Hydroponics Nutrition

JBinTW

Hello.  I am interested in Hydroponics, yet where I live, there are no stores or shops catering to HP supplies.

I can probably make my own containers and cups, but we have no rockwool, or any medium for seeding. (do have peat moss, though, no idea how to use it for seeding in the same manner as rockwool) and of course, no nutrients specifically for HP.

The loose research I have done more or less states that HP nutrients are specifically made for HP gardening. Well, if that is true, that is a huge bummer. But, is it true? I have seen some liquid, granular, and pellet NPK fertilizers for soil, would any of these work, particularly the liquid? 

Thank you very much!!

Pete.8

If you can find coco coir that will suit perfectly as a medium for seedlings and mature plants. Beware that some cheap stuff isn't washed properly and contains salt.
Coir contains no nutrients or trace minerals for your plants, so you will need to start feeding them from about 4 days after germination with a very weak fed - ideally one that's suited for seedlings

As far as ferts go I believe hydro ferts are quite different to the usual ferts for soil/compost.
That said, my Mum grew tomatoes back in the 1960's using hydro with clay pebbles and I very much doubt there were dedicated hydro ferts so many years ago, she always used Tomorite - I really can't remember if it was successful

There's only one way to find out if it works..
Good luck

Last edited: 24 May 2017 14:32:14

JBinTW

Thank you, Pete8.

I think I will go ahead and give it a go, based on what you said. This idea that it would be OK to modify some foods for HP, was sitting in the back of my head for a while. I just wanted to see if someone else had experience. 

Again, Thanks!