Botanicare 5gal Clearex (48/PL)

Botanicare Clearex is a water-based electrolyte rinsing solution formulated to remove excess nutrient salt deposits from soil and soilless grow media. Applied during the final 3–7 days before harvest, it draws accumulated salts away from the root zone, helps prevent nutrient lockout and irreversible wilting, and triggers the plant’s last reproductive stage — supporting terpene production and maximizing crop yield and potency at harvest.

Botanicare Clearex Specifications

The following table covers the physical and product specifications for the 5-gallon container of Botanicare Clearex (48/PL), as drawn from manufacturer and supplier data. This is a pallet-quantity listing: each pallet contains 48 units of the 5-gallon container.

Specification	Value
Brand	Botanicare
Product Name	Clearex Rinsing Solution
Container Size	5 Gallon
Pallet Quantity	48 units per pallet
Supplier SKU	HGC732620
Container Weight	44.4 lb
Container Dimensions	11.5″ L × 14″ W × 15″ H
Volume (cubic ft)	0.995 cu ft
Formula Type	Water-based electrolyte solution
Recommended Application Window	3–7 days prior to harvest

Why Choose Botanicare Clearex

Clearex is formulated specifically to address the problem of salt accumulation in grow media — a common issue in intensive feeding programs where nutrient inputs are high and runoff management is imperfect. Here is what distinguishes it from a plain water flush:

• Targeted salt removal: Clearex uses electrolytes in a water-based solution to actively draw accumulated nutrient salts away from the root zone, rather than relying on high-volume water alone to dilute them out.
• Prevents nutrient lockout: Excess salt deposits can block root uptake by disrupting osmotic balance. Clearex works to restore equilibrium between the root environment and the nutrient solution, reducing the risk of lockout and the associated stress symptoms.
• Reduced risk of irreversible wilting: Severe salt accumulation can cause cell shrinkage and wilting that plain water cannot reverse quickly enough. By drawing salts away from root cells and restoring balance, Clearex helps prevent the type of wilting that damages the crop before harvest.
• Shorter pre-harvest window: Clearex is designed for a 3–7 day flush window rather than the longer plain-water flush periods that some programs use. A shorter window means less time without nutrient inputs, which matters for maintaining terpene production and crop potency in the final stage.
• Triggers final reproductive stage: Flushing with Clearex is described as a signal that encourages plants to process remaining nutrients stored in plant tissue. This processing phase is associated with improvements in flavor and yield quality at harvest.

For operations running high-EC feed programs throughout the grow cycle, a structured flush with Clearex in the final week is a practical way to reduce salt load and encourage the plant to finish on its own reserves. The 5-gallon container is suited to commercial and large-scale home grows where smaller bottles would require constant repurchasing.

Best Uses for Botanicare Clearex

Clearex is a late-cycle tool — it is not a growth supplement or root conditioner for use throughout the vegetative or early flowering stage. Its value is concentrated in specific situations and timing windows:

• Pre-harvest flushing in any medium: Whether you are growing in soil, coco coir, rockwool, or a recirculating hydroponic system, Clearex can be applied as the final flush solution in the last 3–7 days before harvest. The water-based electrolyte formula is compatible with both soil and soilless media.
• Addressing mid-cycle salt buildup: If plants show signs of nutrient lockout or over-fertilization — yellowing, tip burn, stunted uptake despite adequate nutrient levels — a Clearex rinse can help reset the root zone by removing the deposited salts that are blocking uptake.
• Commercial production with high-frequency feeding: Facilities running automated drip, ebb-and-flow, or NFT systems often accumulate salts faster than hand-watered systems. Periodic rinsing with Clearex between crop cycles or during the flush phase helps keep salt levels in check without requiring extended plain-water flushing that disrupts the feeding schedule.
• Improving end flavor and potency: Growers focused on terpene expression and crop potency can use Clearex pre-harvest to encourage plants to draw down their own stored nutrient reserves. This is the mechanism described in the product documentation as enhancing flavor and increasing yields.
• Soil and container grows with poor drainage: Containers with limited drainage or soil mixes that retain salts are especially prone to buildup. Clearex provides a more effective rinse in these scenarios than plain water by actively mobilizing the deposited salts rather than simply diluting the nutrient solution.

Botanicare Clearex vs Similar Products

The salt-leaching category includes both formulated flush solutions like Clearex and the common plain-water flush approach. Here is how Clearex positions relative to alternatives a grower might consider:

Clearex vs plain water flushing: A plain-water flush dilutes the nutrient solution in the root zone and can physically rinse some salts out with high volumes. However, it does not actively draw salts away from root cell walls or grow media particles the way an electrolyte-based solution does. Clearex’s water-based electrolyte formula is designed to work by osmotic action, which the manufacturer describes as more efficient at removing deposited salts with a shorter flush window (3–7 days) compared to extended plain-water flushing periods that can run 7–14 days.

