In the time plants have evolved on Earth, they have adapted to utilise five major resources in order to grow. These are
Light, Water, Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, and mineral elements. From these, plants can synthesise a wide range of
organic molecules required for life. Of these five factors, it is the mineral element requirements of plants which we aim
to provide through the use of hydroponic or soilless culture, and under optimum conditions of light and temperature the
productivity of crops is largely dictated by the mineral composition in the root zone.
As hydroponic growers and suppliers, it is therefore worth taking a look at what elements are actually required for
plant growth, what their purpose is inside the plant, and what levels and ratios are most appropriate for optimising
plant growth in a range of conditions.