Adding Hydroponic Nutrients
Adding nutrients to an Ebb & Flow hydroponics system is an important part of plant success. Gardener Scott shows and explains how to measure and apply nutrients to his AirCube hydroponics setup. (Video #445)
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Be careful, you’ll get addicted to hydroponics. You’ll be building larger hydroponic systems before you know it👍🏻
Having toms and lettuce in the same system generally involves some compromise. Toms will grow on a nutrient formulated for lettuce but they`d do much better on a tom specific formulation at the correct strength. .If you can lay your hands on some potassium nitrate (KNO3), for 20 gallons of tom specific nutrient i`d suggest using 42.5g masterblend, 54.7g calcium nitrate (assuming Haifa or Yara brand), 36.6g magnesium sulphate and 34.5g of potassium nitrate. Aim for an EC 2.0-2.2 and PH of 5.8 – 5.9. The peat moss will tend to drive the ph down so you may need to use PH up (Potassium Hydroxide) to counter its effect. I grow my toms without any media (aeroponic) which makes life easier. I have a 10 bucket flood and drain system for peppers which uses hydroton.
Master Blend great for your garden
This type of gardening seems very interesting to me. I wish I had the room to give it a try. TFS🌱 👍
I have started playing with kratky style hydroponics. I’m using the Flora series of nutrients. It is super easy. You just pour in the amount of each solution into water.
To change out nutrients, I just dump my old nutrient solution into my garden and make a new batch. I’m growing basil and have never seen bigger basil leaves. I am also growing dwarf tomatoes from the dwarf tomato project and they are doing very well so far. They are starting to bloom and fruit. It’s been a month and they are outside in the elements.
When I started the video, I was hoping you’d be using Masterblend as your nutrients. As always, excellent video.
Thanks for sharing your process and hydroponic system! Earlier this year, I had significant success using a knockoff Aerogarden unit and really enjoyed the small step into hydroponics and indoor tomatoes. Just this week, I decided to try an indoor kratky method with a mason jar. I like the idea of being able to easily replenish nutrients and learn from each stage of growth. It seems there is potentially more to learn from an indoor garden than outdoor because there is more controls and less unpredictable forces to affect plants. Cheers!
Fantastic video!
Sounds so complicated😮
I’ve heard to dissolve the different mixes separately so they are less likely to react early (or even while still dry!) with one another. So for three gallons total do one gallon of solution A, one gallon of solution B, one gallon of solution C, THEN blend them together as three gallons ABC.
If you use yucca or an enzyme like hygrozyme, you won’t have any build up of bacteria of Lyme/calcium, well both would be best because yucca will stop the Lyme, and hygrometer will stop the growth
Great video! Hydroponic systems seem like they might help protect plants from the unwanted insects like aphids. For seed-saving, which plants would you recommend since the pollinators are not as involved as they are in a regular bed?
I would also add to your routine to check the PH of your water. You can use a PH down product to bring it down… the algae will be a lot less of a problem if you do this and your plants will be happier. I also will add FON (force of nature) or Hydrogen Peroxide to help kill stuff you don’t want and keep the system clean.
Thank You for all you do! I have always wondered about hydroponics but never tried it. Maybe someday.
Gardener Scott is a stone cold PIMP
Hello scot, I always look forward to your videos. Question for you. As I am a new gardener inspired by your videos.When you srain the system water with probably unbalance chemicals would it be wise to throw it over your external raised beds?
I would think you want to know the PH of your tap water. Would clean rain water be better?
Hello Gardner Scott 😊
Hydroponics is an interesting topic as is aquaponics using fish 🐟 😊
That’s definitely not the way Masterblend tells you to mix your nutrients. Mixing your nutrients this way will cause them to precipitate. I know this from experience and using Masterblend for the last couple years.
The correct way is to dissolve the Masterblend into the reservoir. You then dissolve your Epson salts in a separate container and slowly mix into the dissolved Masterblend. You then you dissolve the calcium nitrate in a separate container and slowly add it to the combined dissolved nutrients, mixing thoroughly.
Then check your pH and make sure it’s in the parameters before you feed the plants.
The instructions are on the bag, just follow the instructions. It’s two teaspoons of Masterblend, 2 teaspoons of calcium nitrate, and one and a half teaspoons of magnesium sulfate or Epson salt making 5 gallons of nutrients.
You can dissolve the masterblend and Epsom together. But it’s a must to dissolve the calcium nitrate last or can cause nutrient lock.
I’ve use Masterblend a few times, and I seem to recall a specific sequence for mixing the 3 components. I’m not sure why there was a sequence, but it seemed important at the time. Thanks for sharing.
This is truly next level. Especially when the weather is too cold.
Scott are you using well water or city? Does it make a difference? What did you do with the old liquid food?
Hello Scott, this video is excellent. I am growing food indoors and outdoors including tomatoes. My tomatoes are at the same stage as yours including its first set of flowers. The difference is that l have still chosen to grow organically. If you are able to expand your grow to including a plant that is grown organically you could then do a side by side comparison. I think your tomato plants currently look less bushy than mine. I am growing 3 varieties including 1 determinate Urbana, 1 indeterminate Sweetie (Cherry) and an unknown black variety in which the seeds were passed onto me from someone elses garden. I have made my own fertilizer in 20 gallon containers with the main ingredients being brown leaves and wild grass. I also added seaweed and fish however l have to put up with a little smell which is gone after 8 hours. I have chosen to put up with the smell as the plants just look so much healthier, stronger and l feel the comparison is just too noticeable for me not be using the organic method. I saw your previous video Scott and l wish you well on your recovery after surgery. Thank you for sharing your time and experience. Best wishes Jason from Melbourne Australia.