In hydroponic, the plants are supplied with essential nutrients with water and other growing medium. Nutrients are the basic staple for hydroponic growing and as we know different plants have different nutrient requirements. What kind of nutrients you use and how much to supply depends on the kind of plants you are cultivating. Choosing appropriate nutrients for your plants depends on different factors that can make or break your grow. Hydroponic nutrients include necessary elements vital for plants to grow which includes primary and secondary nutrients, micro-nutrients (also known as trace nutrients), vitamins and hormones. Selecting the right meal for your plants is one of the most crucial decisions a gardener can make, and the choice shouldn’t be made easily. Here are three important questions that you should ask yourself before you buy specific nutrients.
PH level: It is necessary to know about the ph level of the nutrient solution you pick. If the solution you choose is too acidic or too alkaline, it might damage your plants growth. Most plants prefer acidity between 5.5 and 7.5. More alkaline nutrient solution can prevent your plants from absorbing the nutrients; high acid mixture can eat away the roots. Hence it is necessary to check the acid and alkaline level of the nutrients you are about to buy. Most nutrient solutions are slightly acidic, and tap water comes in range of about 7 or 8. You need to simply mix up the hydroponic solution with the tap water to get the right range. Choose a ph perfect nutrient solution and keep monitoring the ph levels periodically so that your garden grows well.
NPK: When you read through the bottle of nutrients, you’ll notice three numbers printed on the front. This is known as N-P-K ratio viz. N for Nitrogen, P for Phosphorus and K for Potassium. This ratio states how much macro nutrient each bottle contains. For instance, if it says 8-8-8, then the solution usually contains 8% Nitrogen, 8% Phosphorus and 8% Potassium. This adds up to 24% and the remaining 76% are typically micro nutrients such as Boron, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Sulfur and other chelating chemicals. The NPK percentage differs at different stages of plants as discussed below.
Grow, Micro and Bloom: Understand the growing stage of your plants. The specific needs of plants changes from time to time as they grow, so it is necessary to supply proper nutrients at every time. The hydroponic growth has four important phases namely germination, growth, maturation and harvest. Each stage has specific nutrient requirements. Hence it is vital to understand the plants growth period and supply the best hydroponic nutrients. When you supply extra nutrients to your plants, the blooming takes place early leading to quick production cycle. To give more potent and proven results, Advanced Nutrients has come up with tested product Grow Micro and Bloom that gives you maximum yield and growth at every stage.
Another big factor that affects your buying decision is your budget and the type of system. Hydroponic growing system such as Drip, Water culture and Ebb and Flow are the most commonly used system by gardeners hence they require liquid nutrient solution, whereas aeroponics and N.F.T. systems uses nutrients in spray form. Not all brands are costly. Do not switch to buy something which is cheap and poor quality that gives you worst production. It will be useful if you set a range on what you can afford and buy the highest quality that you can accommodate in your budget. This would be the best way to set a nice hydroponic garden without investing too much.
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