FAQs

pH is important because it affects availability and absorption of several of the 16 atomic elements needed for plant growth. Maximum absorption of these elements is found at pH readings 5.5 to 6.5. When pH falls below this range many of the macro elements (N, P, K) have less availability, and absorption of the micro nutrients can reach toxic levels.

Hydroponic produce frequently exceeds soil grown produce in terms of flavor and nutrition. This is because all of the nutrients required by the plant are immediately available when the plant needs them.

Water containing too much calcium and magnesium (called “total Hardness”) may create serious problems. Contact your municipal water supplier who can provide you with an analysis of your water supply. If you are using well water, many laboratories can provide you with an analysis if you send them a sample. If the dissolved salts in your water supply measure 200 ppm or more, we strongly recommend that you obtain a water analysis to determine calcium content. Excessive calcium is the main factor in determining if your water is hard. If an analysis of your water supply reveals that the Calcium content of your water supply is greater than 70 ppm (mg/liter) you should use Hardwater FloraMicro. Hardwater FloraMicro provides rapidly growing plants with a combination of chelated micro nutrients uniquely formulated for hardwater conditions. Other options are to collect rainwater, install a reverse osmosis filtration system, or use purified water. Do not use mineral or “spring” water, which can unbalance the nutrient solution, or even be toxic to plants.

Start out with one milliliter per gallon. Wait 15 To 30 minutes, and test your water again. Frequently you will only need 1 to 2 ml of pH Up/Down per gallon of water. You may need additional pH Up/Down if you have hard water. FloraSeries® is pH buffered to facilitate keeping the pH in a favorable range.

When first starting out it is a good idea to measure the pH of your water every day, until you get a feel for your system. Measure your water and then add your nutrients. Within an hour check the pH and adjust accordingly. Repeat this process until pH stabilizes. The liquid nutrient FloraSeries® has special pH buffers to help maintain a desirable pH. It is a good idea to note how much water, nutrients and pH modifiers are needed to obtain the desired values. After several “start- ups” you can generally get a feel for how much acid or base to use for your situation. Frequently pH stays within a desirable range for a considerable time, and then rapidly rises or falls to an extreme. This is usually an indication of the need to do a nutrient change. If you are using hard water, pH has the tendency to climb above 7.5. Sometimes this can be neutralized with acid, though one might consider diluting with filtered water, or adding a reverse osmosis unit in an extreme case.

Hydroponics is a fun and satisfying hobby that is both challenging and rewarding. To start you will need a hydroponic system, hydroponic nutrients, an inert hydroponic media (may be dependent on type of hydroponic system), a light source (natural or artificial), pH and EC meters, time and plants.

In a properly functioning hydroponic unit, the roots receive oxygen from the air, which surrounds them, as well as from the oxygen, which is dissolved in the nutrient solution. The proper medium can play an important role in this process.

FloraNova Grow® and FloraNova Bloom® contain 3-5% organic substances for a hybrid of mineral and organic gardening.

There is a huge popular debate about the value of “organic” fertilizers and methods. Many people would like to apply “organics” to hydroponics. Currently accepted organic fertilizer components are dependent upon organisms in the soil to convert the “organic” materials into a useable form for plants. In hydroponics we provide the minerals required for plant growth directly, completely eliminating the need for soil and soil organisms. The result is much higher growth rates and yields than organic methods can achieve.

If you have plant nutrient recommendations in EC units, an EC meter is convenient. If your plant nutrient recommendations are in ppm values, a sodium chloride TDS calibration is easier to use.

Only crops grown from unrefined minerals are recognized as “organic”. The trouble is unrefined minerals do not dissolve well for hydroponic use and some of these unrefined minerals contain quantities of impurities, some of which are toxic to plants. For that reason, FloraBloom®, FloraGro®, and FloraMicro® are made from high quality refined minerals. This ensures high quality crop production, but prevents the crop from being considered “organic”.

Chlorine is highly volatile; it evaporates as soon as it hits the air. By the time the nutrient solution reaches the roots, the chlorine is gone.

The easiest way is to continue adding pH Up. This is generally fine because the additional elements that are added are potassium ions. Potassium is frequently the highest element in hydroponic nutrient solutions. Sometimes pH crashes because of the presence of a large amount of microbial activity in the nutrient solution. This is usually a result of poor maintenance of the system due to infrequent nutrient changes or other stresses. The best way to avoid this scenario is to keep a clean system with adequate nutrition.

Temperature of the nutrient solution should be in the range of 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 26 degrees Celsius). Before adding water to your reservoir, it is a good idea to allow it to come to the same temperature as the water in the reservoir. Plants do not like rapid temperature changes, especially in the root zone. Aquarium heaters can be used to warm the nutrient solution in the winter, and look for “chillers” to cool the solution in the summer if high temperature becomes a problem.

Expanded clay pebbles are used in hydroponics as a medium to support the plant. They are chemically inert, do not affect pH and provide excellent drainage. They are made from a special type of clay, which is heated to a high temperature causing it to pop like popcorn.

The electrical conductivity (EC) of your nutrient results from motion of mineral ions when the meter applies an electrical voltage. The ppM value of a sodium chloride solution happens to be very close to half of its conductivity value (in milliSiemens/cm), so many meters display the conductivity as an equivalent NaCl amount

It is a common unit for measuring the concentration of elements in the nutrient solution. One ppm is one part by weight of the mineral in one million parts of solution.

The proper ratio of each FloraSeries® nutrient depends on the crop and the stage of growth (look on the label for specific recommendations for different crops). However, as a rule of thumb we use the “1-2-3” ratio:

• For seeds, cuttings, or delicate seedlings, use 1/4 tsp. of each nutrient to 1 gallon water
• For the vegetative stage of growth use 1-3 tsp. FloraGro® to 1-2 tsp, FloraMicro® to 1 tsp, and FloraBloom® per 1 gallon water
• For bloom to ripening stage, use 1-2 tsp. FloraGro®, 2 tsp. FloraMicro®, 2-3 tsp. FloraBloom® to 1 gallon water.

Aeroponics is a method of growing in which oxygen is infused into the nutrient solution, allowing the roots to absorb nutrients faster and more easily. Typically, an aeroponics system utilizes foggers, misters or sprayers that create very small droplets of nutrient solution. Another name you may hear used for this method is “fogponics”. Because the nutrient and oxygen rich solution is so easily absorbed by the plants roots, less fertilizer is required. This facilitates rapid growth resulting in fantastic yields.

Coco peat, such as CocoTek Premium Coir, is an organic medium made from coconuts, frequently used in both hydroponics and seed sowing mixes. Its advantages are that it is lightweight, relatively inert and comes from a sustainable source. However, coco peat comes in various grades, and can actually be detrimental to plant growth if it contains salt-water residues from poor processing.

Visit our What Is Hydroponics? page to find out more.

pH is the measure of acidity/alkalinity of a solution.

Rockwool is a substrate made by melting rock, extruding it in threads and then pressing it into sponge-like blocks.