Gauging interest in "DIY" RootMedic Liquid Fert Refills

[OverStocked]

I am considering offering new solution for my liquid fert bottles. After you have placed on order for any size of RootMedic Liquid ferts, you will be given the option of buying a Discounted refill solution for your handy dandy refill bottles!

THe idea:
provide two mixes of dry ferts that when added to boiling water, would make the final product you've all come to love. Rather than paying the expensive shipping, labor, and packaging to get more liquids sent to you, you could get a great deal on refills that are easy as pie(seriously!)

The product:
two bags, weighed out to fill 250 ml, 500 ml, or 2 L bottles. 1 for micros and 1 for macros. A simple direction on how much water to add for each set, how to heat/sterilize, and a preservative to prevent problems down the road!

Do you think you would be interested in something that would require you to spend around 10 minutes prepping and bottling, but at a reduced cost(both on product and shipping costs. These kits could ALL be shipping in a small flat rate USPS priority mail box.

What do you think?


And also, look out for the RootMedic "Pro Series" coming soon:
RootMedic ProSand Caps
RootMedic Tourmaline-P Caps
RootMedic Tourmaline-C Caps


And please, please don't forget to Run over and buy some of my overrun RootMedic Complete +/- caps! They are super cheap but work amazingly!

[DerCribben]

Any opportunity to save money I'm down with. When I end up running out of my two refills I'd definitely be open to buying a premixed dry fert packet to refill them with.

[OverStocked]

THe process is very simply. YOu just put X amount of water in a small pot, drain packet A into the pot and boil for 10 minutes on high. Let cool, then dump into your bottle. Then repeat for packet B. Takes a little time but there will be no measuring, no guesswork, nothing.

The other issue is deciding which preservative to use for these to prevent bottle mold.

[tuffgong]

I would definitely jump on something like this. I love my RootMedic Liquid Ferts. They are so easy to use. I'm about half way through the refill kit and I think it's a great idea to just sell a powder that needs to be mixed up.

[OverStocked]

Thanks, Tuffgong.

I am experimenting with a few powder preservatives to replace my current glut, so that I could just mix the required amount into the mix.

There is only one downside, and it might mean that the solutions are just ever so slightly less concentrated. I am experimenting on a small scale right now and will report back.

It would mean a significant decrease in price for the refill kits since there is much less prep time and much less shipping weight. Even the largest batch could be shipped in a small flat rate box.

I think I would vacuum pack everything and it would essentially have an infinite shelf life.

[Chucker]

Sounds like a no-brainer to me.

[amberskye]

..just waiting for yr UK rep to get his stuff

[Ben.]

Awesome idea, I'm in.

[OverStocked]

Originally Posted by Chucker

Sounds like a no-brainer to me.

As long as people understand that you have to mix with Distilled water, and that you need to boil it to get it to saturate!

[OverStocked]

Thought I would bump this to see what others thought. I am thinking about setting up some samples for a group to try(don't pm me.... please....).

I've done a few batches of this stuff, and it would be easy enough for me to make a video to show people how to do it too. I have found I can even use a dry preservative so that people wouldn't need to add hcl or glut to keep it from going bad. All RootMedic products are now glut free!

[PC1]

I think that is a fantastic Idea all around. With all the things we do to a tank already boiling a bit of water is no biggie at all. A better price overall is always good and simplifying things on your end in the long run im sure as well.

[OverStocked]

The one big advantage is there is less to go wrong in shipping. The bigger bottles are much more prone to breakage which in turns causes more delays and more loss.

[JRMott]

I think this sounds like a great idea, though I like the idea of you adding a dry preservative before shipping. You should consider also selling a funnel separately, to aid in refilling the bottles. Not sure if the funnel is worth your time though as people can get them elsewhere.

[lowrez]

A no-brainer dry mix that was reasonably priced would be awesome.

[OverStocked]

Originally Posted by JRMott

I think this sounds like a great idea, though I like the idea of you adding a dry preservative before shipping. You should consider also selling a funnel separately, to aid in refilling the bottles. Not sure if the funnel is worth your time though as people can get them elsewhere.

The big problem is people seem to lose them if they are free.... Seems silly but I tried it.

It is worth me including them on the website at cost though.

I'll have to get this worked out over the next few days and put them on the site over the weekend.

Thanks everyone.