A Detailed Guide to the Correct Method of Fertilizing Hydroponic Flowers

1. Choosing Fertilizer. Hydroponic flowers need special nutrient solutions, and it is usually not advisable to mix them yourself. Soilless cultivation nutrient solutions are formulated according to the proportions, concentrations and acidity of the nutrients required by the flowers, and in addition to the major elements the plants need, they also contain other trace elements. When using a nutrient solution, you should strictly follow the instructions in the manual, control the fertilization concentration, and never apply it blindly, so as to avoid fertilizer damage. Purchased nutrient solutions should be placed in a dark place at low temperature, and metal containers must never be used for storage. Different flowers also have different requirements for fertilizer nutrient elements. Generally, foliage plants should be given mainly nitrogen fertilizer, supplemented by phosphorus and potassium fertilizer; flowering plants, especially during their flower bud differentiation and flower bud development stages, should be given mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, supplemented by nitrogen fertilizer.

2. Fertilization Time. Hydroponic flowers should be fertilized in the vigorous growing seasons of spring and autumn, and it is usually not advisable in winter and summer. If the flowers show poor nutrition in summer that affects their growth, a 0.1% urea solution can be sprayed on the leaves.

3. Fertilization Concentration. When fertilizing, strictly control the concentration, because all the nutrient elements applied are dissolved in the water, and when the concentration reaches a certain level, it will cause fertilizer damage to the flowers, thereby affecting their growth and even causing the entire plant to die. ① The fertilization concentration differs for different flowers. Flowers such as arrowhead vine, mini monstera and red emerald philodendron are relatively tolerant of fertilizer, so they can be fertilized more heavily; flowers with fine roots, such as Sihai Bo, spiderwort species, begonia species and coleus, have poor fertilizer tolerance, so fertilization should be lighter. ② For hydroponic flowers, the application concentration should also be decided according to the strength of the plant's growth vigor. Generally speaking, plants with strong growth vigor have somewhat greater fertilizer tolerance and can be fertilized relatively more heavily, while the opposite should be lighter. When indoor hydroponic flowers are undernourished, fertilization should be stopped or the fertilization concentration reduced, so as to avoid fertilizer damage.

4. Dealing with Fertilizer Damage. If after fertilization the flowers' branches and leaves appear weak and listless, the leaves lose their luster, and the roots rot and give off a foul odor, these are the characteristics of fertilizer damage. Once the above situations occur, the rotten roots should be trimmed off in time, the water replaced with clean water, and the plant kept in a dark place for care, changing the water once a day, and checking the flowers' roots and promptly trimming off rotten roots until new roots sprout again, after which normal care can be resumed.