Hydroponic nutrient solution
One production technique that has significantly increased in recent years is hydroponics. It allows better control of pests and factors along with more efficient use of water and fertilizers. To add more to the benefits hydroponic, the production also increases the quality of the crop and product resulting gin a much higher competitiveness and economic times.
Growing plants is just like having children of your own that you need to nurture for the growth and give your full attention to bring out the best in them. Nutrients are the answer for both, the child and the plants.
As important is the fertilizers to the soil the same is the nutrient solution for hydroponics. Generally speaking, a liquid that is filled with all the nutrients necessary for the plant roots so that they can come into contact for growth, is a hydroponic nutrient solution. Hydroponics makes it easier to fill and measure the number of nutrients in a water solution as compared to the soil.
The plants need some basic nutrients to respire, photosynthesize and get moisture, or say for survival. And the elements such as Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen are available in the air or the water so that the plants can get these from the environment. Where light being the natural prophet, helps plants by supplying the energy to make food. Before giving plants the necessary nutrients, we must take care of the organic compost. Plants are bound to die without them. As a matter of fact, without the supply of nutrients, the plants will not die but will not grow either.
There are macros and micronutrients which the plants need to grow. Macro means the ones which are nutrients that plants have to absorb in large quantities. These include Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulfur, and Magnesium. Micronutrients are required in smaller quantities by plants in comparison to the macro ones. They are zinc, Boron, Iron, and Magnesium.
Nutrient solutions usually contain six essential nutrients: Nitrogen, Potassium, Sulfur, K, Ca and Mg. One can create own nutrient mix or be fancier and get it to form a store. For beginners, It is highly recommended though. You can try mixing nutrients and preparing your solution after you get a bit experienced. There will be a list of ingredients and formulas for the nutrient solution. There will be a ratio such 10-10-10 as the ingredients are listed as 3 numbers in percentages. Nitrogen Phosphorous and potassium are the most important minerals. For instance, if it is labeled 10-10-10, it implies that each nutrient is composed of 10% of the solution and rest is water, micro-nutrients and other important things that constitute the remaining 70%. The ratio varies depending on different criteria such as plant types, growth stage, parts that need to be amplified, the intensity of light, weather or season of the year.
If you are going to buy nutrient solution for your very own hydroponic garden, always get the nutrients that are specifically designed for hydroponic. Some of the products are available in the form of all-purpose care packages that can be used for both soil and hydroponics. Most of the fertilizers used in the soil are not appropriate for Hydroponic plants as they are missing the micronutrients that are essential for Hydroponic plants.