Nutrients
It's All About The Nutrients...
Hydroponic
nutrients are one of the most important components of your hydroponic
growing system. This method of growing plants without the use
of soil supplies food to the plants by using nutrient media.
Every plant needs to receive the right amount of phosphorous,
nitrogen, potassium, and many different trace elements. The wrong
nutrient balance, or a solution without enough hydroponic nutrients in
it, could cause serious problems for your hydroponic system. Lets take
a look at hydroponic nutrients and how to pick the ones that are right
for you.
Nutrients, Nutrients, Nutrients
There
are all kinds of different commercial nutrient options out there. Some
claim to help your plants smell better. Others will allow you
to produce plants more quickly, to get more blooms on your flowering
plants, or to produce sturdy plants with significant root systems. The
right hydroponic nutrients for your garden will depend in part on what
you want to grow, and what the primary focus of your growing might be.
Someone interested in producing greens quickly won't want the same
hydroponic nutrients as someone who wants to get a big yield from
their tomato plants.
Price will be another factor in the hydroponic nutrients you decide to
purchase. Not all brands are priced the same, and some of them could
make your growing process extremely expensive. On the other hand, the
cheapest hydroponic nutrients on the market might not produce high
quality plants. You need to set a price range appropriate to what you
can afford to spend, then buy the highest quality hydroponic nutrients
you can within that price range. That is the best way to get a great
hydroponic garden without spending too much.
What about pH? You will need to pay attention to the pH level of your
nutrient solution. An overly acidic or overly alkaline solution could
be bad for your plants in the long run. The majority of plants prefer
an acidity within the 5.5 to 7.5 range - more alkaline nutrient
solutions may prevent them from absorbing all the nutrients available.
Overly acidic solutions may cause damage to the roots.
Most nutrient solutions are a little acid, and the majority of tap
water has a pH of about 7 to 8. This means that you won't have too
much trouble dropping your hydroponic nutrients solution into the
correct range. However, you will still need to test the pH from time
to time if you want to get the most out of your hydroponic garden.
The Right Nutrients and Keeping it Simple
Following a good nutrient regime and keeping it simple will go a long way to ensure adequate uptake of all the essential nutrients. It is advisable not to use too many formulations, as it may be very difficult to trace the exact cause of the problem if there are many additives and supplements in the nutrient mix.
The right nutrients are essential to an effective hydroponic garden. Take a little time to check out your options and see what is likely to be right for your needs. You might be surprised what a change in nutrient solutions could do! By coming in to our retail store or calling us, we can go over all the options when it comes to nutrients and what might work best for your gardening needs.