Jr. Greenthumb
11-09-2005, 08:37 PM
A look into Nutrients
Plant foods are measured in an N-P-K format.
N is Nitrogen
P is Phosphorus
K is Potassium
A 15-15-15 solution contains 15% Nitrogen, 15% Phosphorus, 15% Potassium. A 20-10-5 solution contains 20% Nitrogen, 10% Phosphorus, 5% Potassium. The percentage of the solution not used by N-P-K is trace elements and inert material. An all purpose hydroponics nutrient solution with secondary elements like calcium, sulphur and magnesium and trace elements like boron, copper, molybdenum, zinc, iron, and manganese will get you through all stages of growth. Higher amounts Of Nitrogen N are needed during the Vegetative growth cycle of the plant and a higher amount of Phosphorus P is needed during the flowering stage of a plant. There are both Grow and Bloom nutrients available on the market to provide the correct amount of each for the growth period they are in.
Macronutrients
Plants need around 16 mineral nutrients for optimal growth. However, not all these nutrients are equally important for the plant. The three major minerals -- Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium --are used by plants in large amounts. Macronutrients are present in large concentrations in plants. All nutrients combine in numerous ways to help produce healthy plants. Usually, sulfur-S, calcium-Ca, and magnesium-Mg are also considered macronutrients.
These nutrients play many different roles in plants. Here are some of their dominant functions:
Nitrogen N --promotes development of new leaves
Phosphorus P --aids in root growth and blooming
Potassium K --important for disease resistance and aids growth in extreme temperatures
Sulfur S --contributes to healthy, dark green color in leaves
Calcium Ca --promotes new root and shoot growth
Magnesium Mg --chlorophyll, the pigment that gives plants their green color and absorbs sunlight to make food, contains a Mg ion
Micronutrients
Boron B, copper Cu, cobalt Co, iron Fe, manganese Mn, molybdenum Mo, and zinc Zn are only present in minute quantities in plants and are known as micronutrients. Plants can usually acquire adequate amounts of these elements from the soil, so most commercial fertilizers don't contain all of the micronutrients. However, Hydroponic growers don't have any soil to provide these nutrients for their plants. Therefore, a nutrient solution that is marketed for hydroponic gardening containing all the micronutrients are needed for optimal growth.
Now there are a thousand different types and brands of Nutrients available. I personally use Fox Farms Nutrients in my hydroponic setup. The Grow Big for the Vegetative cycle has an N-P-K of 3-2-6 and the Tiger Bloom for flowering has an N-P-K of 2-8-4. It is also recommended to add the Big Bloom which is an additional bloom stimulant. It is added to the Tiger Bloom to aid in Optimal flowering and bloom stimulation. it has an N-P-K of 0.001-0.3-0.7. The Fox Farms nutrients are Organic or Organic based. I prefer this for several reasons. From what I understand it is a lot harder to burn a plant for one and also it just is a lot better for the plant and for you. It doesn't matter if you are growing Tomatoes or Marijuana, Organic fertilizers are the best. I will go into some of the differences between Organic and Chemical later. I have to get a few more things together for it to sound right and not organically Bias.
Plant foods are measured in an N-P-K format.
N is Nitrogen
P is Phosphorus
K is Potassium
A 15-15-15 solution contains 15% Nitrogen, 15% Phosphorus, 15% Potassium. A 20-10-5 solution contains 20% Nitrogen, 10% Phosphorus, 5% Potassium. The percentage of the solution not used by N-P-K is trace elements and inert material. An all purpose hydroponics nutrient solution with secondary elements like calcium, sulphur and magnesium and trace elements like boron, copper, molybdenum, zinc, iron, and manganese will get you through all stages of growth. Higher amounts Of Nitrogen N are needed during the Vegetative growth cycle of the plant and a higher amount of Phosphorus P is needed during the flowering stage of a plant. There are both Grow and Bloom nutrients available on the market to provide the correct amount of each for the growth period they are in.
Macronutrients
Plants need around 16 mineral nutrients for optimal growth. However, not all these nutrients are equally important for the plant. The three major minerals -- Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium --are used by plants in large amounts. Macronutrients are present in large concentrations in plants. All nutrients combine in numerous ways to help produce healthy plants. Usually, sulfur-S, calcium-Ca, and magnesium-Mg are also considered macronutrients.
These nutrients play many different roles in plants. Here are some of their dominant functions:
Nitrogen N --promotes development of new leaves
Phosphorus P --aids in root growth and blooming
Potassium K --important for disease resistance and aids growth in extreme temperatures
Sulfur S --contributes to healthy, dark green color in leaves
Calcium Ca --promotes new root and shoot growth
Magnesium Mg --chlorophyll, the pigment that gives plants their green color and absorbs sunlight to make food, contains a Mg ion
Micronutrients
Boron B, copper Cu, cobalt Co, iron Fe, manganese Mn, molybdenum Mo, and zinc Zn are only present in minute quantities in plants and are known as micronutrients. Plants can usually acquire adequate amounts of these elements from the soil, so most commercial fertilizers don't contain all of the micronutrients. However, Hydroponic growers don't have any soil to provide these nutrients for their plants. Therefore, a nutrient solution that is marketed for hydroponic gardening containing all the micronutrients are needed for optimal growth.
Now there are a thousand different types and brands of Nutrients available. I personally use Fox Farms Nutrients in my hydroponic setup. The Grow Big for the Vegetative cycle has an N-P-K of 3-2-6 and the Tiger Bloom for flowering has an N-P-K of 2-8-4. It is also recommended to add the Big Bloom which is an additional bloom stimulant. It is added to the Tiger Bloom to aid in Optimal flowering and bloom stimulation. it has an N-P-K of 0.001-0.3-0.7. The Fox Farms nutrients are Organic or Organic based. I prefer this for several reasons. From what I understand it is a lot harder to burn a plant for one and also it just is a lot better for the plant and for you. It doesn't matter if you are growing Tomatoes or Marijuana, Organic fertilizers are the best. I will go into some of the differences between Organic and Chemical later. I have to get a few more things together for it to sound right and not organically Bias.