Grow topics about growing plants with nutrients, substrates and techniques.

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Growing problems

Cicadas: how to recognise damage?

Cicadas produce rows of spots on leaves, fruit and flowers. This considerably reduces the quality of the end product. If there is a serious plague, the leaves may completely discolour and die off. Cicadas can be recognised by their light green colour. In some cases, they can damage the leaves or tip...

Thrips: how to recognise damage?

Thrips can be recognised by the silvery damage to the leaves. This is the result of the thrips sucking the leaf cells dry. They do this by scraping over the leaf, and it is this that causes the spots. Thrips also leave dark spots on the leaf: the excrement. You can also recognise damage caused by th...

Cabbage root flies: how to recognise damage?

The symptoms of damage from the cabbage root fly are almost always the same. The main root turns brown because the larvae eat the roots. Eventually, the main root turns black and rots away completely. The damage can also be seen in the leaf, which does not get enough water and therefore wilts.

Centipedes: how to recognise damage?

The damage is not instantly recognisable because centipedes eat the roots of young plants in particular. This damage to the roots stunts growth and reduces the crop yield. It also gives bacteria and fungi the chance to take hold in the damaged roots.

Mites: how to recognise damage?

A mite infection can cause considerable damage to a plant in a short time, and can be recognised by white or silvery spots. Mites are usually found underneath the damaged leaves. Damaged leaves are easily recognised: they become increasingly speckled and later the tips are covered in a white web. Be...

Caterpillars: how to recognise damage?

Damage caused by caterpillars can be recognised by leaves with nibbled holes or curled tips. This is traditionally seen in late summer and autumn. However, in recent years caterpillars have also been seen at the start of the growing season.

Fungus gnats: how to recognise damage?

You might not see the damage caused by the fungus gnat straight away. This is because the larvae are active in the ground. They love the stems and roots of seedlings, young plants and cuttings. Because of the damage they cause, the plant absorb less nutrients and weakens. The damaged roots are also ...

Aphids: how to recognise damage?

You can recognise aphids due to the many white cast skins left on the leaves or the growth points on the plant. Aphids suck the nutrients and sap out of green plants. Every time an aphid bites into the plant, it forces saliva into the plant cells. This infects the plant with viruses and weakens it. ...

Leaf miners: how to recognise damage?

Leaf miners can cause a lot of problems. They lay their larvae in the centre of a leaf. These larvae then dig tunnels through the leaves to get to the food. This can cause the leaf to dry out and fall off. Adult female leaf miners can also cause cosmetic damage. They create dot-like wounds where the...

Whiteflies: how to recognise damage?

Whitefly can damage a plant in various ways. First of all, it pricks the leaves to extract nutrients. This causes the leaves to turn yellow and eventually fall off. Whiteflies also have poisonous saliva that can cause a lot of damage to plants. The insect can also spread viruses. Finally, whiteflies...

Slugs and snails: how to recognise damage?

Slugs and snails can cause huge damage to your plant in a short period of time. You can recognise the damage they cause by the typical eaten holes in the leaves of your plant. Of course, you will also spot their slime trails. Slugs cause more damage than snails.

Lazy plants

It might sounds strange but even plants can become lazy and spoiled. Most people try their hardest to make their plants look good. This means they take real good care of them. But this can also end up counterproductive. How is that possible?

Carrot flies: how to recognise damage?

The carrot fly - in particular its maggots - can cause considerable damage to carrots. The carrot fly lays its eggs on the underside of the carrot leaves. The larvae that emerge from these eggs eat their way through the leaves to the carrots. The larvae first feed on the finer root hairs, which deve...

Molybdenum deficiency

A molybdenum deficiency initially resembles a nitrogen deficiency. The oldest leaves at the bottom will turn yellow and might get spots. A molybdenum deficiency is recognised by a unique orange, red or pink colouring around the edges of the leaves. This colour may spread to the centre of the leaf.

Boron deficiency

A boron deficiency is recognised by discolouration of the younger leaves. There is a rust-coloured deposit on the crop. New leaves seem to have their ends burned. A lack of boron also renders the crop fragile. Roots are also vulnerable to boron deficiency: their growth will then lag behind.

Manganese deficiency

A manganese deficiency resembles an iron deficiency. The difference is that manganese deficiency is mainly visible in leaves just below the top of the plant. Additionally, young leaves will get a light leaf colour followed by dark, brown spots. Another difference from an iron deficiency is that the ...

