The Lucas Formula - Flora vs. FloraNova?

Hey fellas,
So i've decided to go with the Lucas Formula for my plants nutrients, but im having trouble deciding weather to go with the Flora 3-part series, or FloraNova 2-part series... Of course the formula numbers originally call for the 3 part series, but you can also use the 2 part, and alot of people use the 2 part series and claim that it produced better results.. So im a little bit tossed up about it..

I guess my question would be:
For the Lucas Formula, what does everybody prefer, or think is better? Flora or FloraNova?

For those of you who actually use the Lucas Formula, which series do you use?

Feedback and opinions?

i recently started the LF with flora, im in flowering so in a few weeks ill prob throw in some kool bloom dry or big bud or something
saw results the next day after feeding but i cant say which is better partly because i just started the flowering but mainly because i havent used nova
i have no complaints as of now with flora/lucas tho:smoking:
just thought i would throw some input in:wave:

I use the Flora products. With the Lucas Formula, you don't use the grow, just micro and bloom.

What you have to consider is the N-P-K ratios.

Flora Micro is 5-0-1 and Bloom is 0-5-4

FloraNova Grow is 7-4-10 and Bloom is 4-8-1

The Lucas Formula is designed to put the correct amount of Micro and Bloom together to achieve a specific N-P-K. You would have to recalculate the numbers with FloraNova to get the same ratios.

I'm not saying that you can use FloraNova, you just have to use different quantities to achieve the correct numbers.

Good Luck

Edited by WhobeBoo, 19 June 2009 - 04:50 PM.

Lucas Formula

WhobeBoo - Yes the NPK on the bottles are different, but with the flora you would use 0-8-16 for bloom, whereas with floranova the lucas formula calls for 8ml of floranova-bloom per galon, and like 3ml of floranova-grow, or something like that. Im not sure about the amount of the floranova-grow, but i know the floranova-bloom is 8ml per galon for the lucas formula.

So basically what im saying is, the Lucas Formula typically uses 0-8-16 of the flora line to explain the formula more easily, but according to Lucas himself, using the certain ml/g of Floranova is exactly the same, and he even uses it himself i believe.. So thats why i made this thread, because theres gotta be SOME kind of difference between the 2 different ways of doing it... and im dying to figure it out! i have a decision to make on what to buy, and im very curious..

I mean they cant really be EXACTLY the same...
Theres GOTTA be SOME kind of difference...

Anyone else care to chime in?

WhobeBoo - Yes the NPK on the bottles are different, but with the flora you would use 0-8-16 for bloom, whereas with floranova the lucas formula calls for 8ml of floranova-bloom per galon, and like 3ml of floranova-grow, or something like that. Im not sure about the amount of the floranova-grow, but i know the floranova-bloom is 8ml per galon for the lucas formula.

So basically what im saying is, the Lucas Formula typically uses 0-8-16 of the flora line to explain the formula more easily, but according to Lucas himself, using the certain ml/g of Floranova is exactly the same, and he even uses it himself i believe.. So thats why i made this thread, because theres gotta be SOME kind of difference between the 2 different ways of doing it... and im dying to figure it out! i have a decision to make on what to buy, and im very curious..

I mean they cant really be EXACTLY the same...
Theres GOTTA be SOME kind of difference...

Anyone else care to chime in?

flora nova is thicker lol.

Just head on over to american agriculture on stark ST brother, they have what you need, you can make the choice there, the dudes that work there know why you're there trust me, i was there hahaha instantly they used words like, maximum yield, and flavor and aroma hahaha

But being serious, go there and ask the dudes there, they were a HUGE help, obviously just dont mention anything about lol

HAHAHAHA, you live in portland bro?! What area do u live in?
I actually go to american agriculture all the time, and youre right the guys are way cool and they're pretty knowledgable. But unfortunately they couldnt answer my question about the Lucas Formula. They had heard of it, but they didnt know anything about it..

The question i want an answer for is - with the Lucas Formula, what is the difference between using the Flora series and the FloraNova series? like, on paper, with the proper Lucas Formulation, how do they differ as far as things like small differences in the ammounts of different nutrients, or possibly one of them having something that the other one might not have, etc... Because like i said, some people say that the FloraNova method gave them better end results - so if thats true then theres gotta be some kind of difference!

Can anybody give me an answer to this?

HAHAHAHA, you live in portland bro?! What area do u live in?
I actually go to american agriculture all the time, and youre right the guys are way cool and they're pretty knowledgable. But unfortunately they couldnt answer my question about the Lucas Formula. They had heard of it, but they didnt know anything about it..

