Hydroponic Nutrients: Fertilizer for Your Hydroponic Garden

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In addition to the three key elements of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), that are essential to all plant growth (See The Dirt on Dirt for more information), there should be at least 10 trace elements present in your nutrients. These are: sulphur, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, magnesium, calcium, chlorine, and molybdenum. All have specific functions.

•Nitrogen is necessary for the production of leaves and stem growth; it is also an essential ingredient in building plant cells.
•Phosphorus is required in the development of flowers and fruits, and aids in the growth of healthy roots.
•Potassium is used by plant cells during the assimilation of the energy produced by photosynthesis.
•Sulphur assists in the production of plant energy and heightens the effectiveness of phosphorus.
•Iron is vital in the production of chlorophyll.
•Manganese aids in absorption of nitrogen, an essential component in the energy transference process.
•Zinc is an essential component in the energy transference process.
•Copper is needed in the production of chlorophyll.
•Boron is required in minute amounts, but it is not yet known how plants use it.
•Magnesium is involved in the process of distributing phosphorus throughout plants.
•Calcium encourages root growth and helps plants absorb potassium.
•Chlorine is required for photosynthesis.
•Molybdenum assists in several chemical reactions.

There are hundreds of different nutrient formulas, but as long as the elements are present in balanced amounts, you have little to worry about. Trying to choose the best formula is a meaningless task, since many of the experts disagree. In the final analysis, your decision will probably be based on cost, availability, and your own preferences. However, plants do require different nutrients on different days, at different times of the day, and under different conditions. Unless you did an exhaustive test every day, it would be impossible to determine just what the plant requires at any one time. This is why it is essential to provide the plant with a balanced nutrient solution all the time, and leave it up to the plant to use what it requires.

As it is used here, the term "balanced" simply means that the nutrient contains the proper ratio of elements to satisfy the maximum requirements of the plant. The ratio is determined by calculating the parts per million concentrations of each element. Scientifically, this description may be somewhat oversimplistic, but I honestly believe in simplifying if it allows readers to have a better understanding of the process.

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