Zinc deficiency

When there is a shortage of zinc, the younger leaves start to yellow between the veins. The leaves become discoloured and start to die. The leaves can have a unique striped pattern and the plant stops growing vertically. If the problem is not corrected in time, the plant can stop growing entirely or...

Sulphur deficiency

Sulphur deficiency resembles nitrogen deficiency, but at the top of the plant. Because sulphur is not mobile, the deficiency is first observed in the younger leaves. These turn pale green, while the petioles get a strong purple tint. The leaf tips can curl up. If several leaves start to fade, the co...

Copper deficiency

A lack of copper can be recognised by withering and desiccation of the young leaves in particular. This is because copper is not mobile in the plant. The leaves curl down and hang limp. They will also get a faint blue glow. Stems, branches and twigs can be less strong and might break easier. A plant...

Phosphorus deficiency

The first sign of a phosphorus deficiency is a sudden growth stagnation. If the deficiency continues, a dark discolouration occurs at the older leaves. These leaves can be found at the bottom of the plant. Some plant varieties may show pale yellow or dark-blue green old leaves instead. This is due t...

Nitrogen deficiency

A nitrogen deficiency can be recognised by yellow leaves. This is because chlorophyll disappears from the leaves. You'll first see this happen in the older leaves at the bottom of the plant. This happens because plants transport the available nitrogen to their young leaves and growing points. Eventu...

Potassium deficiency

Plants suffering from a lack of potassium are smaller and have a short, limp stem. In addition, you can recognise the deficiency by smaller flower tops and pale fruits. Leaves can turn yellow or die off. This starts at the edges. There may also be brown or burned spots visible. A potassium deficienc...

Calcium deficiency

A calcium deficiency leads to various growth disorders, like deformed buds and leaves. The tips of the leaves will curl up. Brown spots will also be visible on the leaves. The deficiency starts in the new leaves, but its symptoms will first show on the middle leaves. Plants with a calcium deficiency...

Magnesium deficiency

A magnesium deficiency first becomes visible at the oldest leaves. Here small rust coloured or cloudy yellow spots will appear. Dead spots may also occur and leaf tips will curl up. As the spots spread, the leaves will turn more yellow. This causes the plant to look more and more tattered. In this s...

Iron deficiency

An iron deficiency is first visible at the top of the plant. Young leaves look as if they have been bleached. The leaves turn yellow, while the veins remains green. This is because iron is an immobile element. What this means is that iron, when fixated, can no longer be distributed in the plant. Eve...

What does NPK value mean?

The NPK value indicates what the amount in mass percentage is of the three major components in plant nutrient

The basic needs of a plant

Like a human, your plant has a number of basic needs to survive and grow. In addition to food, these are light, water, carbon dioxide, temperature and humidity. These are also the most important indicators to make your cultivation a success.

What does the EC-value mean?

Measuring the EC value is a useful and important indication to make a success of your growing. What is the EC value and how can you use it to make sure your plants receive the right amount of nutrients?

How much water do I have to give my plant e...

The type, size, age and general health of the plant all influence the plant’s water requirement. There is no standard answer to the question: How much water does my plant need?

Growing outdoors: What is the best time to ...

You’d think it’s best to start when winter is over and the sun has made its return, but you’d miss out on some valuable months if you did that. You can get a head start in February by beginning to germinate your plants. Besides, you can already prepare the soil outside if you’re planning on ...

Tips to get started - growing outside

Growing outdoors for beginners. Before you start your first outdoor grow, you need to make some choices. Each one of these will lead to certain advantages and drawbacks. In this topic we’ll give you tips and help you with a summary of the first questions that you need to answer for your growing p...

growing outdoors - small panel - do i need basic nutrients? - plagron

Do I need basic nutrition?

Growing outdoors for beginners. Plants need certain elements to reach flowering. Three of these elements can be gotten from air and water: carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. But apart from these, a plant needs other essential nutrients. An element is called essential if a plant cannot complete its life cy...

Do I need additives?

Growing outdoors for beginners. Additives are a bonus. A plant has a number of basic requirements: light, water, carbon dioxide, a nice temperature and humidity. If these requirements are fulfilled and you’re also providing basic nutrition, you do not necessarily need additives. However, they can ...

Which tools and supplies do I need?

