1. Organic hydroponic nutrients
By making your own hydroponic nutrients, you able to ensure that they are purely organic by using only organic materials. As opposed to store bought hydroponic nutrients, you may not be sure about the ingredients that are going into your plants.

2. Customized hydroponic nutrients
Making your own hydroponic nutrients is the only way for you to customize the specific nutrient needs for your plant. You can grow your plants the way you want them to by using DIY hydroponic nutrients.

Make Hydroponic Nutrients

On top of the fundamental 3 key elements: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; you need at least 10 other trace elements when making hydroponic nutrients. Each of these trace elements has its specific role in nourishing your plants. These elements include sulphur, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, chlorine, boron and molybdenum.

Nutrients requirement of a plant changes under different conditions, weather and timing. Therefore, the nutrient solution must be in balanced ratio that contains all of the important elements in order to satisfy the requirements of the plant at any one time.

Formula to Make Hydroponic Nutrients

Combine the following ingredients in a container and set aside for later use.

- 15 oz superphosphate
- 10 oz potassium sulphate
- 10 oz sodium nitrate
- 10 oz calcium nitrate
- 5 oz magnesium sulphate

These are the trace elements to be added into our hydroponic nutrients in order to provide balance nutrients for proper plant growth.

- 1 oz iron sulphate
- 1 teaspoon boric acid powder
- 1 teaspoon manganese sulphate
- 1/2 teaspoon copper sulphate
- 1/2 teaspoon zinc sulphate

Combine the above trace elements in a different container. Mix them well before crushing them into fine powder. When they are completely mixed and in powdery form, add them to the formula prepared above and stirs well.

You can either
1. Use the ratio of 1/2 teaspoon to 100 gallons of water, or
2. Mix 1 teaspoon into one quart of water and use one liquid ounce to 3 gallons of nutrient solution.

Keep in mind that the remaining mix shall be discarded as it becomes bad after a day.

Tips for Making Hydroponic Nutrients

1. Use a large and clean bowl for mixing the trace elements.
2. Use a mortar and pestle to crush pebbly elements.
3. Add powdered trace elements in the last step and mix everything together gently.

Related Posts

• DIY Hydroponic Nutrients: How to make nutrient solution for hydroponic gardening?
• Homemade NFT Hydroponic System
• Misconceptions about Hydroponic Gardening

The basic things that you will need to make a solution of hydroponic nutrients are as follows: sodium nitrate, calcium nitrate, potassium sulphate, super phosphate, and magnesium sulphate. Each of these is essential to proper plant growth using hydroponic gardening techniques. You will also need iron sulphate, zinc sulphate, boric acid powder, manganese sulphate, and copper sulphate.

These particular ingredients are important to proper plant health. Each ingredient for hydroponic nutrients plays its own role in hydroponic gardening. Nitrogen is essential for the building and growth of plant cells. Phosphorus helps with root growth and the development of fruits and flowers. Potassium and chlorine are used during the photosynthetic process. Sulfur is a catalyst for the phosphorus. Iron helps to make chlorophyll, the green color of your hydroponic plants. Calcium helps the roots to grow. If you do not know the proper amounts of each nutrient, then you should probably buy the ready-made solution of hydroponic nutrients from the store. The mixing of nutrients needs to be very precise and accurate. If not, the solution can be deadly to your plants.

Another thing that you need to remember when making your own solution of hydroponic nutrients is that the solution will need to be stored somewhere out of the reach of children and pets. This is simply because the solutions used for hydroponic gardening are deadly and dangerous. This is a very complicated science. If you are not a scientist, it is not advisable for a beginner to be trying to make a nutrient solution. There are plenty of different ones that are available in the markets. The nutrient solutions must be exactly precise in order to benefit the plants and not destroy them. Plants have a certain pH level that must be maintained. Usually, the natural minerals in soil are sufficient to monitor or maintain the pH level of the plants. However, because there is no soil being used in hydroponic gardening, you must constantly check the pH level of the nutrient solution so that the plants remain healthy. This is essential to your plants’ long healthy life and longevity.

Certain solutions will only help certain types of plants. Other solutions will only enhance certain functions such as root growth or fruit development. You should always know the difference between the different types of solutions or your hydroponic gardening experience will be fatal.  Yes, the store bought solutions may cause you to have to research and ask questions. In the long run, it will save you a lot of headaches.

Related Posts

• Make Hydroponic Nutrients | DIY Hydroponic Nutrients
• Hydroponic Kits: Great for Indoor Gardening
• Building Ebb and Flow Hydroponic Systems