Question 1

Do I need different nutrients for flowering and vegetative stages of plant?

Accepted Answer

Nope, not with House & Garden! Our nutrients are substrate-specific, not stage-specific, meaning our A&B (two-part) nutrient is perfect for use all the way from seedling to harvest! House & Garden A/B nutrients are designed for use in coco, soil and different forms of hydroponic crop production. The NPK ratio of your fertiliser can be adjusted by using our potent additives (i.e. Top Booster in the flowering stage to increase the PK ratio when the plant needs it most!). The most important thing with our substrate-specific base nutrients is to always feed your plants by measuring your EC (conductivity). This will ensure you’re not giving too much or too little food for your crops particular stage of growth.

Question 2

What should I use if I am using potting mix?

Accepted Answer

Our Soil A/B base nutrient is perfect for all different kinds of soils and soil mixtures. However we strongly recommend against the use of generic hardware store potting mix. These blends are rarely tailored for heavy-fruiting plants, and can contain a wide variety of unwanted pests and diseases. Never bring a potting mix into a tent or controlled environment agriculture, you never know what you’re bringing into that sealed environment! Our favourite substrates are usually coco coir or peat based, always ask your local hydroponic store for House & Garden brand substrates (our RHP coco is Dutch-washed for purity and consistency!).

Question 3

Do I need all of the nutrient bottles?

Accepted Answer

That depends on your garden and crop! House & Garden is designed to work as a complete nutrient solution for heavy fruiting/flowering crops, using both mineral and organic components found in different bottles. Our base nutrient uses incredibly pure chelated minerals (passable for research/medical use) and humic/fulvic acids, while our additives and stimulants help to steer and enhance crop profile using vitamins, minerals, enzymes, organic amendments and more! Cup-winning results can be achieved using the complete House & Garden range and following our feed guides. Check out our “Starter Kit” in your local hydroponic retailer to grab the whole range at affordable prices!

Question 4

How do I mix my nutrients?

Accepted Answer

Our nutrients are formulated in different bottles for a reason! Always follow the Nutrient Mixing instructions found here. Precise mixing of nutrients will ensure the different components harmonise within your reservoir. This helps to stabilise pH and provide the most effective uptake for your crop. When mixing nutrients, always ensure to have a calibrated pH monitor and EC testing equipment. We also recommend testing and monitoring your base water supply (whether this be town water, tank water/rain water or R/O filtered water) as this will influence the efficacy of your fertigation program.

Question 5

How often do I feed?

Accepted Answer

This will depend on your type of system, crop variety and stage of growth. With standard hydroponic system designs (coco/hydroponic), regular (daily) feeding is encouraged. We always recommend to monitor run-off EC and substrate EC to ensure you are not over-feeding or under-feeding. Certain substrates are more likely to retain nutrients than others, and your plants/size will also influence how effectively nutrients are used. Maintaining a stable moisture content and EC is key to successful hydroponic crop production. Always try to monitor feeding regimes and adjust as needed.

Question 6

How much do I feed?

Accepted Answer

The appropriate EC for your crop will predominantly depend on the plant size. Smaller seedlings need less food and can be easily overwatered in certain substrates. Always ensure to follow our nutrient feed guides and monitor crop response to adjustments in EC. Mild nutrient burn (aka toxicities) are easily identified by ‘burnt’ leaf tips. The exact EC needed will depend on your crop and substrate, and is also influenced by your starting water source. Test and monitor accordingly! We have blank feed charts available for download (or free in your local hydroponic retail store) in our House & Garden Nutrients Growers Journal, this allows you to easily record and learn from your feedings!

Question 7

Is this all for hydroponics?

Accepted Answer

Not at all! Our Soil A/B Nutrient is an incredibly powerful fertiliser for soil blends, and our additives are amazing for a variety of plants and cultivation methods! Always research the desired needs of your plant species and substrate before application. It’s great to discuss your gardening projects with your local hydroponic expert, or hit us up online if you have an unusual question about using our products in unusual ways! Our sea kelps and patented seed extract formulations are some of the most unique plant food sources available, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the results!

Question 8

Which feed guide do I use?

