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Hydroponic Nutrient Solution - What's Exactly In Them.


Nutrient solution to Hydroponic is just like fertilizers to soil. Essentially, a Hydroponic nutrient solution is a liquid filled with all of the necessary nutrients so that plant roots can come into contact for its growth. Compared to soil, Hydroponic makes it easier to measure and fill the exact amounts of nutrients in the water solutions.

Is there any set formula for these nutrient formulas? No is the answer since each plant requires different nutrients. Also, this relies on a lot of other factors like growth phases, weathers, and so on. And different formulas have been developed for hydroponics. Most of the time, major nutrients for plants are the same. Just the percentage of them is different.


What Do Plants Need to Grow?

Basic Nutrients

For survival, plants need to respire, get moisture and photosynthesize. And they are in the form of Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen. O, C, H, and N are all readily available in the air, water. And plants have the ability to get these elements from the environment. Meanwhile, lights supply plants with energy to make food. And before providing plants with necessary nutrients, you must take care of these organic composts first. Without them, plants are bound to die. Meanwhile, without nutrients, plants can still live but will not develop properly.


Macro Nutrients

These are nutrients that plants need to absorb in large quantities. They are the most vital nutrient minerals you must take care of first.

Nitrogen

Without doubts, Nitrogen is considered the most important elements among all the nutrients. It is mainly responsible for

  • The vegetative growth of plants – leaves, stems and their colors.

  • Formation of Chlorophyll, amino acids, co-enzymes, and proteins used in new cell walls.

People usually use much of Nitrogen for the growth periods of plants before they start bearing fruits or flowering.

Because plants need nitrogen so quickly at some periods, nitrogen is used as part of the supplementary materials – fertilizers in soil, and nutrient solutions in hydroponics.


Phosphorus

As a vital nutrient for plants like Nitrogen, Phosphorus is the essential component of DNA, the genetic memory unit of plants. That is very important tin issue formation and cell division. Phosphorus plays a critical role in the development of

  • Flowering

  • Fruits

  • Seeds

  • Roots

Your plants will require a large amount of phosphorus at the early phase of seedling, germination and flowering stage, but it’s also necessary during the whole plants’ life cycle.


Potassium (K)

Another indispensable plant nutrient that is required in a large adequate amount for the effective development and reproduction of plants.

Plants that are in need of potassium usually show yellow leaves first. When in high of potassium, like phosphorus, plants will be unable to interact with other nutrients such as zinc, iron, magnesium.


Calcium

Necessary to cell formation and development. Too little of calcium, leaf tips, and edges will turn brown and can die. Too much calcium at the younger phase can stunt plant growth.


Sulfur

A structural component of two of the 21 amino acid that creates protein. Also, helps activate and form certain enzymes and vitamins.


Magnesium

One of the chemical components of chlorophyll. Magnesium helps create the oxygen through photosynthesis and is often used in large amounts in fast-growing plants.


  • Among these, The three macronutrients (N, P, K) described above are the most crucial nutrients for plant’s development.

Micro Nutrients

Micro Nutrients are still important in plant development, but they are required in smaller quantities.


Zinc

Zinc is very important in the formation of chlorophyll and other engines, and nitrogen metabolism.


Boron

Boron is used with calcium in synthesizing the structure and functions of cell membranes. Also, help with pollination and seed production.


Iron

A component of many enzymes associated with energy provision, nitrogen fixation. Help form chlorophyll, and is used in photosynthesis.


Manganese (Mn)

Catalyze the growth process, and help form oxygen in photosynthesis.


 

You can create your own nutrient mix, or get a Hydroponic nutrient package from the store. For beginners, I highly recommend you to buy it, saving the experimenting and mixing your own nutrients when you get a bit experiences.


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