A nutrient starter kit is a full feed programme in one box – base nutrient, the additives that brand expects you to run alongside it, and a feed chart that tells you what goes in on which week. It removes the single most common failure point for a first grow: guessing.
Why buy a kit rather than bottles
The chart assumes the set. Every brand's feed chart is written for its own products at its own ratios. Buy the set and the chart works; mix brands and you are on your own.
Right sizes. You get 1L of the thing you use constantly and 250ml of the thing you use twice, instead of five identical bottles.
Cheaper. Bundled below the sum of the parts.
Nothing missing. No discovering in week four that you needed a CalMag.
Coco-specific base – it must include calcium and magnesium, because coco strips them.
Hydro / DWC / NFT
Hard or soft water version to match your tap supply.
Using a soil feed in coco is the most common mistake we see. Coco holds onto calcium and magnesium and releases potassium, so a soil formulation leaves you with a cal-mag deficiency by week three.
Hard or soft water?
Most of the south-east, Croydon included, is hard water. If your kit offers both, take the hard water version – it accounts for the calcium already in your supply. If you run RO or a filtered supply, take the soft water version and expect to add CalMag separately.
What we stock
Starter sets from Canna, Athena, Shogun, Biobizz, Plant Magic, Dutch Pro, House & Garden and Advanced Nutrients. Once you know your programme, top up from base nutrients, flowering boosters and root stimulators individually.
Starter kit FAQs
How long does a kit last? Most cover one full cycle in a 1.2m tent. Heavier feeders or bigger tents will run out of base before additives.
Can I use half strength? Yes, and for a first grow you probably should. Charts are written for optimal conditions; start at half and build up while watching the plant.
Do I still need a pH meter? Yes, in coco and hydro. In organic soil you can usually get away without.
Why buy a nutrient kit from The Hydro Bros?
We are a hydroponics shop in Croydon. Tell us your medium, your tent size and your water and we will pick the kit rather than sell you the biggest one. Discreet UK and European delivery, and excellent customer reviews on Trustpilot.
