Gardening and Home Improvement

Archive for the ‘Garden Planning’ Category

Soil is not actually necessary for growing plants. Plants need the nutrients in the soil, not the soil itself. Hydroponic growing replaces the soil with water mixed with the nutrients they need. This mixture needs careful handling, to prevent nutrient problems.

Salt and Residue Accumulation
1. As hydroponic plants grow, they draw some of the nutrients out of the water. This can build up salts and nutrient residue, and otherwise change the chemical makeup of the water in ways that can harm the plants. Frequent testing and alterations to the nutrient mixture are needed to prevent this.

Imbalance in pH
2. The proper mixture of nutrients in the water might be naturally harmful to the plants. Many plants need a very specific level of acidity in the water they drink. The nutrients may make the water too alkaline or too acidic.

Special Nutrient Needs
3. Commercial nutrient mixtures are often meant for general purposes. They may not be the best mixture for every plant.