Using Proper Nutrients in Your Hydroponic Garden
Hydroponics literally means the process of growing plants in water using no soil. The principle behind it is that different media bearing all the nutrients of natural soil will support the growth of plants. Thus it is these nutrients that are the most important factor in the process of hydroponics. In a soil based environment, fertilizers do not contain all of the necessary nutrients, because soil already contains a great deal of nutrients. But still, in the case of hydroponic plants, these fertilizers are not adequate and therefore fertilizer formulated specifically for hydropolic systems are the ones that you have to use.
The amounts and proportions of nutrients a plant needs varies. Best hydroponic nutrients are sold in solutions with simple labels such as ‘grow’ or ‘bloom’ so that even a novice grower can pick up these solutions easily. Change the nutrients along with the growing cycle of your plants. An additional reason for changing the solution is because a depletion of elements is subject during the growth stage of your plant. At certain times, important elements get depleted faster. In an ideal situation you can swap the solution every couple of weeks. Bear in mind that the proportion of the nutrient solution and the water stays consistent. If a loss of water occurs due to evaporation, the fertilizer levels will increase potentially causing serious damage to root systems.
Usually the hydroponic nutrient solutions that are available are sold as a concentrate. The grower must follow instructions and consider the plant’s unique needs when he or she mixes it. For plants that are in poor growing conditions, like overheated flowerbeds or in low lighting, a weaker solution should be used. A weaker solution can aid even delicate newly planted cuttings. For normally growing healthy plants, a normal or regular solution is correct. If your garden has the capability of handling high growth – such as natural sunlight or good grow lights (for example: LED grow lights), ventilation, carbon dioxide production and circulation, you could probably go in for a stronger solution. When using fertilizer on your plants you must increase the amount slowly over time so that you to keep the plant from burning up.
Though the concentrate to water ratio is in the range of 150 – 600 parts per million, the level for most of the plants is 300 – 400 ppm. Remember that this is not to be mixed with any part of a nutrient solution but with water.
Right now, we know we need something more than just soil-based fertilizer, but what do we use? The essential thing is to know which nutrient to look for. The first choice you have to make your growing medium you are going to use. For instance, if coco is the medium you are using, go in for specific nutrients like canna coco nutrients. Super Veg A or Super Veg B would be ideal, and is a great formula for a vegitable in the crop stage.
The medium determines the kind of nutrients required. Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus are all elements that make up the organic or best hydroponic nutrients. Nitrogen is important for leaf vegetative growth. Potassium will aid in the processing of cell production and phosphorus is the agent responsible for developing roots and flowering.
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