Big Bud Organic

OG Organics™ Big Bud® from Advanced Nutrients is a CDFA-OIM and OMRI certified organic bloom booster formulated for the flowering phase of high-value crops. With an NPK of 1-2-4, a 2:1 K:P ratio, 20 bioavailable amino acids, and active ingredients including fish protein hydrolysate, calcium lignosulfonate, and rock phosphate, Big Bud Organic is designed to support bud bulk and floral structure development during weeks 1–3 of flowering—without compromising organic certification requirements.

Big Bud Organic Specifications

The specifications below are drawn from the guaranteed analysis, active ingredient list, and compatibility data confirmed through the Advanced Nutrients official product page, retailer listings at growitdepot.com and thehydrobros.com, and the hydrobuilder.com product listing for the 23 L size.

Specification	Value
Brand	Advanced Nutrients
Product line	OG Organics
Supplier SKU	10806 – Base
NPK ratio	1-2-4
Total Nitrogen (N)	1% (0.5% Nitrate Nitrogen, 0.5% Other Water-Soluble Nitrogen)
Available Phosphate (P₂O₅)	2%
Soluble Potash (K₂O)	4%
Calcium (Ca)	1%
Magnesium (Mg)	0.6% (water-soluble)
Sulfur (S)	2.3%
Iron (Fe)	0.15% (water-soluble)
Vitamin B1	0.5% (from yeast extract)
K:P ratio	2:1 (potassium to phosphorus)
Active ingredients	Calcium lignosulfonate, fish protein hydrolysate, iron amino acid complex, magnesium sulfate, phosphoric acid, rock phosphate, sulfate of potash
Amino acids	20 bioavailable amino acids
Certifications	CDFA-OIM; OMRI Listed
PGR status	Contains no paclobutrazol, daminozide, or other banned plant growth regulators
Application rate	2 mL per liter of nutrient solution
Application window	Weeks 1–3 of the flowering cycle (based on approx. 8-week cycle)
Product form	Liquid concentrate
Available sizes	500 mL, 1 L, 4 L, 10 L, 23 L

Why Choose Big Bud Organic

The points below are drawn from the canonical supplier description, the Advanced Nutrients official product page, and confirmed retailer data. They describe what distinguishes Big Bud Organic from other bloom-phase supplements for growers who require certified organic inputs.

• Dual CDFA-OIM and OMRI certification for organic compliance. Big Bud Organic carries both California Department of Food and Agriculture Organic Input Material (CDFA-OIM) certification and OMRI Listed status. These are two of the most widely recognized certification standards for organic inputs in North American production. Growers working under state-certified organic programs, licensed organic cultivators, and hobby growers who want to avoid synthetic inputs can use Big Bud Organic with confidence that the formulation has been reviewed against published organic input standards. Neither certification is present on all organic-marketed bloom boosters, making the dual listing a meaningful differentiator for compliance-focused buyers.
• Liquid formulation optimized for hydroponic systems. Unlike granular organic bloom additives, Big Bud Organic is a liquid concentrate that dissolves immediately into nutrient solution. This is important for hydroponic systems—aeroponics, drip irrigation, NFT, flood and drain, and deep water culture—where undissolved solids can clog emitters, block drip lines, or settle in reservoirs. The liquid format also makes dose measurement straightforward: 2 mL per liter is measurable with a standard graduated syringe or measuring cup without grinding, dissolving, or pre-mixing. Organic granular products require extra prep steps that liquid concentrates eliminate.
• 20 bioavailable amino acids to support floral structure development. The fish protein hydrolysate in the formulation provides 20 bioavailable amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins used by plants during rapid tissue growth, including the development of floral structures during the bloom phase. The hydrolysate form breaks protein into individual amino acid units that roots can absorb directly, bypassing the soil microbial breakdown step that whole protein sources require. This makes the amino acid content available to both soil-grown and hydroponic plants on a similar timeline.
• 2:1 K:P ratio designed to support flowering without heavy metal risk. The formulation uses a 2:1 potassium-to-phosphorus ratio. Excess phosphorus in bloom supplements can contribute to heavy metal accumulation in substrates when the phosphorus source is impure rock phosphate. Advanced Nutrients states the K:P ratio in Big Bud Organic is designed to meet flowering nutrient requirements while safeguarding against this risk. The potassium component (from sulfate of potash) supports cell turgor, sugar transport, and fruit/flower weight, while the phosphorus level supports energy transfer and root-to-flower signaling without excess accumulation.
• Compatible with Advanced Nutrients pH Perfect base nutrients and competitor formulations. Big Bud Organic is confirmed compatible with all pH Perfect Base Nutrients, standard base nutrients, and competitor formulations. This means growers do not need to switch their base nutrient line to incorporate Big Bud Organic. It can be stacked with existing programs as a flowering-phase additive, reducing the barrier to adoption for growers already running a different base nutrient brand. Compatibility with the Advanced Nutrients pH Perfect Sensi Bloom Part A makes it a natural pairing for growers already on the Advanced Nutrients ecosystem.
• No banned plant growth regulators. Big Bud Organic contains no paclobutrazol, daminozide, or other banned plant growth regulators. This matters for growers in markets where PGR presence in finished product is tested or regulated, and for any cultivator who wants to avoid synthetic hormone-like compounds entirely. The formulation achieves its bud-bulking effect through nutrient balance and amino acid supply rather than growth-regulating chemistry.

