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Every year, more and more people become interested in growing hemp and cannabis. It's no surprise that more and more information is circulating about how to do it effectively and safely.
In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about hypochlorous acid applications, how to prepare hypochlorous acid, and using hypochlorous acid on plants.
What Is Hypochlorous Acid?
Hypochlorous acid forms when the chemical element chlorine dissolves in water. Hypochlorous acid is a weak acid that then diffuses throughout the solution.
It has very strong antibacterial properties and protection against other microbials. For years, people have used hypochlorous acid to disinfect water supplies and irrigation systems. Many companies use hypochlorous acid to help to clean off food preparation surfaces.
Hypochlorous acid can be very effective in hydroponic growing systems too.
Its main application is to help sanitize the water that is used to grow plants.
Chlorine is present naturally as two atoms that are bonded together. This combination will dissolve in water when included in very small amounts.
When in solution, the chlorine becomes hypochlorous acid, which is its derivative.
Water Supplies
Growers need to know how to disinfect their water supplies to help control pathogen growth. This is an important determinant of the plant's overall health and ability to grow in the future.
Using hypochlorous acid as a disinfectant for the water supply can be extremely effective. It can both prevent and kill pathogens and other diseases. Many of these diseases are harmful both to plant and human health at the same time, so hypochlorous acid can be especially useful.
One of the problems that growers face is mineral deposits inside their pipes.
Over time, the growth of mineral deposition can begin to clog water flow to the plants. This can easily disrupt irrigation equipment and stop a hydroponic growth system.
Hypochlorous acid can be used to treat water from these systems. After the water has been disinfected, it is far less likely to spread diseases to plants and humans.
Hypochlorous acid is commonly associated with organic gardening. That is because it uses natural chemical elements and can be safe when used in a dilute solution.
In higher concentrations, hypochlorous acid can have negative effects on the health of certain plants. It can cause the roots to degrade and burn away or slowly disintegrate.
What Are Biofilms?
Biofilms form whenever a collection of microorganisms settles on a surface.
They begin to start to use the resources and organic material on that surface. This can compete with plant roots in the soil that are searching for oxygen and minerals. The biofilm can take away these nutrients and may start to be a gathering ground for infection of your crops.
Biofilms are present everywhere. It is nearly impossible to avoid biofilms developing on your crops.
As soon as any water splashes on the surface of pipes, the biofilms will naturally form because germs are ever-present.
Any time that there is a consistent source of water or moisture, you can expect a biofilm to develop on nearby surfaces. Other components of biofilms include organic debris, oxygen, and microbes.
How Does Hypochlorous Acid Work to Prevent Biofilms?
Hypochlorous acid products can be very effective at neutralizing biofilms. This can restore function to pipes and inorganic systems. When used in a diluted form as directed, it can effectively remove the majority of biofilms and improve the flow of water to plants.
The free radicals that are present in the dilute acidic concentration help to neutralize organic materials. This removes all residues and kills off pathogens and bacteria in the biofilms.
Is Hypochlorous Acid Safe for Humans?
Many people wonder if these chlorine solutions are safe for use around humans. The answer is that when used in directed diluted forms, hypochlorous acid is very safe while being highly effective.
While still not advised, people could in theory put solutions on their skin safely.
How to Use Hypochlorous Acid
The goal of the use of hypochlorous acid is to regularly maintain water by treating it or removing biofilms. You can also clean your pipes and inorganic surfaces regularly using hypochlorous acid.
When used to perform regular maintenance on pipe systems, use approximately 1 mL of hypochlorous acid for every gallon of water. You can flush the system once and expect results within a few hours.
If you have noticeable dirt or contamination in your system, you may want to increase the ratio to approximately.
When using directly on plants or other foliage, you want to use hypochlorous acid in a ratio of 190 mL hypochlorous acid to 1 gallon of water.
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Using Hypochlorous Acid During the Flush Stage of Growth
During the flush stage of growth, any leftover buildup of minerals in the plant roots and tissues can affect the overall flavor and aroma of the final product.
Instead, you can use hypochlorous acid at 5 mL for every gallon of water during this final flush phase.
This is a great way to remove any additional leftover mineral buildup. Using hypochlorous acid is also likely to produce whiter and cleaner ash for any plants that are subsequently burned during use.
Performing Regular Maintenance in the Water System with Hypochlorous Acid
It's best not to get behind in treating your water system. When you use hypochlorous acid treatment regularly, water will flow more optimally throughout your system.
The reason is that a dilute hypochlorous acid solution can take out biofilm and mineral buildup before they become visually apparent. It may appear that your pipe or irrigation system is squeaky clean, but a microscope might tell a different story.
Running a dilute hypochlorous acid solution through the system will fully clean these areas in a shorter time frame. You can also use a diluted spray bottle solution and directly applied to common surfaces and other equipment like filters.
Getting Your Supplies From FloraFlex
At FloraFlex, we are proud to supply you with a wide variety of treatment chemicals, nutrients, and other equipment for growing hemp and cannabis.
We provide our equipment and common kits and bundles to help you get started on the right foot without major headaches. We are involved in selling equipment at all levels of growing capacity.
If you are interested in maintaining optimal clean conditions for your growing system, we have you covered. We provide a hypochlorous acid solution in addition to sprayers, and other means of cleaning solution application systems.
We also offer a special powder fertilizer that is specifically designed for everyone's favorite plant. This nutrient pacakage is the most simplified and advanced formula on the market. Guaranteed highest yields and never using more than 3 inputs at any stage.
You can use this nutrient package alongside hypochlorous acid therapy. You are likely to develop some of the most vital and strong plants available. This leads to better health for the plants and ultimately better health for you.
Using Hypochlorous Acid on Plants at Home
So, what is hypochlorous acid?
Hypochlorous acid is one of the most effective and common means for treating your plans and water supply as a grower. It is safe for plant and human health and can be highly effective at eliminating unwanted mineral deposits and biofilms. It can treat the water supply or plant soil directly.
If you want to learn more about hypochlorous acid, please contact us today. We would be happy to discuss how you could use hypochlorous acid treatment in your current growing setup. We are committed to providing you with the highest quality products at the most affordable prices.
