Introduction:
I am occasionally asked whether it is necessary to “flush” or completely change out the water in the iHarvestTM. Water in the iHarvestTM never has to be flushed, however doing so may offer benefits. For most users, I would suggest doing this very infrequently (perhaps every 6-12 months), unless they notice a change in the growth or taste of their fruits and veggies.
Science Stuff:
The reason you may want to flush the water in your hydroponic garden is because your plants will sometimes uptake more of one nutrient than another. Over time, this can lead to an imbalance of nutrients in your reservoir, as less utilized nutrients can build up over time. There are a wide variety of opinions on this matter, but only 1 scientific study that I’ve found. The study is titled ‘Water and Nutrient Reuse Within Closed Hydroponic Systems.’ It compares lettuce grown in a system where the water is flushed, to lettuce growth in a system where the water is reused. The study takes place over 2 months and demonstrated that lettuce produced in both systems yielded essentially the same quality and amount of lettuce.
You may find yourself mixing and matching different nutrient solutions over time, as you grow more than just lettuce and herbs. This may be a reason to flush your system more often.
How to Flush Your System:
The easiest way to flush your iHarvest is with a siphon pump. Simply wait for the water level to get low (but never below the level of your pump), and siphon the rest of the water out. Home Depot and Lowe’s carry siphon pumps you can buy.
Conclusion:
Flushing your hydroponic reservoir less often (or not at all) saves money, time, nutrients and water. It is more sustainable for you financially and it is more sustainable for the planet as it saves water and nutrients. However, flushing your water every so often may provide tastier fruits and vegetables over time. I suggest that you begin by flushing your system every 6-12 months. If you find that it makes a difference to your taste buds, keep doing it. If you don’t find that it makes a difference, you can flush your system less often or not at all.
There's more great growing information in the links below:
- HOW TO START GROWING WITH YOUR IHARVEST
- 5 SMART TIPS FOR GROWING HYDROPONIC VEGGIES INDOORS
- ADDING NUTRIENTS AND ADJUSTING PH IN YOUR HYDROPONIC GARDEN
- HOW TO POLLINATE YOUR INDOOR FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PLANTS
- TIPS FOR IDENTIFYING AND REMOVING BUGS FROM YOUR INDOOR GARDEN
- NUTRIENT AND PH CHART FOR GROWING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES WITH HYDROPONICS
- PROPAGATING PLANTS FROM CUTTINGS
- SMALL PLANTS THAT YIELD BIG INDOOR HARVESTS
- PRUNING, TRIMMING AND TOPPING YOUR INDOOR GARDEN PLANTS
- THE SCIENCE OF INDOOR GROW LIGHTS FOR YOUR INDOOR GARDEN
- GROWING PLANTS FROM SEEDS
- WHITE FUZZ ON MY GROWING MEDIA
- WHITE FUZZ ON MY PLANTS