Understanding Nutrients

Your plants require a variety of different minerals for healthy growth, whether they are growing in soil or a hydroponic system. The only difference with hydroponics is that you have more control over the minerals your plants receive. Our technical team at VitaLink have put this document together to help give you an understanding of basic plant nutrition.

NUTRIENTS EXPLAINED
Nutrients contain essential elements that are vital for plant growth. If these essential elements, as well as carbon dioxide (CO2) and light are made available to your plants, they will produce the compounds (food) required for normal growth. The most important elements are known as the macro elements.

These consist of:
• Nitrogen (N)
Your plants use nitrogen for rapid growth and the development of foliage, leaves, flowers/fruit and seeds.

• Phosphorus (P)
Phosphorus plays a major role in transporting glucose (plant food), stimulating root development, and promoting flower/fruit and seed production.

• Potassium (K)
Potassium also promotes flower/fruit and seed production and helps to protect your plants from disease. Your plants require large quantities of the macro elements. In their vegetative cycle, they will benefit from extra nitrogen, while more phosphorus and potassium is beneficial in the flowering stage. To account for these different requirements, you will find nutrients are available as the following:

‘GROW’ MIX
A ‘Grow’ mix contains high levels of Nitrogen; you should, therefore, use this nutrient solution during your plants’ vegetative cycle.

‘BLOOM’ MIX
A ‘Bloom’ mix contains high levels of potassium and phosphorus, so change to this solution when your plants start flowering.

SECONDARY MACRO AND MICRO ELEMENTS
Your plants also require secondary macro elements and micro elements. Secondary macro elements include: magnesium, calcium and sulphur. Micro elements (also known as Micronutrients) include manganese, boron, copper, zinc and molybdenum.

VITALINK NUTRIENT SOLUTIONS
VitaLink nutrient solutions are available in a one and two-part packs.

• One-part nutrient solution
VitaLink easy is our one-part hydroponic nutrient solution. It is simple to use and popular with beginners and experienced growers who want an easy life. VitaLink easy also removes the chance of incorrectly measuring the components of the two-part nutrient. Our coco coir nutrient, VitaLink Coir and soil nutrient, VitaLink Earth are also supplied as a one-part nutrient.

• Two-part nutrient solutions
Our two-part nutrient solution, VitaLink Max consists of two bottles which are added (in equal amounts) to water in order to supply your plants with a full spectrum of elements. VitaLink Max is ideal for anyone looking for more control over their growing.

MAINTAINING YOUR NUTRIENT SOLUTION
Maintaining the nutrient solution involves keeping a good food strength, pH level and optimum temperature.

• Nutrient strength
The strength of nutrient is the amount of dissolved salts which a nutrient contains. Nutrient strength plays an important role in maintaining the health of a plant. If the nutrient is too strong, your plants’ leaves can become leathery, curl downwards or even burn at the tips. Too low and your plants will be yellow, stretch and become susceptible to disease. The strength of a nutrient solution is known as the Conductivity Factor (CF) or Electrical Conductivity (EC). These can be measured with a CF/EC meter, which allows you to maintain the required level for the stage of your plants life cycle.

• pH level
The pH is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of your nutrient solution. A pH value of 0 to 6.9 indicates your nutrient solution is acidic, 7.1 to 14.0 alkaline, whilst a reading of 7 shows your nutrient solution is neutral. Ideally, the pH level should range between 5.5 and 6.5. If you allow the pH level to fall outside of this scope, it will affect your plants' ability to absorb nutrients. This results in poor yields and slow growth rates.

• Temperature
A good temperature around the roots can encourage root growth and nutrient uptake. Never let the temperature of your nutrient solution drop below 15°C as very cold water limits the ability of roots to absorb water and minerals. This can drastically reduce yields. However, a temperature which exceeds 30°C will starve your plants of the oxygen they need for healthy growth. Ideally, you should aim for a temperature of approximately 21°C.

© Nutrivita Ltd. All rights reserved.
VitaLink has taken all reasonable care in preparation of this information, but make no guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of the information and cannot be held responsible for any resultant effects of using this information on any person or thing, including plants or equipment. Use of these instructions is solely at the customer's discretion and risk.