Nitrogen is an important part of growing leaves. The air is about 79% nitrogen, but plants will still need a supplement of it to grow. The molecule of N2 in the air is not very stable and plants can't break apart the compound to find the single atom. Phosphorus is also very important for root growth. Potassium, on the other hand, helps to fight diseases since it is a big part of enzyme formation.



There are other elements that are very important to the life and health of your hydroponic plant. Calcium aids in the formation of wall cells and brings ions to other parts of the plant. Chlorine is a major factor in the photosynthesis process and is a component in chlorophyll. Iron is important to plants as it helps in the transport of oxygen and is a major component of the hemoglobin molecule.

A variety of ready made solutions are available in the market and they provide the required nutrients. As a rule of thumb, moderation matters. You can find young plants that will need a specific dosage, while flowering plants will require a completely different amount.

Maintaining a steady water temperature is crucial as it affects how the plant obtains its nutrients. There are many solutions but they work best at room temperature. Hydroponic plants grow best in water that is kept at a room temperature.

Dry plants need nutrients and nitrogen burning is possible. You can find the aeroponics, which is when one branch is grown in air and can suffer the problem of nitrogen burning.

If you get your water from the tap, leave the water overnight to allow chlorine to evaporate. Mineral water is preferable to distilled water as it contains calcium and other positive nutrients.

Make sure the soil is at a neutral pH level if you want to see positive results in your plant. You can keep your plants neutral to keep the water alkaline. A pinch of sulfuric acid can be added to ensure the water is a neutral pH. You can combat acidity by adding sodium hydroxide to maintain a neutral pH level.

You can easily buy kits to help you check the pH level of the water used for hydroponics. Your hydroponic plants will be more sensitive to nutrient levels and can't self-regulate themselves like soil-based plants so you will need to keep an eye on your plants.