Foliar Sprays for Cannabis

[barney_b]

Hey there!

In direct response to some of the users here keeping a foliar spray on hand, I went looking to see what the market had to offer. Then I was like, meh, I can make all that stuff. So I'm trying to do so.

I've sourced 3 ingredients for this experiment. They seemed to make the most sense from the multiple different internet concoctions and formulae.



I'm hoping I can get your input. Any input is fine, really. You know as much or more about foliar sprays as I do.

Here was my methodology:

Silica - I mixed 4ml into a gallon of fresh water and stirred and waited and stirred and waited. (slightly less than a full recommended dosage)

Kelp Meal - Mixed 4 TSP into a gallon of water and let steep for 2.5 days. Recommended dosage.

Calcium - Used this straight.

So I strained the kelp meal and added it to the silica solution. Nothing fell out.
Added a middling dosage of this liquid calcium straight to the 2 gallons.

Stirred a ton. Checked the pH: 6.4

From my reading that pH works pretty well so I'm not going to adjust it. Filled a light proof spray bottle or 4 with the solution.



Thoughts?

For a test run, I've thoroughly sprayed a pothos I have. It's a plant that's been with me for 20+ years. It's been really tough to kill.

So yeah. If you've any input I'd be glad to hear it. Even if you'd like to tell me that foliar feeding is silly. I'll entertain it.

Cheers
B

[MadJohn]

Funnily enough I foliar sprayed yesterday with some off the shelf spray. No idea if it works or what it contains so can't offer anything more than moral support. So you have it

MJ

[IceCalibur]

I have very limited experience with foliar sprays..I do spray my girls with epsom salts a few times during a grow, however, I have never given them any nutrients, (aside from the magnesium in the Epsom Salts), and with my indoor house plants I spray them with an systemic insecticide.

The only thing I can advise would be to be careful how you store them if they are in the container for long periods..years ago,I purchased some pest spray that I had used multiple times on my house plants with no ill effects, however the bottle seemed old and I felt like there was a lot of evaporation, which increased the concentration and burnt my plants badly, and ever since then I make sure to store them correctly, inspect your new bottles when purchasing, and if you make some up yourself (and wish to store them), be sure to keep them in a cool dry space, with the mixture very tightly closed to avoid any issues.

On a side note, I don't use pest sprays on my canna girls, choosing pest preds instead

[barney_b]

Funnily enough I foliar sprayed yesterday with some off the shelf spray. No idea if it works or what it contains so can't offer anything more than moral support. So you have it

MJ

I'll take all the support offered up! Which product did you use?

Cheers

[barney_b]

I have very limited experience with foliar sprays..I do spray my girls with epsom salts a few times during a grow, however, I have never given them any nutrients, (aside from the magnesium in the Epsom Salts), and with my indoor house plants I spray them with an systemic insecticide.

The only thing I can advise would be to be careful how you store them if they are in the container for long periods..years ago,I purchased some pest spray that I had used multiple times on my house plants with no ill effects, however the bottle seemed old and I felt like there was a lot of evaporation, which increased the concentration and burnt my plants badly, and ever since then I make sure to store them correctly, inspect your new bottles when purchasing, and if you make some up yourself (and wish to store them), be sure to keep them in a cool dry space, with the mixture very tightly closed to avoid any issues.

On a side note, I don't use pest sprays on my canna girls, choosing pest preds instead

Sound advice, Ice.

I've convinced my family to try it out on their houseplants. Ones they don't care most about, obviously. It shouldn't be sitting too long but that IS why I opted for black bottles instead of clear.

I had considered adding Epsom salts. Too often I see magnesium applied to calcium deficiencies. Guess I'm anti mag just for mag's sake with this one. Heh.

Thanks for chiming in.

Cheers
B

[Mac]

The trick with foliar feeding is spray the undersides of the leaves. This is where the highest concentration of stomata are. Keep ya lights off for a short period after you spray to prevent lens burn effect, may need to increase extraction during this period to counter the humidity spike.

Keep an eye on the kelp in the bottles, it will be the first thing to go off if any thing.

[barney_b]

The trick with foliar feeding is spray the undersides of the leaves. This is where the highest concentration of stomata are. Keep ya lights off for a short period after you spray to prevent lens burn effect, may need to increase extraction during this period to counter the humidity spike.

Keep an eye on the kelp in the bottles, it will be the first thing to go off if any thing.

Cheers Mac and thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.

Ya been quiet. Hope things are going well for you.

B

[Doink]

The trick with foliar feeding is spray the undersides of the leaves. This is where the highest concentration of stomata are. Keep ya lights off for a short period after you spray to prevent lens burn effect, may need to increase extraction during this period to counter the humidity spike.

Keep an eye on the kelp in the bottles, it will be the first thing to go off if any thing.

Don't the stomata close when it's dark? Would it be better to turn the light down and or raise them up, or would they absorb what's needed before stomata get a chance to close?

[mpsj]

Don't the stomata close when it's dark? Would it be better to turn the light down and or raise them up, or would they absorb what's needed before stomata get a chance to close?

Never used foliar sprays and probably won't start. I guess I never had the need. Interesting thread though.

[MadJohn]

I'll take all the support offered up! Which product did you use?

Cheers

Geisha Foliar by Shogun.

I use all Shogun nutes for my grow and as I'm starting out with no clue I throw everything they make at the grow (pretty much). Worked well for the first grow so I'm continuing on that theme.

Whether it helps I can't say but it's a strange blue liquid though

MJ