Hydroponic System Maintenance
How should you care for hydroponic systems so that they serve you reliably and for as long as possible? In addition to generally valid advice and principles, while reading this article you will also learn, for example, the answer to a common question from growers who are only gaining their first experience in hydroponics, namely how to stop the futile effort to increase the oxygen level in the nutrient solution.
More experienced growers taking advantage of the benefits of automatic irrigation systems designed for hydroponic cultivation know well the colourless liquid with a typical aroma, which is hydrogen peroxide.
This liquid has a truly wide range of uses in gardening. It is therefore used not only in hydroponics as an indispensable part of caring for hydroponic systems, but often also when growing in coco or soil.
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has a slightly higher viscosity than water. It is a strong oxidising agent, which in indoor growing, for example inside a grow box, makes it possible to increase oxygen saturation. As is well known, the root system of plants loves oxygen, and so, in addition to perfect cleanliness inside the growing system, your plants will achieve faster growth and will form larger leaves and strong stems, because peroxide, in view of its natural properties, directly contributes to increased photosynthetic activity of plants and the efficiency of nutrient uptake nutrients. The classic sign of a root system well saturated with oxygen is healthy white roots.
Quality liquid additives based on hydrogen peroxide are not only an easy way to add oxygen in a hydroponic system, but, in addition to increasing the oxygen content, they are also an ideal means for simple cleaning of any hydroponic system. They therefore form the basis of successful maintenance, which will ensure better results linked to the return on the investment in the automatic growing system itself, as well as its longer service life.
OxyPlus can also be used for sterilising soil. It eliminates pathogens with a high success rate, and you can also use it after harvest as an effective cleaning agent. It also removes chlorine from water and breaks down pesticides, herbicides and various organic substances. A sufficient and affordable prevention against root diseases has a proven recipe: add hydrogen peroxide to every watering. Dead root residues and rot simply do not belong in a hydroponic system!
How should hydrogen peroxide be dosed and used correctly?
An important rule is: never mix a liquid additive containing hydrogen peroxide with organic (BIO) fertilisers or beneficial microorganisms. The same applies to root stimulators and enzymes, as peroxide significantly reduces their effectiveness, so when using peroxide always choose mineral fertilisers.
Faster seed germination and easy rooting of cuttings is usually ensured by ten drops of peroxide per one litre of water. For sprays, you can use the same ratio.
The difference in the use of peroxide lies in whether you use it when growing herbs, fruit or vegetables within hydroponic systems, or whether you apply it in coco, or perhaps in soil. In this article we look at peroxide from the perspective of maintaining autonomous irrigation systems, so our recommendation is as follows: the optimal amount of hydrogen peroxide intended for ten litres of nutrient solution (water + nutrients) is 5 ml. However, only at the beginning. Afterwards, it is enough to maintain the peroxide level in the nutrient solution by adding 2 ml of peroxide for the same volume of nutrient solution, and that at most three times a week.
As you can see, caring for hydroponic systems is easier than it may at first seem, especially in the beginning. And if anything is unclear to you, we will be happy to advise you on the maintenance of both new and existing hydro systems. Do not hesitate to ask us anything. Write to us at info@higarden.cz.
- OxyPlus