Hydroponic Nutrient Chart – Guide, Formula, Calculator, Solution For Vegetables

Hydroponic Nutrient Chart for Vegetables

Hello friends, Are you interested to know about the Hydroponic nutrient chart for growing vegetables? Well, here is some helpful information. Hydroponic cultivation of crops has significantly increased in recent years worldwide, as it allows more efficient use of water and fertilizers, as well as better climate and pest control factors. Hydroponics means growing plants without soil that the nutrients that are naturally available in the soil are not available to be used by the plants. The hydroponic plants can obtain nutrients is through the water and nutrient solution that is provided to them in the hydroponic system. Also, hydroponic production increases crop quality and productivity, which results in higher competitiveness and economic incomes.

Introduction

Hydroponic plant nutrients can be a complex issue or as simple as mixing and pouring. Anyone not familiar with hydroponic nutrients sticks with a proven formula from a reputable manufacture, and simply follows the directions on the container. Hydroponic nutrients are more directly available to plants; hydroponic systems can eliminate bottlenecks to production that are involved in nutrients. Then, this increases the growing capacities of these types of systems. Providing nutrients to hydroponic plants is a more complicated process than fertilizing plants growing in soil. A hydroponic nutrient solution allows you to perfectly tailor the delivery of nutrients and optimize plant growth.

The proportion of nutrients will change depending on different factors;

• Plant type
• Plant growth stage
• Parts of plants you want to encourage to develop like a leaf, fruit, and root
• Light intensity, weather, season, and temperature.

Nutrients are one of the basics of any hydroponic system to plant growth. For fertilizer to be incorporated into a hydroponic, it must be soluble in water. If not, the plant cannot access it. With a Hydroponics system, the grower has complete control over the implementation of fertilizer, regarding type and concentration. Also, they can immediately monitor and maintain a relative consistency, providing a nutrient meter is available. The composition of the nutrients is important and there are over 20 elements that are needed for a plant to grow. Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen nutrients are absorbed from the air and water.

The composition of elements in nutrients designed for soil is different from that for Hydroponics because soil-grown plants get most of these elements from the soil. With Hydroponics there is no soil to get the elements from, so the two are very different in composition as they are not designed to be a complete plant food and they may not water-soluble.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Hydroponic Nutrient Chart for Vegetables

Factors to be Considered When Choosing a Hydroponic Nutrient Solution

The hydroponic system defined as growing plants in water containing nutrients. Plants cannot properly function without 17 essential nutrients. These nutrients are needed so that processes critical to plant growth can occur. Essential plant nutrients can be broadly categorized as macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients and micronutrients are both essential nutrients for plant growth.

The essential elements for plant growth in hydroponics;

• Nitrogen (N)
• Potassium (K)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Calcium (Ca)
• Magnesium (Mg)
• Sulphur (S)
• Iron (Fe)
• Manganese (Mn)
• Copper (Cu)
• Zinc (Zn)
• Molybdate (Mo)
• Boron (B)
• Chlorine (Cl)

Many nutrients may contain some of the ‘beneficial elements’ such as Nickel (Ni), Cobalt (Co), Silica (Si), or Selenium (Se). While these are not ‘essential’ and they can be beneficial to many crops.

For a hydroponics system, you’ll want to have these three nutrient mixes to regularly fertilize your system;

• N-P-K mix
• Calcium nitrate
• Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate)

The rest of the primary nutrients for plants are nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.

Great hydroponic nutrient management occurs when growers are;

• Informed plant nutrients and where they come from
• Supplying adequate amounts of nutrients to plants
• Supplying the correct ratios of plant nutrients
• Monitoring each plant nutrient at any given time

Some important factors have to be considered when preparing a hydroponic nutrient solution;

• Water quality;
• Required nutrients and their concentrations;
• Nutrient balance;
• Hydroponic nutrient solution pH level;
• pH level effect on the uptake of nutrients by plants.

A nutrient solution for hydroponic systems is an aqueous solution containing inorganics ions from soluble salts of essential elements for higher plants. Eventually, some organic compounds such as iron chelates can be present. Currently, 17 elements are essential for most plants; these are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, Sulphur, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, boron, chlorine, and nickel. Except for carbon (C) and oxygen (O), which are supplied from the atmosphere, the essential nutritional elements are obtained from the growth medium. Other nutritional elements such as sodium, silicon, vanadium, selenium, cobalt, aluminium, and iodine among others, are considered beneficial because some of them can stimulate the growth, or can compensate the toxic effects of other elements, or replace essential nutrients in a less specific role. The nutrient composition determines the EC (electrical conductivity) and osmotic potential of the solution.

Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the Hydroponic Nutrient Solution

Electrical conductivity (EC) is an indirect way of measuring the concentration of the nutrient solution. An EC meter will measure the electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution. Then, this reading is then converted into a measure of the total dissolved solids in PPM (parts per million). 

An EC meter can be helpful to ensure that your nutrient solution is made to the correct concentration and remains at this level over time. It will help prevent nutrient solution from getting too concentrated.

Importance of Temperature and Water Quality in Hydroponics

In case if you miss this: Growing Flowers In Pots At Home.

A single plant’s needs may also change under different environmental conditions like weather, season, and temperature. In all systems, hydroponic water temperature is critical. The ideal water temperature for the hydroponics system is between 18 to 26°C. The nutrient solution should be kept at a steady temperature. For the winter season, you can buy miniature water heaters that go inside your reservoir to keep the nutrient solution warm. For summer, keeping the reservoir in a shaded area and periodically topping it off with cool water is sufficient to keep it from getting too hot.​​​

The hydroponic nutrient solution has minerals in the raw water and nutrients added with fertilizers. The selection of fertilizers and their concentration in the hydroponic nutrient solution depends on the quality of the raw water. So, testing the raw water before deciding on a fertilizer formula is imperative.

Water quality is an important determinative factor in a hydroponics system. Water is the basic ‘carrier’ in the hydroponics system as it dissolves and transports nutrients for plants. Though, water also dissolves a lot of impurities that can be harmful to plants.

Problems Resulting from High Temperatures of Hydroponic Nutrient Solution

High nutrient solution temperatures will cause a variety of problems for hydroponic plants. Water temperature too far above the optimum range will begin to cause heat stress for the plants, and extremely high temperatures will cause the plant to ultimately shut.

Plant roots subjected to high nutrient solution temperatures shut down and go into survival mode. Some of the symptoms include wilting, causing the plants to abort fruiting and dropping flowers, soft and brown spots on already existing fruit, lettuce plants to start bolting (elongate and go to seed), low dissolved oxygen levels, roots beginning to get slimy, roots turning black color and dying.

The pH of The Hydroponic Nutrient Solution

The optimal pH level of the hydroponic nutrient solution is 5.8 to 6.3. Micronutrients are more available in lower pH levels, but when pH levels drop below 5.5, you run the risk of micronutrient toxicity, as well as the impaired availability of calcium and magnesium.

In hydroponics, especially in closed systems, the roots readily affect the hydroponic solution pH level, so pH tends to fluctuate. And, appropriate products for acidifying the hydroponic nutrient solution are sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and nitric acid. The optimal pH level to grow plants within a hydroponic system is between 5.8 and 6.3, depending on the individual plant. Every nutrient is absorbed by plants at a greater or lesser rate depending on the pH level of the nutrient solution.

Hydroponic Nutrient Chart, Formula for Growing Vegetables

Generally, plants will have a higher nutrient requirement during cooler months, and a lower requirement in the hottest months. So, a stronger nutrient solution must be maintained during winter, with a weaker solution during summer when plants take up and transpire more water than nutrients.

Electro-Conductivity (EC) can be expressed as milliSiemens (mS). The higher the concentration of salts, the higher the EC (electrical conductivity). Measuring this tells you how much nutrient there is in the water in hydroponics.

