How to Understanding Using Kelp in Hydroponics

A specific variety of seaweed called kelp can be especially helpful for some kinds of hydro gardens, but how you use this kind of element for nurturing plans has a lot to do with how you understand the chemical makeup and optimal use of this plant. Here are some things to think about when going out on a limb to introduce this “power food” to your crops.

History of Kelp

It's important to understand that kelp was used in agriculture many centuries before modern hydroponic system started emerging. Especially in societies with a developed coastline, farmers could harvest the stuff and put it on fields to help plants to produce vibrant harvests. Now, today’s growers are building on that primitive use of kelp and other seaweed varieties with more specific scientific applications.

Some Varieties are Better

Lots of hydroponic growers go for specific strains of kelp such as ascophyllum, a type that grows up in the Canadian area bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Choosing a specific variety of kelp can make a difference in using it in modern hydroponic setups.

Enzymes and Minerals

So why do people use kelp? Well, this stuff has a lot of certain kinds of growth hormone elements called cytokinins. It also has a range of other minerals and vitamins that plants use, as well as specific enzymes and proteins that can help in plant growth.

Plant Immune Systems

Another theory behind the extensive use of kelp is that the minerals and elements that it contains can help to boost a plant’s immune system. This in turn can protect the plant from various different things including pests, bacterial disease and even frost or drought. By providing more support for plants on all these different levels, kelp is effectively acting as “medicine” for hydroponic crops or any other kinds of plants that it is applied to.

Methods for Application

Hydroponic growers can grind up kelp or buy it in powdered form and use it in a reservoir. They can also use it through a method called supplemental or foliar feeding. Here you get a spray bottle and fill it with a kelp-rich mix and then spread it directly on plant stems and leaves. This can be an effective way of getting a plant to digest the nutrients from the seaweed.

Want to know more about using kelp and all sorts of other special additions to hydroponic nutrients? Take a look at all the resources that we offer at Dealzer, for in-depth information on growing as well as thousands of pieces of equipment you can use for your hydro garden.