Category: Equipment

Vegamatrix Nutrients Review

Using all-natural chelating agents, Vegamatrix combines some of the health benefits of organic fertilizers with the growth boosts of chemical fertilizers.

Vegamatrix Nutrient Line

8.5 out of 10

This line of nutrients is primarily based on natural ingredients and processes but performs in line with traditional salt-based nutrients – boosting growth but leaving behind almost undetectable heavy metal content. We’ve been using Megamatrix for years now as our daily nutrient with great results and have found the only downside is the cost – but we still find it a great value.

Ease of Use
10 out of 10
Performance
9 out of 10
Sustainable/Healthy
8 out of 10
Price
7 out of 10

Pros

Easy to use

Primarily natural ingredients

Little residue left behind

Great performance

Cons

Not the cheapest option

Buy this Product

Grow on Dealzer Bloom on Dealzer


About Vegamatrix Nutrients

This unique line of nutrients is based on an earth and health-friendly approach that uses safe and sustainable ingredients. They call this a high-performing fertilizer ‘veganic’. Look at the companies ‘About Us’ statement to learn a little about the thinking that has went into this formulation:

We are a company created with love for the human race and for the planet, a company based on kindness, respect and generosity to each other and to the earth. Each and every one of us serves a role that is intrinsic to the whole. Together, bringing out the best in one another, we strive to create products that will help make the world a better place.

The resulting product is so close to natural that we have never noted a case of nutrient burn. While we have seen beefier growth from other products, the salt residue left behind was concerning. With this mix, the residue left behind so low that its nearly undetectable.

There are lower-cost solutions on the market you could pick. It depends on your priorities if Vegamatrix is a good value or not. If you want the best of both worlds, this stuff is perfect. It’s made from a blend of organic materials and naturally mined minerals and just a touch of synthetic minerals to provide explosive growth.

How We Use It

Vegamatrix offers a wide variety of nutrients and supplements for cannabis gardens (see full list here), but we use the Grow and Bloom nutrients throughout the plants lifecycle. Grow contains higher levels of nitrogen for strong vegetative growth. Bloom brings in higher levels of phosphorous and potassium for growing huge flowers. The manufacturer recommends adding Boost, a veganic proprietary blend of Calcium, magnesium, and plant-based ingredients including Kelp, soybean, willow, and yucca extracts. We also used Grow and Bloom along with Cal-Mag and FoxFarm’s BigBloom, made from bat guano and earthworm castings and had great results.

Since it does not cause nutrient burn, you can use Vegamatrix at almost every watering without harming the plant. We have found that using it at every other watering works just fine too. It works in all mediums, from hydro to soil.

While we will continue trying other nutrients, Vegamatrix remains our go-to nutrient.

Learn More

Starter Tent Complete Grow Kit

This may be our entry-level tent grow kit, but it has enough power to produce heavy yields of top-shelf bud. For under $250 USD, the starter tent kit can net 300 to 500 grams per square meter (1 to 1.7 ounces per square foot), depending on the strain you choose.

Tent – Starting under $90 USD

Grow tents are specially made ‘tents’ with canvas on the outside and a mylar coating on the inside to reflect light back on the plants. Bars on the ceiling structure make it easy to hang lights. Ventilation openings provide airflow control. Tents have a blackout zipper to seal the door and vents can be velcroed, or cinched shut for complete ‘black out’ light control. This is our favorite tent for small grows.

This 2×4 tent is great for micro-grows because it has durable metal connectors a viewing window and good ventilation.

OR for $90

This 3×3 tent from Vipaspectra is perfect for small grows because it has lots of ventilation and is made from quality parts. We use these tents extensively.

Light – Under $90 USD

For growing in compact spaces, you need a light that doesn’t burn hot. LEDs are very efficient so they make a great choice for keeping heat and costs down. These are our favorite lights for small grows.

We have several of these fanless LEDs from Spider Farmer and love them because they are silent, burn cool, and work great in small tents.

Ventilation – Under $20 USD

Without good ventilation, the air in your grow space will become very humid and hot and lead to mold, disease and stress. A good grow space is well ventilated to make it easy to exchange fresh air. We use these small fans because they are very quiet and move a fair amount of air.

Nutrients – Under $30 USD

Cannabis plants need macronutrients for basic building blocks in their rapid growth process. During the vegetation phase, nitrogen is very important and potassium is less important – though those roles reverse during flowering. Marijuana plants need micronutrients too, like iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Read our water and nutrient guide to get the details.

pH Balance Kit – Under $10

You will want to test the pH every time you water to make sure the soil stays in the right pH range. Cannabis likes pH between 5.5 and 7 depending on the strain. See our Water and Nutrient guide to learn more about managing pH.

