For people dedicated to “do-it-yourself” (DIY) homemade hydroponics, building their own reservoirs from aquariums or rubber storage bins might not seem like a strange idea. Yet even the most dedicated DIY hydroponic gardeners balk at the idea of using homemade hydroponic nutrients, as opposed to the pre-fabricated nutrients form garden stores. Though they might be scarier to use than the guaranteed success of pre-fabricated formulas, mixing their own homemade hydroponic nutrients is the next logical step for many hydroponics enthusiasts seeking to take their obsession to a new level.

Hydroponics uses a solution of nutrients in water to feed and grow plants, instead of more traditional pot-and-soil methods. Hydroponics can be used to grow virtually any plant out there—from houseplants and herbs to food crops and pretty flowers. Hydroponics can be incorporated either indoors or outdoors; hobbyists grow their plants everywhere, sometimes using elaborate homemade hydroponic setups in closets that incorporate large fluorescent lights to aid in photosynthesis and other times using only simple windowsill setups.

Materials Needed To Create Homemade Hydroponic Nutrients

Creating homemade hydroponic nutrients is not easy, and is not recommended for those creating a hydroponic garden for the first time. For those who already have a couple of successful gardens under their belts, homemade hydroponic nutrients are not only a viable alternative to the expensive nutrient solutions found in online gardening stores, but they also are a way that gardeners, by experimenting with different nutrient mixtures, can tweak their gardens to improve yields.

The three main nutrients that are needed for ALL plant growth are nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Nitrogen helps plans grow and produce leaves. Phosphorus helps plants flower and grow fruit. Potassium allows plants to use energy they receive from the process of photosynthesis. Homemade hydroponic nutrient solutions must include all three of these in order to be feasible.

In addition to the main nutrients, trace elements are also necessary for thriving hydroponic plants. How much of these to mix into a homemade hydroponic nutrient recipe often depends on what type of plant is being grown. The optimal nutrient mixture for an acidic tomato plant for example, would be very different from what might be needed by a parsley plant. Gardeners experiment with various mixtures of homemade hydroponic nutrients in order to find the right mixture for their plants, which adds to the fun and stimulation of hydroponics. These ten trace elements that must be incorporated in homemade hydroponic nutrient solutions are chlorine, calcium, boron, manganese, iron, sulfur, zinc, copper, magnesium, and molybdenum.

What You Need To Know About Water

Plants use water to distribute minerals and aid in photosynthesis. Beware if you have a water softener—chemically softened water is not appropriate for your homemade hydroponics setup because it is too alkaline and can ultimately kill your plants. Most other water sources are fine, but hydroponic hobbyists should seriously consider using tap water in their homemade hydroponic nutrient solutions, since tap water contains many of the trace elements that can help your plants grow strong and healthy.