Water is the fuel that makes the hydroponic garden’s engine run. However, just like gas, not all water is the same.
In urban centers, the water is treated and you can usually find out its mineral composition by making a quick call to your local utility company. In rural areas, our water composition varies over short distances. You may have soft or hard water in your area, while just a few miles away, the water may have sulfur in it.
In order to ensure a healthy garden, you need to know your water. If you are doing a small system, distilled water can make your life easy as it is labeled and chances are there are no changes required. If you use your own water, be careful of the composition. Many people use an all in one nutrient mix where all you do is add to water. If, however, you already have minerals in abundance, you may be overfeeding the plant one or more minerals which can be harmful. Some possible solutions:
- Treat the water (not always easy or cost effective)
- Make your own nutrient mix be adding only the nutrients deficient in the water. (Recommended for larger gardens, commercial setups, and advanced hobbyists)
- Use distilled water (simple and cheap in most places)
- Use city water (let it sit for a few days… chlorine can be a problem otherwise)