Athena Stack – Gallon

Athena Stack is a natural plant nutrient derived from kelp extract. It is formulated to encourage healthy vegetative growth and flowering, help correct minor potassium deficiencies, and support plants in reaching their full genetic potential. Stack can be applied as a root drench or foliar spray and is safe for use in automated irrigation systems. This gallon size (SKU: LQ-STK-1G) is designed for commercial cultivators running continuous feed programs who need concentrated, consistent inputs across a large canopy.

Athena Stack Specifications

The table below summarizes the confirmed specifications for Athena Stack – Gallon. All values are sourced from the canonical product data and manufacturer-published application instructions.

Specification	Value
Brand	Athena
SKU	LQ-STK-1G
Container Size	1 gallon (128 fl oz)
Weight	10 lb
Base Ingredient	Kelp extract (natural / organic-derived)
Application Method	Root drench or foliar spray
Root Drench Dose	1–2 ml per gallon of water, weekly
Foliar Spray Dose	7 ml per gallon of water, once weekly
Transplant Soak Dose	2 ml per gallon, bare root soak 30–60 seconds
Seed Treatment Dose	4 ml per gallon, soak seed 1–2 minutes
Application Timing	Final week of veg through week 4–5 of flower
Foliar Spray Cutoff	Do not apply foliar past week 3 of flower

Why Choose Athena Stack

Stack fills a specific role in the Athena feeding program: it delivers kelp-derived compounds that support cell elongation, canopy development, and flowering transition during the critical stretch phase. Here is what growers should know before buying:

• Kelp-based potassium support. Stack is formulated from kelp extract and is intended to help address minor potassium deficiencies that can appear during rapid vegetative growth or early flowering. It does not replace a complete base nutrient program, but it targets a gap that kelp chemistry is well-suited for.
• Two application methods. Stack can be added to the reservoir as a root drench (1–2 ml/gal) or mixed into a foliar spray tank (7 ml/gal). This gives growers flexibility to deliver it through whichever method is practical for their setup. Safe for use in drip, flood-and-drain, and reservoir-based irrigation systems.
• Defined application window. Athena specifies a clear timing window: from the final week of veg through weeks 4–5 of flower, or until the plant stops growing vertically. The foliar method should be discontinued after week 3 of flower to avoid applying product to developing flowers. This clarity makes it straightforward to slot into a printed feed schedule.
• Seed and transplant utility. Beyond regular weekly feeding, Stack has documented uses at the start of a plant’s life. A 4 ml/gal seed soak may support germination vigor, and a 2 ml/gal bare-root dip at transplant may help reduce transplant stress. Growers who use it at both ends of the crop cycle get more coverage out of a single product.
• Gallon size suits commercial feeding programs. At 1 gallon of liquid concentrate, this container is sized for operations running multiple reservoirs or large recirculating systems. Buying in gallon format reduces packaging turnover and per-application cost compared to smaller sizes.

Best Uses for Athena Stack

Stack is most useful in gardens where a complete Athena program is already in place and the grower wants a kelp-based booster for specific growth-stage transitions. It is not a standalone fertilizer.

• Weekly reservoir additive during late veg and early flower. Add 1–2 ml per gallon to the weekly nutrient mix during the stretch phase. Add Stack last to the reservoir after other nutrients are fully dissolved. This is the core use case Athena designed the product for.
• Foliar application during vegetative growth. Mix 7 ml per gallon and apply as a foliar spray once weekly with lights off. Allow leaves to dry before lights come back on. Limit foliar applications to weeks 1–3 of flower at the latest. This method can be useful when the root zone is already at full nutrient load and a grower wants to deliver kelp compounds through the leaf surface without stressing the root-zone EC.
• Transplant stress reduction. Mix a 2 ml/gal solution and soak bare roots for 30–60 seconds before placing clones or seedlings into new media. Alternatively, water the transplant in with the same solution immediately after potting. This is useful in large propagation operations where transplant shock can affect uniformity across a canopy.
• Seed germination soak. Mix 4 ml/gal and soak seeds for 1–2 minutes before planting. Stack is positioned as a germination support treatment, making it useful for seed-start programs where maximizing germination rate matters.
• Pairing with other kelp or biostimulant products. Stack works alongside root-inoculant and enzyme products. If you are already running a root conditioner such as Heavy 16 Roots in your program, Stack can be layered in during the veg-to-flower transition without conflict, since it is a foliar and reservoir additive rather than a root-zone inoculant.

Athena Stack vs Similar Products

Stack belongs to a category of kelp-based biostimulant supplements. To understand where it fits, it helps to compare it with other products that growers often consider in the same application window.

Athena Stack vs molasses-based carbohydrate supplements. Products like Earth Juice Hi-Brix Molasses serve a different function: they supply soluble carbohydrates that feed soil microbiology and can affect Brix levels, but they are not kelp-based and do not deliver the same cytokinin and auxin compounds found in kelp extract. Stack is intended to work at the plant hormone and cell-development level, while a molasses product works primarily at the root-zone biology level. Growers using living soil or compost-heavy media may use both; growers in sterile hydro systems will typically rely on Stack for biostimulant inputs and skip molasses entirely.

