The nutrients for hydroponic plants are not different from the required by cultivated soil plants. Some of the most important are the carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. The first three are present in the air and water. Taking care of your hydroponic plants is like ensuring that you give them a balanced diet. Are divided into macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients can be primary or secondary.
Hydroponics is an efficient and highly productive method of agriculture. Although etymologically means that it grows in water, it covers a wide range of alternative agricultural techniques. The most common forms of hydroponics are to grow in a solution with a mixture of water and added nutrients, with or without the use of growing substrates such as coconut fiber, gravel and sand for stability and support.
Nutrients for hydroponic plants
- The primary macronutrients include the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), are easy to deplete because plants consume huge amounts of these nutrients to grow.
- Secondary plant macronutrients are calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S), secondary nutrients are regenerated, even sometimes, in soil crops.
- Micronutrients are also known as trace elements. All plants require a mixture of trace elements in smaller amounts.
- A pH reading of about 6 or 6.2 is considered ideal for the needs of hydroponic gardening. You can buy additives that adjust your pH level and bring it to the required levels.
- Water is a natural source for plants. Avoid overloading your solution with nutrients as it could hinder high levels of absorption.
If we go beyond concentration of nutrients there can be serious consequences for plants and if they are not used enough plants could become sick. An electrical conductivity meter should be used to know the extent of salt in plant and to be able to add effectively.
