TOPPING-UP AND CORRECTING THE CONDUCTIVITY LEVEL

As the plant uses up the nutrient solution, the reservoir will need topping up to prevent it becoming too strong’/’thick’. The benefit of using the more advanced method for nutrient solutions is that you can ensure that when your solution is topped up, it will have the correct levels of pH and conductivity required for your plants to access all the necessary nutrients. There is no guesswork involved. In order to get the best results, this should be done on a daily basis, or if that is not possible, as often as possible.

First, check the conductivity, to see if it needs raising or lowering.

TO RAISE THE CONDUCTIVITY LEVEL

Add plain water into the reservoir/container until the desired tank capacity is reached. Now simply add nutrient concentrates as explained previously until the correct conductivity level is reached.

TO LOWER THE CONDUCTIVITY LEVEL

Again, you should add plain water into the reservoir/container until the desired tank capacity is reached. This will dilute the nutrient solution so the conductivity level will go down.

If the conductivity level needs to be lowered any further, remove some of the nutrient solution from the reservoir and add more plain water, until the correct level is reached.

ADDING NUTRIENT CONCENTRATES

Nutrient additives can now be added to the solution.

CORRECTING THE PH LEVEL

Now check and correct the pH level as explained previously, to ensure that the nutrients are available for the plants to absorb.

RENEWAL

Regular renewal of the nutrient solution is essential to ensure that all of the nutrients are present in sufficient quantities and to remove unwanted salts etc.