Seaweed Nutrients for Hydroponics
Although it is commonly recognized as fish-food or the black wrapping paper that keeps our sushi together in Japanese restaurants (personally I love seaweed salad…nomnomnom), seaweed is a magical renewable ocean resource. It is one of the world’s most important producers of oxygen, through photosynthesis, and it is overwhelmingly rich in iron, zinc, copper, manganese and boron, as well as more than 60 other macro and micro-nutrients. This rootless, free floating ocean plant contains all the wealth of nutrients from the sea as well as an abundance of powerful hormones that trigger massive plant growth and condition soil for maximum productivity. Seaweed has been used in conventional gardening for centuries; because of its highly malleable constitution, seaweed and seaweed extracts are now being incorporated into a wide range of liquid plant nutrients and additives for hydroponic gardening.
Seaweed Nutrients Provide Record Yields and Immediate Relief to Stressed Hydroponic Plants
Long ago it was discovered that fresh seaweed required time to break down in the garden in order to release all the vitamins, minerals, organic acids and hormones that supercharge plant growth and vitality. By first composting and liquefying the seaweed extract, gardeners have discovered that a foliar spray of this extract can make the all the richness of seaweed immediately available to your plants. Studies conclusively show that generous doses of seaweed extract – through regular feeding or by foliar spray – can quickly reverse nutrient deficiencies, reduce the impact of environmental stress (frost and drought) while generating plant yield and vitality that is unobtainable with only conventional fertilizer.
Seaweed Nutrients bring all the Richness of the Ocean to Your Indoor Garden
The richness of seaweed stems from the fact that it floats on the surface of the ocean photosynthesizing sunlight all day, while absorbing nutrients from the sea. Since the ocean is a giant receptacle for runoff from the entire planet, it contains all known trace elements and minerals. As such, it contains over 60 recognized minerals and various plant hormones, but it is not a complete plant nutrient. Although it contains a good amount of nitrogen and potassium, it is known to be low in phosphorus – a macro-nutrient required for plant growth. As such, seaweed extracts have found a place in indoor gardening as an essential source of vital trace elements and hormones to be used in conjunction with a complete and balanced plant nutrient.
Enhanced Hydroponic Plant Growth with Seaweed
In order to recognize the survival abilities of seaweed and the supernatural properties that it makes available to your plants, it is essential to observe that seaweed is constantly washed up by invincible ocean tides and eaten by fish. In order to survive seaweed must grow rapidly. Studies have shown that seaweed can grow up to a foot per day! The same growth hormones that enable this extraordinary growth in seaweed can increase the elongation and the speed of cellular division in plants.
When applied to the roots of plants, these hormones can trigger increased root mass as well as larger and faster plant growth. A recent university study in outdoor (soil-based) gardening concluded that crops treated with seaweed extract exhibited increased root growth (between 67% to 175% greater than untreated plants). Roots soaked in seaweed extract provided evidence of reduced transplant shock and studies on seedlings demonstrated faster rates of germination and greater survival rates. Further studies revealed that foliar spraying of seaweed extracts promoted earlier flowering and fruit set in addition to stronger and faster stem and leaf development.
Seaweed Conditions Soil and other Grow Media in Hydroponic Gardens
It was recently discovered that mannitol compounds in seaweed enable increased efficiency of nutrient absorption in soil and other media. Other studies revealed that seaweed enables speedy breakdown of sugars and carbohydrates while stimulating the growth of nitrogen-fixing beneficial bacteria. By promoting the development of these beneficial bacteria, seaweed is indirectly responsible for increased absorption of nitrogen and other nutrients.
Seaweed Nutrients increase the Shelf Life of Fruits and Vegetables and Fends off Pest in the Indoor Garden
The benefits of seaweed and seaweed extracts on conventional hydroponic gardens continue to multiply as every new study reveals another advantage of this miraculous resource. Current studies suggest that antitoxins in seaweed products (for indoor gardening) can have a powerful impact on common garden pests. It is reported that these powerful chemicals can repel certain insects, mildew and bacteria in much the same way it fends off bacteria and virus in the ocean.
Another university study determined that foliar seaweed extracts can increase the shell life of fruits and vegetables by preventing mold growth. Based on this and all the other compelling evidence, it is easy to conclude that any plant nutrition program that excludes seaweed supplements is surely incomplete.
Ok, now that you understand how important seaweed nutrients are for your garden, which nutrient is the best?
We carry Nutri-Plus Pure Ocean Seaweed Extracts, imported from Holland, and containing over 60 naturally occurring macro and micro elements; extensive amino acid compounds; Vitamins A,C,F, B-12; Gibberellic acid, Auxins and Cytokinins. It is also USDA and WSDA certified Organic. If you are not familiar with the Nutri-Plus line of nutrients, you’re missing out on a quality nutrient line that has been around for a long time providing excellent products at affordable prices. Low priced nutes do not mean lower quality! We can’t recommend Nutri-Plus products enough. We grow with them and love them! It’s a line that doesn’t get a lot of hype but they make a solid line of nutes that are easy to use and work really well!
We also recommend Bloom Seaweed Yellow Bottles! This is a super concentrated Seaweed extract (1ml/1L) that will surely be worth every liter. It is very popular and is a big seller for us!
If you made it to the end of this blog post, enjoy this coupon code for 15% off Seaweed Products from Web Hydroponics…”seaweed15“. Enter the code at check out to get 15% off any seaweed product from our site!
Thanks for reading!
-Web Hydroponics