Download Part 3- Managing Your Nutrients

Nutrients and Cannabis Growing
Contents
PART 1-NUTRIENTS & CANNABIS GROWING........................................................................................................ 3
PART 2-NPK FORMULATION .................................................................................................................................. 5
PART 3- MANAGING YOUR NUTRIENTS ................................................................................................................ 7
PART 4- TWO TYPES OF NUTRIENTS ..................................................................................................................... 9
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Nutrients and Cannabis Growing
Part 1-Nutrients & Cannabis Growing
Hydroponic nutrients are one of the most important components of your
hydroponic growing system. This method of growing plants without the use of soil
supplies food to the plants by using nutrient media. Every plant needs to receive
the right amount of phosphorous, nitrogen, potassium, and many different trace
elements. The wrong nutrient balance, or a solution without enough hydroponic
nutrients in it, could cause serious problems for your hydroponic system. Lets take
a look at hydroponic nutrients and how to pick the ones that are right for you.
NUTRIENTS, IT'S ALL ABOUT NUTRIENTS!
There are all kinds of different commercial nutrient options out there. Some claim
to help your plants smell better. Others will allow you to produce plants more
quickly, to get more blooms on your flowering plants, or to produce sturdy plants
with significant root systems. The right hydroponic nutrients for your garden will
depend in part on what you want to grow, and what the primary focus of your
growing might be. Someone interested in producing greens quickly won't want the
same hydroponic nutrients as someone who wants to get a big yield from their
tomato plants.
Price will be another factor in the hydroponic nutrients you decide to purchase.
Not all brands are priced the same, and some of them could make your growing
process extremely expensive. On the other hand, the cheapest hydroponic
nutrients on the market might not produce high quality plants. You need to set a
price range appropriate to what you can afford to spend, then buy the highest
quality hydroponic nutrients you can within that price range. That is the best way
to get a great hydroponic garden without spending too much.
What about pH? You will need to pay attention to the pH level of your nutrient
solution. An overly acidic or overly alkaline solution could be bad for your plants
in the long run. The majority of plants prefer an acidity within the 5.5 to 7.5 range
- more alkaline nutrient solutions may prevent them from absorbing all the
nutrients available. Overly acidic solutions may cause damage to the roots.
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Nutrients and Cannabis Growing
Most nutrient solutions are a little acid, and the majority of tap water has a pH of
about 7 to 8. This means that you won't have too much trouble dropping your
hydroponic nutrients solution into the correct range. However, you will still need to
test the pH from time to time if you want to get the most out of your hydroponic
garden.
KEEP NUTRIENTS SIMPLE
Following a good nutrient regime and keeping it simple will go a long way to
ensure adequate uptake of all the essential nutrients. It is advisable not to use too
many formulations, as it may be very difficult to trace the exact cause of the
problem if there are many additives and supplements in the nutrient mix.
The right nutrients are essential to an effective hydroponic garden. Take a little
time to check out your options and see what is likely to be right for your needs.
You might be surprised what a change in nutrient solutions could do! At Cannabis
Training University you can learn how to grow cannabis from seed to smoke.
Make sure to enroll at CTU to get certified as a cannabis grower today!
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Nutrients and Cannabis Growing
Part 2-NPK Formulation
All plants, whether they are grown in soil or with hydroponics, require a balance
of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium (N-P-K), and trace elements to grow properly.
These nutrients are available to plants in soil in small amounts, but over time they
get depleted and need to be supplied separately to make up the deficit. In
hydroponics, it is all the more important to ensure that plants get the right nutrients
in the right amounts.
Hydroponics formulations are structured for specific stages of a plants life cycle.
A plants nutrients requirements vary according to the stages of its life cycle. When
plants are in the vegetative stage, they require greater amounts of nitrogen, which
is the key element in development of leaves and stems. Deficiency of nitrogen
during the growth period leads to stunted growth with yellowing of leaves. This is
the most commonly seen deficiency in plants. During the flowering cycle the plant
requires less nitrogen and more phosphorus and potassium.
NITROGEN
Nitrogen is essential for plant growth. Nitrogen is a part of every living cell. The
two forms of nitrogen that plants take up are in the ammonia (NH4) and nitrate
(N03) ion forms. Most agronomic crops take up most of their nitrogen in the nitrate
ion form. Plants will utilize N in the (NH4) ion form if present and available to the
plant. Lack of nitrogen and chlorophyll means that plants cannot utilize sunlight
as an energy source to carry on essential functions such as nutrient uptake.
Research has proven that foliar, or leaf applications of nitrogen, is one form of
application that can supplement a plants nitrogen requirements during the growing
cycle.
◉ Nitrogen is necessary for chlorophyll synthesis, and as a part of the
chlorophyll molecule, is involved in photosynthesis.
◉ Nitrogen is also a component of amino acids.
◉ Nitrogen is needed for growth of plants.
