Hydroponics Daily

The limitations of EC meters: what they can, and can't, tell you

Dr. Russell Sharp explains how EC meters work, what they’re useful for and their key limitations — including temperature sensitivity, inability to distinguish ion types, and poor detection of many organic inputs like Liquid Gold (Gold Leaf).
Practical tips: always measure EC and pH in your actual water after adding the manufacturer’s recommended dose, flush runoff to prevent salt build‑up, and only use generic EC charts for standard mineral feeds — not for novel or organic fertilisers.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/

Eat Your Way to Healthier Teeth: Israeli Study Finds Brassicas Fight Cavities

In this episode Dr. Russell Sharp discusses an Israeli study showing that diindolemethane (DIM), a compound formed when we digest cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage, can inhibit Streptococcus mutans growth and disrupt dental plaque.
The episode covers how DIM could be used in future oral-care products or encouraged through diet, touches on brassica benefits for soil and hydroponics, and notes related trade and supply updates affecting produce transport.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/

Developing a Biodegradable Controlled‑Release Fertiliser

Dr. Russell Sharp discusses manufacturing chitosan biofungicide and announces a lab breakthrough creating a biodegradable alternative to Osmocote, driven by concerns over microplastics and corporate practices.
The episode covers trials showing hemp matting outperforms coco coir for microgreens, a failed cardboard grow‑media test, resilient ebb-and-flood clay bead trials, and planning considerations for a hydroponic shipping container.
Additional notes include observations on Israeli agricultural land ownership, a European HGV driver shortage, an anecdote about Dr. Dre and 'chronic', and a promise to highlight positive hydroponic work from Israel in a future episode.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/

Why Liebig's Barrel Falls Apart: Rethinking Nutrient Limits in Hydroponics

Dr. Russell Sharp examines Liebig’s Law of the Minimum and explains why the simple barrel analogy can mislead hydroponic growers. He highlights interacting nutrients, dynamic environmental changes, physiological adaptation, thresholds and non-linear responses.
The episode explores alternative frameworks—Shelford’s tolerance, multiple limitation hypotheses, dynamic system models and ecological stoichiometry—that better reflect real-world crop nutrition.
Practical takeaways: use Liebig’s law only as a teaching tool, avoid overfertilizing, and consider nutrient interactions and changing conditions when managing soilless systems.
Link to our Periodic Table of Plant Health: https://eutrema.co.uk/plant-health-periodic-table-poster/

Root Pruning: Control Growth from the Roots

Dr. Russell Sharp explores the forgotten technique of root pruning and how trimming roots helps control shoot vigour in both hydroponic and soil-grown plants.
The episode explains practical uses—bonsai, nursery stock, ornamental trees, and mother plants—container options like air pots, propagation tips with root cuttings, and precautions about pathogen risk.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/

Root Cuttings: The Forgotten Propagation Technique

Dr. Russell Sharp explains root cuttings — what they are, which plants respond well (eg. sassafras, paulownia/foxglove trees, aralia, clematis, hops), and why they’re useful for removing pests or reverting mature plants to juvenile growth.
He also gives practical tips: when to plant vertically or horizontally, why you should avoid rooting hormones, risks like loss of variegation and reduced hardiness in the mother plant, and why root cuttings could be a game‑changer for hop propagation.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/equipment/auxin-super-concentrate/

Exposed: The Death of Journalism in Horticulture & Agriculture

Dr. Russell Sharp rips into the horticultural and agricultural press for ignoring major public-interest stories—accusing industry influence, highlighting ICL’s controversial products, the spread of microplastics from controlled-release fertilizers, and attempts to sell carcinogenic metal-based fertilizers.
The episode argues for tougher investigative journalism and promotes hydroponics as a cleaner, soil-free alternative; listeners are invited to share tips and reactions.
https://eutrema.co.uk/

Hydroponics in Schools: Growing Minds and Greens

This episode explores the pros and cons of introducing hydroponic systems in schools, highlighting educational benefits like hands-on science, engineering, chemistry and business learning, as well as practical challenges such as cost and staffing.
It also covers year-round growing, cross-curricular links, community partnerships, green walls and career pathways in ag‑tech and vertical farming.
https://eutrema.co.uk/plant-health-periodic-table-poster/

Lightning in a Bottle: Plasma-Activated Water for Hydroponics

This episode explores plasma-activated water (PAW): how ionized gas (like lightning) can be used to create reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that supply plant-available nitrogen and act as a natural sanitizer for hydroponic systems.
We cover potential benefits (reduced synthetic nitrogen use, biofilm and pythium suppression, no toxic residue), practical approaches, current research and real-world trials, plus limitations such as dosing control, decay of reactive species, equipment costs and energy demands.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/

Why Ladybirds Fail in Hydroponics: The Truth About Biocontrol

This episode explains why ladybirds (ladybugs) are often poor biological control agents in hydroponic systems: adults tend to fly away, larvae may not eat aphids effectively or can die, they can clog filters, and invasive or disease issues can arise.
Alternatives are discussed, including lacewings, predatory mites (which can be sustained with pollen), parasitoid wasps, entomopathogenic fungi, and other IPM strategies, plus considerations about cost, availability, and storage.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/pesticides-organic/eutrema-insecticidal-soap-sodium-free/