 Hydroponic Nutrient Chart for Growing Vegetables

Hydroponic Nutrient Requirement for Vegetables

Hydroponic Nutrients for Lettuce

The ideal pH level for a hydroponics system is 5.5-6.5 (5.8-6.0 is even better). Then, this pH level is acid enough to kill algae and alkaline enough to allow plants to use nutrients efficiently. Lettuce plant requires a nutrient solution that will yield maximum production in the plant’s vegetative phase, all while not pushing it towards the flowering phase. This requires a solution with an N-P-K ratio high in nitrogen, and some amount of phosphorus but not so rich in potassium.

• Flower Garden Designs and Layouts for Beginners
• Planting and Spacing Techniques in Papaya: A Beginner’s Guide
• Growing Gold: Essential Techniques for Planting Pineapples
• How to Make Kalanchoe Plant Bushy: Home Remedies and Solutions
• 11 Reasons Why Your Gardenia is Not Blooming: Home Remedies and Solutions
• Eco Elegance: The Guide to Designing a Drought-Tolerant Landscape
• Gardening on a Slope: Strategies for Hillside Landscaping
• Nourish and Flourish: Top Organic Mulches for Thriving House Plants
• Everything You Want to Know about Indian Mogra Flower: Discover Uses and Growing

Micronutrients are also important for plant growth. For lettuce plant varieties that can suffer from tip burn, make sure there is always enough calcium in the solution. While some lettuce varieties are tolerant of low oxygen levels, keeping the solution well aerated will certainly promote healthy growth. High levels of potassium, calcium, and magnesium are required to grow lettuce plants. Some lettuce plant types are more sensitive to nitrogen than others, so make sure that the nutrients you buy are the right kind for the crop you are growing. Also, follow the nutrient kit directions exactly for the best results.

The Lettuce plant requires fast growth for best results and it requires a lot of potassium to grow well. Lettuce grows very well with 8-15-36 hydroponic fertilizer with the pH level adjusted to 6.4 for seedlings and 6.0 for mature plants. A general nutrient PPM can be from 560 – 840 depending on the lettuce variety being grown. Some lettuce varieties are nitrogen sensitive and can get leaf tip burn. Calcium and Magnesium sulphate should be added separately to the hydroponic solution as it is usually not part of the mix. Lettuce plant does not need a lot of strong light and we grow them very successfully under fluorescent grow lights.

Hydroponic Tomato Nutrient Requirement

The water quality and the nutrient solution are the major factors to successful hydroponic tomato cultivation. The pH level of the water should remain between 5.0 and 7.0 at all times for optimal nutrient absorption. The pH level of the nutrient solution must be between 5.5 and 6.0. The electrical conductivity of the water must be less than 0.5 mS/cm. If there are any nutrient deficiencies, the results can be easily seen on the plants. Check for the following symptoms;

• Yellow color plant leaves are a sign of a high pH level or low quantity of nutrients
• Red stems/curled up leaf tips indicates a low pH level
• Leaf tips curling down shows a higher than the necessary nutrient level
• Early flower falls are the result of potassium deficiency

Tomatoes require a low nitrogen level compared to leaf crops and root crops. The required microelement levels for tomatoes are boron 0.44, chlorine 0.85, copper 0.05, iron 2.5, manganese 0.62, molybdenum 0.06, and zinc 0.09 ppm. The necessary concentration of macroelements changes after the Tomato plants reach about 24 inches tall and the fruit reaches about 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter. More nitrogen is needed in the summer season or during times of higher light exposure, and more potassium is needed in the fall and winter months.

Hydroponic Nutrients for Beans

Beans are famed as the most productive and low-maintenance vegetable plants that can be grown hydroponically. You can choose the types of beans you wish to grow like green beans, pole beans, pinto beans, and lima beans. Perlite has a neutral pH level and will not affect the alkalinity or acidity of your solution. It is inexpensive and reusable. It is porous and has excellent wicking action, meaning that it will absorb and draw up liquids via capillary action. The optimal temperature for the widest range of beans is 21 to 26°C during the day cycle and roughly 65 to 21°C during the night cycle. One reason beans are so easily grown hydroponic system is that they require only relatively small amounts of nutrients.

