Nutrient solutions for hydroponics systems can be made at home or purchased through a garden supply store. For those DIYers who want to go it on their own, there are a number of different recipes you can use, depending on whether you want a specialized formula focused on tomatoes, or a general all-around recipe that will cover most of your crops. The varieties you can produce rival the highly specialized formulations available on the shelf.
Since the premade products are pretty expensive, DIY is a popular solution, and not actually that difficult with some careful attention to detail. You'll need a large bucket, a kitchen scale, preferably accurate to 0.1 oz, a pH test and adjustment kit, common kitchen measuring utensils, and an EC meter to check the total dissolved solids level in your finished product. There are more than a dozen macro- and micronutrients that can be added to a nutrient solution, so determine which recipe you're going to use before you start making purchases. Check your local nursery and garden centers or online for essential fertilizer salts that will contain the necessary nutrients in your recipe.
