Frequently Asked Questions

A SHIVA sachet is a small pre-dosed sachet containing exactly 1 dose of plant nutrients for 5 litres of water. No weighing, no calculating – just open it and pour it into the water.

• Fill the watering can with about 1 litre of water
• Open the SHIVA sachet and pour the contents into the water
• Stir, then top up to 5 litres
• Measure the pH and correct it if necessary
• Water your plants

1 SHIVA sachet = 5 litres of water. How many plants that covers cannot be given as a single number: each growth stage needs a different amount of water, and as the plant grows, so does its need for water and nutrients.

So always keep to the ratio: 1 sachet in 5 litres of water. Adjust the amount you apply to the plant's current needs.

Stored in the original, intact, unopened packaging in a well-ventilated, cool and dry place, protected from direct sunlight and heat, the product keeps for 2 years from the date of manufacture shown on the packaging. The micronised powder format is ideal for long-term storage.

Following the mixing order is key to avoiding precipitation and nutrient loss:

• SHIVA pH Down – adjust the pH first (if needed)
• NPK nutrient – Boost / Grow / Bloom / Finisher
• SHIVA AMINO+ – add after the NPK
• Top up to 5 litres – and mix well
• pH check – measure the pH AFTER preparing the solution!

You can use any clean water, but it is worth knowing the characteristics of your source:

The amount of water should match the size of the pot/bed and the moisture content of the soil. As a general guide, the amount of water should be about 15–20% of the pot volume.

How to check: 30 minutes after watering, push your finger into the soil – if the top 2–3 cm are moist, it was enough. If it is dry, water again.

EC (electrical conductivity) shows the total concentration of minerals and nutrients dissolved in the water. It is measured in mS/cm (millisiemens per centimetre).

The higher the EC, the more nutrients the water contains – but an EC that is too high "burns" the roots (osmotic stress).

• Calibrate the meter – most EC meters come with a calibration solution (usually 1.41 mS/cm)
• Clean the meter with distilled water
• Dip the electrodes into the feed water (at least 2–3 cm deep)
• Wait until the reading stabilises (5–10 seconds)
• Read the value and compare it with the target
• After measuring, rinse with clean water and store dry

The EC of the runoff (the liquid dripping out of the bottom of the pot) shows how much of the nutrients the plant has taken up and whether there is a salt build-up in the soil.

Always measure the pH AFTER preparing the solution! Adding the nutrients changes the pH of the water – if you measure before, the reading will not be relevant.

• Prepare the feed (sachet → stir → top up to 5 litres)
• Wait until the solution is uniform (after 30–60 seconds of stirring)
• Measure the pH of the finished solution
• If necessary, add SHIVA pH Down and measure again
• Water the plants

Regular calibration of your pH meter is essential for accurate readings. Cheaper pH pens should be calibrated weekly, more accurate meters monthly.

• Prepare the calibration buffers (usually pH 7.0 and pH 4.0 solutions)
• Dip the probe into the pH 7.0 buffer – set the meter to 7.0
• Rinse with distilled water, then dip into the pH 4.0 buffer – check
• Rinse and measure in the actual solution

• Add all nutrients and supplements to the irrigation water
• Measure the pH with a pH meter
• If the value is higher than 6.5, add 0.5 g of SHIVA pH Down per 5 litres of irrigation water
• Measure again and repeat the steps if necessary until you reach the desired pH

The SHIVA programme sets the number of waterings per week: in week 1 you water with nutrient solution once a week, in weeks 2–12 twice a week. If extra watering is needed in between, use only pH-adjusted water.

Nutrient burn happens when the EC is too high – the salt concentration exceeds what the plant can take up, and the leaf tips turn brown and curl.

