say the pre-made tea isn't" My point being I would rather make my own and know what is in it and what dilution to use than store bought.