by: Charlene Rennick
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The scientific criteria for organic is: elements called carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen must be present. This means that anything that grows is ‘organic’ by definition.
The Earth’s atmosphere is about seventy-eight percent nitrogen, twenty percent oxygen and two percent carbon dioxide, a compound mixture of carbon and oxygen. Water is a compound mixture of hydrogen and oxygen. The plant needs all four of these elements to survive. Even if only one element is missing, the plant will die.
Because these elements are present naturally in the atmosphere, most people don’t think about adding nitrogen or checking to make sure the plant is manufacturing enough carbon. These four necessities must be present in the air, water, nutrients and soil that sustain the plant. It is important to be aware of this when moving your garden from an outdoor atmosphere where they occur naturally, to a hydroponic atmosphere where they are created. Always purchase nutrients that say they are for hydroponic gardens as these are quite different from a basic, all-purpose vitamin designed for outdoor use.
The growing media has its own ideal elemental composition. There should be a balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Beware of any hydroponic mixture that claims to have everything your plants needs in one single container; compound mixtures are by nature, a staple for optimal plant nutrition. Let’s look at a trouble-shooting guide to help diagnose deficiencies of each element in plants.
Nitrogen is the agent that is responsible for proper absorption of plant nutrients and manufacturing chlorophyll. Too much nitrogen causes an excess of growth, a deeper green than is normal and may delay the fruit from becoming mature. Sometimes, too much nitrogen attracts extra insects. Too little nitrogen causes skinny stems that can’t support flowers or fruit. The leaves will be yellow, small and might have some odd purple colour.
Phosphorous gives the plant energy to grow. Too little causes stunted growth in the stems and root system. The leaves often curl, droop or become yellow. Too much phosphorous causes a deficiency of copper characterized by pale leaves with yellow spots and a lack of zinc which causes small leaves with crinkled edges.
Potassium balances the sugar and starch ratio for the plant. Too little potassium slows down growth, makes the plant vulnerable to fungus and causes leaf moulting. Too much potassium depletes the plant of magnesium resulting in yellowing of the leaves between the veins and failure to bloom.
Nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) are known as macro nutrients. Most plant nutrients are sold in 3-part solutions of N-P-K which allow customizing and adapting the mixture according to the type of plant, its stage of growth, and the condition of the soil. This is especially important for hydroponic gardeners who are responsible for building a healthy environment for their plants.