How to Create a Good Foliar Feeding Strategy

If you've been poking around on our website or researching hydroponics in general, you’ve probably come across words like fogponics, supplemental feeding or foliar feeding. These identify a very common and effective method for supplementing the nutrients that plants get through conventional irrigation. But knowing how to do this is key. Here are some steps for putting together a good foliar feeding strategy.

Control the Timing of Foliar Feeding

Foliar feeding involves using a mist or spray to get additional nutrients to plants. You’ll be spraying down the stems and leaves of the plant. Nutrient-rich water finds its way to plant glands called stomata that help the planet to digest what's been sprayed on it.

One of the first steps is to figure out how many times a day you will spray plants. A good tip is to keep a diary of spray schedules to make sure that plants are not overfed.

Evaluate Conventional Irrigation

In many cases, foliar feeding is used because plants are getting too much nutrients or they’re being overwatered. So it's key to evaluate the actual conventional irrigation that you're doing before you start using foliar feeding. You want to dial back the amount of nutrients that plants get through reservoir water. Then you'll slowly add supplemental feeding to give them exactly the right amount of nutrients. Plants ingesting too much of a certain nutrient can experience of nutrient burn -- it can manifest in the form of yellow or withering leaves, and it can be devastating to plants, so get the combination right to help plants to thrive.

Control the Spray

It’s also important to pay attention to how you’re spraying water onto plants. You may need to adjust the droplet size, nozzle strength, or other aspects of foliar feeding in order to really give plants what they need.

Adjust the pH Value

pH value is another critically important part of protecting plants from harm. We've often talked about the need to check and recheck the pH balance in a conventional reservoir. But you need it for your supplemental feeding water, too. You need to check the pH of what's in the spray bottle, and make sure it's in that range, generally between five and six, that plants can use. Otherwise you need to adjust it accordingly.

For more about this method and other types of hydroponic strategies, ask Dealzer what we can do to provide you with the right equipment and help you make the most of a hydroponics project.