Beans will pull nitrogen from the air but they can also benefit from trace minerals like chlorine, cobalt, molybdenum, zinc, boron, manganese, iron, and copper.

Hydroponic Nutrients for Cucumber

Cucumbers thrive in the hydroponics system due to their rapid growth rate and desires for warmth, moisture, and nutrients which are effectively filled in the hydroponic system. They are one of the highest yielding plants grown in a hydroponic setup. Hydroponic fertilizers have proper amounts of all nutrients and help stabilize the nutrient solution’s acidity and alkalinity. Then, add 1/2 pound of a hydroponic fertilizer that has an N-P-K ratio of 10-8-22, plus 2 ounces of magnesium sulfate to 10 gallons of water. Also, an alternative mixture uses 3 ounces of a 3-16-36 hydroponic fertilizer, 3 ounces of soluble grade calcium nitrate, and 2 ounces of magnesium sulfate.

Cucumbers grow well and have few difficulties under home gardening hydroponic conditions. Cucumber plants are heavy feeders. Once plants are fruiting, potassium concentrations in the fertilizer can be increased by up to about 50% more than nitrogen concentrations. Cucumber plants take a lot of space to grow but in hydroponic gardening, cucumbers grow like crazy with 8-16-36 Hydroponic fertilizer. You want to add the Calcium and Magnesium sulphate separately like most good vegetable formulas but it is well worth the extra few minutes that it takes to do it.

Hydroponic Nutrients for Peppers

Hydroponic nutrient employs liquid vitamin solutions for growing plants instead of soil. By using hydroponics your Chilli plants will grow more quickly due to the easy availability of requisite nutrients producing greater and higher quality yields. You can use one stone wool or rock wool cube per seed for germination, which generally takes around 10 to 12 days. These rock wool cubes must be presoaked for 24 hours and drained before planting. Keep these cubes wet by using grow nutrient formula of half strength and pH level between 5.5 and 6.0 at a temperature ranging between 23 and 25°C until the first leaves become at least an inch long. You can opt for perlite or perlite and vermiculite mix as your growing medium.

Hydroponic Nutrients for Carrots

Carrots can be grown hydroponically all year around. Carrots grow best with a solution pH level of about 6.0 to 6.5, up to 7.5 is tolerable but not optimal. Maturing Carrots need nutrient solution strength of 1120-1400 ppm.

Germinating and new carrot seedlings must be fed a weaker solution, slightly more than half strength gradually bumped up to full strength as they mature it should not exceed 1400-1450 ppm. Getting your nutrients right is essential for plant growth. If you aren’t big into numbers and statistics, then you just know that carrots don’t need a ton of nutrients. As seedlings, you need to dilute the nutrients more, and as they mature, they will require less diluted nutrients.

Hydroponic Nutrients for Eggplant

Eggplants require nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and also some other trace elements. The pH level of the nutrient solution should be 5.5 to 6. Moreover, the ppm must be in the range of 1750 to 2450.

Growing eggplants in a hydroponic indoors will save a lot of water. When eggplants used to be grown outside, the tree should be watered nearly every day to maximize growth, but when using indoor hydroponics, water consumption decreases significantly. So, you will need to check the nutrient solution every couple of days and top it off with water. It will usually take between 30 to 60 days for the pH level to increase so that a full nutrient solution change is required.

Hydroponic Nutrients for Potatoes

Hydroponics gives you the ability to grow several vegetables, including potatoes, on a small condo balcony or in a small yard greenhouse. Also, it allows you to grow them year-round in the warmth of your home, as long as the plants are exposed to sunlight through your windows most of the day.

Potatoes are easy to grow in a hydroponics system. Maintaining the optimum growing conditions for hydroponic potatoes is vital for reaching the harvest period that you have always dreamt of. The nutrient solution’s pH level should be kept around 6. A range that starts from 5.0-6.0 pH level can be sufficient to keep your hydroponic potato growing efficiently. The ppm should be maintained in a range of around 1400 to 1750. The temperature of your nutrient solution should be around 21°C.