Understanding EC in Hydroponics
Understanding EC in Hydroponics: How Electrical Conductivity Reveals Your Nutrient Levels
In hydroponics, everything your plants need to grow — from nitrogen and calcium to magnesium and potassium — comes dissolved in the water. But how do you know if your nutrient mix is strong enough, or if your plants are getting too much of a good thing?
That’s where EC measurement, or Electrical Conductivity, comes in.
What Is EC?
EC stands for Electrical Conductivity, a measure of how well your hydroponic water conducts electricity. Since pure water doesn’t conduct electricity very well, almost all conductivity in hydroponic water comes from the dissolved salts and minerals — the nutrients your plants rely on.
The higher the concentration of these nutrients, the higher the EC reading. In other words, EC gives you a direct snapshot of how much total dissolved nutrient is in your system.
Why EC Matters
Maintaining the right EC level is crucial because it directly affects plant health and growth rates.
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Too low EC means your plants aren’t getting enough nutrients, leading to slow growth, pale leaves, or deficiencies.
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Too high EC means your solution is too concentrated — roots struggle to absorb water, and plants can suffer from nutrient burn.
By keeping EC within the optimal range for your crop, you ensure your plants get everything they need without overloading their roots.
How EC Is Measured
An EC probe measures the resistance of your nutrient solution to an electrical current. The more ions (charged particles from nutrients) present, the easier the current flows — and the higher the EC reading.
EC is typically measured in:
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mS/cm (millisiemens per centimeter) or
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ppm (parts per million), which is derived from EC using a conversion factor.
The FLORATek system continuously measures EC and log readings automatically. This real-time monitoring helps you see exactly how your nutrient levels change throughout the day as your plants feed and as you top up your reservoir.
Using EC to Calculate Nutrient Levels
While EC doesn’t identify which nutrients are present, it tells you how much total nutrient is in the water — making it one of the most useful tools for maintaining consistency and preventing imbalances.
Here’s how growers typically use EC to manage nutrient levels:
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Start with a baseline: Measure your water before adding nutrients. Pure water may have an EC near 0.1–0.3 mS/cm.
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Add nutrients gradually: Mix your fertilizer and watch the EC rise until you reach your target level. Most crops thrive between 1.0 and 2.4 mS/cm, depending on the plant type and growth stage.
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Monitor daily: Plants absorb nutrients faster at certain times. As they feed, EC drops — a clear signal it’s time to add more nutrients.
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Watch for trends: A rising EC often means water is evaporating faster than plants are taking up nutrients. Adding plain water helps restore balance.
With a system like the FLORATek 4, these trends are easy to visualize. The built-in screen displays 2-hour and 24-hour EC and pH line graphs, allowing you to spot changes and patterns at a glance — without manually recording readings or guessing what’s happening in your reservoir.
Automating EC Control
For growers who want a truly hands-free experience, the FLORATek 4 and FLORATek 4 Pro take EC management a step further. Their closed-loop proportional control algorithm automatically doses nutrients based on real-time EC feedback, maintaining your target levels with remarkable precision.
Combined with built-in data logging, USB-C data export, and optional Blynk remote access, the FLORATek series gives you professional-grade monitoring and control — whether your system holds 10 gallons or 1000 gallons.
The Bottom Line
Electrical Conductivity is one of the most important measurements in hydroponics. It gives growers a simple, reliable way to understand how concentrated their nutrient solution is — and when paired with automation, it can completely remove the guesswork.
Whether you’re hand-mixing nutrients or relying on an automated controller like the FLORATek 4, monitoring EC is the key to maintaining a perfectly balanced, thriving hydroponic system.