How Do You Measure The Nutrient Concentration In A Hydroponic Solution?
A successful hydroponic garden relies on a balance of nutrients and water. If the nutrient solution is too concentrated, the plants will not absorb enough water. If the solution is too weak, the plants will be malnourished. How quickly plants absorb nutrients from the solution depends on a number of factors including ambient temperature, the plant’s stage in its growth cycle, and how much nutrient is available. Accurate measurement is the only way to keep your garden’s nutrient solution at optimal levels. Familiarize yourself with your EC meter. An EC meter measures the electrical conductivity in the solution. This tells you how much of the nutrients are present in the water. Insert the EC meter’s probe into your garden’s nutrient solution to take a base reading. Compare this reading to a chart of ideal EC readings for the plants you are growing. Many EC meters intended for hydroponics come with this chart (or see Resources section). If the EC reading is too high, add water to your nut
