Growth Promotion for Young Plants
How to increase the plant vigour in your Hydroponic setup
A good growth promoter for young hydroponic plants typically enhances root development, nutrient uptake, and overall plant vigour without causing nutrient burn or imbalance. Here are a few commonly used and effective growth promoters:
1. Seaweed Extract (e.g., kelp extract)
Benefits:
Stimulates root and shoot growth, enhances stress tolerance, and boosts microbial activity.
Active Compounds:
Cytokinins, auxins, gibberellins.
Usage:
Dilute in water as per instructions and apply in the nutrient solution or as a foliar spray.
2. Humic and Fulvic Acids
Benefits:
Improves nutrient uptake, stimulates root development, and enhances microbial life in the growing medium.
Best For:
Early seedling stage and during transplanting.
3. Mycorrhizal Fungi and Beneficial Bacteria
Examples:
Rhizobium, Azospirillum, Trichoderma, Bacillus subtilis.
Benefits:
Promotes healthy root systems and helps in nutrient cycling.
Note:
Not all beneficial microbes work well in hydroponics, so use hydroponics-specific formulations.
4. B-Vitamin Complex (e.g., Vitamin B1 / Thiamine)
Benefits:
Reduces transplant shock, supports metabolic processes.
Common in:
Products like SuperThrive or Thrive Alive B-1.
5. Rooting Hormones (Auxins like IBA and NAA)
Use With Caution:
Helps in root formation but can be too strong if overused.
Product Example:
Clonex (gel form) or diluted root boosters for hydroponics.
6. Silica (Silicon Supplements)
Benefits:
Strengthens cell walls, increases resistance to pests and stress.
Use:
Include in early vegetative phase for best results.
Popular Commercial Growth Promoter Products for Hydroponics
Formulex can be used as a general 'pick me up' and growth promoter for plants but especially seedlings and young plants. This is a universal hard and soft water formulation.
Enzyme Plus is a natural, liquid enzyme preparation containing a variety of enzymes. These enzymes ensure that old root remains decay, defending plants against pathogens. Enzyme Plus also contains vitamins that promote root growth and increase root absorption capacity.
In nature, plants regulate their own soil environment, optimising it with the help of a well-developed micro-life. The microorganisms produce enzymes, which cause dead parts of the plant to decompose faster. As such microorganisms are not present in the substrate (or are only present in small quantities), the enzymes required are not produced.
Ferro’s Enzyme Plus provides the solution.The enzymes contained in Ferro Enzyme Plus increase the extent to and speed with which dead sections of the plant (such as roots) are broken down, forming nutrients that can then be absorbed once again. The decaying process using Enzyme Plus does not use up any oxygen, which means that the plant is able to absorb enough of it during the night to ‘burn’ the sugars accumulated during the day.
This enzymatic preparation ensures that nutrient salts remain in the solution, making it easier for plants to absorb them.
If your plants are suffering from a deficiency problem, this may be the answer. Mononutrients are essential for plant development. CANNA Mono Phosphorus helps with flowering. This can be used with CANNA nutrients or any other nutrient range.
Bushdoctor Kelp Me to Kelp You
Seaweed Plant Food!
Kelp grows higher than even some of the Earth’s trees. The teeming aquatic life that flourishes in a kelp bed has just as much diversity as that of a rainforest.
Kelp Me Kelp You® is a seaweed plant food derived from Ascophyllum nodosum and designed for use in organic gardening.
This product is a liquid concentrate that can be used for growing fruits, vegetables, gardens or flowers.
Suitable for use in gardens, drip-irrigation systems or hydroponic applications
