Docs By GrowthTech: Hydroponic Growing With Growth Enhancers
Hydroponic nutrient formulations have become very accurate and sophisticated over recent years but mineral nutrition is only part of what a plant needs to reach its full genetic potential.
Many vital compounds and biological agents are available to the plant in healthy soil but absent from hydroponic solutions. First step is to make sure that these are added to the hydroponic solution or supplied to plants by foliar feeding.
Many other important co-factors for plant performance are usually missing from soil as well as from hydroponic systems. These too can be added to maximise nutrient uptake and increase photosynthetic response.
When properly used these additives can bridge the gap between organic and mineral nutrition. They can help the grower achieve full plant potential at every stage of growth.
- Better seed germination
- Stronger seedlings
- Faster more vigorous clones
- Massive root systems
- Healthier vegetative growth
- Better resistance to pests & disease
- Bigger plants, higher yields...
Please be aware that many of these techniques are new and much remains to be learned about the materials involved. The information is based on practical experience and on published results. It is by no means the last word. Please do not be afraid to experiment, we all have much to learn. For obvious reasons there can be no guarantee of results from any products or associated techniques. The information is given in good faith and will be updated as new material becomes available.
Hydroponic Gardening with Growth Enhancers - The Latest Products
Growers all over the world are experimenting with new materials that can accelerate biological processes. These materials have applications at all stages of plant growth and if applied correctly can greatly increase plant performance and thus yields. We have tried to give some general guidelines that will suit most plant species. Please remember that these are very new applications, much work needs to be done and some plant species have not been tested with these materials. Use this information as a starting point but do not be afraid to experiment with your particular crop. The golden rule with all treatments is to apply to a small number of plants first as a test and wait a few days before treating the main crop, this is especially important with foliar feeding.
Nitrozyme - The Growth Enhancer
Nitrozyme is the centrepiece of the applications that we are suggesting and we can certainly recommend this extraordinary plant extract to all growers. It has been used commercially for a number of years and has demonstrated the capacity to increase yields time and time again. It is the basis of growth enhancement and should be used in all the early stages of plant growth, especially young clones. Nitrozyme should not be sprayed on plants in flower.
Nitrozyme contains highly concentrated cytokinic hormones extracted from a North Atlantic sea plant Ascophylum Nodosum. This plant lives in an environment of extreme temperature variation which helps explain the extraordinary level of hormones it produces. Cytokinins are hormones whose action occurs in the processes of cell division and cell enlargement. Hydroponic systems are prone to levels of stress that may not be visible to the grower but may greatly reduce the plants ability to produce the hormones that it needs for the vital processes of nutrient uptake and distribution, cell division, root development and the production of flowers and fruit. This means that many plants in hydroponic systems are achieving much lower yields than they are capable of. Nitrozyme can be added to hydroponic nutrient solutions to restore the hormone levels in the plant.
Nitrozyme can also be supplied to the plant through its foliage to increase the hormone availability still further. In many crops, and in many trials conducted, the application of Nitrozyme has increased yields by very significant percentages. Soil grown plants are also subject to various levels of stress and in most cases are not performing to their best potential. Nitrozyme restores and enhances the interaction between soil and roots, increasing vigour and improving yields.
Nitrozyme also contains powerful natural growth enhancers, exotic micro nutrients and bio-stimulants. The high concentration of these biological agents will potentiate the growth process of the plant, with specific advantage to its current stage of growth. Nitrozyme is very highly concentrated and comes from natural sources. It is non toxic and poses no environmental hazards.
In a recent trial at the Ottawa Research Station in Canada seedling plants were treated with Nitrozyme throughout their growth and performance was compared with an untreated control group . The Nitrozyme treated sample was shown to be clearly superior in all stages of growth. Germination rate was better by 44%, young plants had 57% more leaves and time to flowering was reduced by five days. Trials of this type have been conducted on numerous crops and the results are truly remarkable.
Please ask your retailer for a Nitrozyme Results Summary.
In all the applications listed below Nitrozyme can be used on its own and will have the potential to enhance plant performance and yield. Nitrozyme can also be used in conjunction with other materials with which it has high compatibility. Full instructions are included with every bottle.
