EC meters

What is electroconductivity?

EC refers to the degree of the water's electroconductivity, which means the availability of nutrients in it. The higher the electroconductivity of the water, the more nutrients it has available for the palnts. The maximum possible electroconductivity does not imply good for the plants, as an excess of nutrients in the water is very inconvenient for them and only with EC meters a good balance can be achieved.

As mentioned above, water with too much EC is bad for the plants, as it leaves us hardly any room to add nutrients. Therefore, the lower the EC, the more nutrients can be added. Therefore, growers who are looking for a total control of nutrients, should use osmotic water, which is close to 0.0 EC.

The EC is measured on a numerical scale and is a fundamental parameter to know the nutritive components present on the irrigation water or nutritive solution, so we can be able to correct it in the case that the value is not optimal. The EC value within the marijuana crop can also be increased gradually over its life cycle.

It is best to always use osmotic water, which allows to have water with an EC value of around 0.0. This means that the water has little or no electroconductivity, so we can add the nutrients we want without the presence of other undesirable minerals.  

The use of an EC meter is the best solution to monitor the electroconductivity levels. At Experiencia Natural you can find the best variety of EC meters on the market.

The best EC meters

The first EC meter to stand out in the list is Hanna's digital EC meter, one of the leading brands in the EC meter segment. It is built with high-quality materials to ensure durability and has an easy-to-read display, so that EC values can be seen in a fast and accurate way.

It is very easy to use. First, the meter must be calibrated by immersing it in the calibration substance until the correct EC value appears on the display. Hanna's EC meter is equipped with a graphite sensor which avoids problems with oxidation in the long run.

There is another type of EC meters, the continuous EC meters, such as the Milwaukee meter and dosing device. Besides being an EC meter, this tool allows a total control of nutrients and PH, so it is very convenient for the grower who wants to have total control of all the variables and automate them.

In short, EC meters are essential to have total control of the nutrients in the crop. The control of the electroconductivity is essential to measure the availability of nutrients in the water, especially in hydroponic crops where the nutritive solution has to have a very controlled EC in order not to damage the plants.