Pondering the pH Factor in your Hydroponic Garden
There are many factors that are important in hydroponic
gardening and one of the most important factors is the pH factor. The nutrients, water, trace elements, growing
medium, and the gases at the roots have different electrical charges that are
all engaged in a constant battle. All of
these items surround the root system to exchange positive and negative charges,
which helps the nutrients absorb into the roots to feed the plant. The pH is the most important factor to
monitor because the pH of a nutrient solution reads the outcome of an
electrical battle between the roots and everything that surrounds them. The run off from growing plants in pots is
the best place to measure the pH level.
The protein and enzyme molecules in a plant are structured
in very specific shapes in order to catalyze a chemical reaction to build the
plant cells. The need reactant molecules
to fit precisely into their gaps so all of the negative and positive charges
have to line up exactly. Plants are able
to change their own cellular pH level to stop or help speed up a certain enzyme
reaction. The electrical charges in soil
particles are different from those in mixtures with no soil. Because of this reason, different pH levels
for nutrient uptake are needed for each type of growing medium. Maintaining the proper pH level in the
nutrient reservoir is most likely the single most critical factor to successful
hydroponic gardening. If the pH factor
goes too high or too low, the plants will not do well and will show confusing
signs or nutrient deficiencies.
Nutrients are a key factor in a successful hydroponic
garden. It's vital to choose a nutrient
solution formulated for hydroponics.
Standard fertilizers sold in garden stores are not generally suited for
hydroponics, as they do not contain specific trace elements, which are
necessary for a balanced hydroponic formula.
A complete and balanced formula is the key to maximizing results in the
hydroponic system. Many formulas also
contain buffers to help prevent extreme swings in the pH level. PH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline the
nutrient solution or water is. The pH
scale ranges from 0 to 14, 7.0 neutral, and 7 to 14 alkaline. General plants prefer the pH to stay in the
5.5 to 7.5 ranges as going beyond this range inhibits certain nutrients to
become less available for the plant to absorb.
The key is to monitor the nutrient solutions on a regular basis to make
sure the pH is at the right level.
Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants without soil
as hydroponics cultivates plants in nutrient-rich water. This is an advantageous method of gardening
for home and for commercial use. There
are no weeds to deal with and hydroponic plants are typically healthier, mature
earlier, and use less space. Hydroponic
plants are entirely water based which makes it possible to fully automate the
hydroponics system. The water is
typically reused rather than like the traditional methods where more water is
lost through evaporation or run off. The
most important factor in hydroponics is the nutrient solution that must be
mixed with water. Specially formulated
hydroponic fertilizer mixtures are required and should be tested after dilution
to ensure a pH level of between five and six.
This nutrient solution should be changed every two weeks and in between
changes should be checked so the volume is kept level by adding more water only
and not additional formula. If the water
evaporates and the water level gets too low, the nutrient solution will become
too rich and could burn the roots.
