How do you make your own hydroponics solution? In this article, we will list the steps for preparing the nutrient solution, present the nutrient solutions for some vegetable crops, such as tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, and strawberries, and discuss how to maximize the nutrient solution.
What are the steps for synthesizing and installing a nutrient solution for aquaculture?
Step 1. Check the pH level of the water.
Take a small amount of filtered water in a bowl and check the pH according to the instructions (and what kind of pH tester you have). If you use filtered water, its pH ranges from 5 to 7. Tap water with a pH of 8 will present more difficulties when stabilizing it.
Step 2. Measure nutrients and mix base salts.
To be precise, you'll need to mix these salts in a bowl with water:
- Ammonium phosphate, 2 tsp
- Magnesium sulfate, 4 tsp
- Potassium nitrate, 4 tsp.
- Calcium nitrate, 4.5 tsp. But first, take measurements with teaspoons, as suggested.
Each ingredient in the recipe plays its own role in plant development: phosphorus is essential for photosynthesis; magnesium and nitrogen participate in the formation of chlorophyll; sulfur provides vital amino acids and proteins; and potassium and magnesium are responsible for generating starches and sugars.
Step 3. Mix the salts with water.
After the salts are ready, add 35 liters of filtered water to them, just one type of salt at a time. Shake the bowl to ensure the salts mix well with the water. As a result, you get a macronutrient solution.
Step 4. Add micronutrients (microelements).
In a separate container, dissolve 0.1 teaspoon of manganese chloride and 0.25 teaspoon of boric acid in 1 quart of water. Half a cup of this liquid should go into the ready-made macronutrient solution.
Once this is done, mix 0.5 teaspoons of chelated iron with 1 liter of water in another container and add some of this mixture to the large container with the macronutrients.
Step 5. Test the pH of the nutrient solution.
Once your solution is ready, don't neglect to measure the pH again right after making it and a few days later. The best moment to test the pH at this point is 15 minutes after mixing the last ingredient. For this, you just need a clean bowl to take 5–6 drops of fertilizer and put them on an electronic pH meter.
Many pH meters show whether the pH is appropriate for a color. We must aim to see the yellow liquid. If not, make adjustments by adding 1 mL of pH up or down for every 3.7 liters of fertilizer until you see the test liquid turn yellow on the pH meter.
How do you maximize your hydroponic nutrition solution?
Certain
factors can have a profound effect on your hydroponic nutrition solution.
These factors are temperature, light intensity, and relative humidity. But there are many things we can do to keep the solution fresh, make it suitable for the plants, and get great plants.
A nutrient solution is a very complex substance, as it usually has 13–14 elements, and the ratio determines the results. As a gardener, you can change their association based on your desired outcome. Here, we'll go over the method we partially touched on earlier—changing proportions based on the growth stage.
What are the proportions of nutrients inside the solution during the stages of plant growth?
Therefore, the following proportions of 3.7 liters of water will make ideal formulations for the three main growing stages:
1. Vegetative stage nutrient ratio.
6 g of calcium nitrate, 2.42 g of magnesium sulfate, 2.09 g of potassium nitrate, 1.39 g of monopotassium phosphate, 0.46 g of potassium sulfate
0.40 g of trace element iron chelated at 7%
2. Nutrient ratio at the flowering stage.
4.10 g of calcium nitrate, 2.40 g of magnesium sulfate, 2.80 g of potassium nitrate, 1.39 g of monopotassium phosphate, 0.46 g of potassium sulfate
0.40 g of trace element iron chelated at 7%
3. Fruiting stage nutrient ratio
8.00 g of calcium nitrate, 2.80 g of magnesium sulfate, 2.40 g of potassium nitrate, 1.70 g of monopotassium phosphate, 0.39 g of potassium sulfate, 0.40 g of trace element iron chelated at 7% The chelated trace elements in this case include 7% iron, 2% manganese, 0.40% zinc, 1.30% boron, 1.10% copper, and o.o6 molybdenum. It is combined and added to the feed solution in powder form for maximum efficiency. PH and EC should also be measured afterward and adjusted if necessary.
