If you have ever taken a close look at fertile soil, you have probably noticed that it is very dark and deep in color. The reason fertile soil is dark is because it is very rich in humic and fulvic acid. These humates help break down the nutrients in the soil and make them much more available to the plant. As a hydroponics grower, you probably want to enjoy all of the benefits of fertile soil, without having to suffer the many downsides that come associated with traditional gardening, such as increased likelihood of disease and smaller yields. The best way to achieve this is by adding a product that contains fulvic acid directly into your reservoir. But to get the most out of this substance, you should also pay attention to how you adjust other factors in your reservoir and growing room. Here are the best ways you can get the most bang for you buck when using Fulvic acid.
Use in Conjunction with Humic Acid – Fulvic acid and humic acid are usually sold separately, but they serve similar functions in the soil. They only differ in their solubility at certain pH levels. Used by itself, virtually every grower will see positive effects. However if you want to enjoy the absolute best yields that fulvic acid can provide, you should use both fulvic and humic acid at the same time.
Increase Nutrient Density – One of fulvic acid’s most valuable properties is its ability to convert nutrients from useless materials into ions that can easily be absorbed by the root. Even if you make no changes to your nutrient solution, you will probably notice the benefits from increased uptake. However, it is also possible that the new, stronger roots and more bio-available nutrients mean that your plant can actually benefit from increasing the nutrient density. It is best to increase the concentration very slowly, so you don’t accidentally suffer the effects of overfeeding. You should also pay very close attention to pH levels, as this can fluctuate when changing nutrient density.
Increase Light Intensity – In addition to increasing nutrient uptake, fulvic acid also increases photosynthetic activity, which means your plants will produce a lot more of the carbohydrates it needs to grow quickly and stay healthy. You can take advantage of this benefit by placing your lights closer to the plant to increase the light intensity. You must be careful, however, about heat damage to your plants if you are using a high intensity discharge light. If you want to be able to get your lights as close to your plants as possible without suffering any serious heat damage, you might want to consider switching to LED grow lights. There is even some evidence that suggests that these kinds of lights can help plant growth.
Use With a Seaweed Based Plant Food – Kelp extract is one of the most potent organic fertilizers available to hydroponic growers. It contains antioxidants and hormones that can rapidly accelerate plant growth and create superior flowers and vegetables. The contents of a seaweed fertilizer are perfectly suited to use in conjunction with humic and fulvic acid.