Best Uses for Big Bud Organic

The use cases below are derived from the product’s certified organic status, liquid format, hydroponic system compatibility list, and application window of weeks 1–3 of flowering.

• Hydroponic flowering crops requiring organic-certified inputs. Big Bud Organic’s primary purpose is as a bloom-phase additive for hydroponic systems where the grower requires CDFA-OIM or OMRI certified inputs. The liquid format dissolves fully into nutrient solution, making it suitable for aeroponics, drip, NFT, flood and drain, and deep water culture without the risk of clogging. Add at 2 mL per liter to the reservoir or mixing tank during weeks 1–3 of the flowering cycle. This is the core application the product was designed for.
• Certified organic soil and coco coir grows. The certifications and ingredient list also make Big Bud Organic appropriate for organic soil and coco coir grows where synthetic phosphorus and potassium sources are excluded. The liquid concentrate can be applied as a root drench diluted in pH-adjusted water during the early flowering stage. Because the amino acids and nutrients in the formulation are derived from biological sources (fish protein hydrolysate, rock phosphate, sulfate of potash), the inputs are consistent with organic standards for soil production.
• Weeks 1–3 bloom-phase supplement in a multi-product feeding schedule. Big Bud Organic is not a standalone base nutrient—it is an additive used during a specific window of the flowering cycle. Growers running a weekly feed schedule who want to intensify nutrient availability during the early blossom period (when flowers are forming and setting) are the target user. It is used alongside a base nutrient that covers the full NPK requirement; Big Bud Organic provides the additional P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, and amino acid loading that the early flower stage calls for.
• Growers transitioning from conventional to organic programs. Because Big Bud Organic is compatible with standard base nutrients and competitor formulations, it can be introduced into an existing conventional feeding schedule as an organic-certified component without requiring a complete overhaul of the program. A grower looking to reduce synthetic additive use during flowering can substitute Big Bud Organic for a conventional PK booster during weeks 1–3 as a starting point. The 1 L and 4 L sizes are practical entry formats for trialing before scaling to the 10 L or 23 L sizes.
• Environments where PGR-free status is a compliance or marketing requirement. Licensed cultivators operating in regulated markets where product testing includes PGR screening, and growers marketing their product as PGR-free, can use Big Bud Organic as a bloom booster that is confirmed to contain no paclobutrazol, daminozide, or other banned compounds. This is relevant in markets where consumer demand for clean-label flower is high and where testing regimes may flag PGR residues.
• Indoor controlled-environment production under supplemental lighting. Big Bud Organic is suited to indoor environments using supplemental lighting such as HPS, CMH, or LED. Light-driven photosynthate production during the bloom phase creates demand for the potassium, phosphorus, and secondary nutrients Big Bud Organic supplies. Pairing with a high-output fixture like the Eye Hortilux 600W Ceramic HPS Grow Light Bulb maximizes the photosynthetic demand that the nutrient loading is designed to meet.

Big Bud Organic vs Incredible Bulk Organic Bloom Booster

The two most directly comparable organic bloom boosters in the category are Advanced Nutrients OG Organics Big Bud and Incredible Bulk Organic Bloom Booster. Both are liquid or liquifiable organic-sourced PK supplements aimed at the early-to-mid flowering window, and both target organic-focused growers. The differences lie in ingredient complexity, certification status, and amino acid content.

OG Organics Big Bud (this product): Formulated with seven active ingredients—calcium lignosulfonate, fish protein hydrolysate, iron amino acid complex, magnesium sulfate, phosphoric acid, rock phosphate, and sulfate of potash—and contains 20 bioavailable amino acids from the fish protein hydrolysate. The guaranteed analysis covers not only NPK (1-2-4) but also calcium (1%), magnesium (0.6%), sulfur (2.3%), iron (0.15%), and Vitamin B1 (0.5% from yeast extract). It carries both CDFA-OIM and OMRI certification, confirming independent third-party review of every ingredient against organic input standards. No banned PGRs.

