2024 - Year In Review

Looking for a list of the most popular hydropinic nutrient brands in the UK? Look no further!

Our first forray into the statistical analysis of the online's most popular nutrient brands in the UK. We'll also look into what growing media you lot are using.

We've been open 6 years now, and online shopping has increased due to how we choose to shop nowadays. Our robust management system, combined with the volume of of orders we receive, we've a fair measuring stick on what's hot right now in the UK.  

Note, to normalise the data though, we're focusing solely on online orders only, and removed free sample product 'sales' of products we gave away during the UK as part of a number of promotions we held (to prevent any false skew of data). 

Before we dive in, to be clear, "most popular" is the metric of highest number of separate orders. One person buying a bazjillion bottles of one nutrient for himself does not make that nutrient brand the "most popular". In that example, he's would've made it the "most sold".

Let's go!!

TOP 10 MOST POPULAR NUTRIENT BRANDS

The nutrient rankings in our store paint a fun picture of what our growers are into! Athena reigns supreme in top spot, thanks to its U.S.-made, no-fuss formulas that deliver consistent, impressive results. It’s perfect for anyone, from beginners to seasoned pros. Close behind is Advanced Nutrients, a Canadian favorite since 1999, known for pushing the boundaries with cutting-edge products that promise bigger, better yields. CANNA in 3rd, a Dutch classic from the ‘90s, holds its ground with precision-focused products that growers trust for reliability, especially in coco and soil systems. 

Further down but just as loved, BAC charms the eco-conscious crowd with its organic, sustainable nutrients, while Shogun, the UK up-and-comer, combines science and innovation to deliver knockout results. BioBizz, another Dutch gem, has earned its spot with its 100% organic lineup that’s a hit for soil enthusiasts who want natural goodness for their plants.

Finally, Monkey Nutrients adds a cheeky twist to the mix, with bold UK-made products that are gaining a loyal following among growers looking for something fresh and exciting. Every brand in this lineup has its own unique flavor, making our store the ultimate one-stop shop for all kinds of growers! 🌱

Be reminded that this is purely online sales, so bear in mind that many growers choose to purchase larger bottles in larger numbers instore.  If ALL sales were included, the rankings would look a lot different, ranking Canna first followed by Athena, Advanced Nutrients and then Monkey. 

TOP NUTRIENT BRANDS BY LOCATION

LONDON - MOST POPULAR NUTRIENT BRANDS

The picture in London is a little different than the UK rankings, with Biobizz taking top spot - their Calmag and Bio Heaven (organic booster) propping up 30% of their total count. Plagron and Biogreen making an appearance and breaking out away from the UK norm.  The numbers across these top nutrient brands in London are all pretty even with no clear majority leader. Interesting.   

 

MANCHESTER - MOST POPULAR NUTRIENT BRANDS

Ironically, Athena- arguably the most cleanest line on the market - is followed in second place by a OG Rapid - a synthetic growth regulator.  Clearly the market in Manchester is split; high-end craft and well...the other half. It's worth noting here that Athena tops the ranks by a country mile. Reminder - this is a ranking of number of separate orders for Athena as opposed ot number of total units sold.   

Nice to see FloraFlex nutrients in 3rd making a showing, just pipping Advanced Nutrients, followed BAC, and Monkey

LIVERPOOL - MOST POPULAR NUTRIENT BRANDS

Interesting to see a nutrient brand not in our top UK rankings taking top spot in a major UK city; Terra Aquatica has blown past the competition in our store, doubling the number of orders compared to big names like Shogun, CANNA, and Athena. So, what’s the secret sauce? This French favorite nails the balance between quality, versatility, and results. Their focus on sustainable, high-performing products doesn’t hurt either.

The real stars of the show are their Calcium Magnesium Supplement, Fulvic, and Root Booster. These three have become must-haves for our customers. The Cal-Mag supplement keeps plants happy by knocking out nutrient deficiencies like a pro. Fulvic makes sure every nutrient gets put to good use, boosting absorption like a champ. And the Root Booster? It’s a total game-changer for creating strong, healthy root systems that set plants up for success. It’s no wonder Terra Aquatica is proving to be a dominate force to be brand that growers trust, and the results will speak for themselves!

TOP 10 MOST POPULAR GROW MEDIA BRANDS

Switching topic now to grow media, grow medium, soil, coco, mud, whatever you want to call it - grow media is the term we use to describe the matter in which your roots grow in!

Taking number one spot, no suprise for us, CANNA taking the lead here as a long established brand that people are familiar with.

CANNA dominates as the most popular grow media brand in our store, thanks to its exceptional quality and reliability that growers have trusted for decades.

Taking a closer look at a breakdown, leading the charge for CANNA is CANNA Coco Plus, which accounts for 50% of total sales, loved for its premium-grade coco coir that delivers consistent results for both beginners and pros. This is followed by their clay pebbles used mostly by the Flood and Drain crew.

 TOP 10 MOST SOLD GROW MEDIA BRANDS

Same topic but let's flip the data into the most sold - this is a count of every unit that is purchased regardless of order count. Reminder of what that means; one person/order buying a bajillion Floraflex quickfills versus 100 people each buying a bag of Biobizz All Mix - the latter would be most popular (more people are buying it) with the former being most sold (more units sold).  

In this data slicing, Floraflex takes top spot in the UK  - FloraFlex QuickFills have taken the UK by storm, and it’s easy to see why. These all-in-one units come with the pot included and are ready to use straight out of the bag, making them a hassle-free option for growers who value convenience.

However, it’s important to note that comparing QuickFills to traditional 50L grow media bags isn’t exactly apples to apples. Each 1-gallon QuickFill is much smaller, so to match the volume of a single 50L bag of CANNA Coco Professional, you’d need around thirteen QuickFills. Despite the size difference, their plug-and-play simplicity has made them a hit with growers looking for quick setups and clean, consistent results. 

Ugro quickfills following up with less than half that of Floraflex in second place, however, we forsee Fibrgro (newly landed in the UK) making a dent in these numbers in 2025 due to their price point. 

THAT'S A WRAP!

That's a wrap for our first ever annual debrief on the UK Hydroponic Industry! For anyone unsure of what to use, hopefully this gives you an idea on what might work for you. Notably, Athena, CANNA and BAC appear in all 3 of our major cities of our top 6 rankings of most popular nutrient brands. 

Our predictions for 2025; BAC and Monkey will continue to make more ground. The relaunch of Crazy Hills a craft organic Swiss nutrient brand. founded by passionate horticulturists and biochemists, is making its mark with eco-conscious products that deliver exceptional plant health and yields - it’s set to become a contender for UK growers in 2025. 

There is another brand yet to land in the UK to be launched, but it's very iminent; Front Row. A multi aware winning powdered nutrient, the staple or many large commercial facilities across the pond. Defintely one to watch out for.  

We will leave you with a final data nugget - the top 3 most popular bottles of 2024; Plant Magic Magne Cal+, Grow Genius Mono Silicic, and ....OG rapid. Make of that what you will 😅

Yearinreview

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