If you are using a hydroponic nutrient then you need to add organic additives with a catalyst. A catalyst breaks down organic nutrients & additives into a usable form for the plant. Most organic nutrients need to be broken down into a usable form by the plant before the plant can use it (it is like when you eat spaghetti, your body has to make it into sugar before it can absorb it). Adding a catalyst makes that process much faster. You can add organic additives to organic nutrients as well.