Soil – Under $15

Cannabis does best if the soil drains excess water well, but doesn’t dry out too quickly. It should also be light and airy enough – compacted soil will stunt root growth. Check out our soil mix guide for more details.

Container – Under $10

Cloth or fabric grow bags, also known as Smart Pots, are exactly what they sound like: cloth bags made for growing. They come in a variety of sizes, from 1 quart (~1 liter) up to 50+ gallons. Made from soft fabric that is easily air and water-permeable, they have excellent drainage. But the best part is that even overgrown plants won’t become rootbound due to ‘air-shearing’. Air-shearing is the process where roots shear off when they reach the air spaces at the edges of the bag, preventing them from becoming bound as they search for new soil. Read more about selecting the right containers in our container and transplanting guide.

Seed – Starting at $20 (including delivery)

Here are two great options for seed. The first is a photoperiod feminized seed that will produce heavier yields but requires your space have good light control for flowering. The second is an auto-flowering strain with great medicinal properties, and since it’s auto-flowering, light control isn’t an issue. Read more about cannabis strains and seeds here.

You have a couple of options with this setup. This setup will work for growing 4 plants if you put them into flower right away in a process known as 12/12 from seed. The most economical option is to grow one plant and use low-stress training to topping make the most use of your space. Learn how to do this in our low-stress training guide.

Total: Under $250 USD

This is a startup cost. Soil is an ongoing cost, but nutrients will last for several grows and the lights will last for over 50k hours.

What can I grow with this setup?

This setup has coverage of around 4 square feet (~.4 sqare meters). The Northern Lights from 00 seeds below was grown with this setup and netted almost 100 grams (3.5 OZ) of high-quality bud in a little over 3 months from seed!

How can I grow more?

Simple answer: more lights and more space. Check out our lighting guide for some ideas.

Grow Kinder

Cloning Guide

Cloning cannabis is widely used for propagating cannabis, and while the name might make the…
Read more

General Hydroponics Nutrient Review

First formulated in 1976, Flora Series is the original three-part hydroponic-based nutrient system. We’ve spent 6 months using the Flora Series so that we could review it for you, and here’s what we found:

General Hydroponics Flora Series

7.3 out of 10

Flora Series consists of three highly concentrated liquid nutrients – by using in different combinations, you can satisfy each plant’s exact nutrient needs for every growth stage and environment.
Overall, it is easy to use and is low cost but is not the highest performance product on the market.

Ease of Use
8 out of 10
Price
9 out of 10
Performance
7 out of 10
Sustainable/Healthy
5 out of 10

Pros

Fairly Easy to use

Low price

Cons

Not Highest Performance

Leaves salt residue

Buy this Product

View on Amazon

Today we’re going to review one of the most widely used cannabis nutrient series in history: General Hydroponic’s Flora Series. A 3 part nutrient system, the Flora system advertises itself as suitable for all growing mediums.

About GH Flora Series

GH Flora series isn’t a new kid on the block, it’s been tried and tested for over 40 years! First formulated in 1976, Flora Series is the original three-part hydroponic-based nutrient system.

Flora Series consists of three highly concentrated liquid nutrients – by using in different combinations, you can satisfy each plant’s exact nutrient needs for every growth stage and environment.

  • FloraGro builds strong roots during a plant’s vegetative stage.
  • FloraMicro is used during a plant’s growth and bloom cycles.
  • FloraBloom is added while a plant is fruiting and/or flowering.

Easy to Use?

Over the past 40 years, they’ve managed to work most of the kinks out of this product. The bottles are basic and serve their function, but actually have a couple of plus-ups over some other brands:

  • Every bottle has the feeding schedule for all 3 parts clearly printed on the back, which is very convenient at feeding time.
  • The designs on the bottle are unique and so are the colors of the liquid. This make it easy to tell the three apart, which is helpful to keep your measurements straight.

The containers don’t always pour out as cleanly as I would like and would benefit from a clean pouring spout – but this is a tiny issue overall.

For pH balance, I found the Flora series lowers the pH of my water more than I want it to. Starting with water pH measuring 6.8, I tended to measure closer to 5.2 after adding nutrients. Since I’m growing in coco, I prefer a pH over 5.5.

Good Value?

Overall, this is a good value. The purchase price is very low by market standard – the series with all three parts is under $25 USD for the pint sizes (~.5 liter) and under $30 for the full quart size!

Cheap doesn’t always map one-to-one with value though. In this case, there are two detractors from the overall value: 1) you use quite a bit per feeding and 2) normal applications use more FloraBloom than the other two. In the first issue, this means that while you get a lot for a little, you use a lot each time compared to some other concentrated nutrients. On the second issue, this means that you will run out of FloraBloom earlier than the other two. If you plan to keep using this formula, this isn’t a problem because you can buy FloraBloom by the single bottle.

Performance

My statement on the performance I’ve seen from the GH Flora series is that it’s solid and commiserate with its cost. On the upside, it’s a gentle and easy-to-use solution that doesn’t seem to harm or burn plants easily. This makes it a great option for beginners and casual growers. More advanced growers on the other hand, will see better performance and value from a more modern formula.

Grow Kinder

Cloning Guide

Cloning cannabis is widely used for propagating cannabis, and while the name might make the…
Read more

Emerald Harvest 3 Part Base Nutrients

Grow, Micro & Bloom is a 3 part base nutrient system from Emerald Harvest that has been developed specifically for cannabis. We’ve done several trials with it and here’s what we found:

Emerald Harvest Professional 3 Part Nutrients

8 out of 10

Emerald Harvest Professional 3 part base nutrient is a combo pack made up of their Grow, Micro, Bloom fertilizer products. What sets this combo apart is that Emerald Harvest provides minimum dosage recommendations and encourages you to find the right blend for your setup.

Ease of Use
8 out of 10
Price
7 out of 10
Performance
9 out of 10

Pros

Easy to use

Great results

Quality Packaging

Cons

Not organic

Requires 3 Parts

Not the cheapest solution

Buy this Product

View On Amazon

The first thing that drew my attention to this base nutrient set was the philosophy of the company itself. Based out of Santa Rosa California, Emerald Harvest takes a farmer-centric view:

The idea of Emerald Harvest was the fruit of thousands of conversations with growers like you. You told us how devoted you are to your plants. We witnessed firsthand your knowledge and expertise. We learned you have needs that nutrient companies are not addressing.

What you want is an easy-to-use, high-quality nutrient brand offered at a reasonable price. That’s exactly what you get with Emerald Harvest.

Emerald Harvest Professional 3 part base nutrient is a combo pack made up of their Grow, Micro, Bloom fertilizer products. Whats sets this combo apart is that Emerald Harvest provides minimum dosage recommendation and encourages you to find the right blend for your setup. In addition to well buffered amounts of NPK, it also provides a rich mix of trace elements such as magnesium, cobalt & molybdenum as well as many chelated micronutrients such as copper, manganese, zinc & iron.

Easy to Use?

One of the best features is the easy-to-pour spout. It’s surprising how many companies don’t pay attention to the one feature you use the most – the pour spout. It’s just a hole, so I’m not sure why so many nutrients pour out like they have a built-in dribble glass feature, but Emerald Harvest gets it right here. Spills and drips are much less of a problem than with other brands.

On the downside, the feeding schedule is only printed on the Grow bottle. This is okay if that’s the first bottle you pick up, but a little annoying when it isn’t.

For pH balance, I found that Emerald Harvest 3 part works perfectly for me and I never need to adjust up or down. Starting with water pH measuring 6.8, I tended to measure between 5.7 and 6.0 after adding nutrients. This is perfect, since I’m growing in coco I use a pH between 5.5 and 6.6.

Good Value

Overall, this is one of the best values on the market. The purchase price is fair by market standards, starting at $45 USD for 1 liter sizes. While this is a little more expensive starting price than some other brands, but cheapest is not always the best value. The value here is that Emerald Harvest Professional 3 Part is highly concentrated, with the recommended doses about half of other brands. This makes it stretch longer, allowing the liter sized set to last for many grows.

Performance

I had high expectations for this product and the performance I’ve seen from Emerald Harvest Grow, Micro and Bloom nutrients have exceeded those expectations. I like the flexibility to tailor my mix and I love how the plants respond! Thicker stalks, greener leaves and fatter buds speak for themselves and have made this my new go-to nutrients.

Grow Kinder

Cloning Guide

Cloning cannabis is widely used for propagating cannabis, and while the name might make the…
Read more

Budget Closet Grow Kit

This is our most basic grow kit, but it’s powerful enough to grow high quality cannabis for the casual smoker. It doesn’t include a tent, so assumes that you already have a closet or cabinet with good ventilation to grow in. To keep costs down, use a plastic cup for seedlings and an existing container or left over nursery pots. For under $175 USD, the budget kit can net 200 to 300 grams per square meter (2/3 to 1 ounce per square foot), depending on the strain. Not bad considering the startup costs.

