EC, or electrical conductivity, measures how much dissolved material is in the nutrient solution. Higher EC means a stronger solution. A TDS meter gives a related reading and is also common.
What EC Does Not Tell You
EC shows overall strength, not which nutrients are present or in what balance. Two solutions can read the same and still differ.
Using It Well
- Follow the fertilizer label and the crop requirements for your target.
- Lower the EC if plants show signs of burn, such as brown leaf tips.
- Calibrate the meter as the maker recommends, and store the probe as directed.
Related guide: pH and EC.
