A Beginners Guide: Hydroponic Nutrients

Nutrient management is the crux of a healthy hydroponic system. (Read the article: university.upstartfarmers.com... )
For even more information about Hydroponic Nutrients, enroll in our Upstart University program and check out our Hydroponics Nutrients & Fertilizers course at university.upstartfarmers.com...
Great nutrient management occurs when growers are:
1) Aware of all necessary plant nutrients and where they come from
2) Supplying adequate nutrients in correct ratios to plants
3) Monitoring and measuring how much of each plant nutrient is available in their system at any given time
4) Making economic and work-flow conscious decisions about how to source and supply nutrients.
Most plants (and all of the crop plants that you’re likely to grow) rely on 16 nutrients to grow and reproduce. Of these, three are available through water uptake and gas exchange (the air): Carbon through CO2, hydrogen, and oxygen.
The remaining thirteen nutrients are the mineral nutrients delivered to plants through nutrient solutions (dissolved fertilizer).
The overall nutrient level in a solution is measured in EC, or electrical conductivity.The units used to measure EC are ppm or mS/cm, although ppm is used more commonly for measuring total dissolved solids. That’s a different measurement for a different blog post. Hydroponics really need to understand the second unit, mS/cm. This is often just expressed as the “EC level”. (For example, “The EC of the solution is 1.8,” with no unit.)
Ideal mS/cm is typically between 1.2 and 3.3. There’s a broad range of acceptable EC levels, and each crop has an ideal range.
Supplying the correct ratio of nutrients in adequate levels is only half of the nutrient management picture; the other task for farm managers is to keep those nutrients available to plants, and the main factor influencing that availability is pH.
Nutrients are soluble at different pH values. Check out an absorption chart (there's one in the article version of this video) to learn more.
Adjusting pH to your ideal range can be done with pH Down or pH Up, which are acids or bases (respectively). Never add both at once!
There are two main forms of fertilizer: dry and liquid.
Dry fertilizer is mostly used in commercial settings because there’s a lot less to ship (you’re not shipping water), making it more cost effective. You can also tailor dry fertilizer better to your needs, because it comes in separate parts.
Liquid fertilizer is simple to use and great for home and hobby systems. It’s easier to manage since you can just add a certain amount of one liquid to your system water, but it’s more expensive to ship. (Most people on a small scale only buy a little at a time though, so shipping is less important.)
The best way to mix a solution is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
If you’re not using an auto-doser, you’ll still mix it the same way, but you’ll add it to your system bit by bit in equal ratios and test it until it’s at the right level. You’ll get better and better at this over time.
There are a multitude of handheld measuring devices and testers. Our favorite suppliers are Blue Lab, Hanna Instruments, and AutoGrow. We’ve used each of these and are currently using AutoGrow’s NutriTest, a handheld meter which measures both EC and pH with the same device. There are a variety of options out there.
Subscribe to this channel to learn more!
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Timestamps/What's Covered:
00:24 The 16 Plant Nutrients
04:27 Electrical Conductivity
06:39 pH
09:22 Fertilizer
12:00 Nutrient Solubility
14:00 Mixing Solutions
17:13 Measurement Devices
18:10 Review
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Visit our store for growing supplies and nutrients: shop.zipgrow.com/collections/...
Don’t forget to like and subscribe to our channel and pop your questions in the comments below.
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[@Kingsley4K]

If only all KZbin videos were like this. No fluff, no flair, organized presentation, appropriately touched on every relevant topic, and provided additional resources and references.

[@slacra8619]

I watched at least a dozen videos dancing around this topic before watching yours. Very simple, very clear. You have a great way of explaining things. Thank you!

[@ZipGrowInc]

Glad we could help, Sla Cra.

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I can across your video on Fast Track Grower - there are many useful videos there that should help you

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I watched this video at least a dozen times

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This is a really informative video for budding Hydroponic farmers! Simple, Brief and to the point! Thank you for putting up such content!

[@strengthandgracemovement9117]

This gave me so much clarity about hydroponic nutrients! Thank you!!

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It is fascinating how complex this is, yet in nature… plants just grow.

[@RWOSR1]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! Im a beginner. Was truly spending time SEARCHING for anyone offering reliable information on exactly what you covered! Your explanations are easy for me to understand and I am very grateful!

[@ZipGrowInc]

Glad it was helpful! We have more free resource on our website if you are interested zipgrow.com/grow-guides/

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[@iamtoday874]

But d***, this is so incredibly informative. It felt like I was in a collegiate class. Very nice video. New subscriber here! 😃

[@horacetaylor713]

Excellent breakdown on nutrient solutions and understanding what your meter readings are saying.

[@mohammedwasim2841]

precisely explained in every bit which gives a thought. thank u

[@ZipGrowInc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@debbiem6385]

As I start my journey into hydroponics I am cursing my high school guidance counselor for discouraging me to register for chemistry & physics. Fortunately I stumbled into a career that has been fruitful but I felt that I was missing something my whole life because I did not have the proper education in these areas. I couldn't tell you the purpose of nitrogen, phosphorous or potassium until I watched your video.... thank you for the education!!

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Omg thank you for this video. Very informative and it explained everything incredibly clear and concise. Thank you so much.

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Hi ZipGrow. I'm really surprised to see you still at it. Had heard you sold up and moved on for big bucks. You earned the right to big bucks but glad to see you're still putting out content since you're perhaps the biggest contributor to this kind of hydroponic information necessary to successfully make it work. So nice one brother. Hope the lockdown hasn't adversely effected you all. Hope to see more of your videos sir. Kind regards from Ireland.

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This is extremely thorough. Great stuff

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[@The21stKam]

Very informative and well-done from the way the information was laid out to your speaking speed. Thank you.

[@MrGreenthumb1000]

Greatly informative in an understandable form. Thanks guys

[@chaohuang3845]

thank you, very simple to understand.

[@justtinkering6054]

First hydroponics nutrient video I have watched. Thank you. Very informative video. Every other video I watch will be judged against this. I doubt I'll find better.

[@giovannysilva7735]

You present the info in very ez way to take in, tyvm m8

[@99Jaapie]

Absolutely excellent video. Really informative. I live in Thailand where instructions on fertilezers etc are in Thai. We can however buy A and B dry mixes etc. Many thanks for this!

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[@jasonbarth5883]

The majority of technical videos on hydroponics are poorly put together, full or errors, and missing critical information. Your video is thought out and each topic is explained in great detail. Excellent production. Look forward to other videos from you.

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So helpful and professional. Thank you

[@JohnSmith-td6dn]

very nicely done! Just starting don't have a clue. Now I'm a little smarter. Thanks

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Wow so detailed and yet easy to understand ! Kudos

[@fatenhappy1]

Great stuff and heaps of notes taken .. thanks

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very interesting. thumbs up!

[@ZipGrowInc]

Glad you enjoyed it!

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yes, interesting but useless images as well.

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Thank you for the information. Keep up the good work!

[@ZipGrowInc]

Our pleasure! Thanks for watching!

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Great break down thank you!

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Very cool and useful info. Well spoken. Thank you

[@domitnate1997]

glad you have at least some knowledge of chemistry when talking about this. I have run into some very funny statements where chem and gardening intersect. very informational thanks

[@lindseyf1022]

Thank you so much for this. Anyone can tell me how, but thank you for telling me why! I am on my second grow and followed a guide strictly. Now for my second I truly want to know why we use these nutrients and how to begin to identify when one is needed. Thank you again!!!

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*For 100 litter water* Magnesium Sulfate - 50 grams Potassium Nitrate - 50 grams Monoammonium Phosphate - 18 grams Calcium Nitrate - 70 grams Manganese Chelate - 0.667 Gram Boron Chelate - 0.35 Gram Zinc Chelate - 0.25 Gram Sodium Molybdate - 0.013 Gram Copper Chelate - 0.143 Gram Iron EDTA Fe(EDTA) 2.24 grams

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Glad you enjoyed it Jose!

[@erengocuk7873]

How can i find the specific formulas for specific crops and can you please give more detail about micro solutions? Thanks.

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Thanks for tuning in!

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wow, now this is detailed af... great job!

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Great video!!!

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insanely well explained!!!