Oxy
Oxy contains 17.5% Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) in a stabilised form. H2O2 is highly oxygenating in action. It is a chemical which is fundamental to life itself, participating in many of the metabolic processes in plants and animals. When added to the nutrient tank it will quickly break down into pure water, releasing the extra oxygen ion into the solution where it can be taken up by the roots in much the same way as nutrient ions.
In plants the extra oxygen provided will massively stimulate protein production at the cellular level. This will greatly enhance the photosynthetic process, leading to bushier plants with larger leaves, thicker stems and shorter internodes. Plants will be stronger and leaves will be darker, thus collecting light with greater efficiency and further improving photosynthetic response.
Oxy has many applications in the greenhouse or growroom. It can be used to improve germination of seeds and to increase strike rates of cuttings. It can be added to the nutrient tank and also used as a Foliar feed. Finally it can be used at the end of the season to disinfect the system and to clear out decaying organic material from growing media.
Test Strips
Used to monitor levels of Oxy in nutrient solutions. Strips are easy to use and show a wide range from 1-100 ppm. H2O2. These readings will allow the easy monitoring and maintenance of effective levels of H2O2 in the nutrient tank. Optimum level for hydroponic systems is 30-100 ppm H2O2.
OGP [Organic Growth Promotant] - 100% Organic
Manufactured in New Zealand from concentrated extracts of Bee's wax and Alfalfa. Contains high levels of Gibberellins and Tricontanol which assist in process of cell division. OGP adds the missing Organic co-factors to a mineral nutrient solution and gives dramatic improvement to plant performance in hydroponic systems. OGP is a specially formulated compound which contains nature's ingredients for the rapid development and promotion of new plant growth. This mixture of natural hormones extracted from sources such as Alfalfa and Bee's Wax, encourage dynamic response from the plant's growth centre. Gibberellins have long been recognised as a very useful method of promoting rapid root development on new cuttings and seeds. They are particularly effective in promoting improved plant performance by strengthening and increasing the growth rate of new plant cells.
This is the ultimate organic additive to hydroponic solutions and can be added to every tankful throughout the life of the plant. OGP is also a great tonic for soil grown plants and can be applied weekly throughout the growing cycle.
Earth Food - Plant Growth Catalyst - 100% Organic
This product is based on catalyst altered water. This is water with a different molecular structure which encourages attractions with free electrons, improving capability for transportation, cleansing and absorption within the plants circulatory system. Secondly it contains activated Carbon, Amino Acids, organic trace elements and Lignite. Earth Food is a totally organic product and should be added to all hydroponic nutrient solutions where it will provide many essential co-factors for improved nutrient uptake.
Formulex
Formulex is a mineral nutrient solution formulated by a unique complexing process that locks the reactive ingredients together making it completely stable in a single liquid. It is used all over the world by growers who want an accurate source of mineral nutrition. Because it is pH buffered and very accurately formulated it is an ideal mineral component for these applications.
Wetting Agent
A non-ionic wetting agent will greatly reduce the surface tension of water. When added to a Foliar spray, as in "Rocket Fuel", it will dramatically increase the ability of the solution to penetrate into leaf tissue and make the nutrients and growth enhancers available to the plant. It is also widely used for wetting and rewetting dry and compacted soils to allow improved passage of moisture into the root zone.
Instructions for Use
Seed Germination
To a litre of lukewarm water add:
Stir thoroughly. Moisten seeds with this solution for 24 hrs. before germinating in the usual way. Seeds treated in this way will germinate faster and produce more vigorous seedlings.
Cuttings (Clones) And Stock Plant (Mother Plant)
Stock plant should be sprayed or misted with Nitrozyme about two weeks before cuttings are to be taken. This will produce a flush of vigorous new shoot growth and provide plenty of material for cuttings. To each litre of lukewarm water add:
Mist stock plant thoroughly with this mixture. Apply when light levels are low, early morning is best time.
Treating RockWool
Take an appropriate amount of lukewarm water. For each litre add:
Check and correct pH of this solution. It should be adjusted to 5.5 to compensate for the alkaline nature of most RockWool products. See note on pH.
Allow RockWool cubes to soak in this solution until thoroughly saturated. Set aside to drain.
Taking Cuttings In The Usual Way
Most species are propagated best from softwood tips. Selected material should show signs of healthy vigorous growth. Stems should be thick and firm and foliage should be dark green.
