Important Hydroponics Nutrients Facts And Feeding Tips



Posted: Wednesday, April 23, 2008

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Basic nutrients such as potassium, nitrogen and phosphorous are fundamental to the biochemical processes for a plant when it is making its food. To ensure maximum health, you can consider adding other nutrients such as magnesium or iron.

Nitrogen is an important part of growing leaves. 79% of the air we breathe is composed of nitrogen but it is barely enough for plants and they will need other supplements. The molecule of N2 in the air is not very stable and plants can't break apart the compound to find the single atom. Phosphorus is also very important for root growth. Potassium is useful to combat diseases as it is used mainly in the formation of enzymes.

There are other elements that are very important to the life and health of your hydroponic plant. Calcium aids in the formation of wall cells and brings ions to other parts of the plant. Chlorine is a major factor in the photosynthesis process and is a component in chlorophyll. Iron is important to plants as it helps in the transport of oxygen and is a major component of the hemoglobin molecule.

A variety of ready made solutions are available in the market and they provide the required nutrients. As a rule of thumb, moderation matters. New plants would require a different amount from more mature, flowering plants.

Maintaining a steady water temperature is crucial as it affects how the plant obtains its nutrients. You can find a range of solutions, but they should all be fed at room temperature level. Hydroponic plants grow best in water that is kept at a room temperature.

Dry plants need nutrients and nitrogen burning is possible. With aeroponics, when a branch is grown in the air, nitrogen burning can be an issue.

Let water stand overnight so that you can get rid of any excess chlorine if you pull your water from the tap water. Mineral water is preferable to distilled water as it contains calcium and other positive nutrients.

Make sure the soil is at a neutral pH level if you want to see positive results in your plant. You can keep your plants neutral to keep the water alkaline. A pinch of sulfuric acid can be added to ensure the water is a neutral pH. You can combat acidity by adding sodium hydroxide to maintain a neutral pH level.

You can easily buy kits to help you check the pH level of the water used for hydroponics. Your hydroponic plants will be more sensitive to nutrient levels and can't self-regulate themselves like soil-based plants so you will need to keep an eye on your plants.

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Moses Wright loves to work in his garden. He started this site to help fellow gardening enthusiast with hydroponics tips. You can find more free hydroponic gardening and hydroponics pest and disease control resources on his site.
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