Nutrient Element Insufficiencies Become Commonplace

Today, many of those growing plants hydroponically may be creating nutrient element insufficiencies by the use of supplements added to a nutrient solution formulation at various stages of plant growth with the purpose of “enhancing” plant growth and/or product yield and quality. The added element, or elements, might be increasing the level of availability of an element, or elements, already in sufficient supply, thereby, creating an excess, or possibly a toxicity that will then result in a reduction in plant growth and product yield and quality. This mistake can be avoided by assaying the plant for its nutrient element status before adding a supplement, and then following the recommendation given based on the plant analysis result. In general, supplementation will result in poor plant performance most of the time.