Athena Stack vs other kelp extracts. Numerous kelp-based supplements are available across brands. Stack is formulated within the Athena ecosystem and is tested for use alongside Athena base nutrients. Growers using a mixed-brand program should verify that any kelp supplement they run is compatible with their base nutrient EC targets and does not create precipitate when added to a reservoir containing calcium or magnesium-heavy formulas. Athena’s product documentation notes that Stack contains organic ingredients that may separate in storage; shaking well before measuring is required.

Compared to alternates at other distributors. This product (LQ-STK-1G) is available through multiple channels. The supplier price and availability reflected here are based on the best current in-stock pricing. Growers who do not need a full gallon can look at smaller Athena Stack sizes if available in the catalog.

Compatibility

Stack is designed to work within the Athena feeding program but can be used alongside other nutrient lines. The following compatibility notes come from the product’s application instructions.

• Irrigation systems. Stack is safe for use in drip irrigation, recirculating reservoir systems, and flood-and-drain (ebb-and-flow) tables. Add it last to the reservoir after all other nutrients and pH adjusters are fully mixed.
• Base nutrient programs. Stack is designed to be mixed with a regular fertilizer recipe at the stated dose (1–2 ml/gal root drench). It is positioned as an additive layered on top of an existing base program, not as a replacement for macro or micronutrient inputs.
• Organic ingredient note. Stack contains organic-derived ingredients that may separate in the bottle during storage. Shake or stir the concentrate thoroughly before each measurement to ensure consistent dosing. This is especially important in cold storage environments where separation may be more pronounced.
• Foliar compatibility. Stack foliar applications should be done with lights off to avoid leaf burn. The 7 ml/gal foliar rate is intended for use on its own in plain water, not combined with other foliar-applied chemicals unless specifically confirmed compatible by the grower through a small test batch. Do not apply foliar past week 3 of flower.
• Grow media. Stack can be applied in coco coir, rockwool, hydro, and soilless media. It is a liquid additive and does not require soil biology to function, making it equally applicable in sterile hydroponic and lightly amended soilless systems. Growers using it alongside biostimulants such as Advanced Nutrients Tarantula should add each product separately and monitor reservoir clarity.

Dosing Guidelines

All dose rates are sourced from Athena’s published application instructions for Stack. Apply once weekly using the method appropriate for your system.

Application Method	Dose Rate	Notes
Root Drench	1–2 ml per gallon	Weekly. Mix with regular fertilizer recipe. Add last to reservoir.
Foliar Spray	7 ml per gallon	Once weekly. Apply with lights off. Allow to dry before lights on. Not past week 3 flower.
Transplant Bare Root Soak	2 ml per gallon	Soak bare roots 30–60 seconds before transplanting, or water in immediately after.
Seed Treatment	4 ml per gallon	Soak seed 1–2 minutes before planting.

Application timing: begin Stack in the final week of vegetative growth and continue through weeks 4–5 of flowering, or until the plant stops growing vertically. If using foliar spray, discontinue after week 3 of flower. Stack is applied once weekly regardless of method.

Because Stack contains organic ingredients that may settle, always shake the bottle well before measuring. When adding to a reservoir, add Stack last after all base nutrients and pH adjusters have been incorporated. For foliar applications, mix in plain pH-adjusted water in a separate spray tank and apply in the dark period.

How to Use Athena Stack

The steps below cover the two most common weekly-use scenarios: reservoir feeding and foliar spray. Transplant and seed treatment steps follow.

1. Confirm timing. Stack is used from the final week of veg through weeks 4–5 of flower. If the plant is still stretching (growing vertically), Stack is appropriate. If applying foliar, confirm you are no later than week 3 of flower before proceeding.
2. Shake the bottle. Stack contains organic-derived ingredients that settle in storage. Shake the concentrate vigorously for 10–15 seconds before opening to ensure the kelp extract is fully re-suspended and you measure a consistent dose.
3. Measure the dose. Use a calibrated syringe or measuring cup. For root drench: measure 1–2 ml per gallon of reservoir water. For foliar: measure 7 ml per gallon of spray-tank water.
4. Mix into water. For reservoir feeding, build the full nutrient solution first (base A, base B, cal-mag, pH buffers), then add Stack last. Stir or circulate to blend. For foliar, mix Stack into a clean spray tank with plain pH-adjusted water.
5. Verify pH. After adding Stack to the reservoir, check pH and EC. Adjust pH to your target range for the growth stage (typically 5.8–6.2 for hydro / coco). Stack does not significantly alter EC at standard dose rates, but verify after adding.
6. Deliver the application. For root drench: run your standard irrigation event. For foliar: spray plants thoroughly once the lights are off. Ensure leaves are coated front and back. Allow to air dry completely before turning lights back on.
7. Transplant soak (when transplanting). Mix 2 ml/gal Stack in clean water. Dip bare roots for 30–60 seconds just before placing the transplant in its new container. Alternatively, water the transplant in with the same solution immediately after potting.
8. Seed treatment (when starting from seed). Mix 4 ml/gal Stack in clean water. Soak seeds for 1–2 minutes, then remove and plant as normal. Do not let seeds soak longer than instructed.

Sources & Further Reading