In hydroponics, plants communicate all the time-you just have to know how to interpret the signals. Whether it's a basil, a lettuce or a more demanding variety, every change in leaves, color, growth or roots offers valuable information about their status.
The goal is not to "guess," but to read plants in real time to intervene before problems occur.
In this article we look at how to do this easily, even if you are not an agronomist.
Color tells immediately if the plant is in balance.
Sign of health: balanced nutrients, proper light, active roots.
Often indicates:
nitrogen, iron or magnesium deficiency
insufficient light
out-of-range pH stress
How to intervene: check EC, pH and photoperiod.
Usually related to:
EC too high
light that is too bright or too close
major temperature fluctuations
Excess water or root saturation.
In hydroponics it occurs when oxygen in the water is low or the solution temperature rises too high.
Typical sign of strong but positive light.
However, if they begin to stiffen, the light is too much.
Means the plant is "seeking" light.
Increasing photoperiod intensity and stability brings back compactness.
In hydroponics, roots can be seen (huge advantage over soil).
Perfect signal: optimal oxygenation and balanced nutrients.
Start of stress: nutrient solution temperature too high or insufficient circulation.
Alarm: possible pathogen or severely insufficient oxygenation.
Indicates stable microclimate: air, temperature and light under control.
Usually caused by uneven light source or direct air flows.
Often related to insufficient nutrients or too low EC.
In some cases also to incorrect photoperiod.
Plants react quickly to:
too high humidity → mold risk, shiny, thin leaves
humidity too low → dehydration, dry margins
high temperature → large but weak leaves
low temperature → slow growth, dark color
In Tomato+ greenhouses this management is automated thanks to microclimate control and integrated sensors , but recognizing the symptoms remains useful for anyone.
In addition to visual signals, Tomato+ uses:
continuous telemetry
AI image recognition
Dynamic growth plans
Spectrum, height, pod status, and root sensors
This allows every plant signal to be transformed into data, automatically correcting light, irrigation, nutrients or photoperiod.
It is the transition from "by eye" cultivation to data-driven cultivation.
Reading the needs of the plant in hydroponics does not require complex skills: just observe the color, shape, growth and roots.
With smart systems like Tomato+, these signals become data that enable extremely precise, stable, and waste-free cultivation.
Thank you for reading this article. Keep following us to discover new content on hydroponics, vertical farming, and smart agriculture.
Tomato+ Team