Canna Substra Flores (A) – 1 Liter

CANNA Substra Flores (A) is Part A of a professional two-part flowering nutrient formulated specifically for inert, run-to-waste hydroponic systems. It delivers the nutrient balance plants need during the bloom phase — reduced nitrogen, elevated potassium and phosphorus, and trace elements in a directly absorbable form — to support consistent, heavy flowering from early bloom through harvest.

Canna Substra Flores (A) Specifications

Key specifications for CANNA Substra Flores (A) – 1 Liter. Always use Part A together with Substra Flores Part B for a complete flowering nutrient solution.

Specification	Value
Brand	CANNA
Product	Substra Flores (A) – 1 Liter
Growth Phase	Flowering / Bloom
System Compatibility	Inert run-to-waste hydroponic systems
Part Configuration	Part A of 2-part nutrient set (use with Substra Flores B)
Water Versions Available	Hard water and soft water formulations
Volume	1 Liter concentrate
Weight (shipping)	2.00 lb (approx.)
Key Nutrient Emphasis	Elevated potassium and phosphorus; reduced nitrogen; trace elements

Why Choose Canna Substra Flores (A)

CANNA Substra Flores is engineered around the specific nutritional demands of the flowering phase in inert, run-to-waste hydroponic systems. When a plant transitions from vegetative growth to bloom, its uptake priorities shift significantly: nitrogen demand drops, while potassium and phosphorus consumption increases substantially. A general-purpose nutrient mixed across both phases cannot meet these changing requirements as precisely as a dedicated bloom formula.

Substra Flores addresses this directly. The formula is built for the bloom window, providing the elevated P and K levels that support flower development and the reduced nitrogen that prevents excessive leafy growth at the wrong time. The trace elements are supplied in a directly absorbable form, meaning the plant does not need to convert chelate complexes before uptake — this can matter in inert substrates where the medium itself contributes no buffering or conversion chemistry.

The product is available in two versions — hard water and soft water — so growers can choose based on their source water chemistry. Hard water sources typically carry elevated calcium and magnesium already; using the matching version avoids nutrient antagonism and EC overshoot. Soft water sources benefit from the version formulated to compensate for lower baseline mineral content.

• Formulated specifically for the bloom phase — nutrient ratios reflect reduced nitrogen and elevated potassium and phosphorus needs
• Designed for inert run-to-waste substrates (rockwool, clay pebbles, mapito, coco, perlite) where the medium contributes no nutrition
• Trace elements are present in a directly absorbable form, reducing dependency on substrate-level conversion
• Available in hard water and soft water versions, allowing growers to match the formula to their source water
• Two-part system (A + B) keeps incompatible mineral forms separated until dilution in the reservoir

Best Uses for Canna Substra Flores (A)

Substra Flores (A) is intended for the flowering stage of plants grown in inert hydroponic media using a run-to-waste feeding strategy. It is not a general-purpose nutrient and should not be used during the vegetative phase or in recirculating systems where nutrient solution is reused across multiple feedings.

• Rockwool slab systems: The most common use case for Substra Flores. Rockwool is fully inert, contributes no buffering, and is almost always run-to-waste — exactly the conditions this formula is designed for. Use at the transition to bloom and maintain through harvest flush.
• Clay pebble (LECA) run-to-waste setups: Growers running flood-and-drain or drip-to-waste in clay pebbles benefit from the same inert-substrate characteristics as rockwool. Substra Flores delivers the flowering nutrients without relying on the medium to supply anything.
• Mapito / mineral wool blends: Mapito (a blend of mineral wool and polyurethane foam) is widely used in professional Dutch-style grows. Substra Flores is commonly paired with these substrates in commercial greenhouse operations and home-scale setups that replicate the same approach.
• Perlite or perlite-dominant mixes: Coarse perlite run-to-waste systems, whether in vertical towers or bucket-based setups, present the same inert drainage profile. Substra Flores works across these configurations during bloom.
• Commercial and high-volume home grows where consistency matters: Because Substra Flores A and B are used together as a matched set, the grower controls the full nutrient profile without relying on amendments from the substrate. This is particularly useful when trying to reproduce results across multiple cycles.

Pair with nutrient additives such as Earth Juice Hi-Brix Molasses for additional carbohydrate support during mid-bloom, or use alongside beneficial microbial inoculants at the root zone to support uptake in inert media.

Canna Substra Flores vs Similar Products

CANNA’s Substra Flores occupies a specific niche: it is a two-part flowering base nutrient designed exclusively for inert run-to-waste systems, with dedicated hard water and soft water versions. This is worth understanding when comparing it to other professional flowering nutrients on the market.

