For the good growth of your plants is important to maintain your reservoir. By taking control of your hydroponic system you can become a successful grower. These steps are easy and will help you in getting a successful harvest.
Water Quality Is Very Important
- Use RO Water In your System
- Measure water quality and quantity of nutrients in the system with a TDS/EC meter
- Check if the water is acidic or alkaline with a PH meter
Understanding Plant Growth and Nutrition Requirements.
Different range of vegetables require different nutrients levels at different stages of plant growth. Below is the plant life cycle and in general feeding requirement with a TDS (Total Devolved Solids) meter measured in parts per million (PPM)
|
|
Stage |
Required TDS/PPM |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Sprouting |
50-100 PPM |
Seeds can sprout with very little nutrients |
|
2 |
Seedlings |
100-250 PPM |
This is when plants starting developing there first true leaves. |
|
3 |
Growing |
300-400 PPM |
Plants need more nutrients as they are growing. |
|
4 |
Mature Plan |
450-700 PPM |
As growth progresses they will need more to eat |
|
5 |
Flowering |
750-950 PPM |
When your can see flower you will need to add more nutrients. |
|
6 |
Fruiting |
1000-1600 PPM |
This is when you need to give the most nutritionist to your plants for them to come to their full potential. |
|
7 |
Harvest |
50 to 0 PPM |
This is when you need to flush the system |
Note: Plants are transplanted just after they develop there true leaves ( there first 3 to 4 baby leaves). Find the Recommended PPM/EC levels for different plants blow.
Steps to Maintain The Reservoir
1. Check the RO Water quality with a TDS meter before adding it to the reservoir, it should be 50ppm or below but not above 100ppm.
2. Add equal amounts of the 3 part nutrient GROW, MICRO & BLOOM to your reservoir till the TDS reaches the desired PPM
3. Use the PH meter to check the acidity of the solution. The range is 6.5 to 5.5, ideal is 6.0.
4. For an accurate reading check again after the nutrient rich water has run through your system.
5. Add RO water if TDS is to high or add nutritions if TDS is less.
6. Adjusters PH by using PH down or PH Up tomaintain the PH levels.
7. Due to consumption of water by the plant and evaporation you will need to Top Up the reservoir with fresh Water time to time.
8. While plants grow, as per their requirement and the stage there are in, add nutrients time to time to your reservoir to increase the TDS .
9. It is recommended to complexity flush out the system at least once during the life cycle of
your plants to avoid salt build up and give a refreshment to your plants. After flushing bring TDS and PH levels to where they were before.
-Find the Recommended PPM/EC levels for different plants blow.