The Importance of Flushing Nutrients
The last two weeks before harvest is a critical phase for your crop. But amongst many growers an increasing sense of hesitancy creeps in as to what to give your plants. Some keep feeding up till the last few days, some flush with plain water, some reduce feed to minimal levels. An increasing number of growers are turning to tailored flush nutrients for the last week or two. Have they been persuaded into buying something they don’t need, or are they in fact wisely helping to give their crop the ideal finish?
Why do you need to use flush nutrients?
The answer is about understanding the needs of plants for the beginning of harvest. As a plant reaches the end of its flowering cycle, a special type of nutrient is required.
Firstly, it must contain some NPK. This is essential, as the shock of moving from full feed to zero feed can be too much for the plant. Forcing the plant to use up the sugars that should be going towards the fruits.
Secondly, hormones should be present to help the plant use any excess nutrients in the plant sap; complete the ripening of the fruits; and increase the plants production of sugars.
Thirdly the nutrient should be keeping the pH in an ideal window, with little or no acid. As additional acid at this point can create a chemical taste in the fruit. Whilst the addition of phosphoric or nitric acid upsets the NPK and a high pH can lead to harsh flavours from alkaline molecules like chlorophyll.
Finally, a flush nutrient allows any beneficial bacteria or fungi to remain unaffected. Whereas using de-mineralised water can lead to microbe starvation and death.
Plant Magic’s Solution
Plant Magic Flush Finish is designed to provide enough nutrition to plants to maintain their health. It also contains natural plant hormones to help the plant finish fruiting and produce carbohydrates such as sugars to assist with flavour. Flush Finish by Plant Magic is suitable for soft and hard UK water variants. Stopping the need for any pH modification.
In addition to helping your plant in the final phase of grow, flush nutrients can be used after over-fertilisation. Even the most careful growers can push their nutrient levels too high, especially when dealing with a new strain or species of plant. Emptying the reservoir tank and replacing with a solution containing a flush nutrient can help the plant to release the excess nutrients and regain health. Whereas flushing with water to combat over-fertilisation can stress the plant, leading to continual flushing when the plant is showing signs of hunger due to lack of nutrients.
