Creating a robust pH/EC monitor for hydroponics using Atlas probes and an Arduino
A few months ago I talked about how you could build a simple sensor station for your hydroponic projects using an arduino (see here). However this small project used the…
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What is the ideal nutrient solution temperature in hydroponics?
One of the simplest variables that can make a substantial difference in crop yields in hydroponics is the temperature of the nutrient solution. Nutrient absorption by plants is mainly controlled…
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Maximizing yields per area in hydroponics
Since the 1940’s hydroponics – which I use to talk about a broad variety of soilless growing methods – have promised to deliver better plant yields than soil culture with…
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Managing a Run To Waste (RTW) hydroponic crop from a nutritional perspective
Today it’s very common to create hydroponic crops using techniques where nutrient solution is not recycled. This type of crop, commonly called drain-to-waste (DTW) or run-to-waste (RTW) offers the advantage…
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Measuring ion concentrations in hydroponics using electronic tongues
One of the biggest problems in hydroponic research is the measuring of individual ion levels in hydroponic solutions. Right now there is no commercial solution for the accurate tracking of…
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Do you really need to be using RO water?
One of the most common practices in hydroponics is to use reverse osmosis (RO) water in order to create your hydroponic nutrient solutions. This water is made by running another…
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Hydroponic micro and macro nutrient sufficiency ranges
When you want to prepare a nutrient solution one of the first things you want to know is which concentration ranges are appropriate for the growth of the specific plant…
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What is the effect of chloride in hydroponics?
I recently wrote a post about the effect of sodium ions in hydroponics and how it is important to keep an eye on sodium levels due to the potentially negative…
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Some things you should know about sodium in hydroponics
Sodium is a ubiquitous element, you can find it in your tap water, in the sea and in most eatable foods. It is also necessary for animal life where it…
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Using UV sterilization in your recirculating hydroponic crop
In general most growers want their hydroponic setups to remain fairly sterile. This is because maintaining a sterile environment discourages problems such as algae growth and can eliminate bacterial and fungal…
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