- Remove selected piece from mother plant with sharp scissors, taking care to cut plant at least 10 mm below the point where the final cut will be made. Trim off surplus foliage but always retain at least two or three healthy leaves. Final cut should be made with a sterile scalpel or clean sharp razor blade just below a node or leaf junction. A diagonal cut is preferred as it allows more plant tissue to come into contact with the rooting compound.
- Pour an appropriate amount of Clonex into a small container for immediate use. Immediately dip the cut plant stem into Clonex, ensuring that all cut surfaces are well covered with the gel. Wipe off surplus Clonex against the side of the small container. Do not return any of unused Clonex back in the original container as this might contaminate the whole lot. Insert cutting into hole in top of RockWool cube. It is very important not to push it in too far, just enough to support it in an upright position.
Once all cuttings are in place, mist them thoroughly. For misting solution, to each litre of lukewarm water add:
To encourage speedy root initiation on your cuttings, it is necessary to pay attention to the environment in which this is taking place... Cuttings need to be kept in a very humid environment and will benefit from frequent misting. Best way to ensure ideal rooting environment is to use a propagator with a heated base and a high clear plastic cover. Keep cover on for at least three days then begin to open vents. Mist regularly with Nitrozyme Foliar as above.
Hydroponics
Growers will seek to introduce oxygen into their systems by using air pumps in the tank and by maintaining high levels of pumping activity in the tank. Intermittent pumping with systems such as NFT is also popular.
All these methods are valuable and their use should be encouraged. However, they are all focused on increasing oxygen on the molecular level. Unfortunately there's a limitation to how much oxygen can be dissolved in water, once this limit has been reached there is no purpose in bubbling any more air into tank. If the nutrient tank is heated then it will have a reduced capacity for molecular oxygen. The warmer it gets the less oxygen it can hold. The good news is that much more oxygen can be introduced into the root zone if it is added at the atomic level. The grower who uses Oxy will supercharge his nutrient with pure oxygen and yet another limitation to growth will be overcome. The potential for oxygen supplied in this way is very large and there are additional benefits. Atomic oxygen is an unstable free radical and will destroy harmful bacteria and viruses in the nutrient solution.
To each 10 litres of Tank Volume add:
Stir thoroughly before circulating to plants.
Oxy should be added to tank every two to three days to maintain optimum levels of free oxygen in the solution. Test strips are available to assist the grower in this and full instructions are supplied with the strips which are very easy to use.
If it is possible to dose the tank on a daily basis then Oxy can be added at the rate of about 1ml per 10 litres of tank volume. This will maintain a reasonably constant level of around 30 ppm.
Foliar Feeding
Foliar feeding is the possibly the most efficient way to maximise benefits from these extraordinary natural growth enhancers. University studies have shown that correctly applied Foliar nutrition can be up to TEN times as useful to the plants as dry fertilisers.
Rocket Fuel
The following formulation is widely used in California where it is considered the ultimate growth booster and is affectionately known as "Rocket Fuel". To each litre of water pH 6, slightly warmed, add the following ingredients, stirring or shaking thoroughly between each new addition.
Shake mixture thoroughly and mist the entire plant. Plants should be treated in this manner every two to three weeks and definitely no more than once a week. Foliar feeding should ALWAYS be carried out in low light, early morning or late evening.
The above solution can also be used to water the root zone of plants. First dilute the mixture with four volumes of water. (One litre of the above mixture will therefore make up to five litres of watering solution).
Cleanup
Oxy can be used to clean and sterilise your hydroponic system and growing medium. It is a powerful and very aggressive liquid and it will effectively kill all pathogens and harmful bacteria. After application it will rapidly break down to harmless substances and there is no risk of damage to future crops. For this reason Oxy is a much better material for sterilisation than Hypochlorite. If you are using a medium such as Perlite or expanded clay you will need to remove as many of the old roots as possible. You can then soak the medium in a concentrated solution of Oxy. This will oxidise organic matter in the medium and assist in its rapid decomposition. Remember to flush medium with fresh water before re-use. You can also make up Oxy in the tank and circulate it around the system to sterilise all the pipework, drippers etc. Once again remember to flush the system thoroughly with fresh water before installing new plants. For cleanup solution To each 10 litres of water add:
- 200ml Oxy