Growing outdoos for beginners. In the last topics we addressed grow boxes, pots, nutrients, additives and loads of other things. It’s a good idea to summarise what you’re going to need for your first growing project.

How can I keep things low budget?

Growing outdoors for beginners. Not everyone has a lot of money to spend on the most expensive equipment for their first try at growing plants. And sometimes it’s just a fun challenge to try and keep things as cheap as possible. Below you’ll find multiple tips and tricks to keep it low budget!

Where can I get help?

Growing outdoors for beginners. In spite of all your careful planning, germinating and raising your seedlings, things aren’t going well with your plants. What now? How do you find out what’s wrong and what can you do about it?

Pros and cons of growing plants outside

Growing outdoors for beginners. The biggest advantage of growing outdoors is obvious: your plant gets free light and water. This has a drawback in itself, though, because you cannot control the light source (the sun) or the quantity of rainwater. There can be too much rain in a short time, and at ot...

What influence does nature have?

Growing outdoors for beginners. A plant has some basic needs: light, water, carbon dioxide, a nice temperature and humidity. By growing outdoors you get all these basics for free. This is awesome, but there’s a catch: you don’t control how much of these basics you get. Apart from that, your plan...

Basic definitions you need to know

Growing outdoors for beginners. Like every other hobby, growing plants has its own jargon. When you first start looking into growing methods, soil, pots and different types of nutrients, you get hit with a lot of terms. What is a substrate? Why does it have an EC value and what do these numbers mean...

Do I need a substrate?

Growing outdoors for beginners. The answer depends on your choice of growing in pots or in open ground. In the last case, you already have the soil and you don’t need a substrate as such. You can however improve the soil with certain products. If you want to grow in pots, however, you’re going t...

Where do I buy my supplies?

Growing outdoors for beginners. Where should I look? In previous topics, you’ve read a lot about the things you’ll need for your outdoor cultivation. Once you’ve gotten sorted out what you’re going to need, you’ll need to figure out where to buy your stuff.

Outlook: growing in May, June & July

Growing outdoors for beginners. Getting started with outdoor growing. The start of the year, from February through April, was the moment to prepare for your outdoor grow. During these months, you could improve your soil, buy the stuff that you’re going to need and germinate your seeds. You’ve ma...

Using the product selector

Growing outdoors for beginners. Before you take your plants outside, you have already chosen whether you’ll be growing in pots or open soil. You’ll need to fill pots with a substrate: a peat based soil. Obviously this is not necessary in open soil. But you can improve the soil you want to plant ...

When can I move my plants outside?

Growing outdoors for beginners. Your seedlings have grown into young plants or you bought (or were given) cuttings. Now, you want to plant them outside. But it’s still early in the year and temperatures can still drop below freezing at night. Besides, the days are not as long as you’d like them ...

a hand with soil in it, with abstracly shown chemical elements in the foreground

Is my soil good enough to plant in?

Growing outdoors for beginners. All the preparations are done. You’ve got the tools, the plants are big enough, the Ice Saints have passed and the chance of freezing temperatures is small. Time to get to work! But there could be one last thing you need to prepare: the soil you’re going to plant ...

a plat being readied to be planted in a pot with clay pebbles

How do I prepare pots for the plants?

Growing outdoors for beginners. If you’re growing in pots, the type and structure of the substrate is up to you. We do however advise a substrate based on peat and not compost for cultivation in pots. Compost based substrates can clog up a pot, which prevents water from draining away. Below you ca...

How to plant young plants or cuttings

Growing outdoors for beginners. You’ve improved your soil or filled your pots. It’s warm and light enough outside and your plants have done some growing. Now it’s time to plant them for real! But how do you plant a plant? Is it simply a matter of making a hole and dumping a plant in it? Well�...

someone who is bent over multiple containers with plants and soil in them

Growing from cuttings or seeds?

Growing outdoors for beginners. You can start your grow from seeds that you need to germinate, grow, transplant and prepare for the outdoors. But for many plant species you can also make or buy cuttings. What are the advantages and drawbacks of seeds and cuttings? And how do you take cuttings?

Give your plants Plagron's basic nutrients

How to make a nutrient solution

Growing outdoors for beginners. Strictly speaking, a plant doesn’t need more than nature can give it. Most plants in nature grow in forests, moors and other unfertilized areas and they’re doing fine. But you’d like to have a good harvest this summer, so you want to shorten the growing phase. T...

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