Why and how to maintain a stable temperature for nutrient solution?
Are you interested in hydroponic plant cultivation, or have you already been doing it for some time? If you are struggling with mould in hydroponic systems, or if your plants are not growing as quickly as they should and the quality of the harvested flowers or crops is not worth mentioning, you may have underestimated the importance of the optimal irrigation temperature. With the correct and stable temperature of the nutrient solution, you can prevent these risks.
If you read our blog regularly, you know that this is far from the first time we have emphasised quality irrigation in every respect, starting with what water you use to water your plants. Especially in hydroponics, the quality of the water and the nutrients dissolved in it plays a completely essential role and is the basis of successful cultivation both in indoor and outdoor environments. In addition to water filtration, we monitor pH and EC of the nutrient solution, which is made possible by pH and EC meters. (You can also read the articles: Which pH of the nutrient solution to choose and Electrical conductivity of the solution – EC). Filtration, pH, EC – but what about temperature? Many growers still forget how much stability matters.
Irrigation temperature vs. dissolved oxygen
This applies twice as much to recirculating hydroponic systems such as (NFT, Ebb&Flow, Atami Wilma, etc.). In these hydroponic methods in particular, practically every degree Celsius outside the ideal temperature range represents a problem that later has an adverse effect on the results of your efforts.
We will come to the ideal temperatures shortly. For now, let us explain the important relationship between water temperature and the amount of oxygen dissolved in it, and as is well known, plants need as much of it as possible for healthy and vigorous development. As you can see in the graph, there is a direct relationship between water temperature and the amount of dissolved oxygen.
The following factors cause less and less oxygen to dissolve in water:
- Rising temperature
- Amount of dissolved substances
- Atmospheric pressure
Unlike pressure, we can easily influence the temperature that affects the resulting oxygen saturation of the water most, together with the amount of substances (nutrients) dissolved in it. And that is a good thing, because if the temperature of the nutrient solution is too high or, conversely, too low for a long time, the plants will probably be quite weakened and therefore will not be able to use their potential to the full. That is why we recommend avoiding, thanks to the correct irrigation temperature, the consequences that are unavoidable in most cases and that lead only to an average harvest.
Consequences of a long-term high irrigation temperature:
- The amount of oxygen dissolved in the water decreases. An insufficient supply of oxygen will negatively affect the development of the plants’ root system, their growth, overall health and final quality.
- Irrigation, whose temperature remains above the optimum level for a long time, significantly increases the risk of fungal or bacterial diseases in plants.
- A high irrigation temperature combined with intense lighting, whether artificial or sunlight, often results in algae growth. The algae then consume even more oxygen.
Consequences of a long-term low irrigation temperature: