Mineral fertilisers

Mineral fertilisers have various advantages over organic nutrients. For one, they contain high concentrations of the basic macronutrients needed for plant growth: nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous (NPK), alongside trace elements. These elements are presented in a directly assimilable form, without needing to be broken down by soil microbes to make them available to the plants' roots. They are also highly soluble and as a result of this, they are quickly absorbed by the plants, which makes precise dosage and effective plant-steering possible. This involves feeding the exact requirements of a crop at any given time in its development, potentially making much more economical use of fertiliser.

Their ease of use, fast action, cost-effectiveness and standardised formulation have helped to make mineral fertilisers the choice of almost all the large-scale, licensed cannabis grow facilities everywhere cultivation is legal and licensed, however they are not without disadvantages, both in their use and production.

On a cultivation level, their concentrated nature means that over-fertilisation is not an uncommon problem. And the salts used in mineral fertilisers can quickly accumulate in the grow medium if care is not taken. These salt build-ups can cause nutrient lockouts, seriously affecting plants' development. Mineral fertilisers do not contribute to improving soil structure or long-term fertility, and overuse can permanently damage microbial populations in the soil, with a corresponding negative effect to plant health and disease-resistance.

On an environmental level, mineral fertilisers are the result of energy-hungry chemical processes or extractive mining operations and, as such, are far from sustainable in terms of power use and consumption of finite resources. Despite this negative environmental impact, their convenience of use and relatively low cost means they are still a popular choice among growers the world over.

Mineral or chemical fertilisers can be used in all types of growing systems, (although we always recommend organic nutrients for the best results in soil cultivation) in particular hydroponic gardening of all kinds. These intensive cultivation techniques, in combination with an intelligent use of mineral fertilisers, will always result in some of the most productive harvests possible. These products are available from a wide range of different high-quality brands as both solid and liquid fertilisers to suit all situations and budgets. Here at Alchimiaweb we offer general-purpose mineral fertilisers, thise formulated for auto-flowering cannabis plants as well as nutrients tailored for the growth and flowering period of photoperiod cannabis plants.