Our liquid nutrients for herbs and leafy greens is the ideal solution for the home grower.
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Without a mix of essential nutrients plants are unable to grow, just like a person needs food so do plants. In total there are 17 essential elements required for plant growth. The nutrients plants use are broken up into three categories; macronutrients, micronutrients and non-mineral elements.
Macronutrients - Macronutrients are the three main elements that plants need in large quantities; these include Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K), these are commonly referred to as NPK on traditional soil fertilisers. Nitrogen and Phosphorus are integral to the growth of a plant, they are used in the creation and replication of DNA, the production of sugars and energy. Without this the plant is unable to create new cells, AKA new growth or fruit. Potassium is used by the part of the plant that controls the rate of photosynthesis through regulation of water and carbon dioxide intake. It is also part of the process by which the plant creates starches and sugars, making them hardy. Without this the plant would be highly susceptible to fluctuations in external conditions such as the weather.
Micronutrients - Micronutrients are tiny quantities of a broad range of elements that are just as important for plant growth as macronutrients. There are 11 micronutrient elements; Calcium, magnesium, sulfur, boron, chlorine, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and nickel. These are used in hydroponic nutrients for the plant to use in a range of processes, essential if you want your plants to be productive!
Non-mineral Elements - There are three non-mineral elements, these are oxygen and hydrogen (which the plant mostly gets through water) and carbon (which the plant gets through air).
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Nutrient composition
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Using nutrients without a nutrient meter:
- Add 5mL-10mL nutrients per litre of water depending on what plant you are growing. Herbs and leafy greens are typically closer to 5mL, whereas fruiting and flowering plants are closer to 10mL.
- Top up water and nutrients as water gets low
Using our nutrients with a nutrient meter:
- Every plant has a different nutrient requirement for plant growth, to give your plant the best chance for growth, we recommend searching up the plant you're growing in our database here, to determine what nutrient concentration will help you get the best results out of your plants.
- Then use your Urban Plant Growers nutrient meter to test the nutrient concentration of your water.
- Add water to dilute the solution, or nutrients to increase the concentration as required.
General notes
- Micronutrients and trace elements may build up in the solution over time as some elements are used more than others.
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All orders over $120 qualify for free domestic postage
Our team packs orders Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Unless you are purchasing a product which is out of stock, then we typically have a handling time of less than 48 hours.
Australia Post is our preferred carrier, see our postage page for more location specific details on postage times.
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We offer change of mind returns on all products, and a 1 year warranty on all electrical goods.
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Should I feed plants differently in summer and winter?
Yes. Plant growth varies in line with seasonal changes. Summer represents a period of active growth for the overwhelming majority of plants due to the warmer weather and as a result feeding is required. Winter represents a period of dormancy and very little or no feeding is required.
What to do if your plants start looking unhealthy
If your plants are showing signs of poor health such as crisping leaves, wilting, or browning, we recommend you dump the water solution you are using, wash out the water basin, and start again with fresh water and nutrients.
Note on algae
When nitrogen rich nutrients come in contact with light, naturally occuring bacteria called algae, feed off the nutrients and grow. Algae isn't toxic and won't really kill your plants directly. However, they prevent oxygen from reaching the roots of your plants that are in contact with the algae - which hampers growth, and because they are wet, they can also damage plant stems if they are in constant contact with the stems that are normally meant to be dry.
How do I prevent Algae from growing on my growing medium?
To avoid this, there are a few things you can do:
- Reduce nutrient concentration - Algae feed off nutrients, you can reduce the concentration of nutrients to your smart gardens until the seeds have begun germinating (usually they don't need nutrients until this point anyway). Once it has germinated (and the plants start to shade the nutrient rich rockwool cube), you can start to increase your plant's nutrient concentration.
- Shade your growing medium - light causes the naturally occuring bacteria (algae) to photosynthesize and grow. You can cover the growing medium (rockwool or smart soil) with something like foil to keep the light off them until they are ready to sprout.
- Dry out the growing medium - this might cause damage to your plants, so only do it if you know what you're up to.
What can I do to get rid of Algae on my growing medium?
Once algae is there, it can be tough to completely eradicate. The simplest way to get rid of it is by spraying water directly at the algae from 1cm away from the growing medium surface. The force of the water physically dislodges the algae and cleans the cube! Easy as!
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