Shogun CalMag

Product detailed description

Calcium and magnesium are the only nutrients that even ordinary tap water can provide you with - and depending on the water you have, you either need Shogun CalMag or you do not need it at all. It is a source of calcium and magnesium for growers using soft and osmosis water and for those growing in coco.

When you do not need CalMag

We will start at the end, because this is the saving. The Shogun feeding plan is designed for medium-hard water (EC around 0.4) and counts on the calcium and magnesium in it - in that case there is no need to add CalMag. On the other hand, you will need it in three situations: with soft or osmosis water (EC 0 to 0.2) at a dose of 0.5 to 1 ml/l, when growing in Terra Light Mix, where it is always recommended with Terra fertilisers at a dose of 0.5 to 1 ml/l, and in coco - there it is especially effective, mainly in high humidity. So measure the EC of your tap water before you buy CalMag.

How to recognise a deficiency

Calcium and magnesium deficiency looks different every time and it is worth distinguishing between them:

• Calcium deficiency - new shoots are twisted or weak, brown necrotic spots appear on the tips and edges of leaves, and stems may be soft. It therefore mainly affects new growth.
• Magnesium deficiency - lower leaves turn yellow between the veins, often with brown rusty spotting, and then fall off. It therefore starts from the bottom.

For acute correction, CalMag has a second, much stronger dosage: 15 ml per litre as a foliar spray once a week until the problem is corrected, with the pH of the solution between 5 and 7. Compared with the usual watering dose of 0 to 1 ml/l, that is fifteen times more and above, so do not confuse the two figures - 15 ml/l is only for leaves, never for watering.

What is in the bottle

CalMag is a highly refined plant source of calcium and magnesium. The safety data sheet quantifies magnesium nitrate (10 to 15%), calcium ammonium nitrate (5 to 10%) and calcium chloride (5 to 10%); according to the Shogun catalogue it also contains chelated iron, a micronutrient that is lacking under certain conditions. The pH of the concentrate is 6. CalMag improves the absorption and distribution of nutrients in the plant, supports chlorophyll production and strengthens cell walls - which is why it is often recommended even where there is no visible deficiency.

Where it belongs in the programme

CalMag is used in watering at a dose of 0 to 1 ml per litre during both the growth and flowering phases; it is used throughout the cycle and stops two weeks before harvest. According to our dosage chart, in coco on soft water it is used at 1 ml/l and on hard water at 0 to 0.5 ml/l. You will most often see it alongside Samurai Coco A+B, with which it forms the standard coco pair, and alongside Shogun Silicon - both are supplements with a different role, so they do not exclude each other.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need CalMag when I water from the tap?

Depending on the hardness of the water. The Shogun feeding plan is designed for medium-hard water with EC around 0.4 and counts on the calcium and magnesium in it - in that case you do not need to add CalMag. If you have soft or osmosis water (EC 0 to 0.2), add 0.5 to 1 ml per litre. Measure the EC with an EC metre.

How do I know whether calcium or magnesium is missing?

By where the problem starts. Calcium deficiency affects new growth: young shoots are twisted or weak, there are brown necrotic spots on the tips and edges of leaves, and stems are soft. Magnesium deficiency starts from the bottom: lower leaves turn yellow between the veins, often have rusty spotting and fall off.

How much CalMag for foliar spray?

For correcting a deficiency, 15 ml per litre, as a foliar spray once a week until the condition improves; keep the pH of the solution between 5 and 7. This dose is exclusively for leaves. CalMag for watering is much weaker - 0 to 1 ml per litre - and the two figures are never confused.

Do I need CalMag in coco?

Yes, in coco CalMag is especially effective, mainly in high humidity. Our dosage chart lists it in coco from the first weeks of growth: 1 ml/l on soft water, 0 to 0.5 ml/l on hard water. For coco, the basic nutrition is Samurai Coco A+B, with CalMag used as a supplement.

Exact dosing for individual ranges can be found in the Shogun dosage chart.