Clearex vs general-purpose flushing agents: Some growers use diluted molasses or carbohydrate supplements at the end of the cycle, such as Earth Juice Hi-Brix Molasses, which feeds microbial activity and may indirectly help with nutrient processing in living soil environments. Clearex serves a different function — it is a salt-removal rinse rather than a microbial or carbohydrate supplement. The two approaches address different problems and can sometimes be used in sequence (Clearex flush, then a final plain-water or molasses rinse), though growers should refer to Botanicare’s program documentation before combining products.

Clearex 5 gal vs smaller Clearex sizes: Botanicare offers Clearex in multiple container sizes. The 5-gallon container listed here (48/PL) is a commercial-quantity listing intended for facilities or distributors purchasing at pallet scale. Growers needing a single container for a home or small commercial grow should consider whether the 5-gallon size matches their per-cycle flush volume before ordering.

Compatibility

Botanicare Clearex is compatible with a broad range of growing media and system types. Based on the manufacturer’s description, the following apply:

• Grow media: Designed for use in both soil and soilless grow media. This includes amended potting mixes, peat-based soils, coco coir, rockwool, clay pebbles (LECA), and perlite-heavy mixes.
• Hydroponic system types: Compatible with recirculating and drain-to-waste systems. For recirculating systems (DWC, NFT, ebb-and-flow), the reservoir should be drained and refilled with the Clearex solution during the flush phase rather than adding to an active nutrient reservoir.
• Feeding programs: Clearex is used at the end of the nutrient program as a standalone flush solution. It is not designed to be mixed with active nutrient concentrates. Growers using a full Botanicare nutrient program — for example products from the Pure Blend or KIND line — should refer to Botanicare’s feeding charts for guidance on transitioning to the flush phase.
• Root supplements: If you are using a root inoculant or microbial supplement such as Advanced Nutrients Tarantula to support root zone biology, note that a Clearex flush is typically applied after the microbial establishment phase and close to harvest, at a point where root zone intervention is focused on salt removal rather than colonization. Timing these products appropriately avoids unnecessary disruption to established root biology.

For large-scale operations, Clearex is available at commercial pallet quantities (this listing: 48 × 5-gallon units per pallet), making it practical to maintain consistent flush protocols across multiple grow rooms without running out mid-cycle.

Dosing Guidelines

Botanicare’s description specifies a 3–7 day pre-harvest application window. The following guidance is derived from the product description and standard flush-phase practice. Consult the Botanicare product label and feeding chart for exact dose rates, as the canonical row does not include a specific mL-per-gallon dose figure.

1. Timing: Begin the Clearex flush 3–7 days before your planned harvest date. The shorter window (3 days) is appropriate for crops that are clearly finished and where you want to minimize the time off nutrients. The longer window (7 days) allows more time for salt removal and nutrient processing in the plant tissue.
2. Preparation: Stop adding nutrient concentrates to the reservoir or watering solution. Drain the existing nutrient solution from recirculating systems before introducing Clearex. For drain-to-waste systems, simply transition from nutrient solution to Clearex solution for the final waterings.
3. Mixing: Add the recommended dose of Clearex to plain, pH-adjusted water. The product is a liquid concentrate in a water-based electrolyte solution. Measure using a calibrated measuring cup or syringe — do not estimate by pouring directly from the container.
4. Application — soil and containers: Water plants to full saturation with the Clearex solution, ensuring runoff. The electrolyte formula works by drawing salts out through the media and into the drainage water. Repeat at each watering during the 3–7 day window.
5. Application — recirculating hydro: Fill the reservoir with Clearex solution at the recommended dilution. Run the system normally and monitor EC in the reservoir. As salts are drawn out of the media and root zone into the solution, EC will rise — drain and replenish with fresh Clearex solution if EC climbs significantly.
6. Harvest: After completing the flush window, harvest as planned. The Clearex flush is the final step — no additional nutrient inputs are applied after starting the flush phase.

If plants show signs of over-fertilization or salt-induced lockout mid-cycle (outside the pre-harvest window), a corrective Clearex rinse can be applied to remove the salt accumulation. In this case, follow with a return to the normal nutrient program once runoff EC returns to an acceptable range.

For root zone support products used earlier in the cycle, see Heavy 16 Roots as an example of a root-phase additive that serves a complementary but distinct function during vegetative and early flowering stages.

Sources & Further Reading