Incredible Bulk Organic Bloom Booster (comparator): Blends rock phosphate, kelp, and sulfate of potash. This is a simpler three-ingredient formulation targeting a similar use case. It does not carry CDFA-OIM or OMRI dual certification based on available research data, meaning the organic claim has not been independently reviewed under the same standards. The formulation does not include fish protein hydrolysate or amino acid supplementation, so the amino acid pathway for supporting floral structure development that Big Bud Organic uses is absent. The secondary nutrient profile (Ca, Mg, Fe, S) is not published as a guaranteed analysis at the same level of detail.

Key trade-offs:

• Big Bud Organic’s dual CDFA-OIM and OMRI certification provides third-party verified organic compliance; Incredible Bulk Organic does not carry the same dual certification based on current data.
• The amino acid content (20 bioavailable amino acids from fish protein hydrolysate) in Big Bud Organic adds a biological nutrient pathway not present in the simpler Incredible Bulk Organic formulation.
• Big Bud Organic provides a published secondary nutrient and micronutrient profile (Ca, Mg, S, Fe, B1); Incredible Bulk Organic’s secondary nutrient data is less detailed.
• Incredible Bulk Organic’s three-ingredient approach may appeal to growers who prefer minimal-input formulations and do not require amino acid supplementation or dual certification.
• Both products target weeks 1–3 of flowering and both use rock phosphate and sulfate of potash as the core PK sources.

For growers whose primary requirement is dual CDFA-OIM/OMRI certification, a detailed secondary nutrient profile, and amino acid supplementation from an organic source, Big Bud Organic is the more fully documented option of the two. For growers who want the simplest possible organic PK boost without the certification overhead, the Incredible Bulk approach may be sufficient.

Compatibility & Operating Range

The compatibility information below is drawn from the official Advanced Nutrients product page, retailer listings at thehydrobros.com and hydrobuilder.com, and the canonical description text from the indoor_gardens supplier record.

Growing system compatibility: Big Bud Organic is confirmed compatible with all continuous liquid-feed growing systems, including aeroponics, drip irrigation and emitter systems, NFT (Nutrient Film Technique), flood and drain (ebb and flow), and deep water culture. The liquid concentrate dissolves fully into nutrient solution, making it suitable for any system where undissolved particulates would cause clogging issues. It is not formulated as a granular or slow-release product and should not be applied dry.

Growing media compatibility: Compatible with diverse hydroponic growing media. The liquid delivery format means it can be used in rockwool, clay pebbles (hydroton), coco coir, perlite, vermiculite, and soilless media. It is also appropriate for organic soil production when applied as a root drench at the recommended rate.

Nutrient program compatibility: Compatible with all Advanced Nutrients pH Perfect Base Nutrients, standard base nutrients, and competitor base nutrient formulations. Big Bud Organic functions as an additive layered on top of a complete base nutrient program—it does not replace base nutrients. When stacking additives, growers should mix Big Bud Organic into the reservoir after the base nutrients have been added and the solution EC has been measured, then verify the final EC is within the target range for the crop stage before feeding. For growers using a grow tent as their growing environment, a well-ventilated enclosed space such as the Grow Shop Outlet 48×48×78 Grow Tent provides stable temperature and humidity conditions that support consistent nutrient uptake during flowering.

pH operating range: Advanced Nutrients recommends maintaining nutrient solution pH at 5.5–6.5 for hydroponic systems when using their organic product line. Rock phosphate-derived phosphorus is most available in the 5.8–6.2 pH range typical for recirculating hydroponic systems. Organic input materials can interact with the buffering capacity of the solution, particularly when stacked with other organic additives; check pH after mixing and adjust as needed before feeding.

Application window: Weeks 1–3 of the flowering cycle, based on an approximately 8-week flowering period. Do not continue application into weeks 4–8; later flowering stages have different nutrient priority ratios and continuing a high-PK additive beyond the early blossom set window is not recommended by the manufacturer. During the final flush phase (if applicable), Big Bud Organic should be discontinued along with all other additives.

Storage and handling: As with all organic liquid concentrates containing protein hydrolysate, store at room temperature in a sealed container away from direct sunlight and heat. Biological organic inputs can ferment or grow microbial populations if stored improperly or left in diluted form in a reservoir for extended periods. Prepare reservoir solutions fresh for each feeding cycle; do not store pre-mixed nutrient solutions containing Big Bud Organic for more than 24–48 hours, particularly in warm growing environments.

Dosing Guidelines

The dosing information below is drawn from the application rate data confirmed at hydrobuilder.com (2 mL per liter during weeks 1–3 of flowering) and standard practice for liquid organic bloom supplement application in hydroponic and soil systems. Advanced Nutrients does not publish a publicly available PDF feed chart for this product; the base dose rate is consistent across multiple independent retailer listings.

Base application rate: 2 mL per liter of nutrient solution (approximately 7.6 mL per US gallon). This rate applies to weeks 1–3 of the flowering cycle. Apply to a fully mixed and pH-adjusted nutrient reservoir.

