How to Make Hydroponic Solution
Hydroponics is a plant-growing system that does not utilize soil or soil-catering fertilizers. Instead, plants grow in water-based nutrient solutions, which may or may not be anchored in an "artificial medium" (sand, gravel, vermiculite, rockwool, perlite, peatmoss, coir or sawdust), according to Merle Jensen of the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona. Hydroponics systems are complicated plant-support structures that require a lot of planning and horticultural knowledge. Hydroponics requires continual irrigation, so chemical composition of the water used for plant growth is extremely important. It can prove potentially toxic to certain plant types. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Potassium nitrate (9oz/255g)
- Calcium sulphate (7oz/198g)
- Magnesium sulphate (6oz/170g)
- Monocalcium phosphate (4oz/113g)
- Ammonium sulphate (1.5oz/43g)
- Iron sulphate (a pinch)
- OR
- Potassium sulphate (4oz/113g)
- Super phosphate (5oz/100g) M
- Magnesium sulphate (3.5oz/100g)
- Iron sulphate (.07oz/2g)
Instructions
-
-
1
Choose a medium. Some types of hydroponic plants grow within soil-less foundations like rockwool and perlite which are made from different kinds of rock and allows the hydroponic solution to permeate the roots. The medium depends on the type and size of the plants you are growing.
-
2
Understand the needs of the plants you are growing. Hydroponics solutions can differ based on what type of plant they are used for. There are several basic categories of plants that can be grown hydroponically: vegetables like parsnips, celery, lettuces, peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers, and flowers like mums, roses, geraniums, orchids and tulips.
-
-
3
Combine potassium nitrate (9oz/255g), calcium sulphate (7oz/198g), magnesium sulphate (6oz/170g), monocalcium phosphate (4oz/113g), ammonium sulphate (1.5oz/43g), and iron sulphate (a pinch).
Use one teaspoon of this mixture per one gallon of water. It is very important not to have too high a concentration of solution.
-
4
An alternative hydroponic recipe includes sodium nitrate (12.5oz/355g), potassium sulphate (4oz/113g), super phosphate (5oz/100g), magnesium sulphate (3.5oz/100g), and iron sulphate (.07oz/2g). Stir all the ingredients and place in an air-tight container until needed.
Also use one teaspoon of this per one gallon of water.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
The elements that are most commonly used in hydroponic solutions are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, boron, zinc, iron, sulfate and manganese.
Making a hydroponic solution is actually a very precise science with many an opportunity to screw up. Plant food has just as much of an effect on their livelihood as human food does on ours. If there happens to be a high percentage of mercury in a certain type of fish, it would be lethal if ingested by a human being. It's the same with any type of plant food, whether it's for hydroponic or soil growing.
