Since hydroponics has soared in popularity in recent years, there’s no shortage of hydroponic nutrients to choose from. Just head to your local home and garden center or browse an online retailer and you’ll be sure to find an endless array of options.
It goes without saying that you want to be sure that you select the highest quality, most reliable hydroponic nutrients that are customized to meet the needs of the specific type of crops you intend on growing, but with so many choices available, trying to decide which one to choose can seem like a daunting task.
To alleviate some of the confusion and stress, we’ve taken the liberty of doing the research for you, We’ve narrowed down the options to what we believe to be the best choices currently available on the market.
Below, you’ll find a collection of reviews of our picks for the best hydroponic nutrients. These reviews highlight the key features of each option, as well as a list of pros and cons.
We also include a handy buyer’s guide that discusses the key features you should consider when you’re shopping. With the information provided in this guide, you should be able to choose the best hydroponic nutrients for your plants specific needs.
Our Top Picks
For growers who don’t have the time to read through long, detailed reviews, this section is for you. Here, you’ll find brief reviews that highlight the key features of our top picks for the best hydroponic nutrients. These short, concise reviews highlight the most notable elements of each water-soluble plant nutrients.
Last update on 2024-10-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
- The Best Pick: Botanicare BCBPGQT Pure Blend Pro Grow Terpene Enhancing Base Nutrient Vegetative Formula
Botanicare is one of the most trusted manufacturers of hydroponic products and supplies, and their BCPGQT Pure Blend Pro Grow Terpene Enhancing Base Nutrient Vegetative Formula is one of the most popular hydroponic nutrients on the market, and our pick for the best overall option. - The Premium Pick: General Hydroponics Flora Gro, Bloom, Micro Combo Fertilizer
Our pick for the best premium hydroponic nutrients comes from General Hydroponics. The Flora Series is the manufacturer’s original 3-part hydroponic-based nutrient system. First formulated in 1976, this set comes with 1 gallon each of the General Hydroponics Flora Gro, Flora Bloom, and Flora Micro hydroponic nutrients, all of which contain complete primary, secondary, and micro nutrients that plants need to thrive and enhance their yields and their overall quality. - The Budget Pick: Cal Mag Plant Supplement – Liquid Plant Food for All Types of Plants
For growers who are looking for a high-quality, reliable, easy to use, and affordably priced hydroponic nutrient, this option from Cal Mag Plant Supplement is definitely an option worth considering. It’s specifically formulated to meet the needs of all types of crops, including fruits, veggies, and flowering plants. It erases the vitamin deficiencies that hydroponic systems often experiencing, ensuring that your plants are greener and healthier.
Hydroponic Nutrients Reviews
Now that you have read through the brief review for our top three picks for the best overall, best premium, and best budge hydroponic nutrients, let’s dive in a little deeper and take a closer look. In this section of our guide, we provide more in-depth reviews of the three aforementioned options, as well as a handful of other top-quality options.
These reviews provide more detailed information about the type of nutrients each formula contains, what type of plants they’re ideal for, and the type of results they provide. At the end of each review is a list of pros and cons, as well, so that you can quickly and easily see which formula will best meet your needs and provide you with the highest quality results and the most fruitful yields.
Botanicare BCPBPGQT Pure Blend Pro Grow Terpene Enhancing Base Nutrient Vegetative Formula
Our pick for the best overall hydroponic nutrients comes from Botanicare. Their BCPBGQT Pure Blend Pro Grow Terpene Enhancing Base Nutrient Vegetative Formula is a premium, one-part vegetative plant food formula that is specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of all types of plants, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, houseplants, and even shrubs, cacti, and succulents.
It contains a 3 2 4 NPK ratio; 3 percent nitrogen, 2 percent phosphorous, and 4 percent potassium. The nutrients are derived from the highest quality fish meal, composted seabird guano, kelp, rock phosphate, potassium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, and calcium carbonate.
