Powder vs Liquid Fertilizer for Growing Cannabis

When entering a gardening center or hydro store for the first time, the selection of cannabis fertilizers can be very intimidating. With such a variety of different products, it can be difficult to narrow down the best option for your grow: Powder vs Liquid fertilizer

Every grower wants to have an idea of what their nutrients contain when they’re feeding their cannabis plants.

Powder vs Liquid Fertilizer for Growing Cannabis

One question that keeps coming up is “What’s the difference between a powder cannabis fertilizer and a liquid fertilizer?”. Besides the obvious difference between a solid and a liquid, the differences can be hard to ascertain from only reading the labels on products.

While some growers are quick to say one is better than the other, experienced growers know that there’s a time and place for each. Let’s compare liquid cannabis fertilizers to powder ones. This way we can make a more informed decision on what nutrients to buy.

What’s The Difference Between Powder and Liquid Cannabis Fertilizers?

 
Liquid Cannabis FertilizerPowder Cannabis Fertilizer
ProsConsProsCons
  • Easy to mix
  • Many available products
  • Messy and prone to spillage
  • Paying for “water weight”
  • Heavier to Ship
  • Droppers prone to over feeding
  • Short Shelf Life
  • All-in-One nutrients
  • Lighter (less packaging)
  • Better Value to weight ratio
  • Takes a little effort to mix properly.
  • Must Be mixed with Water

Two Part Liquid Fertilizers

Many liquid base nutrient systems often come with an “A” solution and a “B” solution. The reason for this is that the nutrients contained in the liquid fertilizer solutions will react with each other when combined. Because of this, these solutions need to be added separately to your water supply.
This isn’t a problem for powder cannabis nutrients. Powdered nutrients don’t react with each other until they are wet, so having a part “A” and “B” is not needed.

Dissolvability

Liquid cannabis fertilizers will dissolve in water much more quickly than a powder. If powder fertilizer aren’t dissolved properly, they won’t work as effectively.
The best way to ensure that a powder fertilizer is diluted properly is to dissolve a little first. Dissolving the recommended dose of powder into a small amount of water is best. Once you have this solution evenly mixed, you can add it to your watering can (or reservoir for hydroponic grows).
Liquid fertilizers also contain a few solids which may settle. When using liquid nutrients, be sure to shake up the container before measuring your dose.

tds meter for measuring cannabis fertilizer strength

A TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) meter is used to estimate the total amount of dissolved particles in your water by measuring electrical conductivity (EC). It will display the value as PPM (Parts Per Million).
These meters are used to help maintain a controlled amount of nutrients. By measuring your source water first. Then comparing to the mixed nutrient solution. You can be confident the nutrients are fully dissolved every time. Avoid high numbers which can harm your plants.

Granular Cannabis Fertilizers

Granular fertilizers are a type of plant nutrient that come in solid, granule form. They are typically applied directly to the soil around a plant. To use them, a grower scatters the granules onto the soil and then waters the area to help the nutrients dissolve and seep into the soil.

One of the primary advantages of granular fertilizers is that they release nutrients slowly over time. This slow-release action reduces the risk of overloading the plants with nutrients, which can cause “nutrient burn” to the roots and foliage. They are also generally more stable in storage than liquid forms, lasting longer without losing potency.

However, granular fertilizers also have their drawbacks. They must be broken down by soil moisture before the nutrients become available to the plants, which means they do not provide an immediate nutrient boost. Additionally, the slow dissolution can be further delayed in dry conditions. The initial application may involve a higher cost as well, as they can be more expensive to purchase in bulk.

Granular fertilizers enhance the soil’s fertility over time and can improve its quality with continued use. However, they may introduce unintended guests such as pests and insects, and it may take some time before visible results are seen in plant growth, requiring advance planning and patience from the grower.

Storing Cannabis Fertilizer

Liquid fertilizer are made up of mostly water. This makes liquid fertilizer much bulkier and harder to store. Moving around huge jugs of nutrients can be very hard on the back. If you’re ordering nutrients online, liquids can be more expensive to ship and are prone to leakage.
Powder fertilizers are lighter because you add them to the water yourself. Because you’re working with a powder, there’s way less of a chance of spillage and waste. Ordering them online usually comes with cheaper shipping options too!

Choosing the best powder cannabis fertilizer

The best cannabis nutrients should have a veg and flower product. Each designed for the two most crucial stages of the cannabis life cycle; vegetative and fruiting.
Using a powder cannabis nutrient like Reefertilizer can make the growing process much easier for beginners. They’re grow and bloom fertilizer are perfectly suited for all types of cannabis plants. They also come highly recommended by their users.

If you want to learn even more about growing good cannabis, we offer a free 40+ page guide full of images.
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