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for hydroponics. These may be either dissolvable granules
or liquids. Some are pre-mixed, and others will have com-
ponents added in stages. Not just any liquid fertilizer will do,
because fertilizers formulated for traditional gardening focus
primarily on nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Of course, those who are preparedness-minded may
eventually prefer to wean themselves from commercial
nutrients in favor of “homebrewed” options. There are a lot
of do-it-yourself resources online discussing the solutions
that worked in various circumstances. With these as a start-
ing point, you may want to find your own recipe through
trial and error, experimenting with nutrient “teas.” Compost,
Epsom salts, and various organic fertilizers are examples of
ingredients that can contribute the necessary elements to
your hydroponic growing. Again, though, expect to do some
close monitoring to fine-tune your formula. Be mindful, too,
of sanitation and the possibility of splash on your fruits, and
especially if you market your produce, adhere to proper
Good Agricultural Practices regarding the use of certain
organic fertilizers.Hydroponic Myths
While this style of growing can fill a lot of gaps in home
food production, it’s not a magic pill. One of the greatest
disadvantages is that it requires an initial investment in
time and money to construct your system and then a
considerable amount of homework and monitoring to keep
it functioning properly.
Some mistakenly believe that yields are greater with
hydroponic crops in comparison to their conventional,
soil-based counterparts, but that’s simply not true. With all
things being equal, the plants in a hydroponic system will
bear about the same as those in a traditional garden.tend to access through naturally occurring organic matter or
amended compost in garden soil.
A conventional grower usually doesn’t have to think about
all these elements. How many are represented in a bag of
fertilizer? Only three: N, P, and K. Discolored leaves or other
reactions will sometimes reveal a need to add some boron
or magnesium, or blossom-end rot on tomatoes or peppers
will signal a lack of calcium, but for the most part, a tradition-
al gardener manages the pH, the N, P, and K, and lets nature
do the rest.
A hydroponic gardener, in contrast, doesn’t enjoy that
luxury and must be mindful that every needed component
is present in the water. Furthermore, in systems that recycle
the nutrient solution, it’s necessary to consistently monitor
against salt buildup or drastic changes in pH.
The easiest way for beginners to address nutrition is
through the purchase of products specifically formulated1 2 34