- Botanicare Pure Blend Pro Grow 3-2-4 is a premium, one-part plant food
- Beneficial for fruits, flowers, vegetables, houseplants, shrubs, and cacti
- Use this nutrient during the vegetative phase with every watering
- For soil, coco, and container gardens or soilless hydroponic applications
- As plant cultivation experts, Botanicare is dedicated to providing superior plant food, expert advice, and support to help growers produce better crops
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To see the best results, the manufacturer recommends using their hydroponic micronutrients with every watering and it is safe to use during all stages of growth. The formula is water soluble and your plants will have no trouble absorbing the nutrients through their root systems.
You’ll receive 1 quart of Botanicare Pure Blend Pro Grow premium-quality hydroponic nutrients at an affordable price.
- Contains a 3 2 4 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium
- The nutrients are derived from the highest quality fish meal, composted seabird guano, kelp, rock phosphate, potassium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, and calcium carbonate
- Specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of all types of plants, including fruits, veggies, flowers, houseplants, shrubs, and even cacti
- Highly water soluble and easy for all plants to absorb through their root systems
- Can safely be used during all growth stages and with each watering
- Comes in a one quart bottle
- Affordably priced
- Easy to use
- Safe, effective, and provides outstanding results
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General Hydroponics Flora Gro Bloom, Micro, Combo Fertilizer
If you’re planning on growing a variety of plants, including fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and flowers, the General Hydroponics Flora Gro Bloom, Micro, and Combo hydroponic nutrients is an excellent choice. For more than 40 years, General Hydroponics has been producing premium-quality products that are specially designed for hydronic growing, and their Flora Gro collection is hailed by countless hydroponic farmers as the top-of-the-line and most reliable micronutrients.
It’s considered the original building blow nutrient system and contains a complete selection of primary, secondary, and micro nutrients that are specially formulated to enhance the yields of your crops, as well as to enhance the overall quality of your fruits, veggies, and flowers. The Flora Gro is designed to build strong roots and stimulate structural and vegetative growth.
- Gh flora series is the original building block nutrient system imitated but never duplicated. Contains complete primary, secondary and micro nutrients for enhanced yields and better crop quality
- Users can adjust mixtures to suit specific plant needs. Enhances flavor, nutrition, aroma and essential oils in both hydroponic and soil cultivated plants
- Contains highly purified concentrates for maximum solubility
- Ph balanced for ease of use. Nasa and Antarctic research scientists choose flora series -- because of its superior formulation and reliability
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The Flora Bloom effectively promotes strong root growth, as well as flower and root development, while also enhancing the flavor, aroma, and essential oils that your flowers, fruits, veggies, and herbs will produce; it offers high levels of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and sulfur, as well.
The Flora Micro, the nutrient that’s considered the “building block” system of the three, feeds plants the optimal levels of nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and trace elements that they need to thrive. Each of the three hydroponic nutrients contains highly purified concentrates in order to allow for maximum solubility, and since each one is pH balanced, they’re all very easy to use. In fact, the General Hydroponics Flora Bloom, Flora Micro, and Flora Gro are so high-quality, effective, and reliable that they are the first choice among NASA and research scientists in the Antarctic. You’ll receive 1 gallon of each of the three formulas.
- Comes with General Hydroponics top three hydroponics nutrients, including their Flora Bloom, Flora Micro, and Flora Gro
- Specially formulated to promote optimal plant growth by encouraging strong root systems, stimulating flower and fruit development, enhancing the flavor, aroma, and essential oils of your plants
- Contains highly purified concentrates in order to ensure maximum solubility
- All formulas are pH balanced for ease of use
- Mixtures can be adjusted to suit the specific needs of specific types of plants
- Contains all primary, secondary, and micro nutrients that fruits, veggies, and flowers need to survive and to thrive
- Each formula comes in a one gallon size
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Cal Mag Plant Supplement – Liquid Plant Food for All Types of Plants
Cal Mag Plant Supplement – Liquid Plant Food for All Types of Plants is our pick for the best budget hydroponic nutrients. As the name suggests, it’s specifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of all types of plants, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Designed to eliminate the vitamin deficiencies that hydroponic planting systems often experience, you’ll be able to enjoy greener, more robust, and healthier plants that will produce much higher yields. Featuring calcium supplement, nitrogen supplement, and magnesium supplement, the essential nutrients that all plants require in order to not only survive, but also to thrive.
