A Beginners Guide: Hydroponic Nutrients

Great nutrient management occurs when growers are:

1) Aware of all necessary plant nutrients and where they come from
2) Supplying adequate nutrients in correct ratios to plants
3) Monitoring and measuring how much of each plant nutrient is available in their system at any given time
4) Making economic and work-flow conscious decisions about how to source and supply nutrients.

Most plants (and all of the crop plants that you’re likely to grow) rely on 16 nutrients to grow and reproduce. Of these, three are available through water uptake and gas exchange (the air): Carbon through CO2, hydrogen, and oxygen.

The remaining thirteen nutrients are the mineral nutrients delivered to plants through nutrient solutions (dissolved fertilizer).

The overall nutrient level in a solution is measured in EC, or electrical conductivity.The units used to measure EC are ppm or mS/cm, although ppm is used more commonly for measuring total dissolved solids. That’s a different measurement for a different blog post. Hydroponics really need to understand the second unit, mS/cm. This is often just expressed as the “EC level”. (For example, “The EC of the solution is 1.8,” with no unit.)

Ideal mS/cm is typically between 1.2 and 3.3. There’s a broad range of acceptable EC levels, and each crop has an ideal range.

Supplying the correct ratio of nutrients in adequate levels is only half of the nutrient management picture; the other task for farm managers is to keep those nutrients available to plants, and the main factor influencing that availability is pH.

Nutrients are soluble at different pH values. Check out an absorption chart (there's one in the article version of this video) to learn more.

Adjusting pH to your ideal range can be done with pH Down or pH Up, which are acids or bases (respectively). Never add both at once!

There are two main forms of fertilizer: dry and liquid.

Dry fertilizer is mostly used in commercial settings because there’s a lot less to ship (you’re not shipping water), making it more cost effective. You can also tailor dry fertilizer better to your needs, because it comes in separate parts.

Liquid fertilizer is simple to use and great for home and hobby systems. It’s easier to manage since you can just add a certain amount of one liquid to your system water, but it’s more expensive to ship. (Most people on a small scale only buy a little at a time though, so shipping is less important.)

The best way to mix a solution is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you’re not using an auto-doser, you’ll still mix it the same way, but you’ll add it to your system bit by bit in equal ratios and test it until it’s at the right level. You’ll get better and better at this over time.

There are a multitude of handheld measuring devices and testers. Our favorite suppliers are Blue Lab, Hanna Instruments, and AutoGrow. We’ve used each of these and are currently using AutoGrow’s NutriTest, a handheld meter which measures both EC and pH with the same device. There are a variety of options out there.

Subscribe to this channel to learn more!
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Timestamps/What's Covered:

00:24 The 16 Plant Nutrients
04:27 Electrical Conductivity
06:39 pH
09:22 Fertilizer
12:00 Nutrient Solubility
14:00 Mixing Solutions
17:13 Measurement Devices
18:10 Review
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Music by: Scott Gratton

[KingsleyK]

If only all YouTube videos were like this. No fluff, no flair, organized presentation, appropriately touched on every relevant topic, and provided additional resources and references.

[slacra]

I watched at least a dozen videos dancing around this topic before watching yours. Very simple, very clear. You have a great way of explaining things. Thank you!

[davestrom]

A beginners guide geared to commercial grow, , , it really doesnt matter what brand nutes you use learn the basics to feeding first, , , to be succesful in hydroponics you must first learn to feed properly, , ph is one of the most important things you need to manage, , a crop production guide or nutrient calander probly wont fit your grow, , to many variables, , it matters definately how much nutes you have, , when ph ing, , the most important thing is your ph swing, , this is directly affected by nutrient values, , use your tds meter an ph pen, , 12 hours after feeding check your ph, , if it raises you didnt feed enough, , if it falls you fed to much, , learn this its BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION HYDRO BEGINNERS CAN GET

[goddessgermanika]

I am voting with the person below. After watching about 50 videos you are absolutely the best at no Blabalblablablablablabla before saying a few useful things. Your video was clear, got right to the point, full of great information. Keep up this great work.

[abdullahzaid]

This is a really informative video for budding Hydroponic farmers! Simple, Brief and to the point! Thank you for putting up such content!

[RWOSR]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! Im a beginner. Was truly spending time SEARCHING for anyone offering reliable information on exactly what you covered! Your explanations are easy for me to understand and I am very grateful!

[debbiem]

As I start my journey into hydroponics I am cursing my high school guidance counselor for discouraging me to register for chemistry & physics. Fortunately I stumbled into a career that has been fruitful but I felt that I was missing something my whole life because I did not have the proper education in these areas. I couldn't tell you the purpose of nitrogen, phosphorous or potassium until I watched your video.... thank you for the education!!

[jasonbarth]

The majority of technical videos on hydroponics are poorly put together, full or errors, and missing critical information. Your video is thought out and each topic is explained in great detail. Excellent production. Look forward to other videos from you.

[DaDunge]

9:17 Actually if you combine an acid and a base they will create something called a buffer solution which will make changing the pH n either direction a lot more difficult. Especially if you use the corresponding base to the acid.

[gopalkrishnarameshraobelga]

Hi, I am bigger in this field and trying to use my 2400 ft plot for hydroponic set up. i was going through your vedio was reallly useful. thank you,

[erengocuk]

How can i find the specific formulas for specific crops and can you please give more detail about micro solutions? Thanks.

[hoofheartedicemelted]

Hi ZipGrow. I'm really surprised to see you still at it. Had heard you sold up and moved on for big bucks. You earned the right to big bucks but glad to see you're still putting out content since you're perhaps the biggest contributor to this kind of hydroponic information necessary to successfully make it work. So nice one brother. Hope the lockdown hasn't adversely effected you all. Hope to see more of your videos sir. Kind regards from Ireland.

[horacetaylor]

Excellent breakdown on nutrient solutions and understanding what your meter readings are saying.

[lindseyf]

Thank you so much for this. Anyone can tell me how, but thank you for telling me why! I am on my second grow and followed a guide strictly. Now for my second I truly want to know why we use these nutrients and how to begin to identify when one is needed. Thank you again!!!

[earumamaadu]

*For 100 litter water*
Magnesium Sulfate - 50 grams
Potassium Nitrate - 50 grams
Monoammonium Phosphate - 18 grams
Calcium Nitrate - 70 grams
Manganese Chelate - 0.667 Gram
Boron Chelate - 0.35 Gram
Zinc Chelate - 0.25 Gram
Sodium Molybdate - 0.013 Gram
Copper Chelate - 0.143 Gram
Iron EDTA Fe(EDTA) 2.24 grams

[sg-hu]

This gave me so much clarity about hydroponic nutrients! Thank you!!

[vipnetworker]

It is fascinating how complex this is, yet in nature… plants just grow.

[asdf]

Really nice video 😊, thank you very much, can you please make one that covers the routine and best practices needed for hydroponic growers to follow, no video covers that, they present equipment fertilizers or explain concept, but no daily process verification and steps to follow

[iamtoday]

But d***, this is so incredibly informative. It felt like I was in a collegiate class. Very nice video. New subscriber here! 😃

[Fizzicist]

Very informative and well-done from the way the information was laid out to your speaking speed. Thank you.