Prevention:

• Always measure the EC after dosing
• Make sure you get 10–20% runoff

Always check the pH first – most apparent deficiencies are actually nutrient lockout caused by pH. If the pH is fine:

• Nitrogen deficiency (lower leaves turn yellow): check that the plant is getting the dose set out in the programme (e.g. Grow 5 g / 5 litres)
• Iron/magnesium deficiency (young leaves turn yellow): lower the pH to 6.0–6.2 + Amino+
• Phosphorus deficiency (reddish-purple leaves): raise the pH above 6.2
• Calcium deficiency (young leaves become distorted): Cal+ in a separate watering

The flush is the final 1–2 weeks before harvest, when your plants get plain water only. Its purpose is to wash out the salts that have built up in the soil/substrate.

In the SHIVA cannabis programme, in weeks 13–14.

The SHIVA Master Pack is a complete cannabis nutrient system for the full 14-week grow cycle in a growing medium. The pack contains 210 sachets and a feeding schedule:

Micronised powder has a number of advantages over liquid nutrients:

• Longer shelf life – it does not go off
• Easy to store and transport
• Precise dosing – no measuring errors
• Fewer unwanted additives
• Dissolves completely in water and does not clog drip systems

The SHIVA Master Pack is compatible with the following growing media:

• Soil / potting compost
• Coco coir
• Perlite + coco mix

Chelation is a chemical process in which metal ions (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) are surrounded by organic molecules that protect them from precipitating. As a result, they:

• stay available across a wider pH range
• can be taken up directly by the roots
• do not react with phosphate and do not precipitate

In the SHIVA programme, Grow comes in weeks 2–3, after the Boost in week 1.

Base dose: 5 g / 5 litres of water (1 g/L). Always measure the EC after dosing – target range in veg: 1.2–1.8 mS/cm.

1. Fill the watering can with about 1 litre of water
2. Add SHIVA pH Down (if needed)
3. Add 5 g of SHIVA Grow
4. In week 3, also add 4 g of SHIVA Amino+
5. Top up to 5 litres while stirring continuously
6. Check the pH (target: 6.2–6.8 soil; 5.8–6.2 coco) and the EC
7. Water; from week 3, Cal+ follows 30 minutes later in a separate watering round

Slight cloudiness is normal and clears as you stir. If a white precipitate forms and does not dissolve, check:

• that you have not added Cal+ to the same watering can – this causes a calcium phosphate precipitate
• that the pH of the water is not too high (above 8.5, calcium carbonate precipitates)

The 12-6-30 ratio is ideal for the vegetative stage:

• N (12): strong, green leaves and rapid stem development
• P (6): supports root development
• K (30): strengthens cell walls and increases disease resistance

Yes. SHIVA Grow contains added EDDHA iron; the chelated fraction is stable between pH 3 and pH 9. This is especially important with alkaline tap water.

In the SHIVA programme, Bloom starts in week 5 (after the Boost in week 4) and runs until week 10. For photoperiod strains, switch the light cycle from 18/6 to 12/12.

In the flowering stage, the plant puts its energy into developing buds:

• Phosphorus (P): the key element in ATP energy transfer – essential for flower development
• Potassium (K): regulates the stomata and hardens the buds

The lower nitrogen level prevents "re-vegging" (reverting to vegetative growth).

No. SHIVA Bloom contains chelated trace elements and added EDDHA iron. Calcium and magnesium come from SHIVA Cal+ (80% calcium carbonate + 12% magnesium carbonate) in weeks 3–11, 30 minutes after the NPK, from a separate watering can.

If flowering is slow or the buds are loose:

• Check the EC – in flowering the target is 1.6–2.2 mS/cm
• Measure the pH – a pH below 6.2 inhibits phosphorus uptake
• Check that the plant is getting the dose set out in the programme (Bloom 6 g / 5 litres)

In a dry, cool place in closed packaging. Avoid direct sunlight and moisture – the powder is hygroscopic (it absorbs moisture), which leads to clumping but not to a loss of effectiveness. If it clumps, break it up and keep using it.