- Great for Hydroponics
- Great for Soil
- Helps stop blossom end rot
- Prevents calcium deficiency
- Prevents magnesium deficiency
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It’s easy to measure and apply, and it’s highly soluble, so it will easily be absorbed into the root systems of your hydroponic farmed plants. All of the nutrients are safe and effective for use at all stages of plant growth and when applied at every watering, it can significantly improve the output of your crops.
In addition to being used for hydroponic farming, the Cal Mag Plant Supplement Liquid Plant Food for All Types of Plants can also be used for soil, aeroponic, and aquaponics growing. And of course, as our pick for the best budget hydroponic nutrient, it’s also very affordably priced.
- Specially formulated to prevent vitamin deficiencies that plants often experience when they’re grown in hydroponic systems
- Features calcium supplement, magnesium supplement, and nitrogen supplement; the vital nutrients that all plants need in order to survive and thrive
- Can be used with all plants, including fruits, veggies, and flowers, and at all stages of growth
- Easy to use and yields excellent results
- Can be used with more than just hydroponics; can also be used with soil-, aeroponic-, and aquaponics-farming
- Properly pH balanced and organic
- Can be used both outdoors and indoors
- Affordably priced
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Go Grow Hydroponics Plant Food
Another high-quality hydroponic nutrient comes from Go Grow. Their Hydroponic Plant Food offers complete nutrition for all types of plants, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Highly water soluble, it easily mixes and dissolved in all types of water to ensure that seedlings and plants will receive the 16 macro and micro nutrients that they need in order to survive and thrive, thus ensuring healthy, beautiful, and robust yields.
These micronutrients are easy to use; there’s no need to do an EC or pH tests; all you have to do is open up the pouch (which is foil-lined to maintain the quality of the nutrients), pour it into your water, gently stir, and the nutrients will instantly begin feeding your plants. It’s also incredibly easy to use.
- 5 GALLON SIZE is great for your larger hydroponic systems or a lot of potted plants.
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Each pack is pre-measured and available in 3.5 and 5.5 gallon sizes to make a total of 17.5 or 27.5 gallons. Thanks to the foil-lined packets, the nutrients are kept dry and fresh until you need them in order to ensure that your plants always receive high-quality nutrition.
While these nutrients are specially designed to be used with Go Grow Planters, they also work well with any type of hydroponic and soil-based containers.
- Offers all 16 of the vital macro and micro nutrients that all types of plants require, including fruits, veggies, and flowers
- Very easy to use; the nutrients are sealed into pre-measured packets and there’s no need to do EC or pH testing; just open the packet, mix it into water, and it will start feeding your plants right away.
- Packets are available in 3.5 or 5.5 gallon sizes to make a total of 17.5 or 27.5 gallons of hydroponic nutrients
- Packet and sealed in foil-lined packets to ensure freshness
- Can be used during all stages of plant growth, from seedlings to fully mature plants
- Organic and non-GMO
- Specially designed for Go Grow Planters, but can be used with all types of hydroponic and soil-based systems
- Provides high-quality results, generating healthy pants and robust yields
- Affordably priced
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View on AmazonFox Farm Liquid Nutrient Trio Hydro Formula: Big Bloom, Grow Big Hydro, Tiger Bloom
Yet another excellent hydroponic nutrient is the Fox Farm Liquid Nutrient Trio Hydro Formula. This kit comes with three different types of hydroponic nutrients for different stages of plant growth so you can be sure that your flowers, fruits, or veggies will receive the nutrition they need, whether their seedlings or mature plants.
The Grow Big Hydro formula is specially formulated to start plants off on the right foot by ensuring abundant green growth. The Tiger Bloom is intended to be used as soon as the first bud or flowers are spotted. The Big Bloom formula can then be used for the rest of the growth cycles to ensure that your root systems remain healthy and strong by increasing nutrient cycling.
