If you’re growing your marijuana for the first time, you’ve probably read about the importance of growing your crop in the right medium with the correct nutrients. Whether you’re growing in soil or hydroponically will determine the kinds of nutrients you should use. Nutrient solutions vary widely, and using the wrong ones can affect your crops significantly.
In a soil medium, the use of organic fertilizer is recommended as it will produce better tasting and healthier plants. If you’re a newbie to growing cannabis, using a ready-made mixture is usually better than making your own. You won’t have to worry about the correct ratios and application methods.
Meanwhile, in a hydro setup, you have more control over the type of nutrients and portions you give to your plants. But make sure to avoid organic matter, as it can clog the system. Just look for a nutrient mix that contains all the components for healthy growth to prevent nutrient deficiencies.
Though there are plenty of options out there, many weed enthusiasts have relied on the nutrient blends from Fox Farm. But, what is Fox Farm?
What Are Fox Farm Nutrients, and What’s So Great About Them?
Fox Farm Nutrients are widely used during the vegetative and flowering stages of growing marijuana, as they are specially formulated for marijuana plants. They give each plant the proper level of nutrients it needs as it grows. These nutrients are a particularly popular brand for indoor growing.
This post will walk you through the best Fox Farm Nutrients for growing marijuana in a soil medium or hydroponics.
Fox Farm Feeding Schedule for Soil
To begin with, use Fox Farm Ocean Forest Potting Soil whenever you transplant seedlings to larger containers.
Here’s the weekly feeding guide per gallon:
Lighting Schedule: 18/6
- Sprouting and Week 1: Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of Big Bloom.
- Week 2: Use 2 teaspoons of Grow Big and 2 tablespoons of Big Bloom.
- Week 3: Use 3 teaspoons of Grow Big and 2 tablespoons of Big Bloom.
- Week 4: Use 3 teaspoons of Grow Big and ¼ teaspoon of Open Sesame.
Lighting Schedule: 12/12
- Week 5: Use 2 teaspoons of Tiger Bloom, 1 tablespoon of Big Bloom, and ½ teaspoon Open Sesame.
- Week 6: Use 2 teaspoons of Tiger Bloom, 1 tablespoon of Big Bloom, and ½ teaspoon Open Sesame.
- Week 7: Use 2 teaspoons of Grow Big, 2 teaspoons of Tiger Bloom, 1 tablespoon of Big Bloom, and ¼ teaspoon of Beastie Bloomz.
- Week 8: Use 2 teaspoons of Grow Big, 2 teaspoons of Tiger Bloom, 1 tablespoon of Big Bloom, and ½ teaspoon of Beastie Bloomz.
- Week 9: Use 2 teaspoons of Tiger Bloom, 1 tablespoon of Big Bloom, and ¼ teaspoon of Cha Ching.
- Week 10: Use 2 teaspoons of Tiger Bloom, 1 tablespoon of Big Bloom, and ¼ teaspoon of Cha Ching.
- Week 11: Use 2 teaspoons of Tiger Bloom, 1 tablespoon of Big Bloom, and ½ teaspoon Cha Ching.
- Week 12: Use 2 teaspoons of Tiger Bloom, 1 tablespoon of Big Bloom, and ½ teaspoon of Cha Ching.
Note: At the beginning of week 12, check the trichomes. If the plants are ready, flush them; otherwise, continue with the week 11 regimen every week until you do the last flush.
Recommendation: Use Bush Doctor Sledgehammer to prevent a nutrient lockout. Use two drops for every gallon of water between feedings, starting from week 5 of 12/12.
Growing Tips:
- During the flowering phase, shift the lighting schedule from 18/6 to 12/12.
- Keep the pH range between 6.3 to 6.8 for maximum nutrient absorption.
- Feed every other watering for best results.
- Do not mix pure concentrates together, and always add water first.
- Flush one to two weeks before harvest.
Fox Farm Feeding Schedule for Hydroponic Growing
Though hydro can be a bit more complex than soil, you can use bubblers, then follow a phasic feeding schedule to keep things simple. Here’s the Fox Farm phasic feeding schedule for hydro per gallon:
Lighting Schedule: 18/6
- New clone or when seedling grows 3 sets of leaves: Use 1 teaspoon of Grow Big and 2 teaspoons of Big Bloom.
- Week 3 of vegetative phase: Add 1 teaspoon of Grow Big and 2 teaspoons of Big Bloom.
- 4 days before shifting to 12/12: Add ¼ teaspoon of Open Sesame.
Lighting Schedule: 12/12
- Day 1 of 12/12: Drain the reservoir and refill. Then, add 2 teaspoons of Tiger Bloom, 1 tablespoon of Big Bloom, and ½ teaspoon of Open Sesame.
- Week 3: Add ¼ teaspoon of Beastie Bloom.
