Plant Nutrition 2

Retail Hydroponic Nutrient Solutions


Hydroponic nutrient solutions are sold in concentrated form and are added to your indoor garden's water supply at a certain ratio. The number of vendors and varieties can be very intimidating to the novice and expert alike. Keep in mind what plants you are growing (greens / flowers / flowering vegetables), the money you wish to spend (including shipping as necessary), and the lifecycle of your plants (growth / flowering etc.),

How Much Nutrient Solution For My Plants?

Plants require different proportions of nutrients during vegetation and flowering cycles. Modern nutrient products are far more advanced than their earlier counterparts and now allow precise adjustments based on growth stage. Most hydroponic nutrient solutions are sold in a "growth" or "grow" formula for the vegetative growth phase and a "bloom" or "flower" formula for the flowering or phase of the growth cycle. If you are growing plants that will produce flowers or "flower and then produce fruit, you should at least plan to incorporate a "bloom" formula because your yield will increase exponentially if you can max out your plant's capacity during the flowering stage.

For my lettuce varieties, cilantro, and basil plants, I only need the "grow" nutrients as these plants do not require flowering or fruiting phases for production. The "grow" nutrient application rates are increased as the plants mature.

A weak hydroponic nutrient solution should be used for newly rooted cuttings and plants in the process of being transplanted or in transition between growing cycles. I use 1/2 strength nutrients for lettuce until the 3rd or 4th week as using at full strength is generally overkill at the initial stages of growth. It is also ideal for plants in poor growing conditions, such as low light, overheated gardens, and root-bound or crowded plants.

Regular strength liquid hydroponic nutrients are fine for normal, healthy plants in ideal growing conditions. In rare conditions, you may be able to increase the fertilizer strength to capitalize on the efficiency of your garden. This only works if you have high quality lighting, ventilation, and CO2 production that will allow your plants to grow fast enough to handle the extra feedings. Always make sure to increase the fertilizer strength gradually to avoid burning the plant.

Additives?
In addition to the basic types of hydroponic nutrient solution, there are also various additives you can purchase to boost your plant's growth. Keep good records in your growlog of what additives are used, when they were applied, and the results (good or bad). This will give you a good reference guide on what worked and what didn't work for your future grows. I personally do not use additional additives with one exception; Hydrogen Peroxide.  This was a tip from another grower and is used as a preventative to maintain sanitary conditions.  If I were growing blooming/fruiting plants, I would likely use additives for flushing between cycles and to capitalize on flower/fruit development.

Most nutrient solution labels are pretty straight forward and allow a measure of error for the novice grower.  Flush your hydroponic system immediately if you see any signs of an adverse reaction and don't be afraid to experiment.  I will re-emphasize the use of a journal or grow log to evaluate the effects of solution rates and number of days between changing or adding solution.

It is a very simple process once the basics are understood. 


 

First harvest and some #s

Today was the first small harvest of the mesclun blend in DWC 2.  Along with a large harvest of Simpson from DWC 1, this made for a fantastic salad.  The blend is crisp, sweet, and colorful.  I am most impressed with both the Simpson Elite and the mesclun mix and will keep both varieties growing in a continuous harvest.

With today's harvest I took a look at journal entries for the previous growth times as a nutrient change is drawing near for DWC 2.  After sifting through this information, I felt it would be a good idea to post the growth numbers to show the overall growth period in days including nutrient changes and harvest information. Hydroponics provides optimal growing conditions and the growth numbers reinforce that claim. Harvests for the ebb and flow and DWC 1 systems have been every other day from the initial and have  provided 2 large salads each at minimum.

The initial nutrient mix for all lettuce is 1/2 strength. "Lettuce Day" = days since germination. "System Day" = days since planted into the hydroponic system.

Here are the system #s.

Ebb and Flow (Simpson Elite):
*Water change and nutrient increase to full strength:  Lettuce Day 36, System Day 21
*First harvest from system: Lettuce Day 34, System Day 19
*Harvest day per package recommendation: Lettuce Day 42
*Final Harvest: Lettuce Day 102, System Day 87.  Turned bitter following day and destroyed.


1st DWC (Simpson Elite): 
*Water change and nutrient increase to full strength:  Lettuce Day 59, System Day 42
*First harvest from system: Lettuce Day 53, System Day 36 (harvested late, on vacation)
*Harvest day per package recommendation: Lettuce Day 42
*Current Day: Lettuce Day 90, System Day 73

2nd DWC (Mesclun Blend):

*Water change and nutrient increase to full strength: TBD
*First harvest from system: Lettuce Day 34, System Day 25
*Harvest day per package recommendation: Lettuce Day 48
*Current Day: Lettuce Day 34, System Day 25


Although I see no signs of deficiency or stress, I intend on a nutrient change for DWC 2 in the next few days.