Growing Science

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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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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 …
Growing Science

Understanding Phytohormones
Plant hormones, called phytohormones, are chemical compounds that circulate through the plant, signaling and regulating its life cycle from seedling to maturity.In animals, hormones are “chemical messengers” produced by the endocrine glands. While plants do not have hormone-producing glands, phytohormones influence similar physiological processes as mammalian hormones, including growth, reproduction and even senescence.[1]In this blog post, we’ll discuss the importance of phytohormones, the specific types of phytohormones and the benefits of their exogenous application from natural sources.Why phytohormones matterPhytohormones are …
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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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Spurring Plant Growth with Triacontanol
Triacontanol (sometimes abbreviated as TRIA) is a natural non-hormonal growth promoter. First discovered in alfalfa, it is found in the epicuticular waxes—thin layers of wax on the surfaces of leaves, stems and other aerial plant parts that protect against environmental stressors—of several plant species,[1] as well as beeswax.[2] Unlike phytohormones,[3] triacontanol does not directly regulate plant growth or development. Instead, it acts as a secondary plant growth enhancer, improving the physiological efficiency of cells and optimizing processes so plants better express …
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Guiding your Garden Through Crop Steering
Crop steering is a cannabis cultivation technique where careful control over environmental factors guides plant growth, optimizes yields and enhances quality. By adjusting elements like light intensity, irrigation, temperature, humidity and root zone conditions, growers can steer plants toward vegetative growth—channeling energy and resources on foliage, stems and roots—or generative growth, also known as flowering or reproductive growth. This blog post explains how crop steering works and how different environmental controls can steer crops toward one type of growth over the …
Growing Science

Comparative Analysis of Batch and Inline Methods of Fertigation
Fertigation is the process of delivering nutrients to plants through irrigation. In hydroponic systems, this method fertilizes the root zone directly based on plant requirements, allowing plants to absorb nutrients and water efficiently while minimizing nutrient leaching. The two types of fertigation systems are batch and inline injection. Each has its pros and cons, and choosing the best system depends on factors such as operation size and complexity, budgetary constraints and need for scalability. Batch versus inline injection The primary difference between batch …
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Managing VPD for Cannabis
The vapor pressure deficit (VPD) is the difference between the moisture currently in the air and the maximum moisture it can hold when saturated. As we discussed in our previous blog post, VPD is an important parameter to measure and control because it directly influences plant transpiration. In this blog post, we’ll explain how to determine the VPD of the grow room using temperature and humidity, the ideal VPD levels for cannabis and the equipment needed to monitor and adjust VPD. Measuring …
Growing Science

Understanding Vapor Pressure Deficit
In our previous blog post, we talked about the importance of plant transpiration and how to ensure plants transpire at an ideal rate for optimal growth. One way that growers can determine if the right amount of transpiration is occurring is by measuring the vapor pressure deficit (VPD). VPD indicates the air’s moisture saturation level. Lower moisture in the air allows more plant transpiration, while higher saturation reduces it. In this post, we’ll explore how VPD works, its impact on plant …
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