The question i want an answer for is - with the Lucas Formula, what is the difference between using the Flora series and the FloraNova series? like, on paper, with the proper Lucas Formulation, how do they differ as far as things like small differences in the ammounts of different nutrients, or possibly one of them having something that the other one might not have, etc... Because like i said, some people say that the FloraNova method gave them better end results - so if thats true then theres gotta be some kind of difference!

Can anybody give me an answer to this?

hahaha i live in washington over by highway 14, so like 15 minutes to AA lol

I believe i can answer that for you.

With the floranova it is a 1 part flowering nute, well if your strain or something of that nature seems to need for N or P or K you cant change anything since its only one part.

I use that flora series which is 2 parts, i feel it gives me more of an option, if for some reason my plant was having a K deficiency, id instantly correct it with some flora grow since it has a higher K count.

What they reccomended me at AA was a 3 part system, i actually use bloom in my veggie stage, thats the way to go.

all and all nutes are just nutes... you shouldnt really focus much on veggie, you should put your effort into your flowering stage.

Floranova is essentially the lucas formula (lucas veg formula is damn near FNG, and his bloom ratios are very similar to FNB, thus why he now uses FloraNova series, less mixing)

the main difference is that FloraNova contains a few things not in the Flora series. Like fulvic acid / humic acid (dont remember specifically) and some pH buffers.

as was mentioned, the floranova series is very thick. I use it, but to make it much easier to mix, I "cut" it to 1/2 ratio with clean water. This makes it a much more runny solution, and much easier to mix. I also wouldnt pre-dilute any more than this, because it can start to mold / form fungus if the ratio of water to nutes gets too high. 1:1 is fine.

I use floranova, on a "modified" lucas regimen you could say. I dont feed as much as is recommended(im in soil is why), and I do supplement with koolbloom liquid, but its a solid method. if you want to combine nutes every time you feed, go flora. If you want to just measure from 1 container, go floranova, as thats the largest difference in the two IMO.

Thanks for the great reply Amoril...

But im still unsure of just a couple things:

- (1) - I was reading lucas's thread over on the cannabis-world forum, and for those using the flora series he actually reccomends 0-8-16 for flower *AND* veg... There were some people talking about doing 0-5-10 for veg, and he replied saying he didnt reccomend it, and that he suggests using the 0-8-16 formula ALL THE WAY THROUGH, for vegging AND flowering stages... What does everybody else think about this?

- (2) - For people using the floranova series, he reccomends using 8ml/g of the Floranova BLOOM for flowering.. But are you supposed to add any of the Floranova GRO when flowering, or just the 8ml/g of the Floranova Bloom?

- (3) - If youre using the Floranova series, what is vegging formula for the lucas formula? Is it the same as the flowering formula?

- (4) - I know if you use the Flora series, you only use the floraMicro and floraBloom, with no floraGro at all... But if youre using the floraNOVA series, do you only need 8ml/g of floranovaBloom from start to finish, or do you also use the floranovaGro at some point? Basically i know with the flora series you dont need to buy the floraGro, but what about floranova series? is there a need to buy the floranovaGro if im using the lucas formula, or just the floranovaBloom?


Sorry for all the questions, i just want to make sure im doing it right and i dont want to waste my money on the stuff i dont need... And im also still deciding weather to go with the flora series or the floranova series, so im trying to get as much information and possibly some feedback as possible.

Thank you so much to whoever is willing to help answer my questions.
I really appreciate it...

to be honest, Im not an expert on the flora series, so I wont answer the questions specific to it. Ive never used the stuff....

but floranova ....I do use, and recommend.

Thanks for the great reply Amoril...

But im still unsure of just a couple things:

- (1) - I was reading lucas's thread over on the cannabis-world forum, and for those using the flora series he actually reccomends 0-8-16 for flower *AND* veg... There were some people talking about doing 0-5-10 for veg, and he replied saying he didnt reccomend it, and that he suggests using the 0-8-16 formula ALL THE WAY THROUGH, for vegging AND flowering stages... What does everybody else think about this?

- (2) - For people using the floranova series, he reccomends using 8ml/g of the Floranova BLOOM for flowering.. But are you supposed to add any of the Floranova GRO when flowering, or just the 8ml/g of the Floranova Bloom?

- (3) - If youre using the Floranova series, what is vegging formula for the lucas formula? Is it the same as the flowering formula?

