Vitalink Hydro MAX Bloom A&B Soft Water — Two-Part Hydroponic Flowering Nutrients for UK Growers
Best for: Soft water growers running hydroponic systems who want straightforward, dependable flowering nutrition without the premium price tag
Our thoughts
This is a no-nonsense bloom feed made right here in Coventry that actually understands British water chemistry. The EDDHA iron and fulvic acid do proper work — you're getting features that used to live in three-part systems, but stripped of the complexity and the cost. One we recommend a lot for growers who want their flowers to feed predictably all the way through.
Vitalink Hydro MAX Bloom A&B Soft Water is a two-part concentrated base nutrient formulated specifically for the flowering stage in all hydroponic systems — NFT, flood and drain, deep water culture, aeroponics, recirculating setups, and run-to-waste. It's designed for soft water areas, which covers most of the UK, and engineered to keep nutrient delivery steady and locked-in through to finish.
What sets it apart is the inclusion of EDDHA-chelated iron (iron that stays available across a wider pH range) plus fulvic acid (which acts as a catalyst for nutrient uptake). Two things that matter most in late bloom when plants are hungry and pH drift is a real risk. Made in England with 20 years of hydro know-how behind it, this is proper kit at a price that doesn't hurt.
How it compares
Vitalink sits in the budget-to-mid-tier hydroponic bloom nutrients space, competing directly with General Hydroponics and Ionic, but without the premium markup.
- Two-part system (simpler than three-part, more control than one-part)
- EDDHA iron for stable micronutrient availability — a feature usually reserved for pricier formulas
- Fulvic acid included for uptake efficiency, not sold separately
- Soft water formulation — most competitors offer hard water versions only
- Lower dilution rate (3-4ml/L) keeps feeding costs lean
- Fully soluble and stable in both recirculating and run-to-waste systems
If you're comparing this to premium brands, you're paying for the brewing heritage, not extra chemistry you don't need.
Usage guidance
System compatibility
Works across NFT, flood and drain, deep water culture, aeroponics, and recirculating systems. Also runs clean in run-to-waste. Compatible with all inert media — clay pebbles, perlite, rockwool, mapito.
Mixing and dosing
Always use equal volumes of part A and part B. Add part A to water first, stir thoroughly, then add part B. Dosage is 3-4ml per litre of nutrient solution. Never mix the concentrates together.
Timing in the grow cycle
Switch from Vitalink Hydro MAX Grow to this Bloom formula from week 2 of flowering onwards, running it through to week 8 (final flush). This gives you two weeks of growth-stage feeding before you transition — that window matters for foundation strength.
For soft water areas
In very soft water regions (sub 0.3 EC tap water), consider running half-strength VitaLink CalMag (0.5ml/L) during the growth stage to prevent calcium strip-out. During bloom you're usually okay straight up.
pH management
Keep pH in the 5.8-6.5 range. The EDDHA iron means you won't lose iron availability even if you drift slightly high — that's the whole point of using it.
Technical specifications
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Format: Two-part liquid concentrate (A and B)
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Available sizes: 1 litre, 5 litre, 10 litre bottles
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Dosage rate: 3-4ml per litre of nutrient solution
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Recommended pH range: 5.8-6.5
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Iron chelation: EDDHA (maintains availability across wide pH range)
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Key additives: Fulvic acid (nutrient uptake catalyst), chelated micro-nutrients
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Formulation: Optimised NPK ratio for flowering and fruiting stages
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Stability: Fully stable in solution — compatible with all recirculating and run-to-waste systems
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Water type: Formulated for soft water (UK standard)
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Flavour impact: Does not adversely affect taste of herbs, vegetables, or other edible crops
Who this is for
- Growers in soft water areas (most of the UK) who want nutrients designed for their water chemistry
- First-time hydro growers who want simple feeding without three-part complexity
- Budget growers who refuse to compromise on quality — this is proper kit at a fair price
- NFT, flood and drain, and deep water culture runners who need stable, predictable feeding
- Anyone who's had nutrient lock-out late in bloom and wants iron availability sorted
- Growers running multiple systems where media costs add up — lower dilution rate keeps the spend down
Our take
This is a solid bloom feed made in England by people who understand British water and British growers. The EDDHA iron and fulvic acid do real work without the three-part nonsense or the premium pricing. It feeds predictably, doesn't lock up, and keeps flowers pushing right through to finish.
If you're on soft water and want dependable hydro nutrition without the guesswork or the stress, worth picking up while stock lasts. Does exactly what it should, week in, week out.