- Week 5: Drain and refill the reservoir, then add 2 teaspoons of Grow Big, 1 teaspoon of Tiger Bloom, 1 tablespoon of Big Bloom, and ¼ teaspoon of Cha Ching.
- 3 to 5 days before harvest: Drain and refill the reservoir, then add 2 drops of Sledgehammer.
Note: Keep the reservoir filled in between with pH-adjusted water. Fox Farms doesn’t list nutrients for weeks 2 and 4 because it assumes your reservoir level will not go down, so you no longer need to add any nutrients. However, if the plants are too big or the room is warm, you can refill it up to 3 to 4 times a week.
Growing Tips:
- Feed only once a week, and infuse water in between.
- Use additional nutes from week 1 at ½ rate until the flowering stage. Then, during flowering, use the nutes from the 1st week of budding at ½ rate in between.
- Do not feed more than once a week.
- Flush your system if your plants show signs of stress and color irregularities.
Procedure for Feeding Between Reservoir Changes:
- Add fresh water to top off the system.
- Check the EC before feeding.
- Add nutrients with respect to their correct ratios until the suitable EC gain is achieved.
- Flush the system one or two weeks prior to harvest.
In addition, only use the feeding schedule if you have an EC/PPM meter to keep track of the TDS levels. Here are the correct levels:
- An EC of around 1.2 to 1.5 during the veg phase, and
- 1.5 to 1.7 during the flowering phase until the last 2 to 3 weeks
Fox Farm Nutrients for Weed
Here are the Fox Farm Nutrient products mentioned above for growing marijuana in soil or a hydroponic system:
Fox Farm Ocean Forest Potting Soil
Estimated Price: $26 to $30 for 1 pack
Size: 38.6 quarts
This potting soil is a mixture of aged forest products, earthworm castings, bat guano, fish emulsion, sphagnum peat moss, and crab meal. It is the ultimate potting soil that contains everything your plant needs. It helps the plant become sturdy and healthy as it grows. Also, it is pH-adjusted at 6.3 to 6.8 for maximum nutrient absorption.
Directions for use:
- Fill the container with soil at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the top edge of the pot.
- Secure the plant in place while adding more potting soil until the container is almost full.
- Press firmly around the perimeter of the plant (but not too tightly), and water thoroughly.
- Fill the container to the top and water again.
Fox Farm Big Bloom – Liquid Plant Food
Estimated Price: $29.99
Size: 1 quart
This liquid plant food is a perfect blend of fertilizers formulated to support multiple blooms and seed formations. This product is made from bat guano, a popular organic fertilizer used for years for all kinds of plants, and it is combined with earthworm castings to create a nutrient-rich mix that can help your plant thrive.
It is a 100% natural and organic, biologically alive formula that can also enhance the flavor and fragrance profile of your weed. It has an N-P-K ratio of 0 – 0.5 – 0.7.
Feeding dosage:
General feeding: 4 tablespoons per gallon of water every other watering
Heavy feeding: ½ cup per gallon of water once per week
Supplemental foliar feeding: 1 tablespoon per gallon of water once per week during early stages of plant growth
Seedlings and transplanting: 1 tablespoon per gallon of water for every other watering
Fox Farm Grow Big – Liquid Plant Food
Estimated Price: $17 to $22
Size: 1 pint
This liquid concentrate fertilizer is specially formulated to enhance the plant size and structure, promoting more vigorous bud development. It contains earthworm castings, Norwegian kelp, and essential micronutrients. Grow Big is made with a low pH to maintain stability in storage and keep the micronutrients available.
Feeding dosage:
General feeding: 2 to 3 teaspoons per gallon of water every other watering
Heavy feeding: 4 teaspoons per gallon of water every other watering
Foliar feeding: ½ teaspoon per gallon. Use a pump spray and apply it to both sides of the leaves. Do not apply when the plants are exposed to direct light.
Fox Farm Open Sesame
Estimated Price: $23 to $28
Size: 6 ounces
This soluble fertilizer is rich in phosphorus, and it is designed for use during the early stage of flowering to promote blooming and bud development. It has an N-P-K ratio of 5 – 45 – 19, so whether you’re growing in a soil medium or a hydroponic system, it can deliver nutes straight to the root zone when the plants need them the most.
Use this fertilizer every other watering, starting at about the fifth or sixth week of a plant’s life.
Feeding dosage for stand-alone use:
In a hydro setup: Use 1 teaspoon per gallon of water in the reservoir. Then, flush every two weeks.
In soil medium: Use ½ to 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. Feed once per week.
Feeding dosage when combined with other nutrients:
In a hydro setup: Use ¼ to ½ teaspoon per gallon of water in the reservoir
In soil medium: Use ¼ to ½ teaspoon of water. Feed once a week.