They are for different stages:

Boost is a high-nitrogen nutrient for the early stage of development: in week 1 for rooting, and in week 4 to round off the pre-flowering stage. The flowering stage is handled by Bloom.

Yes, SHIVA Boost 2.5 g contains mycorrhizae, which should be used at germination and rooting – not in the flowering stage.

Yes, SHIVA Boost is compatible with biological soil products. Important:

• Do not add live bacteria to the nutrient solution – always water them in separately or sprinkle them onto dry medium
• A high EC (above 2.0) can reduce microbial activity

• In the SHIVA programme, Boost is used only in week 1 (2.5 g) and week 4 (5 g)
• Do not use it any more in the flowering (weeks 5–10) and ripening (weeks 11–12) stages

Yes. Amino+ and Boost can go into the same watering can – they do not react with each other and do not form a precipitate. In the programme, they go into the can together in week 4.

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins – normally the plant produces them itself from nitrogen, which takes energy. Ready-made L-amino acids:

• can be taken up immediately, with no energy spent on synthesising them
• chelate trace elements and improve their uptake
• stimulate enzyme activity and chlorophyll production
• increase stress tolerance (heat, drought, chemical stress)

SHIVA Amino+ contains an L-amino acid complex, including:

• Glutamic acid: nitrogen transport, chlorophyll synthesis
• Proline: stress tolerance, osmotic protection
• Glycine: chelation, trace element transport
• Alanine: fast nitrogen source, energy metabolism
• Lysine, Threonine: protein synthesis, cell renewal

Under stress (heat, pH fluctuations, transplanting, nutrient deficiency), the plant's energy reserves decrease. In this situation, Amino+:

• acts as a direct nitrogen source, replacing energy-intensive nitrate reduction
• provides proline, an osmoprotectant that protects cell membranes from drying out
• stimulates root regeneration after transplanting

They are products with completely different functions:

• Amino+: organic nitrogen and free L-amino acids – nutrition and biostimulation, stress tolerance, better trace element uptake
• Boost: nitrogen-rich NPK nutrient (24-6-12) for the early stage of development

In the programme, they go into the can together in week 4.

Yes. Amino+ can also be dissolved at 4 g / 5 litres and sprayed onto the leaves. Apply 30–60 minutes before the lights go off so that the leaves dry before the dark period.

Yes. The SHIVA Master Pack contains 210 sachets (Boost, Grow, Bloom, Finisher, Cal+, Amino+, pH Down, Surface Cleaner) and a feeding schedule – for the complete 14-week programme.

SHIVA AMINO+ works as an L-amino acid complex biostimulant – it enhances nutrient uptake, increases stress tolerance and improves yield. It can be used:

• together with NPK nutrients
• after stress (planting, transplanting, heatwave, water shortage)
• during flowering to boost yield
• in the root development stage (after the start)

In the SHIVA programme, Finisher comes in weeks 11–12, after Bloom; then in weeks 13–14 comes the flush (plain water only).

In the finishing stage, high potassium (K):

• supports terpenoid synthesis
• hardens and densifies the buds
• improves tissue firmness and reduces susceptibility to mould
• supports the plant's natural ripening process

After Finisher comes the flush – for 1–2 weeks, water only with plain, pH-adjusted water. The purpose of the flush is to wash out the salts that have built up in the soil.

In week 11, Amino+ is still added alongside Finisher (and Cal+ in a separate round); in week 12, only Finisher. Bloom and Boost should no longer go into the can at this point.

A chemical reaction occurs between the calcium in SHIVA Cal+ (80% calcium carbonate + 12% magnesium carbonate) and the phosphate in the NPK nutrients:

Ca²⁺ + PO₄³⁻ → Ca₃(PO₄)₂ ↓ (white precipitate)

This calcium phosphate precipitate clogs drippers and root pores and permanently reduces phosphorus uptake.

