The hydroponics system is an effective way of using water and nutrients to grow plants. Finding the right balance of nutrients is essential to facilitate the growth and development of your crop, and it's not particularly difficult either. Keep reading.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Choosing the Nutrients
Step 1. Know what nutrients your plants are already receiving
Carbon and oxygen are both essential for vegetation, but these substances are naturally supplied by air and water and are absorbed through the stomata on plant leaves. Therefore, it is not necessary to include these nutrients in the hydroponics mix.
Step 2. Learn about essential macronutrients
These include calcium nitrate, potassium sulfate, potassium nitrate, potassium monophosphate and magnesium sulfate. Each of them provides a different benefit.
- Hydrogen forms water by combining with oxygen.
- Nitrogen and sulfur are essential for providing amino acids and proteins.
- Phosphorus is used in photosynthesis and overall growth.
- Potassium and magnesium act as catalysts in the creation of starches and sugars.
- Magnesium and nitrogen play a fundamental role in the production of chlorophyll.
- Calcium is a component of cell walls and plays an important role in cell growth.
Step 3. Choose the right micronutrients
These nutrients, also called trace elements, are essential, but only in very small quantities. These are elements that facilitate growth, reproduction and also have other nutritional effects on the plant. The main ones are boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, sodium, zinc, molybdenum, nickel, cobalt and silicon.
Part 2 of 2: Mix the Nutrients
Step 1. Use only distilled water
The water you use must flow through a filtration system, such as reverse osmosis. Tap water often contains ions and other elements that can be harmful to hydroponics.
Step 2. Pour the water into a food-grade plastic container
If you need a smaller nutrient tank, a 4 liter tank is enough. For a larger quantity, a 20 liter canister can better meet your needs.
Step 3. Measure the nutrients
Use a plastic chemical scoop and sterilized paper filter to contain dry chemicals. Measure liquid nutrients in a measuring cylinder or glass.
For the 20 liter water container, measure 5 teaspoons (25 ml) of CaNO3, 1/3 teaspoon (1.7 ml) of K2SO4, 1 teaspoon and 2/3 (8.3 ml) of KNO3, 1 1/4 teaspoon (6.25 ml) of KH2PO4, 3 1/2 teaspoons (17.5 ml) of MgSO4, and 2/5 teaspoon (2 ml) of trace elements
Step 4. Place a funnel on the opening of the container
You can mix nutrients even without using a funnel, but doing so could cause spills that would upset the nutritional balance of the solution. A small plastic funnel makes it easier to pour chemicals into the container.
Step 5. Add the nutrients to the water
Add nutrients one by one, slowly, to avoid nutrient spills or losses. A slight loss of nutrients does not cause serious damage to the system, but the sooner your plants are able to regulate the nutrient supply, the more effective the solution will be.
Step 6. Close and shake the container
Make sure the cap is screwed on and closed tightly. Shake the container with both hands for 30 - 60 seconds to mix the nutrients. If you can't close the cap tightly, hold it down with one or two fingers while shaking the bottle.
If the container is too large or heavy to shake, you can mix the mixture with a long stick or other rod. Shaking often is the most thorough way to mix ingredients, but it's effective if you do it for a long time
Step 7. Store nutrients until use
Keep the container in a dark place at room temperature and always mix nutrients before use.
Advice
- Hydroponic nutrients can be purchased online, at nurseries or garden centers.
- Check plants for signs of pH or nutrient imbalance after adding nutrients. Yellowing leaves mean the nutrient level is low, while curled or burnt leaves mean the nutrient level is high.
- Check the pH of the water in the hydroponics system after adding the nutrients. Hydroponic nutrients usually lower the neutral pH balance of the water, so you may need to use additives to realign the balance.
- The amount of nutrient solution needed mostly depends on the container used. There is no precise way to determine the correct amount, and several experiments may be required. In general, it is advisable to use at least a solution sufficient to allow the tank pump not to draw in air when it is turned on.
