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Saturday, July 28, 2012

Importance of Nutrients for Plants

Hi everyone!


There is a very frequent question that I receive from a lot of customers that I find difficult to answer thoroughly in a single sentence. Actually, the reason is because after that question, follow up questions proceed and it somewhat closes the minds of several customers.


That question is;


"WHAT ARE THE CONTENTS OF YOUR NUTRIENTS?"

Now, since The Hydro Garden is technically, a legitimate business (with Govt. Permits), i would like to point out that i cannot give specific information as to the formula of the nutrients for that would be disclosing a trade secret, which is counter productive. So kindly excuse me if i cannot give you formulas or instructions on replicating my nutrient solutions. 

But my answer this this is:


"The contents in the nutrient solution are MACRO AND MICRO NUTRIENTS." 

This leads to the follow up question;

"What are Macro and Micro Nutrients?"
This section needs a bit more information than a single sentence. You might get bored reading the next few lines but to educate one's self about this, keep reading :)


MACRO AND MICRO nutrients are essential (meaning important or a 'must') in the growth of plants. Without these nutrients, plants cannot grow properly or to it's potential. Each element has it's own use and importance:


MACRO NUTRIENTS

H) Hydrogen - Essential for photosynthesis
(C) Carbon - Essential for photosynthesis
(O) - Oxygen - Essential for photosynthesis
(N) Nitrogen - A vital constituent of amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids etc
(K) Potassium - A building block for 40 or more enzymes, and also has a important role in stomatal movement. Potassium also helps to maintain electroneutrality in plant cells.
(Ca) Calcium - A vital constituent of plant cell walls amongst others.
(Mg) Magnesium - This is required non-specifically by a large number of enzymes and is also a vital part of the chlorophyll molecule.
(P) Phosphorus - This is a vital component of sugar phosphates, nucleic acids, coenzymes etc.
(S) Suphur - A vital component of proteins, lipoic acid, coenzyme A, thiamine etc.


MICRO NUTRIENTS

(Cl) Chlorine - This is required for the photosynthetic reactions involved in the production of oxygen
(B) Boron - Used for carbohydrate transport within the plant and also forms complex molecules within certain carbohydrates
(Fe) Iron - Vital for nitrogen fixing and respiration, iron is also a constituent of cytochromes and iron proteins involved in photosynthesis.
(Mn) Manganese - This is required non-specifically for a large number of enzymes as well as for the production of oxygen during photosynthesis.
(Zn) Zinc - This is a vital constituent for a number of important enzymes such as glutamic and alcohol dehydrogenase.
(Cu) Copper - This is an essential component of - amongst others - ascorbic acid oxidase, tyrosinase and monoamine oxidase.
(Mo) Molybdenum - This is an important constituent of nitrate reductase and is essential fornitrogen fixation.


NOW THAT THAT'S FINISHED, (haha), here come's the next question:
"Are these nutrients poisonous? Or in other words, does this mean that your nutrient solution is poisonous?"


The answer is, "No". My nutrient solution does not consist of any steroids or excess of these nutrients. Take note that all the elements mentioned above are essential for plant growth. These elements can also be found in the ground, where the plants outsource their food. It is only dangerous if there is an excess (leaves will burn) or if there are extra elements added in as steroids to push the plant's growth. My nutrient solution doesnt have any of that, so there's nothing to worry about. It doesn't contain any excess or any less than what's needed by the plants. 

"Why are the food of the plants chemical? Why aren't they in organic form?"

Do take note, that plants cannot absorb organic matter. The roots of the plants convert organic matter into chemical forms before absorbing them. Therefore, the macro and micro nutrients are stated as thus above. So why are they in chemical form? Because plants cannot absorb them if they arent. 


And that covers it. Now you understand why it's a little difficult for me to answer if one day you ask these questions in person. You'll probably see me stuttering or trying to find layman's terms to explain the whole thing. Haha.. 

I hope this opened your mind to Hydroponics more. Most customers tend to black out or stop listening since it get's too complex. It's safe and controllable. 


'Till next entry!






ULYSSA 
09393257253 / 09475847023

5 comments:

  1. Hi, i often visit your blog and enjoy looking at your hydro garden. i kind of wonder, di ba nahuhulog yung growing medium mo sa solution sa ilalim? like if your using vermicompost? if nahuhulog, okey lang ba yun? and how often do you change the mixture? i wanted to give a try sooner or later pag di na ko super busy. your veggies look so yummy. thanks.

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    1. Hi! Thanks for appreciating it, and following my entries. :)

      As for your question regarding the vermicompost, if the vermicompost is dry, when placed into the system, it'll fall through easily. What i do, when transplanting the seedling into the cup, before putting it into the system, i dampen the vermicompost. Just enough so that it's firm and not like loose sand. Then i pat it down firmly into the cup, so it doesn't fall through. When i put it into the pipe, a bit of vermi does fall into the resevoir beneath, but only a bit. It's not harmful in any way. If some vermi does fall through, it creates vermi-tea which is also very nutritious for the plants.

      Another way to keep that from happening is by having a thin layer of gravel or any loose medium at the first bottom 1/4 of the cup before filling it with vermicompost. It'll act as a barrier so that no vermi will fall through.

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  2. wow thanks. nice info.. so how many times do you change the mixture? or you'll just wait until it is fully absorbed by the plant?

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  3. Perlite hard to find in Cebu? How about vermiculite? At least the bag that I bought in europe states 'produced in the Philippines'

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    1. I found perlite here, but it's expensive. Usually sold in pet stores for pet lizards and such. Vermicast/vermicompost is easy to find here. I also sell it.

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