Accepted Answer

We recommend following the “Classic” feed guide when first starting out. If you feel confident enough to ’steer’ your crops and fine-tune their nutritional needs, the “Professional” feed guide is for you! Our feed guides have clearly marked recommendations for different substrates and the appropriate A/B Base Nutrient, always use the correct food for the correct media for best results. If you are looking for a digital version, or have unusual length growth cycles; our H&G Nutrients App is available right now on the App Store! Free download for both Apple and Android:
 
Apple: https://apple.co/2C8OlsL
Android: https://bit.ly/2EU9454

Question 9

Can I drink Roots Excelurator?

Accepted Answer

Although it’s full of incredibly potent biological growth stimulants, this is a clear NO. Roots Excelurator will provide incredible root growth like nothing else on the market, but is strictly for your favourite plants!

Question 10

Do I use Shooting Powder and/or Top Shooter?

Accepted Answer

Shooting Powder and Top Shooter are both the same uniquely formulated PK (Phosphorus and Potassium). Shooting Powder is simply a powder, and Top Shooter is a liquid version. This is an incredibly potent PK booster to encourage rapid onset of floral growth in the last stages of reproduction. Never use both Shooting Powder and Top Shooter at the same time, and always reduce your A/B Base Nutrient ratios when using this powerful product. Shooting Powder/ Top Shooter is somewhat cultivar specific; certain varieties will respond faster than others when using, always start with a lighter dilution to see how your crop responds. Shooting Powder/Top Shooter contains no harmful chemicals, synthetic hormones or PGRs.

Question 11

Do You have any Silica products?

Accepted Answer

Silica is recently gaining recognition as an essential nutrient for heavy flowering crops. Mono-Silicic acid is the most potent form of silica available. We have kept it a secret for many years, but Amino Treatment has mono-silicic acid incorporated into this very unique product. We recommend using Amino Treatment with any House & Garden Nutrient program and you will definitely notice the powerful action of the silicic acid and other organic components! If you want to use other standalone silicate products (OSA formulations etc), we recommend starting at a light dose, and mixing with water in reservoir before adding any other base nutrients. Some silica products can be very unstable, influence pH and negatively interact with other minerals in nutrients.

Question 12

How do I get the biggest yield bro?

Accepted Answer

We pride ourselves on our nutrient providing not only cup-winning quality, but serious return on investment with heavy harvests. H&G formulations allow your plants to fully reach their phenotypic potential, whether it is for certain flavours or smells, or heavy-yielding varieties, House & Garden Nutrients ensures the plant performs at peak growth. Utilising our full regime will allow you to steer crops into full, consistent and healthy flowers and fruit. Products such as Bud XL and Top Booster are designed to give your crop that extra boost, right when your garden needs it! No H&G products contain harmful chemicals or dangerous levels of metals, we help our farms to heavy, healthy and medical-grade yields!

Question 13

Can I use just the base nutrient?

Accepted Answer

Of course! Our A/B base formulations are accepted as some of the best base fertilisers in the world! Some gardeners have great success just using our base formulation to keep it very simple and basic. However to truly maximise your crop and cultivar potential; our additives and stimulants are essential. Our nutrient program has been designed as a complete solution for the entire life cycle of the plant, from seedling through the different vegetative and reproductive stages, and utilises biological compounds to aid in these transitions. The A/B nutrients will allow your plant to perform, but we always encourage you to bring the very best from your garden.

Question 14

What’s the difference between Aqua Flakes A/B and Hydro A/B?

Accepted Answer

Good question! Both of these are designed for hydroponic systems using inert substrates (rockwool/floc, expanded clay etc) however the difference is in the nutrient uptake and pH stability. Aqua Flakes A/B is designed for recirculating systems and will ensure a pH is stable for longer, and nutrients are equally absorbable for 1-2 weeks in an aerated solution. Hydro A/B is uniquely engineered for run-to-waste/drain to waste systems. It will pH stabilise faster and nutrients are formulated for immediate nutrient uptake. Although both will deliver amazing results in DWC, Aqua Flakes is generally the preferred option for these systems. See the individual product pages for more information.

Question 15

Is anything organic?

Accepted Answer

So many of our products contain organic components! We use the finest sea-kelp formulations, patented seed extractions (rich in enzymes and a plethora of other beneficial compounds) and a number of other ingredients that stimulate beneficial microbial activity and help with natural soil food web processes! Roots Excelurator is strictly organic, while our other additives contain mixtures of vitamins and enzymes as well! Check out the individual product pages for more information and if in doubt, feel free to send us an enquiry via our social media pages!

