[amazon asin=B00PEDHSQC&template=wl_left&live=1]Honestly, plants don’t need to be living in soil to propagate. With just the right amount of nutrients and environmental parameters supplied in the right proportion, they will thrive. In fact, several soils have nutrient deficiencies which stunt or adversely affect the growth of plants. You can easily manipulate the Nutrient Requirement for a Hydroponic Setup in soil.
Marijuana and any other types of plant require two categories of nutrients- macro nutrients and micro nutrients. Nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium, potassium and calcium are macro-nutrients while iron, chlorine, boron, manganese, copper and molybdenum are micro-nutrients. All of these nutrients are needed by the plants in defined proportions. When growing marijuana indoors with a hydroponic setup, water is enriched with these nutrients, creating a hydroponic nutrient solution.
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The nutrient constituent of the hydroponic setup is usually adjusted according to the growth stage of the plant to optimize the yield. A 20:10:5 solution contains 20% Nitrogen; 10% Phosphorus; 5% Potassium. A 15:15:15 solution contains 15% Nitrogen; 15% Phosphorus; 15% Potassium. The percentage of the solution not utilized by N: P: K is trace elements and inert materials.
When buying hydroponic nutrients, it’s advisable you get the powder kind which mixes well with water as it is by far cheaper in the long run when compared with pre-mixed solutions. You can get the FoxFarm FX14050 Big Bloom or the Advanced Nutrients Voodoo Juice Fertilizer if you’re not sure which way to go in purchasing fertilizers to set the right Nutrient Requirement for a Hydroponic Setup.
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Increased amounts of Nitrogen are needed when the temperature goes below 80 degrees in the grow room during the vegetative growth. Usually, at this stage, 20:20:20, or 23:19:17, or 12:6:6 or something of that nature with trace elements is suitable. As temperature goes higher than 80 degrees in the grow room, you need not worry about more nitrogen in the formula during the vegetative growth.
Once the flowering stage is reached, the plant needs lots of Phosphorus regardless of temperature. 15:30:15, or 5:20:10, or 2:4:3 or another similar proportion with trace elements is ideal. When using fertilizers, you should be careful not to over fertilize as it may kill the plant or under fertilizing which slows the growth of the plant. If not sure, it is advisable that you follow the mixing instructions on the hydroponic solution package.
[amazon asin=B00002N66H&template=wl_right&live=1]As water evaporates from the solution, it is absorbed by the plants, resulting in a drop in the level of your water reservoir. In order to properly control the Nutrient Requirement for a Hydroponic Setup, you can add a 3-day old tap water, and you may top up the nutrient solution depending on your personal preference.
Every two weeks, the nutrient solution should be changed and this involves discarding the old solution and cleaning out the reservoir, pump and any other material not used with hot water when cleaning. After cleaning, add tap water that has aged three days or longer to the solution then add the nutrient solution. You only need to clean the tubings and cup the plants are in before you start a new crop.