FAQ

We use a variety of carriers to ship orders and cannot guarantee that a package will be shipped via Canada Post. If you are entering a PO Box for your shipping address, please also provide your street address (on the 2nd address line) so we can select the best carrier for your order.

Product ships from Calgary, Alberta and shipping times vary depending on where you are in Canada. We do our best to ship your order 1 business day after it is placed, but sometimes we need an extra day. In general, shipping to Western Canada takes 1-5 business days, Ontario and Quebec takes 5-10 business days, Maritimes takes 10 to 15 days and Territories takes 5-10 business days. When your order ships you will receive a tracking number via email with an estimated delivery date.

If you are eager to get started, seeds don’t need nutrients to germinate, so you can go ahead and start your seeds after placing your order and your nutrients should arrive by the time your plants need them.

We ship most of our orders using Canada Post, Canpar, UPS and Purolator. We will select the carrier based on your location and the weight/size of your order.

We do not currently have a retail location and cannot offer local pick-up, but we do get orders out quickly, so if you’re in Calgary, you will likely receive your order within 1 or 2 days.

If you would like to purchase at a retail location, check out our retailers section to see the local retailers carrying our products.

Yes! For an up to date list of retailers who carry Gecko Grow products, please visit our Retailers page.

If you are a retailer and want to start carrying our products, please contact us through our wholesale form.

Nutrient lockout is when nutrients are not available to your plants. When using Masterblend, nutrient lockout can occur if calcium nitrate is added to your solution before the magnesium sulfate has completely dissolved. This will cause the calcium nitrate to solidify and no longer be available to your plants (AKA nutrient fallout). When mixed properly, Masterblend formulas are 100% water-soluble with no fallout.

Plants need more than nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK) to survive. The other elements they need are known as micronutrients. When grown in soil, plants get these elements from the dirt. In hydroponic systems, these elements need to be present in your nutrient solution. Masterblend formulations contain all of the micronutrients your plants need including boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc.

Masterblend nutrient formulas are appropriate for any hydroponic system from kratky to aeroponics. Each system has pros and cons and the right system for you depends on multiple factors. For more information, check out our Knowledge Center.

Masterblend 4-18-38 Tomato Formula is a highly concentrated dry nutrient formula. More commonly available liquid nutrients are less concentrated which is why they have a lower NPK ratio. When prepared according to the dosing table on the label, your plants will thrive.

For optimal results, we always recommend measuring by weight. Masterblend is highly concentrated, so a difference of one or two grams will have an impact on your nutrient solution, especially in a smaller system. If you cannot get a scale, you can measure by volume by converting the Dosing Table on your label as follows:

1 tbsp (3 tsp) of Masterblend = 18g
1 tbsp (3 tsp) of Magnesium Sulfate = 15g
1 tbsp (3 tsp) of Calcium Nitrate = 19g

When mixing 25 litres of nutrient solution, 1 tablespoon of Masterblend, 1.5 teaspoons of Magnesium Sulfate and 1 tablespoon of Calcium Nitrate should get you close to the right nutrient levels.

We don’t like to sell or ship water, so we do not carry any liquid nutrients. Liquid concentrates are, however convenient, so you can follow these instructions to make your own. Keep your concentrates in sealed containers in a warm, dark place, and they will last a very long time.

Yes! Masterblend 8-15-36 Lettuce Formula is available in our shop.

Unfortunately we do not carry Masterblend 9-12-34 Strawberry Formula. It contains a mixture of components that have been classified as a hazardous oxidizing good so it is too expensive to ship in small quantities. For growing strawberries, we recommend Masterblend’s 4-18-38 Tomato Formula, which has been tested to work very well with multiple strawberry varieties.

If you are a commercial grower looking for the strawberry formula in bulk quantities, please contact us for a quote.

No we do not. Masterblend’s 5-11-26 Hydroponic Formula is made by adding 1 part Magnesium Sulfate to 2 parts Masterblend Tomato Formula. Following the dosage instructions on the Masterblend Tomato formula bag will get you the same nutrient mix as you would get with the Hydroponic Formula. We keep the two parts separate rather than pre-mixing them because some customers prefer to be able to adjust the nutrient ratios.

No. Masterblend is one part of a 3 part nutrient formula. Calcium nitrate (15.5-0-0) is required to provide your plants with enough nitrogen. Magnesium sulfate is also required to complete the nutrient solution.

The magnesium sulfate we carry is a pure, 100% water-soluble agriculture grade product that is specifically manufactured for use in hydroponic systems. If you choose to use another product, you should confirm its grade and water solubility are appropriate for use in hydroponics. Some epsom salt products also contain dyes, fragrances and other additives that could damage your plants or your system.

Yes. While Masterblend products are formulated for hydroponic systems, plants growing in soil respond very well to all the macro and micronutrients in Masterblend. Simply mix according to the dosing table on your label and apply 1 litre of nutrient solution per square foot of soil every 1 to 2 weeks.

When stored properly, the nutrients we carry will not expire. Nutrients should be stored in a dark, cool, dry place in an airtight container (the bags they come in will work well) and they will last indefinitely.

Over time, the magnesium sulfate can clump together, but this can just be broken up before use – it does not impact the quality of the nutrients.

The calcium nitrate we carry is exceptionally water-soluble. This ensures it dissolves fully in your system and all the nutrients are available to your plants. This also means that it will liquefy when exposed to humidity in the air and become unusable, so it is especially important to ensure that calcium nitrate is in a sealed container when not in use.

We have yet to find a plat that doesn’t love Masterblend. Despite its name, Masterblend 4-18-38 Tomato Formula is a general use 100% water-soluble fertilizer that delivers outstanding results when growing leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, kale and bok choy; root vegetables like carrots, radishes and turnips; as well as flowering/fruiting plants like peppers, zucchini, strawberries and, of course, tomatoes. We have even used it to grow dragonfruit, pineapple and an orange tree indoors.

Yes, Masterblend 4-18-38 Tomato Formula is used by many people to grow cannabis. We also recommend using Masterblend 10-30-20 Blossom Booster at the bud set stage to increase bud count and size.

No, we do not typically have sales. We prefer to keep our pricing fair all the time so you can get the best price we can offer whenever you need to order or re-order your nutrients and other supplies.

Yes, please fill out our wholesale contact form to initiate the account creation process.