New Grower Question about hydro nutrient uptake

[Afrikaaner]

So in my hydro setup, I was wondering about how the plant absorbs nutrients. Can a plant absorb all the nutrients out of the water, leaving nutrient deficient water, kind of like a filter? Or does it always require the uptake of water, and whatever is dissolved in the water, it absorbs? Or something completely different I didn't think about?

 

[agito]

nutrients are normally changed every 7-14 days in a recirculating system to avoid issues

however i dont know how this applys to wick or autopot systems i take it a general flush might be needed to remove build up

 

[Afrikaaner]

Hey, thanks agito, but I meant in terms of how the plant absorbs nutrients. I'm currently running a DWC, and I don't have a PPM meter or anything fancy like that, and I was just curious about how the uptake of nutrients occurs. So for example, say you have 5 gallons of pure water, to which you add your nutrients and adjust the pH properly. Let's say the PPM comes out at 900. Give it 2 weeks, and measure again. The water is lower because the plant respirates, but is the PPM still 900, or is it lower?

 

[agito]

if your feeding it right the ppms should be the same but the balance of element will be off after 14 days

if it goes down your underfeeding and if it goes up your over feeding

 

[rhapsodyrcks]

Hey, thanks agito, but I meant in terms of how the plant absorbs nutrients. I'm currently running a DWC, and I don't have a PPM meter or anything fancy like that, and I was just curious about how the uptake of nutrients occurs. So for example, say you have 5 gallons of pure water, to which you add your nutrients and adjust the pH properly. Let's say the PPM comes out at 900. Give it 2 weeks, and measure again. The water is lower because the plant respirates, but is the PPM still 900, or is it lower?

A PPM meter is nothing fancy. Amazon.com 20 bucks. Get one. If your doing hydro you need one should not be doing it without it.

 

[smokerjoker]

im just starting an aerophonic grow u need to check ppm( also called ec) everyday. ph also needs to be checked everyday. rule of thumb. ph goes up ppm comes down.not enough food.ph goes down ppm goes up, too much food. ppm and ph stable, happy days. and good karma to you sj

 

[Afrikaaner]

Hmm I've just been adding pH'd water with nutrients in it and adding fresh, pH'd water until the bi weekly water change, when I flush and add new nutrient water, and so far it's working out WAY better than soil. But either way, I was just curious if the plants act as filters (kind of like shellfish) or something completely different.