feeding schedule

If feeding of the plants is a dual action process, the pots fill bringing nuitrients into the pots, and as the solution recedes oxygen is pulled into the root system.

This is my understanding of the ebb & flow method. Question, once the pot is filled with the solution, is it better to have an extended fill time or a short fill time. On one hand, the nutes stay in the roots for a longer period of time, does the plant take advantage of that?

Or, is the feeding not completed until the drain? If your answer, is "depends" then please elaborate.

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feeding schedule

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Feb 12, 2010
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Ebb/Flow Feeding
by: Larry

You seem to have a good understanding of ebb/flow feeding.

Plants feed during the flood cycle and they also feed after the nutrient solution drains. The sole purpose of the flood cycle is to get the nutrient solution into the growing medium.

Once the solution drains, the growing medium remains moist with nutrient solution. Plants feed off of this moisture which is replenished at the next flood cycle. And the smaller or denser the growing medium, the more surface area retains moisture.

How often to flood? That depends on your growing conditions. Plants in full sun and a dry environment will need more flood cycles than those in shade in a humid environment.

Watch the growing medium, it should still be slightly damp and not completely dry when the next flood cycle starts. If it is dry then flood sooner and if it is still really wet then you could go longer before flooding again.

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