- Start with Grow Big Hydro for abundant green growth
- Switch to Tiger Bloom at the first sign of bud set or flowering
- Use Big Bloom throughout all growing cycles to heal root systems and increase nutrient cycling
- Ideal for mature, late-season flowers and fruit
- Convenient three-pack of top liquid fertilizers for hydroponics
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All three of these formulas are micro-brewed and are comprised with the highest grade ingredients to ensure that your plants receive the most robust nutrients, including earthworm castings, bat guano, Norwegian kelp, rock phosphate, and other types of high test organic ingredients so that your plants will receive a full range of the vital nutrients they need to not only survive, but to thrive.
All three formulas are extremely easy to use; just mix it into the water and the liquid will quickly dissolve so that your plants can start accessing vital nutrition right away.
- Comes with three formulas that are specially made to offer plants the vital nutrients they need during all stages of growth
- Can be used with all types of flowers, fruits, and veggies
- Made with the highest quality high test organic nutrients to ensure complete nutrition, such as earthworm castings, bat guano, Norwegian kelp, and rock phosphate
- Tested and proven to improve the health and increase the yields of plants
- Ideal for all stages of plant growth
- Easy to use
- Highly water soluble
- Affordably priced
- Comes with a measuring dropper and gloves
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Hydroponic Nutrients Buyer’s Guide
Just like all other living things, plants need nutrients in order to survive and thrive. Usually, plants receive their nutrients from the soil that they grow in. If you’re planning on growing your crops using a hydroponic system, however, you’re going to need to provide your plants with the nutrients they need to grow. That’s because hydroponics is a soil-less type of growing, and therefore, they cannot naturally access the nutrients from the environment they live in.
While hydroponics is oldest recorded form of farming and though it is an extremely efficient way to grow plants, you do need to make special considerations in order to ensure that your plants thrive.
Since hydroponics involves placing plants in some type of root support, such as perlites, peat moss, vermiculite, or rockwool, and then water and oxygen is circulate around the root system and light is provided via natural or synthetic sunlight, your crops are going to rely on you to provide them with the nutrients they need, and those nutrients are delivered through a water-soluble solution, or hydroponic nutrients.
Put simply, hydroponic nutrients are plant nutrients that are specifically designed for use with plants that are cultivated in hydroponic systems. In order to grow, all types of plants, including fruits, veggies, and herbs, require a combination of several macronutrients and micronutrients, including:
- Carbon
- Hydrogen
- Nitrogen
- Phosphorous
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Sulfur
- Iron
- Copper
- Manganese
- Zinc
- Boron
- Molybdenum
- Chloride
- Sodium
Plants that are grown in hydroponic systems can access the carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen that they need to grow from the air and water that they receive through the system; however, in order to ensure that they survive and thrive, you’ll need to provide them with the rest in a nutrient-rich solution.
Hydroponic nutrients feature all of these key elements water soluble liquid form. The nutrients are added into the water in your hydroponic system, and then the system feeds the nutrients into the plants via the water. Because the nutrients are readily available to the root system, which is exposed, your crops will need to exert a lot less energy than they would if they were to be grown in the ground.
This is part of the reason why hydroponics is such an efficient way to grow healthy plants, and why plants that are grown in these soil-less systems usually grow much faster and produce much higher yields than their soil-farmed counterparts.
Now that you’ve read through our top picks for the best hydroponic nutrients, you’re probably wondering which one you should choose.
While each of the options that we’ve included in our guide are high-quality and offer great results, the needs and plants of farmers vary, so you do want to be sure that you’re choosing the best option to meet your specific needs. In order to assist you with choosing the right formula, we’ve put together this handy buyer’s guide.
In it, you’ll find the key features that you should take into consideration before you start shopping, as they will help you narrow down the options and choose the formula that will provide you with the best results possible.
Type of Plants You’re Growing
First, you’re going to want to make sure that you consider the type of plants that you will be growing. It goes without saying but it’s important to mention that different plants have different needs; fruits, veggies, and flowers all have different nutritional needs, but the nutritional needs of different types of fruits and different types of veggies and even flowers also vary.
For that reason, it’s important to consider what type of plants you will be growing in your hydroponic system. Do some research to find out exactly what type of nutrients the specific type of flora will need in order to thrive and make sure you choose a hydroponic nutrient that will deliver the nourishment your plants need to flourish.