Question 16

Can I use it outside in my garden?

Accepted Answer

100%! Depending on your crop variety and soil, almost all of our H&G products will provide excellent results outside. We have passionate fans and farmers using our fertiliser indoors, outdoors, in glasshouses and in research laboratories worldwide!

Question 17

What order should I mix the nutrients in?

Accepted Answer

See the Nutrient Mixing instructions here. If for some reason you are using a ‘Frankenstein’ mix (multiple nutrient brands), make sure to send us a message via social media or our website, we can provide some insight as to how much efficacy that product may have with our range.

Question 18

What water should I use?

Accepted Answer

Great question! The starting water for your garden is incredibly important! Testing the EC and starting pH of your water is essential. Tap water in some locations is perfectly OK to use, but not in others (Adelaide for example has very hard water). Rain/Tank water can be too soft and may need carbonates added (we recommend using pH Stabilizer at a half-dose for rain/tank water). Reverse Osmosis water doesn’t have the necessary ions to harmonise with any base nutrients. If using R/O water, make sure to add pH Stabiliser at 1mL/L before adding base nutrients and additives. If you want to be extremely thorough, it can be worth sending a sample of your water to a testing laboratory and this will give you a clear indication of your starting mineral content and save potential future headaches later in the garden.

Question 19

Should I foliar spray?

Accepted Answer

Depends on you, your growing methods, environment and crop, however we just released our newest product, House & Garden Magic Green Foliar Spray! Magic Green delivers a combination of organic compounds, minerals, complex sugars and vitamins onto the leaf surface. Feeding beneficial microbes in the phyllosphere and providing a rapid response from your crop. We recommend to spray Magic Green when lights are off, and ensure there is ample air movement in your growing environment when applying. It is not recommended to foliar spray during the mid-late reproductive (flowering) stages of growth. Our testing showed incredible results with Magic Green, you should notice stronger leaf structure with leaves ‘preying’ with greater turgidity, usually within 12-24 hours!

Question 20

Do I need to use the complete range of nutrients?

Accepted Answer

See Question 14 and Question 3. Think of it like an orchestra. Each individual instrument is brilliant, but when they harmonise together, the sound is truly beautiful!

Question 21

Can I use other companies’ products with the House and Garden Range?

Accepted Answer

It’s generally not recommended. We don’t know what other compounds, chemicals or nasties that other companies may use (and may not tell you about!). The best results we see are from the farmers using strictly H&G!

Question 22

Is it Vegan?

Accepted Answer

Yep, 100% vegan. No animal products or byproducts are found in any of the H&G product range.

Question 23

Is it gluten free?

Accepted Answer

Yeah… does it matter?

Question 24

Is the nutrient dangerous or toxic?

Accepted Answer

Our nutrient is one of the very few that have passed all state and federal laws worldwide for use in medical plant varieties. In certain areas of the USA, authorities test in Parts Per Billion (PPB), so we know our product is seriously clean! We strive to continue to make consistent batches of performing yet economical solutions for home, commercial and research gardens. We pride ourselves on being a high-performing nutrient solution, without needing to add harmful chemicals or toxins. Clean gardening results in the best produce!

Question 25

Do you guys use PGRs? What are PGRs?

Accepted Answer

No way! PGR (Plant Growth Regulator) generally refers to synthetic hormones or chemicals that are used to irregularly mutate plant growth. This may include unnaturally changing cellular structure of flower density or physiological features (plant height or stem size). Although some of these products will increase the weight of a flower, they will drastically reduce the quality by slowing production of terpenes and flavonoids (making for boring, horrible flowers). Most PGRs are also incredibly toxic to humans! Modern research is only just figuring out how harmful these chemicals really are. Steer well clear of any questionable looking fertiliser bottles, especially those obviously containing substances like paclobutrazol, daminozide and chlormequat chloride.

Question 26

Can I feed my plants at nighttime?

Accepted Answer

It’s generally not recommended. Plants are transpiring during the day and moving moisture from the roots up to the leaf surface and into the atmosphere. Feeding at nighttime can leave your plants sitting in a soggy substrate until the warmth of a new day, not ideal! Try to feed as the ’sun is rising’ and potentially again during the hottest part of the day. The exact amount of water and frequency of feeding will depend on your substrate, pot and plant size.

FAQs