How to Succeed With Hydroponics Gardens
If the advantages of hydroponic growing could be summed up in a single word it would be “control.” As a hydroponic grower, you have ultimate control over your plants environment, including the amount of light your plants receive, your hydroponic nutrients, and your pH levels. But without knowing how to properly measure all of these factors, this control that you enjoy is completely useless. For this reason, it is vital that you purchase the appropriate measuring equipment and know how to use it properly.
First, it is important to remember that for most minerals, the plants roots will absorb the hydroponic nutrients as they are needed. For this reason it is essential to maintain a proper balance of nutrients in your nutrient solution. Too little, or too much of any given nutrient will result in smaller yields, smaller buds, and vegetables that will not have the flavor you are probably hoping for.
For this reason, a digital parts per million meter should be an major part of your hydroponic system. A parts per million meter, just as the name implies, measure the parts per million of total dissolved solids in your nutrient solution. It works by measuring how conductive the water is. Normal, completely pristine water, has no conductivity at all. But as it is diluted with salts, minerals, or hydroponic nutrients, it becomes more conductive. The more ingredients that are dissolved into it, the more electricity that the solution is able to conduct. The ideal parts per million of hydroponic nutrients in your nutrient solution will vary depending upon what plants you are growing and your grow medium, but it generally lies between 1000 and 2000. Every few months you should remember to calibrate your PPM meter to ensure accuracy of readings. This is accomplished by placing the meter in a solution that has a known parts per million and making the necessary adjustments on the measuring device. (more…)
