Advanced Tips

Advanced Tips

Chelation and Chelates
Plants need secondary macronutrients and micronutrients in smaller quantities than primary macronutrients, and yet deficiencies in the former can be just as harmful to growth and yield as deficiencies in the latter. Micronutrients are particularly prone to becoming unavailable due to nutrient lockout or precipitation from the nutrient solution. Chelation helps to prevent this.In this blog post, we explain what chelation and chelates are, how they work and why they’re essential for nutrient uptake and utilization.Science of chelates A chelate is …
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Understanding NPK Sources and Ratios
Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium—commonly referred to as NPK—are the three essential macronutrients. They’re called macronutrients because plants require them in large quantities, which is why they’re often regarded as the most important for plants.Each plays vital roles in plant development. Nitrogen is a fundamental part of both amino acids, the building blocks of protein, and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), while phosphorus is essential for photosynthesis, and potassium regulates water use.Because growers must supply these nutrients in hydroponics, it’s important …
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Cannabis Plant Morphology
Plant morphology refers both to the scientific study of the external physical structure and appearance of plants and to the descriptive terminology used to characterize these traits.[1] In this blog post, we’ll provide an overview of the descriptive morphology of Cannabis sativa. Morphology matters The morphology of cannabis varies throughout its life cycle in relation to such factors as genetics or strain, environmental conditions and growing techniques. Its height impacts how much light it can receive, as well as its biomass and …
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Understanding EC in Hydroponic Systems
Electrical conductivity (EC) measures a solution’s ability to carry an electrical charge. In hydroponics, EC is an important indicator of nutrient concentration, as it reflects the amount of dissolved fertilizer salts in the nutrient solution. By monitoring EC at different points in the system, growers can ensure plants receive adequate nutrients and track nutrient uptake.In this blog post, we’ll break down how EC works, its impact on plant development, how to measure it and what to do if adjustments are …
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Canopy Lighting in Cannabis Cultivation
One of the biggest challenges for indoor cannabis growers is replicating the sun’s ability to penetrate the plant canopy, particularly the lower portions. Outdoors, photons[1] from natural sunlight strike leaf surfaces at multiple angles throughout the day, ensuring light distribution throughout the plant. By contrast, traditional overhead lighting in indoor cultivation struggles to reach the lower canopy, limiting photosynthesis and yields. To remedy this problem, canopy lighting has emerged as an effective method for ensuring all parts of the plant receive adequate …
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Choosing a Hydroponic System
Hydroponics is a soilless growing method where plants receive a water-based nutrient solution,[1] giving growers precise control over the growing environment and inputs like water, nutrients and oxygen. Several hydroponic systems—varying in size, complexity and efficiency—are available. These setups can be: Open or closed: Open systems discharge the nutrient solution after use. Closed systems recirculate the nutrient solution for reuse. Active or passive: Active systems use pumps to deliver the nutrient solution to plants. Passive (e.g., wick) systems give roots …
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Optimizing pH in Hydroponics
The acidity or alkalinity of a liquid is measured as pH. A low pH indicates high acidity, while a high pH indicates high alkalinity. More concretely, pH—short for “potential of hydrogen”—reflects the concentration of hydrogen ions. When acids dissolve in water, they release H+ ions, lowering the pH. Bases release OH- ions, raising the pH. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral (Figure 1). Figure 1. pH scale. Acidic solutions have a low pH. Alkaline solutions have a high pH. Neutral …
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Nutrients in Hydroponics
Plants require specific nutrients to survive and develop properly. These are called essential nutrients because (1) plants cannot complete their lifecycle without them; (2) they perform specific functions that no other nutrient can replace; and (3) they are directly involved in the plant’s metabolic or structural processes.[1]In addition to the three non-mineral essential nutrients—hydrogen, oxygen and carbon—plants require 14 essential mineral nutrients. These are categorized as primary macronutrients, secondary macronutrients or micronutrients, depending on the amount needed (e.g., micronutrients are …
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Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria in Soilless Cultivation
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are beneficial bacteria that colonize the root zone, acting as biostimulants, biofertilizers and biocontrol agents that influence plant responses to their environment.Rhizobacteria inhabit the rhizosphere—the region of soil immediately surrounding roots, as well as the sticky root surfaces themselves. This zone regulates key factors such as nutrient availability and microbial interactions that support plant health and survival.Although soilless systems lack a traditional rhizosphere, root surfaces remain bioactive, allowing PGPR to colonize them in hydroponic conditions. This …
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Unlocking Humic Substances for Plant Growth
Humic substances are naturally occurring compounds derived from decomposed animal and plant matter through microbial activity and geochemical processes, such as composting and lignin degradation. Composing up to 80% of organic soil matter,[1] they play a vital role in promoting plant growth.Humic acid, a primary component of humic substances, has become a focus of agricultural research for its ability to enhance fertilizer efficiency, improve crop quality and increase yields when combined with mineral fertilizers. Since hydroponics are soilless, supplementing cannabis …
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Bridging Yield Gaps in Cannabis Cultivation
In agriculture, a yield gap refers to the difference between a crop’s maximum yield potential and the yield the farmer actually achieves.[1] For cannabis, the yield gap is the difference between the highest possible flower yields and those currently achieved by commercial growers under optimal conditions. Data from 2018 collected from commercial cannabis growers in Canada found projected yields ranged from as low as 3.36 grams of dry flower per square meter to as high as 3,590 grams.[2] While there is …
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Secondary Metabolites of Cannabis
Secondary metabolites are chemical compounds that plants produce to fight against threats, adapt to environmental pressures and facilitate ecological relationships. In cannabis, these compounds go beyond basic growth and survival functions. They’re responsible for the plant’s recreational and medicinal benefits, as well as the distinct flavors and aromas that differentiate strains. The secondary metabolites of cannabis are unique in that they can be tailored to address specific medicinal or recreational needs, influencing the plant’s market value. In this blog post, we’ll explain …
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