“
Although calcium supplements
at hydroponic stores are sold
separately from the actual
base fertilizers, calcium is so
integral to basic plant functions
that it should be considered
part of your base formula.
”
Blooming Additives
There is a multitude of fertilizer amendments for crops that
have a fruiting/flowering stage. Most blooming additives can
be divided into three categories: initiators, mid-blooming and
ripening formulas.
Blooming initiators
are products specifically designed to help
the onset of fruit
or flower sets—as a
plant transitions into
a blooming period
it produces specific
hormones for fruit
or flower production
and most blooming
initiators target these
particular hormones.
Mid-blooming additives are products
designed to be used
through the stage
of actual fruit and
flower production.
These products are meant to either boost or enhance hormonal production or to supply a higher amount of the nutrients
commonly used during that particular stage. For most fruiting
or flowering plants an increase of phosphorus and potassium will heighten hormonal response, creating larger
yields. In my opinion, the best mid-blooming enhancers contain slightly more potassium than phosphorus
and are best used from the time
when fruit or flow \