Short answer: A vegan fertilizer is a plant nutrient made only from plant-based raw materials and minerals, with no animal waste or animal-derived ingredients. Bionova Veganics is a three-part vegan line: Veganics Grow, Veganics Bloom and Vegan PK 3-5. To switch, replace your current main fertilizer with Grow and Bloom, add the PK stimulator in flowering, and follow the vegan feeding chart.
Many growers look for a vegan fertilizer because they want to avoid animal products in their grow, or because they want a simple liquid nutrient for organic growing. This guide explains what vegan plant nutrients are, how they differ from other organic fertilizers, and how to switch your cannabis or other plants to a veganic feeding schedule.
What is a vegan fertilizer?
A vegan fertilizer contains no ingredients from animals. Many organic fertilizers use animal by-products as a nutrient source, for example blood meal, bone meal, fish products or manure. A vegan fertilizer replaces these with plant-based raw materials, such as algae and other plant extracts, plus mineral sources.
"Organic" and "vegan" are not the same. An organic fertilizer comes from natural sources, but those sources can be animal. A vegan fertilizer is always free of animal ingredients. That is the only difference in meaning, and it is the one you should check on the label.
The Bionova Veganics line
Bionova Veganics is made from plant-based raw materials and sea minerals, with no animal waste. It is a liquid nutrient, so you mix it in water and use it as irrigation. It has three parts, and each has its own job.
Veganics Grow is the vegan growth main fertilizer (NPK 3-2-4, concentration 1:250). You use it from the first day of growth until shortly before harvest, and it must be used together with Veganics Bloom.
Veganics Bloom is the vegan flowering main fertilizer (NPK 2-2-5, concentration 1:250). You can use it from the first week of growth until harvest. Flushing is mandatory at the end.
Vegan PK 3-5 is a vegan flowering stimulator (NPK 0-3-5, concentration 1:1000). You add it from the first week of flowering until the last flowering week, always together with Grow and Bloom.
You can also combine the line with the Bionova stimulators Roots, X-ceL and The Missing Link. All of these are listed in the vegan feeding chart.
How to switch to a vegan feeding schedule
You do not need to change your whole setup. Switching is mostly a matter of replacing the products and following the new chart.
- Pick the right moment. The easiest time is at the start of a new grow, so the plant never sees a change in feed. If you switch during a grow, do it in the growth phase, not in the middle of flowering.
- Replace the main fertilizer. Use Veganics Grow and Veganics Bloom in place of your current main fertilizer. Do not mix them with another main fertilizer.
- Use the vegan feeding chart. The doses for Grow, Bloom, Vegan PK 3-5 and the stimulators are in the official chart: see the Bionova feeding charts.
- Mix in the right order. Fill the vessel with water, add Veganics Grow and stir well, then add Veganics Bloom and mix again. Add Vegan PK 3-5 and any stimulators during the phase where the chart says so.
- Measure EC and pH. Set the pH to about 5.5–6.5. Check the EC against the chart for your phase.
- Change in small steps. The chart says you can change doses in steps of about 10%. Wait a few days and look at new growth before you change again.
Vegan fertilizer dosage: what the label says
The label ranges below show how wide the dose range is. Where you sit in the range depends on the week of your grow, so always use the feeding chart for the exact dose per phase.
| Product | Type | Use | Dose range per 10 litres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veganics Grow | Main fertilizer (NPK 3-2-4) | From the first day of growth until shortly before harvest | 30 to 15 ml, see the feeding chart |
| Veganics Bloom | Main fertilizer (NPK 2-2-5) | From the first day until harvest | 15 to 45 ml, see the feeding chart |
| Vegan PK 3-5 | Stimulator (NPK 0-3-5) | From the first to the last flowering week | 4 to 12 ml, see the feeding chart |
In practice the dose of Grow goes down and the dose of Bloom goes up as the plant moves from growth into flowering. The chart shows the step for each phase. The last week is a rinse with plain water.
Water and substrate
The vegan feeding chart is made for Bio Soilmix. If you use soft or reverse osmosis water, the chart advises adding Ca 15 and MgO 10, about 4 ml of each per 10 litres of fertilizer mix. Check the chart for the exact advice for your water.
Common misunderstandings about vegan plant nutrients
"Vegan means it works the same as any organic fertilizer." Not exactly. Vegan only tells you what is not in it. The nutrient content, dose and feeding schedule are different for each product, so use the chart that belongs to the product.
"A vegan fertilizer is a supplement for humans." No. Veganics is a plant nutrient for horticulture. It is not for people or animals to eat or drink.
"I can mix it with my old main fertilizer." Do not do this. Grow and Bloom are a pair. Use them together and use the stimulators that the vegan chart lists.
"I can skip the flush." Flushing is mandatory at the end of the grow with Veganics. Use plain water with the pH adjusted.
"I can leave the nutrient mix standing." If you use Grow or Bloom in irrigation, refresh your nutrient mix every 2 to 3 days.
Which products to use
For a full vegan setup you need Veganics Grow, Veganics Bloom and Vegan PK 3-5, plus a way to measure EC and pH. If you want to test the line first, the Veganics Exploration Pack contains Grow and Bloom (1L each), PK 3-5, X-ceL, The Missing Link and Roots (250ml each), plus a free Silution. See all products in the vegan collection.
If you grow in soil and want to build a healthy root zone, read our Living Soil explained guide next. For flowering doses of the classic PK booster, see the PK 13-14 guide.
FAQ
What is a vegan fertilizer?
A vegan fertilizer is a plant nutrient made only from plant-based raw materials and minerals, with no animal-derived ingredients such as blood meal, bone meal or manure.
Is organic fertilizer always vegan?
No. Organic means the nutrients come from natural sources, but many organic fertilizers use animal by-products. A vegan fertilizer is free of animal ingredients.
Can I use vegan fertilizer for cannabis?
Yes. Veganics Grow and Bloom are main fertilizers for the whole grow, and Vegan PK 3-5 is used in flowering. Follow the vegan feeding chart for the dose per phase.
Do I need a different feeding schedule for vegan plant nutrients?
Yes. Use the Bionova vegan feeding chart. It lists the doses of Veganics Grow, Veganics Bloom, Vegan PK 3-5 and the stimulators for each phase.