- (4) - I know if you use the Flora series, you only use the floraMicro and floraBloom, with no floraGro at all... But if youre using the floraNOVA series, do you only need 8ml/g of floranovaBloom from start to finish, or do you also use the floranovaGro at some point? Basically i know with the flora series you dont need to buy the floraGro, but what about floranova series? is there a need to buy the floranovaGro if im using the lucas formula, or just the floranovaBloom?


Sorry for all the questions, i just want to make sure im doing it right and i dont want to waste my money on the stuff i dont need... And im also still deciding weather to go with the flora series or the floranova series, so im trying to get as much information and possibly some feedback as possible.

Thank you so much to whoever is willing to help answer my questions.
I really appreciate it...

For #2 - No FNG in flowering. Lucas formula is 8ml/g of floranova bloom. 1-part, as it were. I do 5ml FNB + 5ml liquid koolbloom. personal preference really...the ppm works out to about the same, just a lil more P and K than if I had done straight 8ml FNB.

but the answer to your question is no, you wont use floranova grow in flowering. ever, really. FNB is 4-8-7, containing a respectable amount of nitrogen...you wont have deficiency problems with it.

#3 - iirc, lucas uses 5ml floranova grow. BUT, its also stated that floranova bloom is sufficient, as it does contain a moderate amount of nitrogen.

I work up to 2.5ml floranova grow, then start adding floranova bloom up to 2.5ml, making 5ml total. 11-12-17 would be the combined NPK values, the ratio is just more even IMO.

and #4 - thats up to you I guess. Personally, I like the FNG in veg. IIRC its a lil stronger than FNB (higher ppm), and thats why I mix it with the bloom in veg. Its not that expensive...roughly 20 a bottle for a quart. More reasonable if you get a gallon.

My only advice is to mix it, as soon as you buy it, 1:1 with water. Makes it a LOT easier to "shake up". As is, its like shaking molasses....especially the grow. If you dont mix it, or use a paint-stirring attachment on a drill, youre never going to fully shake it, and your nutrient concentrations will vary throughout the bottle...

you dont want to get halfway through your bottle, and have a full bottles worth of calcium and magnesium left LMAO.

you dont want to get halfway through your bottle, and have a full bottles worth of calcium and magnesium left LMAO.

lol, yeah no kidding...
I think thats kind of why im leaning more towards the flora series instead of the flornova series... not thick like the floranova and doesnt need to be diluted. Plus, if you look on the backs of the bottles, with the lucas formula the flora series actually has not only more of everything, but also a few things that the flornova doesnt have (manganese, cobalt, and molybdenum)... Im not sure how important those are, but i know the flora formula has them and the floranova formula doesnt...

But also, ive heard that the floranova has things that the FLORA doesnt - things that arent listed on the bottle, such as micronutrients or like humics/fulvics, and other things. im not sure, but some people say it gave them better results with the lucas formula over flora. so i dont know.

WHAT DOES EVERYBODY ELSE THINK ABOUT THIS?

BUMP? anyone?

good questions. I actually just started using both and am trying to decide on which to use permeantly.

i like flora nova bloom but i cant measure it with my syringe at all. i have to dump it into a measuring shot glass but its impossible to measure 8ml in one of those. and it sticks to the glass bad which annoying.

is there another way other than watering it down which i dont want to do?

is mine possibly older than 1 year (the shelf life of the product according to GH) cause it sat at the hydro store on the shelf since i have been going there, which is over 6 months. and this caused it too thick to use in a needle? or does it not work in a needle.

thanks

glad this got brought up cause i am switching to floranova my next grow:smoke:

So is floranova better than flora or is it just easier to use... I did read that Lucas is using FNB but just wanted to make sure... Does anyone have pics of their crop using only Lucas formula

So is floranova better than flora or is it just easier to use... I did read that Lucas is using FNB but just wanted to make sure... Does anyone have pics of their crop using only Lucas formula

It seems to me that this is yet another area where the answer is "it depends." Even if two of us grow the same strain, the difference in ppm, temperature, lighting, etc., etc could easily cause us to have different results. It certainly seems that it is talked about enough to try a run with it to see if it works well in our grow room. Black & white answers are nice, but they are hard to come by in this hobby.

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I have a question if someone can pop in and answer it.

I'm currently using the FloraNova Bloom..as you have heard it is pretty thick. I'm having issues of it sitting at the bottom of the resivor. I stir it well and have 2 (12") air curtains in there.

I recently just ordered a new air pump with 4 out puts and 4 6" circular air stones. And I'm going use my original air pump to just actually push around and circulate the water.

What do u recommend I do to fix this? I was also planning oin getting a filter sock.

Any ideas?