The following nutrient solutions are used at fairly dilute rates and must be properly measured out. Do NOT increase the usage of any of them unless you are aware of what you are doing. Nutrient solutions that are too strong, can kill the plant by dehydration.

Prepare the five nutrient solutions below in five different 4 Litre plastic fruit juice bottles. The usage of each varies, e.g., if your nutrient solution tank holds 160 Litres and the usage rate is 1.0 mL/Litre, then use 160 mL of that solution. With a felt pen, number each bottle and list the usage rate, and the amount of that solution you need to use. All weights are in grams and common names are used.

Half fill a 10 Litre plastic bucket with water, and measure each concentrate into the bucket of water. For example, if your nutrient solution reservoir holds 160 Litres, then measure 160 mL Solution #1, 160 mL of Solution #2, 320 mL of Solution #3, 640 mL of Solution #4 and 960 mL of Solution #5.

Pour the diluted nutrient mix into your nutrient solution reservoir, stir well, then measure its pH. Aim for a pH of 6.0 to 6.4

Adjust the pH with dilute Sulphuric Acid. How to make dilute Sulphuric Acid will be explained later on this page.

Iron Chelate (Iron-EDTA) is generally available from Plant Nurseries and Garden Shops in 250 g packets. Ensure the product you purchase is golden-yellow in colour, and not brown (which is unsuitable).

Epsom's Salts, also known as Magnesium Sulphate. Do not buy this material from Plant Nurseries or Garden Shops as it contains too much Iron and will turn Solution #1 black in three days. Instead, purchase Epsom's Salts from the "Personal Care" section of your local supermarket. Ensure it is BP grade. (BP = British Pharmacopoeia).

Borax is available from the "Cleansers" section of your local supermarket, in 500 g wide mouthed plastic jars.

The other trace elements, Manganese Sulphate, Zinc Sulphate, Copper Sulphate and Ammonium Molybdate are generally available from fine chemical suppliers in 500 g wide mouthed plastic bottles. Try to purchase Technical or Laboratory Reagent grade rather than Analytical Reagent grade, which is very pure and quite expensive. Copper Sulphate, also known as "Blue stone" is available from hardware stores. Purchasing 500 g of each of these chemicals may be expensive, but they are going to last you an awful long time. Another idea is to buy with a friend and share the chemicals equally.

Please be aware that prepared Trace Element mixes may not be what you think they are ... some are more than 97% sand. If you do purchase a Trace Element mix, and it contains Iron, and that Iron is in the Ferrous form, be aware that Starting Formula Solution #1 will blacken within three days if made from that mix. The key is to use Solution #2 containing Iron Chelate (Iron-EDTA) as your sole source of soluble Iron. Unless the Iron is in a soluble form, how is the plant going to use it?

Table Salt (Sodium Chloride) is needed is such small quantities that many water supplies contain sufficient salt, even though you may not be able to taste it. Just add a pinch of salt from the kitchen.

Select a one Litre plastic bottle with a plastic screw top and fill it to 950 mL with tap water. Wearing suitable eye protection, carefully measure out 100 g (just over 50 mL) of concentrated Sulphuric Acid, and carefully pour into the water in the plastic bottle. It may momentarily boil so slow down the acid addition. When cooled, replace the cap and mark for identification with a felt pen.

If you need clarification on any points, please feel free to E-mail me.

The next page is a brief discussion on the analysis of the Starting Formula.

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