Hydroponics is an efficient and highly productive method of agriculture. While it etymologically means growing in water, it covers a wide array of alternative agricultural techniques. The most common forms of hydroponics consist of growing in solution culture – a mixture of water and added nutrients, with or without the use of growing media like coco coir, gravel and sand for stability and support. With forest cover fast decreasing and water scarcity a grave reality, growing plants in soilless culture might just be an excellent solution. Because hydroponics systems are something you practically build from scratch, you can almost play god and regulate the factors that affect your plants.
Hydroponics plant nutrients are not dissimilar to the nutrients required by soil-grown plants. Some of the most important plant nutrients are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. The first three are present in air and water. Taking care of your hydroponically grown plants is like ensuring you give them a balanced diet. Plant nutrients are divided into macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients can be primary or secondary.
Primary macronutrients include nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The secondary plant nutrients are calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S). Primary plant nutrients in soil are easily exhausted because plants use up huge quantities of these nutrients to grow. Secondary plant nutrients are even regenerated at times, in soil-grown crops. For your hydroponics crops, you can calculate how many parts of macronutrients your plants need and give them enough to grow bigger, better and faster. Micronutrients are also referred to as trace elements. All plants require a mix of trace elements in smaller quantities. Hydroponics plant nutrients that are rich in nitrogen are required during the vegetative period. This must be combined with various micro-nutrients used throughout the growing cycle.
Hydroponics plant nutrients alter the pH of your nutrient solution as they are added to it. Also, after a few days, the pH of your nutrient solution will change as plants absorb nutrients and change the composition of the solution. Hydroponics is a constantly evolving discipline, and there are products that can help you maintain the perfect pH. A pH reading of around 6 or 6.2 is considered ideal for hydroponics gardening requirements. You can buy additives that adjust your pH level by bringing it to the required levels. Your hydroponics nutrients are important, but you should also pay attention to the quality of water you use. Water is a natural source of certain plant nutrients. You should avoid overstuffing your solution with plant nutrients because that could impede high plant nutrient absorption levels.
