​​​​​​​​Find answers to your question in our Knowledge Center. 600+ articles, written by our specialists.​​​​

• Plant enhancements
• Organic fertilizers
• Awareness

It might seem obvious, but to avoid excess sodium, it is very important to use irrigation water with a low concentration of sodium.  Ground water, ditch water and tap water generally contain a higher percentage of sodium than osmosis water and rain water (note: the closer you are to the coast, the more sodium can be found in the rain water). 

Also, you can choose for an installation that filters sodium from the water. Thanks to an installation as such, you can make use of groundwater, ditch water and tap water, without an excessive presence of sodium. 

Organic substrates – especially the ones containing coconut – can contain a high percentage of sodium. If making use of a coconut substrate that was not buffered and rinsed thoroughly, a high amount of sodium can be remain. It’s important to take this into account when choosing a substrate. You can decide to be advised by a certified substrate supplier.

Many chlorine-based disinfectants contain sodium (chlorine is part of sodium chloride). It is recommended to use disinfectants free of chlorine, when you want to limit the amount of sodium. A chlorine-free disinfectant of good quality is Huwa-San.

Instead of using crop protection products and/ or fertilizers, you can use plant enhancers to strengthen the defense mechanism of the plant, meaning a better resistance against diseases. However, these products consist of natural raw materials and therefore contain sodium.

Earlier, we mentioned that fertilizers aren’t always the largest source of sodium presence in water. However, they do play a role. This is particularly the case for organic fertilizers. They are entirely made up of natural raw materials of plant or animal origin. The durability and environmental friendliness aspect of these fertilizers is an advantage of the products. 

You can reduce the amount of sodium originating from fertilizers, by carefully selecting the most suitable one for your growth. By choosing a cleaner brand, sodium levels can be lowered. An example of this is a simple adjustment to the recipe that we generally advise. This is the conversion of the iron supply from a DTPA 3% (basic sodium) to a DTPA 6% (basic ammonium). The DTPA 6% iron is completely sodium free and therefore particularly suitable for recirculation. The nutrient recipe can be composed of fertilizers not containing sodium. In addition, our specialists would be happy to help you with a personal composition of nutrients.  

Hopefully this article has contributed to your awareness about possible sodium sources. This does not mean that we discourage the use of chloric-based organic substrates, fertilizers, plant enhancers or disinfectants!

Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Jaap Lubbersen will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.

How to establish a nutritional feeding schedule?
In order to establish a nutritional feeding schedule that ensures optimal results, it has to be carefully aligned with the nutritional needs of your crop. There are basic nutritional feeding schedules available for all types of crops.

Why is fertilizing with nitrogen important?
Nitrogen is an item, a lot of attention is given to within the horticultural sector. This element is needed by the plant. But what exactly does nitrogen do? Our fertilizer specialist have provided an explanation below.

How can a copper deficiency in plants be prevented?
Copper (Cu) is seen as an essential element for the development of proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates and enzymes within the plant. Therefore, a copper deficiency is believed to negatively effect the plant’s growth.