pH and EC: The invisible foundation for every successful grow

Anyone who grows plants wants to get the most out of their seed. But no matter how expensive the LED is or how high-quality the fertilizer is: if the pH and EC values ​​aren't right, your plants' potential will be wasted.

Whether you grow classically in soil, in airy coco coir or in high-tech systems like DWC – these two values ​​are your most important tools for healthy growth and bountiful harvests.

1. pH value: The gatekeeper of your roots

The pH value determines whether your watering water is acidic or alkaline. Think of the pH value as a gatekeeper: it decides which nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients) are allowed to pass through to the roots.

• On Earth: Here, the medium is more patient and buffers fluctuations. A range of 6.2 to 6.8 is optimal.

• On coconut coir and hydroponics: There's no buffer here. You have to control it precisely between 5.5 and 6.2.

• The problem: If the value is outside the normal range, a "nutrient lockout" occurs. Your plant will show deficiency symptoms, even though there is actually enough fertilizer in the soil.

2. EC value: The benchmark for saturation

The EC value (Electrical Conductivity) measures electrical conductivity. Since fertilizer salts conduct electricity, this value tells you exactly how high the nutrient concentration is in your solution.

• Too low EC: Your plants are hungry and remain small.

• Too high an EC level: The plant becomes "overfed", resulting in eagle claws, burned leaf tips and, in the worst case, root death.

The values ​​in the cycle: From cradle to harvest

Each stage requires a different setup. While a seedling needs almost exclusively clear water, a plant in peak bloom is a real glutton.

• Seedling / Cutting: Minimal requirements. EC almost at baseline (0.4 - 0.8), pH rather in the lower range for root growth.

• Growth phase (vegetative stage): Increasing demand. Focus on nitrogen. The EC is increased slightly weekly.

• Flowering phase: Maximum demand. Focus on phosphorus and potassium. This is where you'll achieve the highest EC value of the run.

• Flush phase: No need. We drastically reduce the EC so that the plant uses up stored nutrients – for a clean taste.

Why rigid fertilization schemes often lead to a dead end

Every fertilizer manufacturer provides you with a colorful chart. However, these charts have three crucial weaknesses that ruin many grows:

1. Your water is unique: Tables often assume water with an EC value of 0. However, your tap water already contains its own salts (calcium, magnesium). If you ignore this, your EC will be too high from the start.

2. The "more is better" trap: Manufacturers want to sell fertilizer. The recommended amounts are often set at the upper limit, which quickly leads to soil salinization.

3. No flexibility: Your plant drinks more water on hot days but needs less fertilizer. A rigid schedule cannot adapt to this.

Efficiency through data: Understanding the nutrient cycle

Maximum yields are not a matter of chance, but the result of precise control. Those who have eliminated the guesswork surrounding nutrient solutions no longer rely on rigid tables, but on the actual needs of the plant. What used to require painstaking, complex calculations can now be professionalized through specialized technological approaches.

The use of precise tools such as the NutS-Calculator or the EC-Calculator is the crucial lever to ensure the vitality of plants on any medium (soil, coco, hydro) and to save up to 60% on fertilizer costs.

• The role of the tap water: A large proportion of fertilization errors arise from a lack of knowledge about the basic parameters of tap water. Accurate analysis and consideration of these parameters effectively prevents overfeeding.

• Proactive nutrient management: Modern forecasting models allow for the predictive determination of a plant's needs. Instead of reacting to damage, nutrient supply is adjusted to the respective life stage based on data.

• Scientific standards for practical application: The methodological depth is now accessible to every grower. Complex mineral relationships, which are particularly crucial in DWC cultivation , are thus translated into a clear, applicable strategy.

Conclusion: Those who understand and control the pH and EC values ​​stop hoping and start taking control.

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