How often you water depends on the medium, the size of the container and how developed the plant is. As a general rule: water when the top of the pot feels dry but there is still slight moisture inside.

• Soil: usually every 2–3 days
• Coco: every day or every other day

Rule of thumb: 10–20% of the container volume at each watering, always aiming for 10–20% runoff. Example: 10-litre pot → 1–2 litres of water per watering.

Water 1–2 hours after the lights come on – this mimics the natural daily rhythm. Plants take up water most actively in the first hours of the day. Avoid watering in the evening / dark period so that no excess moisture remains in the root zone.

10–20% runoff ensures that:

• salts do not build up in the root zone
• the whole medium is soaked evenly
• the runoff EC shows the condition of the root zone (if it is higher than the EC of the incoming water, salts are building up)

Bud density is determined mainly by genetics, but the SHIVA system makes the most of the potential:

• Bloom: high P and K in the flowering stage to harden the buds
• Finisher: high K in the ripening stage, increases bud density
• Amino+: amino acids stimulate enzyme activity and terpenoid synthesis

After nutrients, light is the most decisive factor. The PPFD value (µmol/m²/s) is directly linked to flowering productivity. Below 600 µmol, buds become loose and stretched. The SHIVA nutrient system is optimised for light intensities of 600–900 µmol.

CO₂ supplementation is only worthwhile if:

• the light intensity reaches 900+ µmol PPFD
• temperature and humidity are optimal (26–30 °C, 50–60% RH)
• the nutrient and watering system is already optimised

A white precipitate forms almost exclusively when Cal+ has been mixed with another nutrient (calcium phosphate reaction) or when the pH is very high (above 8.5) – in that case calcium carbonate precipitates.

Prevention: follow the mixing order (pH Down → NPK → Amino+) and always give Cal+ separately.

If 100% of the water stays in the soil (no runoff), it usually means that:

• the soil was very dry and soaked everything up (this is fine on the first watering)
• you did not water enough
• the soil has become clayey/compacted and drains poorly

In theory it is possible, but it is not recommended for the following reasons:

• The SHIVA system is built on NPK ratios calibrated to each other – other products can upset the balance
• Chemical reactions can occur between certain nutrients (precipitation)
• EC and pH values become unpredictable

Yes. The SHIVA system has been designed specifically to be safe for beginners too. The micronised powder format and the pre-measured doses rule out measuring errors.

It allows precise dosing, is easy to store, needs no measuring equipment, ensures a stable composition and is ideal even for small grow boxes.

Not recommended. SHIVA products work as a complete system. Mixed with other nutrients, the EC/TDS can get out of balance and effectiveness may drop.

Yes, they can be used in both soil and coco.

Yes. At the end of the cycle, a reduced nutrient solution (SHIVA Finisher) is recommended, followed by plain water in the last two weeks.

Yes. The micronised powders dissolve completely and do not clog drip systems.

Photoperiod cannabis strains measure the season by the uninterrupted 12-hour dark period. If light gets into the dark period:

• The plant "mistakenly" perceives it as daytime – it may revert to vegetative growth
• Hermaphroditism can develop (male flower parts on the female plant)
• Pre-flowering is disrupted

The most reliable method:

1. Wait for the dark period
2. Switch off all room and corridor lights
3. Stand in front of the box for 5 minutes – until your eyes adjust
4. Look for tiny gaps of light at the closures, fan openings and cable entries

The threshold varies by strain, but in general:

• Safe: complete darkness (0 lux)
• Risky: 1–5 lux (faint night light)
• Dangerous: 5+ lux (visible light source)

For comparison: a full moon gives about 0.1–0.3 lux. An LED indicator light gives about 0.5–2 lux from 1–3 metres.

If light leaks throw the plant's timing off:

• mixed flowering/vegetative signs (foxtailing, single-finger leaves reappearing)
• hermaphroditism – male flower parts ("bananas") appear
• looser, lower-quality buds