Mimic Nature
Plants grow best in conditions that mimic the natural intake of nutrients. Your hydroponic vegetables will thrive when you recreate nature. Because different plants absorb nutrients in unique ways, hydroponic gardeners must understand and implement a nutritional system that echoes the natural system of each plant.
Hydroponic vegetable gardening nutrient systems must be optimized, whereas light, humidity levels and temperature systems tend to remain the same for most common plant types. Remember that nutrient systems must be perfected for optimum growth.
Start with the system mechanisms and adjust as required, based on the type of vegetable. Although these adjustments affect the taste and size of your hydroponic vegetables, the real secret is using the optimum combination of gardening nutrients, including:
- Essential Nutrients for growth - calcium, magnesium, potassium, nitrates (nitrogen and oxygen), sulfates (sulfur and oxygen) and phosphates (hydrogen, phosphorus and oxygen)
- Micronutrients for vegetables - boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, zinc
Continuous nutrition is obtained when the proper nutrients are replenished on a regular schedule. Some advanced hydroponic systems come with automated mechanisms for replenishing nutrients and working on a set schedule. Another smart solution that works for manual replenishment involves setting a timer to alert you when the nutrients need a top up.
Watch the Water
Although your hydroponic vegetables require all of the substances listed above to thrive, nutrients are not consumed at the same rate. This discrepancy can alter the levels of concentration for salt, water and pH, triggering serious issues with the vegetables if not handled immediately.
Always ensure that your system has abundant water. Maintain the pH balance between alkalinity and acidity and keep the salt concentrations levels under control. It may help to use a device designed to measure the nutritional value of substances used in hydroponic gardens.
Watch your pH monitors and use nutrition monitors to ensure the process runs well. Systems operating with a flood/drain method have varying pH and nutrient levels, due to the recycling of unabsorbed nutrients. After nutrient solutions flood the growth tray, all that have not been absorbed are sent back into the nutrient reservoir for recycling. PH levels naturally change with this process, with instability as a result. Prolonged instability triggers toxicities and deficiencies in your hydroponic garden. Watch closely and react promptly when the levels go out of balance.
Improve growth and increase disease resistance in your hydroponic vegetable garden by mimicking nature and keeping a close eye on your system. Your plants will thrive, making hydroponic gardening an enjoyable, successful venture.