Measuring the dose: Use a calibrated syringe or graduated measuring cup to measure concentrate before adding to the reservoir. Big Bud Organic is a liquid; do not estimate by eye. At 2 mL/L, a 10-liter reservoir requires 20 mL of concentrate, and a 100-liter reservoir requires 200 mL. The 500 mL size provides approximately 250 doses at 2 mL each, suitable for a small single-reservoir system over a 3-week application window.

Mixing sequence: Add Big Bud Organic to the reservoir after the base nutrients. A standard mixing sequence for organic nutrient programs is: (1) base nutrient part A, (2) base nutrient part B, (3) pH-up or pH-down as needed, (4) additives including Big Bud Organic. Stir or recirculate the solution thoroughly between each addition. Verify final EC before feeding.

EC contribution: At 2 mL/L, Big Bud Organic adds an EC contribution from the phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur content. Organic inputs typically contribute lower EC per unit volume than equivalent synthetic salts because a portion of the nutrient content is bound in organic molecules. However, growers should still measure final EC after adding Big Bud Organic and adjust total nutrient solution strength accordingly to stay within the target EC range for the flowering stage.

Foliar application: No foliar rate is published for Big Bud Organic by the manufacturer. The product is formulated for root-zone delivery through hydroponic systems or soil drenches. Do not apply undiluted concentrate directly to foliage.

Size selection by system volume:

• 500 mL: Approx. 250 mL doses at 2 mL each; suited for small systems (1–10 L reservoirs) or a trial run.
• 1 L: Approx. 500 doses; covers a 3-week bloom application window for a 15–20 L recirculating reservoir with daily top-offs.
• 4 L: Approx. 2,000 doses; appropriate for multi-bucket DWC or medium-scale drip systems (100–200 L total volume) over multiple crop cycles.
• 10 L / 23 L: Commercial-scale quantities for large-reservoir systems or multi-room production.

How to Set Up Big Bud Organic in Your Feeding Schedule

The steps below describe integrating Big Bud Organic into a hydroponic nutrient program from initial preparation through the final flowering week in the application window. These steps are adapted from the per-category nutrient supplement generic template and the dose guidance confirmed through retailer sources.

1. Confirm you are at the start of your flowering period. Big Bud Organic is applied during weeks 1–3 of the flowering cycle only. Before opening the bottle, verify your plants have transitioned to the flowering stage (for photoperiod crops: 12/12 light schedule has been running for at least a few days and preflowers are visible; for autoflowers: the plant has entered the early blossom phase). Do not apply during vegetative growth or late flowering.
2. Shake the concentrate thoroughly before each use. Organic liquid concentrates that contain protein hydrolysate and mineral-derived inputs can settle or stratify during storage. Shake the bottle vigorously for 15–30 seconds before measuring. Do not use concentrate that has separated and cannot be re-homogenized by shaking.
3. Prepare your base nutrient solution first. Mix your base nutrients (Part A and Part B, or single-component base) in the reservoir or mixing vessel at the rates appropriate for the flowering stage before adding Big Bud Organic. Measure EC after the base nutrients are fully dissolved. Big Bud Organic is an additive, not a replacement for base nutrients.
4. Measure 2 mL per liter of final reservoir volume. Use a calibrated syringe or measuring cup. For a 20 L reservoir, measure 40 mL of Big Bud Organic concentrate. Add the measured concentrate to the reservoir while the recirculation pump is running or while stirring to ensure even distribution. Do not add undiluted concentrate directly onto plant roots or substrate.
5. Verify pH and EC after mixing. After adding Big Bud Organic and any other additives, check solution pH and EC. Target pH 5.5–6.5 for hydroponic applications; adjust with pH-up or pH-down as needed. Record the final EC value to track cumulative additive contributions across the crop cycle.
6. Feed on your regular schedule for weeks 1–3 of flowering. Apply the mixed solution at your normal feeding interval—daily top-offs for recirculating DWC, per-cycle flood-and-drain scheduling, or as a weekly drench for soil grows. Prepare a fresh solution for each feeding; do not store pre-mixed solutions containing Big Bud Organic for more than 24–48 hours.
7. Discontinue Big Bud Organic after week 3 of flowering. Transition your feeding program to the base nutrient rates and any late-flowering or ripening additives appropriate for weeks 4 onward. Resume normal flushing or finish-phase protocols as you approach harvest. Do not continue applying Big Bud Organic into the ripening or flush phase.
8. Clean equipment after use. Rinse measuring syringes, mixing vessels, and any reservoir or drip-line components with clean water after each use. Organic inputs can leave residue in drip emitters and reservoir walls if left to dry; flushing with water immediately after use extends equipment life and reduces buildup.

Sources & Further Reading