ഈ ഗൈഡ് ഇതുവരെ വിവർത്തനം ചെയ്തിട്ടില്ല, അതിനാൽ ഇംഗ്ലീഷിൽ കാണിക്കുന്നു.
There is no single EC number that suits every hydroponic crop. The right level depends on the crop, its growth stage, the climate and the system. What helps most is separating two readings that often get mixed up.
Two different EC readings
Substrate EC is the salt level in the coco peat itself, before you start feeding. This is the number on a coco peat specification sheet.
Nutrient solution EC is the strength of the feed you give the crop. You set this yourself, and it changes through the life of the crop.
The two are linked. Whatever salt the substrate already holds is added to what your feed delivers, which is why hydroponic growers want the substrate to start low.
What to look for in the substrate
For soilless growing, use washed, Low EC coco peat. Our Low EC block is specified below 0.6 mS/cm, with pH between 5.5 and 6.5. A low starting point means the feed you mix is much closer to what the roots actually receive.
An unwashed block can release salts into the root zone at the stage when the plant is most sensitive. That is why High EC blocks are better kept for soil conditioning and landscape work.
Where the nutrient solution target comes from
Your feed target should come from the crop’s nutrition programme, your fertiliser supplier or an agronomist, based on the crop and stage. Published tables vary, and a number that works in one climate may not work in another. We do not set a feed target for your crop, because the right figure depends on your system.
Practical steps before planting
- Check the substrate. Expand a sample and test EC and pH using a calibrated meter and a consistent method. Our guide on EC and pH explains how.
- Ask about buffering. Washing and buffering are different steps. If your system or crop needs buffered media, say so in your enquiry and ask how your supplier handles it.
- Measure what comes out. Once the crop is growing, compare the EC going in with the EC draining out. A rising drain reading suggests salts are building up.
- Keep records. Tracking readings from one batch to the next is what makes them useful.
Which block to order
For most hydroponic grow bags and troughs, start with Low EC in Standard or Coarse. See the full specifications, or read how to choose a grade.
Want to test it in your own system first? Request a sample.
