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How do I Choose the Best Liquid Nutrients?

Erin J. Hill
Erin J. Hill

You should find the best liquid nutrients for your needs by visiting local retailers and discussing what you will be using them for. The first thing you will need to determine is what type of plants you will be growing. Many gardening centers will carry hydroponic plant nutrients, some being targeted to specific varieties of plants or growing techniques.

When looking for liquid nutrients, you should consider what you will be growing and what sort of growing medium you will be using. Some hydroponics systems involve growing plants with their roots directly in a container of water, although liquid nutrients can also be used with more traditional soil grown plants. The amounts of each nutrient needed will depend on the way you will be growing your them as well as the type of plant.

Woman with a flower
Woman with a flower

Items grown directly in water or another substance may require more balanced liquid nutrition because there are no existing nutritional substances found in the water. In soil-grown vegetables and flowers, the soil itself may contain trace or larger amounts of certain minerals or nutrition, so a less concentrated liquid may be needed. This will vary based on the type of plant you are growing and the richness of the soil, so be sure to read up on the vegetation you want in order to determine the ideal amounts of certain nutrients.

The best way to go about growing your plants would require you to read up on the exact species of vegetation you are growing to determine how much of each trace mineral is necessary for optimum growth. This is not always required; since there are liquid nutrients sold that are already pre-made and tailored to a particular type of plant. Be sure to buy the appropriate variety by reading labels thoroughly. If in doubt, ask a sales associate who is trained in such matters.

To get the most from your liquid nutrients, other factors should be taken into consideration. You should always follow other planting instructions for each type of plant, including sunlight requirements and watering specifications. Even with the right amount of each mineral or nutrient, your plants won’t thrive if these two factors are off balance. While using liquid nutrition, especially in hydroponic systems, helps to ward off fungi and pests, you may still wish to consider using a pesticide if they are prevalent in your area. Choosing a pesticide will depend on the types of pests mostly commonly found where you live.

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