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Hydroponic Plant Guide |
- Electro-conductivity (EC) or Conductivity Factor (cF) can be
expressed as either mi?slemens (mS), cF or parts per million (ppm). The most popular scale
in the United States is parts per million. (ppm) To keep things simple just focus on (ppm)
mS = 10 cF = 700 ppm
- The pH and Electro-conductivity (ppm) values specified here are given
as a broad range. It should be noted that specific plant requirements will vary according
to regional climatic conditions, and from season to season within that region.
- As a general rule, plants will have a lower requirement in the
hottest months. Therefore, a stronger nutrient solution should be maintained during
winter, with a weaker solution during summer when plants take up and transpire more water
than nutrients.
- KNOW YOUR CROP. Plant EC or (ppm) may vary according to the stage of
growth. For example, cucumbers prefer ppm 1400 when establishing, and ppm 1750 after the
first harvest. Between 3 and 7 weeks after first harvest, the optimum ppm is 1180.
- For easy growing reference, plants that share broad groupings of low,
medium or high can be grown together using the same nutrient Electro-Conductivity,
providing a middle ground ppm is adopted.
- The nutrient solution should be discarded at regular intervals.
Should there be a requirement to flush the growing bed, the systems should be flushed with
fresh nutrients (run-to-waste) rather than water to avoid starving or stressing plants.
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VEGETABLE CROPS |
| |
pH |
Category |
cF |
ppm |
| Artichoke |
6.5-7.5 |
L |
8-18 |
560-1260 |
| Asparagus |
6.0-6.8 |
L |
14-18 |
980-1260 |
| Bean(Common) |
6.0 |
H |
20-40 |
1400-2800 |
| Beetroot |
6.0-6.5 |
H |
18-50 |
1260-3500 |
| Broad Bean |
6.0-6.5 |
M |
18-22 |
1260-1540 |
| Broccoli |
6.0-6.8 |
H |
28-35 |
1960-2450 |
| Brussels Sprout |
6.5 |
H |
25-30 |
1750-2100 |
| Cabbage |
6.5-7.0 |
H |
25-30 |
1750-2100 |
| Capsicum |
6.0-6.5 |
M |
18-22 |
1260-1540 |
| Carrots |
6.3 |
M |
16-20 |
1120-1400 |
| Cauliflower |
6.5-7.0 |
M |
15-20 |
1050-1400 |
| Celery |
6.5 |
M |
18-24 |
1260-1680 |
| Cucumber |
5.5 |
M |
17-25 |
1190-1750 |
| Eggplant |
6.0 |
H |
25-35 |
1750-2450 |
| Endive |
5.5 |
M |
20-24 |
1400-1680 |
| Fodder |
6.0 |
M |
18-20 |
1260-1400 |
| Garlic |
6.0 |
L |
14-18 |
980-1260 |
| Leek |
6.5-7.0 |
L |
14-18 |
980-1260 |
| Lettuces |
6.0-7.0 |
L |
8-12 |
560-840 |
| Marrow |
6.0 |
M |
18-24 |
1260-1680 |
| Okra |
6.5 |
H |
20-24 |
1400-1680 |
| Onions |
6.0-6.7 |
L |
14-18 |
980-1260 |
| Pak-choi |
7.0 |
M |
15-20 |
1050-1400 |
| Parsnip |
6.0 |
L |
14-18 |
980-1260 |
| Pea |
6.0-7.0 |
L |
8-18 |
980-1260 |
| Pepino |
6.0-6.5 |
H |
20-50 |
1400-3500 |
| Potatoes |
5.0-6.0 |
H |
20-25 |
1400-1750 |
| Pumpkin |
5.5-7.5 |
M |
18-24 |
1260-1680 |
| Raddish |
6.0-7.0 |
M |
16-22 |
840-1540 |
| Spinach |
6.0-7.0 |
M |
18-23 |
1260-1610 |
| Silverbeet |
6.0-7.0 |
M |
18-23 |
1260-1610 |
| Sweet Corn |
