Using Proper Nutrients in Your Hydroponic Garden

Hydroponics can be defined as a method for growing plants in water rather than soil. The idea behind this is for various media, which carry all of the nutrients in natural soil, to support plant growth. So it is really these nutrients that are key factors in the process of hydroponics. When using soil for plants, fertilizers contain only those essential nutrients which the soil may be lacking. 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. Alter your plants' nutrients during the different stages of their growth cycle. Another reason to change the solution is that the depletion of the elements is subject to the growth stage of the plant. At certain times, important elements get depleted faster. Ideally you should change the solution every two 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.

Concentrated forms are the most typical way to buy plant growth solutions. The grower has to mix it according to the instructions and as per the requirement of the plant. For example, give a diluted form of application for plants exposed to adverse environments such as overheated and crowded conditions or even low lighting. Even newly planted cuttings will benefit from a weaker solution. For normally growing healthy plants, a normal or regular solution is correct. You may be able to use a stronger solution if your garden has all of the requirements for high growth.  For example, do you have good air flow and good lighting such as natural sunlight or grow lights like HPS grow lights? What about the production and circulation of carbon dioxide? But it's advised to increase concentration of fertilizer slowly in order to keep the plant from getting burned up.

Although the concentrate to water ratio is between 150-600 parts per million, most plants require 300-400ppm. Remember that these need to be mixed only with water, and no other part of the solution.

Now that you are aware of the need for different nutrients, you need to know which ones to use.  It is important that you know what nutrient you need. 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. While in the crop stage, a vegetative nutrient formula, such as Super Veg A or Super Veg B, is much better suited to for the vegetative stage of the plant.

The medium determines the kind of nutrients required. Basically the organic or best hydroponic nutrients are made up of different combinations of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Leaf vegetative growth depends on nitrogen Potassium aides in cell production, while phosphorus helps to make roots grow.