The Importance Of Water Quality
One of the most important elements of hydroponics is water quality. It is often overlooked, however, when monitored correctly the quality of your water solution can have incredible results on your plant’s health!
It is incredibly important to measure water quality, electrical conductivity and pH are two of the most important metrics to consider. These measurements give growers an in-depth analysis of the quality of the water they are using in their hydroponic system. EC measures the electrical conductivity of water which tells you the concentration of IONs it contains. Pure water is not a great electrical conductor. However, when you introduce more IONs into the water, the EC levels rise dramatically.
You should measure the EC value of water solutions with an electrical conductivity meter. This meter consists of two electrodes that you place in the water and the current passes between them. The meter then determines how strong the current is and the concentration of IONs in the solution. EC levels help to determine just how healthy your plants are growing. Low EC levels will result in much slower plant growth. Likewise, plants will also suffer from a weaker immune system, making them more prone to disease and infection.
Furthermore, pH is also incredibly important. For those of you who don’t know, pH is the measure of acidity or alkalinity of water. It is normally measured on a scale of 0-14. Pure water tends to have a pH value of 7, anything lower than this is acidic. Therefore anything higher than 7 is alkaline. A rule to remember is the lower the pH number, the more acidic.
Likewise, pH is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen. Water which contains more hydrogen ions is acidic. It’s important for growers to consider the pH level of their nutrient solution as it has a considerable effect on healthy plant growth. Ultimately, if the water you are using falls outside of the appropriate pH level, your plants will struggle to absorb nutrients. Leading to stunted growth. To get the best growth, you must monitor pH regularly, using an accurate pH meter.
Ensuring the quality of your water is up to scratch can be quite a difficult task for growers, but doing so will lead to improved plant growth. We have a fantastic range of EC & pH meters available which will help to make measuring water quality 10 times easier.