Fox Farm Tiger Bloom
Estimated Price: $18 to $23
Size: 1 quart
This phosphorus-rich fertilizer also contains sufficient nitrogen to promote vigorous growth. It has an N-P-K ratio of 2 – 8 – 4, and it is formulated with a low pH to maintain stability in storage and keep the micronutrients available. It can be used for both hydroponic and soil applications to encourage fruit, flower, and multiple bud development.
Use Tiger Bloom at the initial sign of flowering through harvest. If you want to use it as a foliar spray, just dilute it with water and apply it to both sides of the leaves early in the morning.
Feeding dosage:
General feeding: Use 2 to 3 teaspoons per gallon of water every other watering.
Heavy feeding: Use 4 teaspoons per gallon of water with every other watering
Recirculating systems: Use 2 teaspoons per gallon of water with every reservoir change
Supplemental foliar feeding: Use ½ teaspoon per gallon of water every other week.
Fox Farm Beastie Bloomz
Estimated Price: $18 to $23
Size: 6 ounces
This soluble fertilizer is specially designed to enhance blossom development during mid to late flowering. It is best used in soil, hydroponic, and even aeroponic systems. It is a pH-balanced blend with an NPK ratio of 0 – 50 – 30. Use Open Sesame during the fifth or sixth week of your crop’s life. Once the bud emerges, you can feed it right away with this and water it accordingly.
Feeding dosage for stand-alone use:
In a hydroponic system: Use 1 teaspoon per gallon of water in the reservoir. Then, flush every two weeks.
In soil: Use ½ to 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. Feed once a week.
Feeding dosage when combined with other nutrients:
In a hydroponic system: Use ¼ to ½ teaspoon per gallon of water in the reservoir.
In soil: Use ¼ to ½ teaspoon per gallon of water. Then, feed once per week.
Fox Farm Cha Ching
Estimated Price: $16 to $21
Size: 6 ounces
Cha Ching is a soluble fertilizer that is rich in phosphorus. It can help support the plant through the late flowering stage through harvest. This pH-balanced blend can increase essential oils and the production of heavy resin in fruits, buds, and flowers.
Start using Open Sesame during the fifth or sixth week of a plant’s life, then once the buds emerge, feed with Beastie Bloomz for two weeks. After the flowers have bloomed, shift to Cha Ching, then continue up until harvest.
Feeding dosage for stand-alone use:
In a hydroponic system: Use 1 teaspoon per gallon of water in the reservoir. Then, flush every two weeks.
In soil: Use ½ to 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. Feed once per week.
Feeding dosage when combined with other nutrients:
In a hydroponic system: Use ¼ to ½ teaspoon per gallon of water in the reservoir.
In soil: Use ¼ to ½ teaspoon per gallon of water. Feed once per week.
Fox Farm Bush Doctor Sledgehammer
Estimated Price: $25 to $30
Size: 1 pint
This product is a unique rinse formula that is formulated to eliminate fertilizer buildup and relieve nutrient lockout. High fertilizer use can affect the growth of plants over time due to concentrated mineral salt deposits, so this product can help.
It is made of saponin, an extract of the Yucca schidigera plant. It can be used for both soil application and hydroponic setups. Sledgehammer works by encouraging water movement through soil and even soilless media.
Directions for use:
For pot and in-ground planting:
- Mix 976 mL per 100 gallons of fresh water.
- Wet the soil or your preferred growing medium thoroughly.
- Use 3 to 4 times a week until harvest.
Hydroponic System:
- Mix 0.3 fluid ounces per 100 gallons of fresh reservoir water.
- Mix with fertilizers during weekly feeding schedules.
- Infuse through your system once with every reservoir change.
For flushing:
- Mix 59 mL per 100 gallons of fresh reservoir water.
- Do a complete system flush every two weeks.
- Cycle the system for an hour, then change the reservoir water.
Basic Questions on How To Use Fox Farm
Here are some common questions that you might ask when using Fox Farm Nutrients:
How much Fox Farms nutrients do I need for my marijuana plants?
Fox Farm feeding guideline is very detailed; however, the nutrients can be a little strong if you’re growing marijuana in a soil medium. As a starting point, we recommend starting at half of the recommended amount when feeding your weed.
Meanwhile, if your plant isn’t growing vigorously, you should switch to the full dose as recommended by the company.
Can I mix dry and wet fertilizers together?
Yes, you can use dry and wet fertilizers in combination with each other. For more comprehensive instructions, you can read our reviews above for each product.
Can I mix Fox Farm with products from other companies?
Using Fox Farm fertilizers with other products made by other companies can result in a nutrient burn or nutrient lockout. For best results, only use the same brand if you’re planning to mix and match, as these fertilizers are designed to work together and complement one another.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for the simplest and most effective way to bump up your yield, then Fox Farm nutrients are a good place to start. They can provide all the necessary nutrients your babies need as it grows from seedling to a harvest-ready plant.
Just watch out for any signs of overfeeding or underfeeding, and try to follow the feeding schedules we suggested for best results.
