Microgreens Water Chemistry: The Science of Precision Hydroponic Growing
Itsy's Science CornerÂ
Itsy Cella Flora here! 🌱 Let’s talk water.
Have you ever been dehydrated or completely waterlogged?
Going without water for very long (2-5 days, depending on the circumstances), can be detrimental to your health. And believe it or not, too much water in a short amount of time can be as well. Oh, and by the way, that means you can die from too little or too much water.
Audience: "What? Come on now, Itsy, that's crazy talk. It is common knowledge that going without water for very long can cause you to die. But, there is no way I can die from too much water!"
Actually, don't bet your life on that!
It's time to bring out my science-y side! 🥼✨
The medical term is severe hyponatremia.
This occurs when excess water dilutes sodium levels in the body. The water moves into the cells to try to balance out. If that doesn't work, the cells continue to do the only thing they know, absorb the water.
This can lead to swelling of the brain. The outward symptoms are confusion, vomiting, and/or seizures. If this starts, it is time to get to the emergency room as quickly as possible.
Electrolytes are made up of Sodium (or salt), Potassium, Chloride, Magnesium, Calcium. These compounds are extremely important to the human body. The nervous system is electrical in nature and electrolytes are the charge needed to regulate fluids in the body. That is why there is such a push for hydration AND electrolytes today.
What plants need to stay hydrated
Even though plants do not have a nervous system, they still need water—just without the electrolytes humans need. Plants have to control the turgor or water pressure in their tissues. They do this by absorbing dissolved elements of Potassium (K), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Calcium (Ca), and Magnesium (Mg). You may recognize the N, P, K elements from plant fertilizers.
Here’s where the chemistry magic happens: the acidity or alkalinity—your water’s pH level —determines whether plants can actually drink up those nutrients.
If the pH swings too high or too low, the water becomes an unhealthy environment, locking out essential minerals. Think of it like this: just as different living creatures thrive in specific habitats, different plants need their own specific pH sweet spot to absorb nutrients and stay healthy!
There is no one pH fits all. Some plants require a higher pH than others to not only survive but to thrive.
Microgreens Water Chemistry: The Science of Hydroponic Precision Growing
Since we grow 100% hydroponically at Tasty Little Leaves Microgreens, mastering water chemistry is our daily superpower.
Our grow tray water reservoir set up is a direct chemical pipeline to the microgreens roots. Minor pH swings can trigger instant nutrient lockout or toxicity. That is the difference between a successful and a failed grow cycle.
We add a nutrient grow solution to our water to ensure the minerals and other micro elements that make microgreens so nutrient dense are provided. That nutrient solution affects the pH of the water. So we are constantly checking to make sure the water pH is within the "sweet spot" range. For us that pH score is between 5.5–6.5.
As long as we keep the pH in range, our crops not only grow, they thrive. Balanced water, thriving plants, and top-tier nutrition—that’s the Tasty Little Leaves Microgreens promise. Freshly harvested and ready for your plate!
Head over to our Microgreens page to place your order today. I'll add it to my next cycle and you can taste the difference for yourself.
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