There is an almost overwhelming array of nutrients and additives available on today’s hydroponic market. Many gardeners
choose a particular brand of nutrients and stay loyal to that
brand, while some people mix and match, making a fertilizer
cocktail. Determining the best combination of nutrients can
be a long process involving countless experiments. Plants, like
people, don’t all thrive on exactly the same diet so it’s important to find your particular crop’s preferred mix. Although each
crop is unique there are certain steps every gardener can take
when trying to build the ultimate fertilizer regimen.
Base Formulas
Start with a quality base fertilizer. A good base formula is
exactly what its name implies—a foundation for your entire
fertilizer regimen. Base formulas consist of the nutrients plants
need for basic survival and general health. Most base nutrients
are split into grow and bloom formulations, with their nutrient ratios specific to that particular stage of growth. There
are a wide variety of base nutrients available in one-, two- or
three-part formulas, all of which contain the essential building
blocks for plant nutrition. Quality base fertilizers will contain a
substantial amount of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) along with a variety of micronutrients. A base fertilizer
with multiple sources of each particular element is a good
choice—this diversity allows the plant to choose the source
from which the nutrients are taken. In other words, a base
formula containing both calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate
is a better choice than one that contains only potassium nitrate.
Along the same lines, an organic base fertilizer containing bat
guano, worm castings and kelp would be a better choice than
one that contains only bat guano.
Calcium is a vital nutrient for plant health and
a tricky aspect of the base formula.
Most base fertilizers contain
only a small amount
of calcium
“
Plants, like people, don’t
all thrive on exactly the
same diet so it’s important
to find your particular
crop’s preferred mix.
”
Maximum Yield USA | March 2012
65