Thiamine as a biostimulant in hydroponic and soilless systems
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is one of those additives that has circulated through the hydroponic community for decades, but the science behind its actual effects on plant growth has remained somewhat…
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Exogenous Sugar Applications: A deeper look
The application of external sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose) to adult plants has generated interest as a potential biostimulant strategy, with research revealing complex concentration-dependent effects that range from beneficial to…
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Ascorbic Acid as a Biostimulant: Alleviating Stress to Improve Yield and Quality in Hydroponic Systems
The search for sustainable biostimulants to enhance crop productivity has led researchers to investigate ascorbic acid (vitamin C) as a promising alternative to synthetic growth regulators. This natural antioxidant compound…
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Using Glycine Betaine as a Biostimulant
Glycine betaine is a biostimulant that has been explored for stress mitigation and quality enhancement in hydroponic and soilless culture. However, there is substantial confusion about effective concentrations, application methods,…
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Triacontanol Foliar Sprays in Soilless Culture: Formulation and Application
Triacontanol is a naturally occurring long-chain fatty alcohol found in plant cuticle waxes that can act as a growth regulator at very low concentrations. Below I focus on peer-reviewed evidence…
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Moringa extract as a biostimulant in hydroponics
Moringa leaf extract (MLE) is a rather recent addition to the biostimulant market. Below I focus on peer-reviewed work in hydroponic or soilless systems, with attention to yield, quality, toxicity,…
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Iodine in Hydroponic Crops: An Emerging Biostimulant
Introduction Iodine sits in a weird spot in plant nutrition. It is essential for humans, not officially essential for higher plants, yet low, well chosen doses often push crops to…
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