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Urbanvana

Grow fresh food at home with our aeroponic tower systems. Zero soil, pure results — every single day.

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HomeLearnNutrient Guide

Plant Nutrition

Nutrient Guide

In aeroponics, your nutrient solution is everything your plant eats and drinks. Getting it right means faster growth, better flavour, and healthier plants. Getting it wrong is the most common reason towers underperform.

The Big Three: NPK

Every plant nutrient product lists an NPK ratio — Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). These are the three macronutrients that plants need in the largest quantities.

  • Nitrogen (N) drives leaf and stem growth. High-N formulas are used during the vegetative stage.
  • Phosphorus (P) supports root development and flowering. Higher P is used when plants transition to bloom.
  • Potassium (K) improves disease resistance, water regulation, and overall plant health.

For leafy greens and herbs — the most popular crops in an Urbanvana tower — you'll typically stay on a high-N grow formula for the entire lifecycle. Fruiting plants like tomatoes and chillies need a bloom formula once they start flowering.

pH: The Most Important Variable

pH controls which nutrients your plant can absorb. Even if your solution contains the perfect nutrient mix, if pH is outside the ideal range, plants can't access them — a condition called nutrient lockout.

Target range: pH 5.5–6.5 (ideal: 5.8–6.2). Below 5.5, some nutrients become toxic. Above 6.5, iron, manganese, and zinc become unavailable.

Check pH every 2–3 days. Most Indian tap water runs pH 7–8, so you'll almost always need pH Down. Add it slowly — a small amount goes a long way. After topping up the reservoir with plain water, always re-check pH as it will drift upward.

TDS / EC: Measuring Nutrient Strength

TDS (Total Dissolved Solids, measured in ppm) or EC (Electrical Conductivity, measured in mS/cm) tells you how concentrated your nutrient solution is. A cheap TDS meter (₹200–500 online) is one of the most useful tools a tower grower can own.

  • Seedlings: 400–600 ppm
  • Vegetative growth: 800–1200 ppm
  • Fruiting/flowering: 1200–1600 ppm

If TDS is too high (over-concentrated), dilute with pH-adjusted water. If too low, add more nutrients. Change the reservoir completely every 2–3 weeks to prevent salt buildup.

Common Deficiency Signs

  • Yellowing lower leaves: Nitrogen deficiency — increase nutrient concentration or switch to a higher-N formula.
  • Purple stems or leaf undersides: Phosphorus deficiency or cold stress — check temperature and pH.
  • Yellow leaves with green veins: Iron deficiency due to high pH — bring pH down to 5.8–6.0.
  • Brown leaf tips: Nutrient burn from too-high concentration — dilute the solution.
  • Slow growth despite nutrients: Check pH first. Nutrient lockout at wrong pH is the most common cause of slow growth in aeroponics.

Maintenance Schedule

  • Daily: Check reservoir level, top up with pH-adjusted water if low
  • Every 2–3 days: Check and adjust pH
  • Weekly: Check TDS/EC, adjust nutrient concentration if needed
  • Every 2–3 weeks: Full reservoir change — empty, rinse, and refill with fresh nutrient solution
  • Monthly: Clean pump filter and check nozzles for blockages

Ready to start growing?

Shop Nutrients