[@sam111880]

Nice explaination , i definitely get dry mix fertilizer and go thru the few extra added steps if I was getting much more fertilizer to uses and it was cheaper because fertilizer gets price if it's a liquid based one. Also I knew how to use the EC testers , TDS testers , and pH testers but didn't know there was equipment like auto dosers that just automatically told you that info on computer screen in real time. So if you did mess up for example pH you could uses a pH up or pH down solution to fix it. And just look back at the auto dosers screen.

[@DaDunge]

9:17 Actually if you combine an acid and a base they will create something called a buffer solution which will make changing the pH n either direction a lot more difficult. Especially if you use the corresponding base to the acid.

[@renanguidini6281]

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[@Haliotro]

so thankful for your work and especially informative videos you do on plant science like these!

[@ZipGrowInc]

Happy to help!

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Great explanation. Well done video.

[@ZipGrowInc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@EileenLam]

Fantastic video! Thank you. Just getting into hydroponics and found this really informative. Can I get your thoughts on mixing the nutrients ... would it work if I mix the calcium nitrate in warm water first, let it cool down, then add the NPK + magnesium sulphate directly to the same bucket?

[@daveb7999]

Excellent and very helpful video, Thank You! You have a knack for putting this fairly complex chemistry into everyday terms so it's very easy to follow. As another poster commented, feels like a college class where the passionate Professor (you) really knows and loves what they are teaching, For that, thank you ... feed me more. :-) Keep doin' what you're doin', you are helping others!

[@jagannathkulkarni2415]

excellent explanation I liked it

[@eyeswideshut2800]

Thank you, you guys rock and have a way of explaining that makes me care about pH. I couldn't understand why both up and down, can't you just adjust with water? I should watch the rest of video..lol

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I’d love to see more videos.

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[@ZipGrowInc]

Glad you liked it! Thank you😀🌱

[@davestrom3598]

A beginners guide geared to commercial grow,,,it really doesnt matter what brand nutes you use learn the basics to feeding first,,,to be succesful in hydroponics you must first learn to feed properly,,ph is one of the most important things you need to manage,,a crop production guide or nutrient calander probly wont fit your grow,,to many variables,,it matters definately how much nutes you have,,when ph ing,,the most important thing is your ph swing,,this is directly affected by nutrient values,,use your tds meter an ph pen,,12 hours after feeding check your ph,,if it raises you didnt feed enough,,if it falls you fed to much,,learn this its BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION HYDRO BEGINNERS CAN GET

[@turkturkic7015]

interesting and thanks ☺

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Excellent content and presentation.

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Bravo! 👏🏻 Thank you for this. Best explanation ever.

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Hi Jay, glad that it was helpful!

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[@ZipGrowInc]

You are welcome!

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OUtstanding presentation.

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Thx for the tips

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Great video ! Thank you ! I have a question How important do you think is the origin of those Elements (1,2,3), can they be harmful for the consumer if acquired from the wrong source? What are the guidelines to access those elements. One more question, in your opinion how important/different it is to grow vertical farming in pvc tubes or tube that are made from natural material i.e. wooden ? Great job Thank you

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Great video can I ask were is the best place to buy dry nutrients?

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Thank you

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Very informative

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This is the bollocks No serious this is class, good info man. I always appreciate the underlying knowledge that let's you problem solve and work out how to get what you specifcally want out of something Your the guy!!!

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Thanks for your comment.

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Valuable informations

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[@ZipGrowInc]

You are welcome.

[@Travel_XP]

Great video! I'm trying to grow a citrus plant (oranges), which nutrients ratio should I start? Would it be okay if i start with a higher N ratio, and then switch to a higher PK after its has a significant leafs growth?

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Thanks for sharing. Very useful explanation.

[@ZipGrowInc]

Awesome, that's great to hear. Thanks for tuning in. Hope you're subscribed! We have many more videos like this coming up.

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Thanks!

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Glad it was helpful!

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Thanks!

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Thanks for tuning in! Glad it was helpful.

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Video saved!.

[@glorisnoris9897]

hi i need to ask you a question but first great video put everything plain and simple and my question is about something you said on the video about automatic fertilization what kind of machine or gadget do you recommend for cherry tomatoes on a hydroponic greenhouse second question what height do you recommend for a greenhouse if i am planting undetermined tomatoes on the tropic at sea level ? my greenhouse will be 6' walls 18' at the center of the greenhouse 24' wide by 120' long -