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.

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However, organic hydroponic gardening is proven possible with the following tips.

Basically in hydroponic gardening, plants rely on water to provide necessary nutrients. Growing medium is used to anchor the roots system and to hold the hydroponic nutrient solution.

In order to comply with organic gardening rules, the growing medium used must be of organic material such as coconut fiber, straw, cotton, and coco peat. Same applies to the nutrient solution used to feed the plants. These must be organic as well. Usually compost tea is used to supply the much-needed nutrients for plants grown with organic hydroponic gardening. Compost tea is a nutrient rich solution made by steeping compost in water. Other organic options for hydroponic nutrient are manure tea, seaweed and fish emulsion.

Now you understand that hydroponic gardening can be organic too, as long as the growing medium and the nutrient solution used are organic. Organic hydroponic gardening is a good option for growing crops in soil-depleted places. For urbanites that lack of growing space, organic hydroponic gardening makes rooftop garden and / or indoor garden possible. I believe the most exciting part of organic hydroponic gardening is the fact that anyone can easily grow their healthy and fresher organic food within their hydroponic garden.

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