Many hydroponic base nutrients are formulated as single-part or three-part systems and are designed to work across a range of substrate types, including soil, coco, and hydro. Substra Flores is narrower in scope — it is explicitly not intended for coco coir (CANNA makes a separate Coco range for that), and it is not designed for recirculating systems (CANNA’s Aqua range handles those). If your grow room uses rockwool or clay pebbles in a drain-to-waste configuration, Substra Flores is the product CANNA designed for that exact setup. Using a generalist nutrient in the same situation is not necessarily wrong, but it means the NPK ratios may not have been optimized for pure inert run-to-waste feeding dynamics.

The two-part A+B format also differs from single-bottle bloom nutrients. Concentrated calcium and phosphate cannot be stored in the same bottle without precipitating — separating them into Part A and Part B keeps the chemistry stable in storage and in the concentrate phase. Single-part nutrients solve this with lower concentration or chelation strategies that may affect uptake in different ways. For growers already using a two-part system, switching to a different format mid-cycle is generally not recommended.

Within the CANNA range itself, Substra Flores sits between CANNA Coco Flores (for coco substrates) and CANNA Aqua Flores (for recirculating systems). If you are unsure which substrate category applies to your setup, CANNA’s own substrate guide at canna.com provides clear guidance on matching substrate to nutrient line.

Compatibility

Substra Flores (A) is compatible with inert hydroponic substrates used in run-to-waste configurations. The following substrate types align with the system design this nutrient was developed for:

• Rockwool / stonewool slabs and blocks — the primary intended substrate; fully inert, run-to-waste drainage
• Clay pebbles (LECA / Hydroton) — inert, well-draining; commonly used in drip-to-waste and flood-to-waste systems
• Mapito (mineral wool / polyurethane blend) — common in Dutch and Belgian professional greenhouse grows
• Coarse perlite — in run-to-waste bucket or tower systems

Not recommended for:

• Recirculating / reservoir systems — use CANNA Aqua Flores instead
• Coco coir — CANNA produces a dedicated Coco Flores range for coco substrates
• Soil or peat-based media — use a soil-appropriate nutrient line

Substra Flores (A) must always be used in combination with Substra Flores (B). The two parts are formulated as a matched pair; using Part A alone will not provide a complete nutrient profile. Both parts should be added separately to the reservoir or feed tank — never mixed together as concentrates.

Select the hard water version if your source water has elevated natural mineral content (higher baseline EC); select the soft water version for low-mineral or reverse-osmosis water. If you are also using root-zone support products such as PureCrop1 for pest and pathogen management, introduce them as directed by the manufacturer and check for any EC contribution before finalizing your target feed EC.

Dosing Guidelines

The following is general guidance for using CANNA Substra Flores in a run-to-waste system. Always refer to the current CANNA Substra feeding schedule available at canna.com for dose rates specific to your crop, growth stage, and water version. Dose rates can vary by week of the bloom cycle, plant size, and target EC.

1. Determine your water version: If your tap water has noticeable limescale buildup or a naturally high EC, the hard water version is appropriate. For softened, filtered, or reverse-osmosis water, use the soft water version.
2. Start with base water: Fill your reservoir or mixing tank with water at the target volume. Pre-adjust temperature if needed (nutrient uptake is affected at extremes — keep solution between roughly 18–22°C / 65–72°F for most crops).
3. Add Part A first: Measure the recommended dose of Substra Flores A using a calibrated syringe or measuring cup. Add to the water and stir or circulate briefly. Do not add concentrated Part A and Part B directly together.
4. Add Part B second: Measure and add Substra Flores B. Stir or circulate again until fully mixed.
5. Check EC: Measure the electrical conductivity of the prepared solution against the target range from the CANNA feeding chart for the current week of bloom. Adjust volume or dose if needed.
6. Adjust pH: CANNA Substra nutrients are designed for a target pH range typically around 5.8–6.2 in the nutrient solution. Adjust with a pH up or down solution after adding nutrients.
7. Irrigate to adequate run-off: Run-to-waste systems require sufficient drainage volume (commonly 15–30% run-off relative to feed volume) to prevent salt accumulation in the substrate.
8. Monitor run-off EC: Check the EC of the drain solution periodically. If run-off EC climbs significantly above the feed EC, flush with plain water until it normalizes.

Shake the concentrate bottle before each use. Store in a cool, dark location away from direct sunlight and freezing temperatures. Do not mix with other nutrients in concentrate form.

Sources & Further Reading