6.0 |
M |
16-24 |
840-1680 |
| Sweet Potato |
5.5-6.0 |
H |
20-25 |
1400-1750 |
| Taro |
5.0-5.5 |
H |
25-30 |
1750-2100 |
| Tomatoes |
6.0-6.5 |
H |
20-50 |
1400-3500 |
| Turnip |
6.0-6.5 |
M |
18-24 |
1260-1680 |
| Zucchini |
6.0 |
M |
18-24 |
1260-1680 |
| |
L = Low |
M = Medium |
H = High |
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FRUIT |
| |
pH |
Category |
cF |
ppm |
| Banana |
5.5-6.5 |
M |
18-22 |
1260-1540 |
| Black Currant |
6.0 |
L |
14-18 |
980-1260 |
| Blueberry |
4.0-5.0 |
M |
18-20 |
1260-1400 |
| Melon |
5.5-6.0 |
H |
20-25 |
1400-1750 |
| Passionfruit |
6.5 |
M |
16-24 |
840-1680 |
| Paw Paw |
6.5 |
M |
16-24 |
840-1680 |
| Pineapple |
5.5-6.0 |
H |
20-24 |
1400-1680 |
| Red Currant |
6.0 |
H |
20-24 |
1400-1680 |
| Rhubarb |
5.5-6.0 |
M |
14-18 |
840-1400 |
| Strawberries |
6.0 |
M |
18-22 |
1260-1540 |
| Watermelon |
5.8 |
M |
18-24 |
1260-1680 |
| |
L = Low |
M = Medium |
H = High |
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HERBS |
| |
pH |
Category |
cF |
ppm |
| Basil |
5.5-6.5 |
L |
10-16 |
700-1120 |
| Chicory |
5.5-6.0 |
H |
20-24 |
1400-1680 |
| Chives |
6.0-6.5 |
M |
18-22 |
1260-1540 |
| Fennel |
6.4-6.8 |
L |
10-14 |
700-980 |
| Lavender |
6.4-6.8 |
L |
10-14 |
700-980 |
| Lemon Balm |
5.5-6.5 |
L |
10-16 |
700-1120 |
| Marjoram |
6.0 |
M |
16-20 |
1120-1400 |
| Mint |
5.5-6.0 |
H |
20-24 |
1400-1680 |
| Mustard Cress |
6.0-6.5 |
M |
12-24 |
840-1680 |
| Parsley |
5.5-6.0 |
L |
8-18 |
560-1260 |
| Rosemary |
5.5-6.0 |
L |
10-16 |
700-1120 |
| Sage |
5.5-6.5 |
L |
10-16 |
700-1120 |
| Thyme |
5.5-7.0 |
L |
8-16 |
560-1120 |
| Watercress |
6.5-6.8 |
L |
4-18 |
280-1260 |
| |
L = Low |
M = Medium |
H = High |
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FLOWER
CROPS |
| |
pH |
Category |
cF |
ppm |
| African Violets |
6.0-7.0 |
L |
12-15 |
840-1050 |
| Anthurium |
5.0-6.0 |
M |
16-20 |
1120-1400 |
| Antisetsicism |
6.5 |
M |
16-20 |
1120-1400 |
| Aphelandra |
5.0-6.0 |
M |
18-24 |
1260-1680 |
| Aster |
6.0-6.5 |
M |
18-24 |
1260-1680 |
| Begonia |
6.5 |
L |
14-18 |
980-1260 |
| Bromeliads |
5.0-7.5 |
L |
8-12 |
560-840 |
| Caladium |
6.0-7.5 |
M |
16-20 |
1120-1400 |
| Canna |
6.0 |
M |
18-24 |
1260-1680 |
| Carnation |
6.0 |
H |
20-35 |
1260-2450 |
| Chrysanthemum |
6.0-6.2 |
H |
18-25 |
1400-1750 |
| Cymbidiums |
5.5 |
L |
6-10 |
420-560 |
| Dahlia |
6.0-7.0 |
M |
15-20 |
1050-1400 |
| Dieffenbachia |
5.0-6.0 |
H |
18-24 |
1400-1680 |
| Dracaena |
5.0-6.0 |
H |
18-24 |
1400-1680 |
| Ferns |
6.0 |
M |
16-20 |
1120-1400 |
| Ficus |
5.5-6.0 |
M |
16-24 |
1120-1680 |
| Freesia |
6.5 |
M |
10-20 |
700-1400 |
| Impatiens |
5.5-6.0 |
M |
18-20 |
1260-1400 |
| Gerbera |
5.0-6.5 |
H |
20-25 |
1400-1680 |
| Gladiolus |
5.5-6.5 |
H |
20-24 |
1400-1680 |
| Monstera |
5.0-6.0 |
H |
18-24 |
1400-1680 |
| Palms |
6.0-7.5 |
M |
16-20 |
1120-1400 |
| Roses |
5.5-6.0 |
M |
15-25 |
1050-1750 |
| Stock |
6.0-7.0 |
M |
16-20 |
1120-1400 |
| |
L = Low |
M = Medium |
H = High |
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