Nutrient solutions for some vegetables
· Tomato nutrient solution
The concentration of essential nutrients in a hydroponic tomato nutrient solution should be regulated depending on the growth cycle stages. These nutrient solution recipes are unique for tomatoes because, like fruit crops, the vegetable does not need as much nitrogen as leafy vegetables.
· The widely accepted formula for microelements for growing tomatoes is as follows:
Chlorine:
0.85 Copper: 0.05 Boron: 0.44 Iron - 2.5 Manganese:
2.62 Zinc - 0.09
Molybdenum: 0.06
All element concentrations are measured in ppm (parts per million) or milligrams/liter (milligrams per liter).
Do not forget to change the concentration of microelements after the tomato has exceeded 60 cm in height and its fruits have grown to 1–1.5 cm in diameter.
When exposure to light increases, which usually happens in the summer, increase your nitrogen intake. And vice versa, when light is scarce, as in winter and autumn, the potassium level increases.
Electrical conductivity is another essential factor to look at. It shows the association of nutrients in the formula with water and is measured in millisiemens per cubic meter on the EC scale. For tomatoes, the EC should be less than 0.5 mS/cm. If it gets too high, the water will make it fall.
Required pH of nutrient solution: 5.5–6.0
Nutritious lettuce solution in hydroponics
You must be extra careful when supplying nutrients to the lettuce during its vegetative stage when it is most susceptible to algae. So, here are the basic requirements for a lettuce nutrient solution for hydroponics that you may appreciate:
pH level: 5.5–6.0. To avoid limb burn, maintain adequate calcium intake and limit direct exposure to sunlight in the solution.
Effective ventilation.
Maintain the appropriate level of nitrogen for the type of lettuce.
Adjust the pH according to the stage of growth (6.4 for seeds and
6.0 for older plants).
Guaranteed cool air temperature: 45–70 degrees.
- Hydroponic nutrient solution for cucumbers in hydroponics
Cucumbers are among the easiest plants to grow in a hydroponic environment, as they get enough moisture, warmth, and nutrients to produce excellent crops effortlessly. However, it is advisable to pay attention to these
characteristics:
The pH level of the cucumber nutrient solution is 5.0–6.0.
Nitrogen concentrations can be lowered once the plant reaches the flowering stage. Instead, increase the level of potassium and phosphorous in the nutrient solution to ensure that the flower grows as intended. The potassium concentration should be 50% higher than the nitrogen concentration at the fruiting stage.
Cucumbers grow best when temperatures are between 70 and 80 degrees during the day. However, to mimic outside conditions, you might lower the temperature by 10 degrees.
They need enough space, so ensure each cucumber patch is at least 60 cm apart (better, about 1.5 m apart). The distance between them also depends on the type of cucumber you are growing. Container and bush types can live well with a distance of less than a meter.
Nutrient solution for strawberry in hydroponics
Strawberries need nutrient solutions rich in nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus to grow and thrive in a hydroponic environment. You should not forget to include increased amounts of vital micronutrients such as calcium, sulfur, and magnesium, as well as slightly higher concentrations of copper, cobalt, zinc, molybdenum, chlorine, and manganese.
Be sure to observe the following hydroponic system conditions:
pH between 5.5 and 6.0.
Electrical conductivity: 1.8–2.0 mS/cm during the growth period and
1.8–2.5 mS/cm at the fruiting stage.
Low humidity.
Enough light (12–16 hours).
The temperature is 65–75 degrees. If you allow an environment that is too hot or cold, you risk slowing down strawberry growth.
During the flowering phase, reduce nitrogen and increase phosphorus and potassium in your nutrient solution.
Hydroponic strawberries: Other characteristics and how much growth solution is needed per given amount of water The water requirements of strawberries also vary, depending on the stage of growth. To determine how much nutrient solution you need to add to your water, we must first look at your daily EC.
The higher the electrical conductivity, the fewer nutrients and more water the plants absorb.
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