What are the most important nutrients for hydroponic growing?

Nutrients are vital for healthy plant growth in hydroponics. Unlike vegetables, herbs or botanicals grown outside, hydroponics-grown plants need additional care to give them the nutrition they can't get due to a lack of soil and other natural resources. We cover the most important nutrients and the best testers for hydroponics below:

Why are the right nutrients important for hydroponic growing?

Hydroponics-grown plants don’t have the benefit of natural soil, which means that they can't access nutrients themselves. As such, you'll need to provide those resources for them. Similarly to how a grow lamp replaces natural sunlight, nutrient mixes for hydroponics replace an essential part of a plant's diet, enabling them to grow healthy in the same way they would outdoors.

There are many benefits to hydroponic growing, including being able to control your environment and the ability to grow seasonal plants year-round. Having the proper nutrients helps to ensure you get the outcome you want, which you can achieve by measuring the parameters of your water for optimal growth. An EC tester and pH tester or a combined handheld meter alongside quality nutrients are the key to healthy plants that produce a high yield.

The five key nutrients for successful hydroponic growth

You can provide plenty of supplements, vitamins and minerals to your plants to help them grow effectively. The fundamental nutrients that hydroponics plants need include:

Nitrogen

Nitrogen helps the stalks and leaves of plants to grow. As one of the main components in chlorophyll, having enough nitrogen is vital for photosynthesis and building amino acids to create proteins, enabling strong growth.

Magnesium

Magnesium supports photosynthesis as another building block for chlorophyll, ensuring your plants can get enough food. Without the right amount of magnesium, plants quickly lose colour and can become stunted in growth.

Calcium

Calcium helps plants to build strong cell walls while also neutralising cell acids. The stronger the cell wall, the faster tissues are developed for healthy, full growth. Lack of calcium leads to browning and withering over time.

Phosphorus

Phosphorous is used for plant roots and seed creation. Anything from flowers to roots to buds uses phosphorous to grow healthily while also protecting against diseases and pests. Low phosphorous can lead to seeds and flowers not developing.

Potassium

Potassium is a crucial nutrient to regulate CO2 intake during photosynthesis while also regulating water levels in plants. Without potassium, a plant can't take in water or CO2 effectively, leading to a lack of growth and stunting.

The N-P-K ratio for hydroponic nutrients

When you’re examining fertiliser nutrients for growing in hydroponics, you’ll likely see the N-P-K ratio clearly labelled on the packaging. N-P-K is the amount of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) found in a solution. Many plant nutrients include all three together, as they are so integral for healthy growth.

In some nutrient solutions, N-P-K is equal. For example, 5-5-5 means 5% of each nutrient is in the mix. Other specialist nutrients might have more of one nutrient than others. For instance, during the blooming phase of certain plants, you might use 6-20-6 nutrients for more phosphorous, enabling better bud and flower growth.

What testers do you need for hydroponics?

The right testers for hydroponics can provide insight into the condition of your nutrient solution, enabling you to make informed choices for additives. Your testing kit for hydroponics should include:

An EC tester

An EC tester, often referred to as an EC stick for hydroponics, effectively measures conductivity in nutrient water. EC indicates whether you have the optimal amount of nutrients in the water, avoiding under or over-dosing your plants to ensure your growth is consistent and steady. The Hanna HI-98318 tester for conductivity is ideal for taking convenient, accurate readings.

A pH tester

Measuring pH alongside EC is an excellent way to keep your water balanced, preventing growth problems from a too-high or too-low pH. A hydroponics pH meter, such as the HI-98118 pH tester, is an ideal option. Different plants prefer different pH levels for growth. Our complete guide to pH in growing covers many of the pH levels for plants to help you understand the best ranges for growth. You can also choose a combined meter such as the HI-9814 to measure EC, TDS and pH in one.

A thermometer

Temperature can affect the health and growth rate of your plants. Measuring the temperature in your water and your hydroponics growhouse, greenhouse or indoor space can help keep your plants healthy and all of your parameters in balance. The HI-98118 pH tester also measures temperature, providing the information you need to manage your nutrient water dosage.

Buy testers and meters for hydroponics from Hanna Instruments UK

Having the right testers for your hydroponics setup makes it easy to achieve consistent growth and high yield from your plants. Browse our range of EC meters and pH testers for hydroponics in our GroLine range online now.

Need expert advice? Contact us directly, and we’ll advise you on the best EC and pH testing options to measure the nutrient solution in your hydroponics.