Quick-Start Deficiency Cheat-Sheet 🔍
|
Leaf Symptom |
Likely Issue |
Fast Fix |
|
Lower leaves yellowing, pale veins |
Nitrogen shortage |
Increase base feed dosage. |
|
Purpling stems, sluggish growth |
Phosphorus gap |
Add GP3 Bloom or a PK enhancer |
|
Rusty spots, interveinal yellowing |
Ca/Mg deficit |
5 ml/L of Pro Cal |
|
Burnt tips, clawing |
EC too high |
Dilute tank + re-check with a Bluelab Combo Meter |
|
Droopy new leaves, glassy sheen |
Silica shortage |
1 ml/L of Plant Guard |
1. Hydro Basics—Macros, Micros & Why Ratios Rule
Plants devour N-P-K in veg, then swing hard to P & K in bloom. A three-part such as GP3 Grow/Micro/Bloom lets you dial each element instead of being stuck with a single-bottle guess.
Pro tip: Keep your reservoir between EC 1.2–2.0 mS cm⁻¹ and pH 5.8–6.3 (coco or recirculating hydro). Daily measurement beats reviving a salt-locked crop.
2. Additives 101—When the Base Isn’t Enough
|
Additive Type |
What It Does |
Dr Greenthumbs Pick |
|
Full Starter Kit |
Unlocks bound nutrients & shields roots |
|
|
Cal-Mag |
Buffers RO/tank water, prevents tip necrosis |
|
|
Silica |
Thickens stems, boosts pest resistance |
|
|
Carb boosters |
Feeds microbes, sweetens terps |
|
|
Enzymes |
Digests dead roots, keeps lines clean |
Add only one new booster at a time and watch runoff EC—additives still count toward total conductivity.
If you’d rather keep things simple with a reliable two-part system, A & B Nutrients: The Ultimate Australian Guide to 2-Part Hydroponic Feeding (2025) shows how to run clean, predictable reservoirs without juggling multiple bottles.
3. Aussie Water Tweaks—City by City
|
City |
Typical Source EC* |
pH Tendency |
What to Watch |
|
Sydney |
0.3 – 0.6 |
Slightly acidic |
Often needs 0.5 mL/L Pro Cal |
|
Melbourne |
0.1 – 0.4 |
Neutral |
May need extra Ca late bloom |
|
Perth |
0.5 – 0.8 |
Alkaline |
Pre-filter or pH-down aggressively |
|
Brisbane |
0.2 – 0.5 |
Neutral-alkaline |
Check bicarbonates after heavy rain |
*Ranges from recent BOM reports—always test your own source.
And once pH and water hardness are dialled in, Silica for Plants in Australia: The No-Nonsense Guide to Stronger, Happier Crops explains how silica further stabilises growth during heat spikes.
4. Troubleshooting Gallery
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Yellow striping up leaf centre: calibrate your meter before blaming iron.
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Copper mottling on older fans: 1 mL/L Pro Cal & raise pH to 6.2.
-
Leaf tips curling down but EC is fine: root zone too cold—run tank 18–22 °C.
5. Product Picker—Turn Knowledge into Yields
|
Grower Type |
“Can’t-Go-Wrong” Pack |
|
Beginner on coco |
GP3 3-Pack + Bluelab pH Pen |
|
LED hobby tent |
|
|
Recirculating DWC |
|
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Coco × CO₂ |
GP3 full line + PK Spike + Liquid Weight + Bluelab Combo Meter |
Every product links straight to our NSW warehouse shelves for fast Aussie delivery.
6. FAQ
How often should I change my reservoir?
Small hobby setups: weekly. Anything 100 L + with chillers: fortnightly or when EC drift hits ±0.3.
For crop-specific nutrient curves—especially for heavy fruiters—our Hydroponic Strawberry Nutrition: Ultimate 2025 Australian Guide lays out EC, pH and Part A/B adjustments for maximum sweetness.
Do I need RO water?
Only if source EC > 0.8 mS cm⁻¹ or loaded with bicarbonates. Otherwise, Pro Cal balances most tap water.
Ideal pH for NFT herbs?
5.8 – 6.0 keeps iron and calcium in the sweet spot.
Ready to grow smarter?
Have a curly question? Call 1800 983 006 or fire off an email—no bots, just real gardeners.
Happy growing, legends! 🌱
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