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Nutrients and Cannabis Growing
PHOSPHORUS
Phosphate is a very important plant nutrient (macro-nutrient) needed for the plant
to complete its normal production cycle. The highest level of P in young plants is
found in tissue at the growing stage. As plants mature most of the P moves into the
flower and then to the seed or fruit.
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Phosphorus is needed for photosynthesis.
Phosphorus is necessary for plant respiration.
Phosphorus is essential for energy storage and transfer.
Phosphorus is needed for cell division.
Phosphorus is necessary for cell enlargement.
Phosphorus is essential for several other plant processes.
POTASSIUM
An important function of Potassium is its influence in efficient water use . Potassium
helps in the process of opening and the closing of plant leaf pores, called the
stomata. Potassium is found in cell walls that surround stomata. Adequate
amounts of Potassium can increase stress conditions on plants during drought
conditions. Potassium is also responsible for producing quality crops.
◉ Potassium is essential for protein synthesis.
◉ Potassium is important in the breakdown of carbohydrates, providing energy
for plants.
◉ Potassium helps to control ionic balance.
◉ Potassium is important in the translocation of minerals.
◉ Potassium helps plants to overcome effects of disease.
◉ Potassium is essential in the fruit formation stage.
◉ Potassium helps improve shelf life of fruits and vegetables.
◉ Potassium is involved in the activation of more than 60 enzymes that
regulate the rate of major plant growth reactions.
The key to hydroponics can be directly associated with nutrients and lighting.
Without the proper amount of either your plants will be in trouble. For that matter,
too much of either is also not a good idea.
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Nutrients and Cannabis Growing
Part 3- Managing Your Nutrients
Do you belong to the category of hydroponic grower who believes in proper
management of the nutrients formula? Then its very important for you to
understand the importance of hydroponics nutrients and accordingly use these
nutrients in your plants life. Here are few tips for you that will help you effectively
manage hydroponics nutrients and supplies for your hydroponic garden.
NUTRIENTS, NUTRIENTS, NUTRIENTS!
Use closed systems instead of open systems. Closed systems efficiently collect
nutrients solution and reuse, unlike open systems, that waste nutrients solution.
There is a large variety of products for closed hydroponic systems in comparison
to open hydroponics systems.
◉ It is advisable to not use A and B concentrated nutrient tanks. Use individual
liquid fertilizers to make changing formulation easier and faster. This results
in a controlled hydroponics nutrients formulation process.
◉ Gather reliable information before you start building your hydroponics
garden. Study different needs of the type of plants you wish to grow, the
needed growing environment, and the amount of nutrients formulation
needed during different growth stages.
◉ With hydroponic gardening you have to ensure that you give the right kind
nutrients to your plants.
◉ With complete knowledge you can mix and match the available nutrients to
get your desired results.
◉ Take advice from experienced gardeners or experts to understand methods
and brands needed to grow plants efficiently. Organic hydroponics is one
smart choice.
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Nutrients and Cannabis Growing
You can use a formula that automatically controls the pH balance for your
plants to boost their quality.
◉ Its very important for you to understand the water pH balance. Because of
this, the nutrients you add will ensure faster growth despite the hard water.
For instance, if your calcium levels are above 70 ppm, then you should add
fresh nutrient to your nutrient solution.
◉ In addition to your plants needing hydroponic nutrients, they also need
essential minerals to grow rapidly. The three main minerals needed are
Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. These are primary minerals; your
plants also need secondary minerals to grow faster.
◉ Some hydroponics nutrients can be easily tailored for speedy flowering,
therefore do good research in advance to ensure that you get the right
nutrient balance for the type of plant you wish to grow.
◉ The nutrients you feed your plants decide their future growth and strength.
Understand the nutrient needs of your plants to give them what they need.
With the help of hydroponics growing systems you can directly supply
beneficial micronutrients and macronutrients to your plants, in the correct
proportions.
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Nutrients and Cannabis Growing
Part 4- Two Types Of Nutrients
Plants require two types of nutrients for healthy growth -- macronutrients and
micronutrients. Plants use macronutrients in large amounts while micronutrients
are required in trace amounts. Following is a list of Macro and Micro- Nutrients and
their functional importance in plant growth:
MACRO NUTRIENTS
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Carbon - Formation of organic compounds
Oxygen - Release of energy from sugar
Hydrogen - Water formation
Nitrogen - Chlorophyll, amino acids, proteins synthesis
Phosphorus - Vital for photosynthesis and growth
Potassium - Enzyme activity, Sugar and starch formation
Calcium - Cell growth and division, component of cell wall
Magnesium - Component of chlorophyll, enzyme activation
Sulfur - Formation of amino acids and proteins
MICRO NUTRIENTS
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Boron - Vital for reproduction
Chlorine - Helps root growth
Copper - Enzyme activation
Iron - Used in Photosynthesis
Manganese - Component of chlorophyll, Enzyme activation
Sodium - Vital for water movement
Zinc - Component of enzymes and auxins
Molybdenum - Nitrogen Fixation
Nickel - Nitrogen Liberation
Cobalt - Nitrogen Fixation
Silicon - Cell wall toughness
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