There is often confusion over the difference between a nutrient concentrate and nutrient additives.

NUTRIENT CONCENTRATES

These provide the basic food for the plant, and are essential for hydroponic growing. A nutrient solution that is made up only using a nutrient concentrate will provide all that is needed to grow strong and healthy plants.

NUTRIENT ADDITIVES

These provide supplementary nutrients etc, in order to promote specific process within the plants development.
Bearing this in mind, a nutrient solution may contain:

• Water
• A nutrient concentrate.
• One or more nutrient additives.
• Possibly a pH solution (to correct the pH level).

The following feeding patterns demonstrate some different nutrient solutions.

The first simply uses a nutrient concentrate (grow and bloom varieties).

In this example, along with the nutrient concentrate, two additives are added to the nutrient solution. Bloom boost will increase the size of the flower set etc and H202 provides extra food and helps keep the system sterile.

The following nutrient solution is more advanced. It is not a sterile solution as enzymes and bacteria are used in some of the additives.