Mills Nutrients Basis A&B (Soft Water) — Two-Part Organo-Mineral Base Nutrient
Best for: Growers using soft water or RO systems who want a forgiving, complete nutrient solution from seed to finish
Our thoughts
Mills Basis A&B is exactly what a two-part nutrient should be: balanced, straightforward, and honest. The soft water formulation takes the guesswork out of calcium and magnesium deficiencies, and the organo-mineral blend gives you the control of hydroponics without the headache of synthetic nutrient creep. One we recommend a lot for growers moving past single-part feeds.
Mills Basis A&B (Soft Water) is a concentrated two-part base nutrient formulated specifically for low-mineral water supplies, RO systems, or anywhere your starting EC sits below 0.3. As an organo-mineral NPK feed, it combines mineral salts with organic additives to deliver complete nutrition across the entire growing cycle — vegetative through flowering — without requiring stage-specific nutrient swaps. The soft water version adds extra calcium and magnesium to prevent the deficiencies that commonly plague growers in soft water regions. Use equal parts A and B, dial in your EC, and let it do the job.
How it compares
Mills Basis sits in the premium mid-tier of two-part base nutrients, with some genuine technical advantages.
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vs General Hydroponics Flora: Flora is cheaper and easier to find, but requires three parts and builds up over time. Basis is cleaner, simpler (two parts, one ratio), and won't accumulate in your medium.
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vs Canna Hydro Vega/Flores: Canna forces you to buy separate growth and bloom formulas. Basis does both at a 1:1 ratio, saving money and complexity.
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vs House & Garden Hydro A&B: H&G is ultra-concentrated and premium-priced. Basis hits the same quality bracket for less outlay.
- The organo-mineral blend absorbs across a wider pH range than purely synthetic feeds, so your pH doesn't need to be laser-tight.
Usage guidance
Mills Basis A&B is straightforward to use, but the two-part system needs respect.
Dosing basics
Use between 1ml and 3.5ml per litre of water for each part (equal amounts). Always add Part A first, mix it thoroughly, then add Part B. Never mix them together in concentrate form. The exact dose depends on your target EC and water quality — start at 1ml/L and measure with an EC meter until you hit your target strength.
Water quality check
This is the soft water version. If your tap water EC is already 0.3mS/cm or higher, switch to the hard water formula. If you're running RO or very soft tap water, you're in the right place.
Vegetative stage
Use the same A&B ratio throughout. The NPK profile (3-0-1 and 0-4-3 combined) supports strong stem and root development without pushing it.
Flowering stage
Keep the same 1:1 A&B ratio. Unlike three-part systems, you don't need to shuffle bottles around. The balanced mineral and organic profile adapts to flowering naturally.
Media compatibility
Works across hydro, coco, soil, and hand-watering. The organo-mineral formula doesn't accumulate, so you can push hard without salt buildup poisoning your medium.
pH management
This is where Mills Basis earns its reputation. The formulation absorbs across a wider pH window than synthetic-only feeds. You've still got to monitor pH, but you don't need pixel-perfect control. Aim for 5.5–6.5 and you'll be fine.
Technical specifications
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Type: Two-part organo-mineral concentrate
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Formulation: Basis A (NPK 3-0-1) + Basis B (NPK 0-4-3)
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Key constituents: Part A contains EDTA ferrous red iron and elevated calcium. Part B contains elevated magnesium and molybdenum.
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Water specification: Formulated for soft water (EC below 0.3mS/cm). Separate hard water version available.
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Dosing rate: 1–3.5ml per litre (equal parts A and B)
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pH absorption range: Wider than standard synthetic feeds (optimised across 5.5–6.5)
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Nutrient accumulation: Bio-mineral formula prevents salt buildup in growing medium
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Size options: 1 litre, 5 litre, 10 litre, 20 litre
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Equipment required: EC meter and pH meter for proper administration
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Suitable for: Hydroponics, coco, soil, hand-watering
Who this is for
- Growers in soft water areas (most of the UK, parts of Scotland, Wales, south-west England)
- RO water users who need calcium and magnesium supplementation
- Anyone stepping up from single-part feeds to proper two-part systems
- Growers who want one nutrient that handles veg and flowering without switching bottles
- Experienced growers tired of synthetic nutrient creep and medium accumulation
- Anyone running multiple rooms where simplicity saves time and money
Particularly well suited to setups where water quality matters, pH management needs to be forgiving, and you want a complete nutrient in minimal bottles.
Our take
Mills Basis A&B is one of those products that doesn't shout but quietly delivers. The soft water formulation shows real thought — most growers don't realise how badly their water quality is undermining their nutrition until they switch to a properly targeted feed. The organo-mineral approach gives you precision without the synthetic baggage, and the fact it works at a 1:1 ratio from veg to harvest means less guessing and fewer bottles cluttering your shelf.
If you're in a soft water area or running RO, this is worth picking up. It's a solid foundation that covers the basics properly and won't rinse your budget on premium branding. Good time to buy while clearance stock lasts.