Do note that if you’re going to be growing different kinds of flora at the same time, there are varieties of hydroponic nutrients that are specially formulated to meet the needs of various types of plants.
The Nutrients
Make sure you take a look at the nutrients that the formula offers. In order for hydroponic nutrients to be effective, they should contain the five following nutrients, at a minimum:
- Nitrogen. This nutrient is vital for health stalk and leaf growth, as it’s a key component of chlorophyll, the component that makes it possible for plants to turn sunlight into energy during the process of photosynthesis.
- Phosphorous. This is the key element of any plant’s root system, as well as seed generation. It’s a component of protein synthesis, which means it helps to build the tissues of your plants; the roots, buds, and flowers, for example. It also helps plants ward off pests and disease.
- Calcium. The key component in the cell wall of a plant, calcium is a must for all varieties of flora. It also helps to neutralize the cell acids, which allows for better water and nutrient penetration.
- Potassium. This nutrient regulates a plant’s CO2 intake during the process of photosynthesis; without CO2, this process wouldn’t be possible.
- Magnesium. Magnesium boosts a plant’s phosphorous intake, which also aids in photosynthesis. It’s also the building block of chlorophyll, the element that gives plants their greenery.
No matter what type of plant you’re planning on growing in your hydroponic system, you want to make sure that you choose something that offers all of these nutrients. Hydroponic nutrients can contain other types of nutrients, as well, but the above-mentioned are the most vital of all.
Liquid or Solid
You’ll also want to decide which type of fertilizer you’d like to use. Hydroponic nutrients are available in both solid and liquid form, and each type offers different benefits. Solid hydroponic fertilizers tend to be less expensive, but they may not mix well, so if you’re going to opt for a solid fertilizer, make sure that you choose something that is highly water soluble to ensure that your plants will receive the vital nutrients that they need to thrive.
Liquid fertilizers are usually easier to mix, but they also tend to be pricier. If you’re going to opt for liquid, it’s important to note that you’re also going to want to make sure that you choose an option that is water soluble, too, as not all liquid formulas mix well in water.
Amount of Components
Hydroponic nutrients are available in two different types of systems: one-part and multi-part. With a one-part system, you’ll only have one formula of nutrients to mix into your water in order to make the fertilizer solution.
Generally, multi-part systems are three-part systems that consist of several different hydroponic nutrient solutions. With this option, you can either mix the different components of the formula at the ratios that you choose to, or alternatively, you could use a different formula during different growth cycles of your plants.
The benefit of a single-step system is that it is much easier, but on the downside, it can’t be customized. The advantage of a multi-step system is that you can customize the nutrients your plants receive; however, doing so does require more work.
Hydroponic Nutrient FAQs
What does “NPK Ratio” Mean?
When you’re looking for nutrients for your hydroponic planter, you’ll likely see three numbers printed out on the package in the following format: 2-4-6. These numbers reference the NPK ratio: N = nitrogen, P= phosphorous, and K = potassium.
These are the most vital nutrients for all types of plants. The numbers represent the percentages of each nutrient. For example, in the 2-4-6 example, the formula would contain 2% nitrogen, 4% phosphorous, and 6% potassium (these numbers are purely for explanatory purposes).
Can Hydroponic Nutrients Be Used in Soil?
Absolutely! While they’re formulated for hydroponic plantings, these nutrients can definitely be used to nourish soil-grown plants.
However, do take note that you want to be sure that you’re mindful, as these formulas are designed to compensate the minerals plants receive from soil and thus, hydroponic plants can’t receive; therefore, using these formulas with soil-grown plants could potentially over-feed and ultimately kill your plants.
Summing It Up
Hydroponic farming is highly effective, efficient, and just plain fun. One of the downsides, however, is that they do lack the nutrients that plants normally derive from the soil. For that reason, hydroponic nutrients are essential for the health of your plants.
With the information presented on this list, you should be able to choose the best option to meet your specific needs and ensure that you can grow the healthiest, most robust hydroponic garden.