Can I really grow weed in a closet?

Absolutely. In fact, you can grow some amazing weed in a closet with the right lights and enough ventilation. The Raspberry Cough below was grown from seed to harvest in a small coat closet with a single LED light and a small fan.

With enough airflow, closets make great grow spaces.

Grow Space – Bring Your Own

This budget kit is for people who already have a great place to grow and will work well for space of 24″x24″ (.5x.5M) and at least 4′ (1.2M)  tall. You can use a large cabinet or a spare closet with good ventilation. Get creative, as long as your space meets these basic requirements:

Good Ventilation: Without good ventilation, the air in your grow space will become very humid and hot and lead to mold, disease and stress.

Heat Control: Cannabis likes the same temperature ranges as you do; too hot or too cold and the plant just shuts down and a good grow space keeps temperatures between 65F (18C) and 80F (27C) and never than 60F(15C) and never more than 90F (32C).

Light Control: Traditional photoperiod cannabis strains need over 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness in a 24 hour cycle to flower. Even a quick sweep of light can cause the plant to stop flowering. A good grow space for photoperiod strains can be completely backed out.

Vertical Space: Cannabis can get tall, from 1′ all the way to 20′ (6.6m) tall depending on strain. You will need to select a strain that will fit into your space and use topping and training to make the most efficient use of your space and lights. Remember that lights hang down at least 1 foot (.3M) and you will need to keep at least the same amount between the lights and canopy. A good grow space is at least 2′ (.6M) taller than the top of your plant after its done growing.

To learn more about picking an optimal grow space, check out our grow space guide.

Light – Under $90 USD

For growing in compact spaces, you need a light that doesn’t burn hot. LEDs are very efficient so they make a great choice for for keeping heat and costs down.

Two other important factors in a closet grow are stealth and safety. For those reasons, we highly recommend Mars Hydro TS 600W LED Grow Light. The high quality build will help prevent electical issues and the fanless architecture will keep your grow quiet.

Nutrients – $20 USD

Cannabis plants need macronutrients for basic building blocks in their rapid growth process. During the vegetation phase, nitrogen is very important and potassium is less important – though those roles reverse during flowering. Marijuana plants need micronutrients too, like iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc. Read our water and nutrient guide to get the details.

We recommend Humboldt’s Secret base nutrient system because it has professional results and is easy to use. Best of all, they offer an 8oz starter pack that will let you try it out without a heavy investment.

pH Balance Kit – $20 USD

You will want to test the pH every time you water to make sure the soil stays in the right pH range. Cannabis likes pH between 5.5 and 7 depending on the strain. See our Water and Nutrient guide to learn more about managing pH.

We use General Hydroponics pH control kit to test and balance pH. This solution is well buffered, pH stabilizes quickly and the included test kit is easy to use.

Soil – Under $20 USD

FoxFarm’s Ocean Forest soil drains well and is specifically pH balanced for cannabis. You can amend it with coco or use it as is.  

Seed – Under $20 USD (including delivery)

You have two options for the types of seed to choose. The first is a photoperiod feminized seed that will produce heavier yields but requires your space have good light control for flowering. The second is a an autoflowering strains, which often have lower yields but light control isn’t an issue. Read more about cannabis strains and seeds here.

Total: Under $175 USD

This is a startup cost. Soil is an ongoing cost, but nutrients will last for several grows and the lights will last for over 50k hours.

What can I grow with this setup?

This setup has a maximum coverage of around 2.25 square feet (.2 sqare meters). The Afgan Mass from 00 seeds below was grown in a 18″x18″ (.45x.45 meters) converted stereo cabinet and netted around 40 grams of high-quality bud. Given current prices for recreational cannabis in Seattle, you will more than pay for the entire setup with the savings from one grow.

This plant is being grown in a small cabinet with reflective foil on the walls.

How can I grow more?

Simple answer: more light. Check out our budget tent grow complete kit and our lighting guide for some ideas. If you want great results with stealth, try a professional grow box, you wont be sorry!

How can I increase air flow?

Adding more airflow can be as simple as adding fan as long as the closet it ventilated well enough. Adding ventilation to a space without good ventilation would mean adding a vent fan through the ceiling, walls, or door. Since this requires cutting a hole, it may not work for you.

Learn More