Water management changes nutrient movement
Nutrients travel with irrigation water and their distribution is affected by moisture, drainage and root uptake. When a growing medium stores water differently, the existing irrigation and feed strategy may no longer produce the same root-zone conditions.
Monitor before making large corrections
Track input solution, drainage volume, drainage EC and pH, substrate moisture and plant response. Trends over several irrigation cycles are generally more useful than a single reading taken at an unusual moment.
Adjust the system gradually
Change irrigation timing or nutrient concentration in controlled steps and continue monitoring. The appropriate settings depend on crop stage, climate, container, water quality and the complete growing-medium formulation.
