September 17th, 2008 · No Comments

Hydroponics Secrets: Thicker Stems and Tighter Internodes

Plants have a limited amount of energy to perform all the different functions that are required of them. As the environment and plant growth phases change, so do the demands placed upon the plant.

Typically, as plants gain stature and begin to approach maturity the weight that is placed on branches and stems increases. The plant must then devote energy into making stems and branches stiffer, to support the additional weight or the branches and stems may break.

Staking and supporting plants is one of the ways gardeners can help to reduce the amount of energy the plant must expend to support itself. Master gardeners know just how important this is, and the results of the additional support are reflected in their yields.

There are nutrient supplements that can be fed with your waterings that help plants to create thicker and sturdier stems. Not only will this help to support your plants, resulting in heavier flower and fruit loads, but it will also increase your plant’s resistance to disorders such as stem rot.

Specialty plant supplements can also help provide the necessary minerals, enzymes, amino acids and carbohydrates that the plant must work to synthesize from water, nutrients and light energy. By applying the right building blocks to your plants, you allow the plants to channel more of the energy they produce into larger and more luscious flowers and fruits on healthier plants. Some of the benefits will include thicker and stronger stems and shorter internodal distances during the onset of flowering.

Master gardeners aim to keep the spaces between flowering and fruiting sites at a minimum during the transition from vegetative to flowering growth. This results in larger yields and better quality flowers and fruits. This is especially important for indoor and greenhouse growers. When artificial lighting is used, the intensity of the light drops drastically with the distance it travels. In this regard, every inch of vertical growth needs to count for maximum yields.

There is a lot of information available on the effects of different plant nutrient supplements on a variety of crops and types of plants. Many gardeners have been rewarded from taking a little time to research the benefits and applications of these types of supplements. In fact, for big differences in production and harvest, there are specialty plant nutrient programs engineered to supply your favourite plants with exactly what they need on a week per week basis through their development to maturity.

watch a short video to get some tips and tricks aimed at keep your crop tighter for higher yields:

Hydroponic Secrets 31