Answers to common questions about Hydrogene Pro features, workflows, and terminology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fertilizer Library

Can I add my own custom fertilizers? Yes. In the Fertilizer Library, click + Create to add a fertilizer that is not in the built-in list. You will be asked to provide general information (manufacturer, physical state, concentration) and the nutrient composition percentages from the product’s label or data sheet.

What is the difference between solid and liquid fertilizers in Hydrogene? Solid fertilizers are powders or granules typically dissolved in water before use. Liquid fertilizers are already in solution form. In Hydrogene Pro, you select the physical state when creating a fertilizer profile. The system adjusts calculations accordingly — solid fertilizers use a concentration/dilution ratio (g per liter of concentrate), while liquid fertilizers use density and concentration values.

What is the difference between Built-in and Custom fertilizers? Built-in fertilizers are pre-loaded by Hydrogene Pro and cover a wide range of commercial products and raw salts. They cannot be edited or deleted. Custom fertilizers are profiles you add yourself for products not in the built-in list — they are fully editable and can be removed at any time.

Blends

What is the difference between Automatic Creation and Manual Creation? Automatic Creation uses an optimization algorithm to calculate the best combination of available raw salts to match a selected reference fertilizer’s nutrient profile. Manual Creation is for entering a known recipe directly — no algorithm is involved. Use Automatic Creation when you want to replicate a commercial product; use Manual Creation when you already have a recipe.

Which nutrients should I select for optimization? Select only the nutrients that are critical for your crop and current growth stage. Limiting the selection improves the quality of the optimization result. For example, during bloom you might prioritize P, K, Ca, and Mg, and deselect nutrients that are less important at that stage.

What is the Fine Tuning step? Fine Tuning allows you to manually adjust the calculated gram amounts for each salt. The goal is to round values to a level of precision that your scale can accurately measure. The adjustments are small and do not significantly affect plant nutrition — the step is primarily about making field weighing more practical.

What should I do if I am not satisfied with the optimization results? Click Retry to re-run the calculation with the same salt selection — the algorithm may return a different result. If the result is still unsatisfactory, go back to the Choose Available step and add or swap salts to better cover the missing nutrients. It is common to run the calculation 2–5 times before reaching a satisfactory result.

Can I create a Blend from an existing recipe? Yes. Use Manual Creation to select the fertilizers that make up your existing recipe and save the combination to the Blends Library. From there, it can be used as a part in any Feed Chart.

Feed Charts

What is the difference between Concentrate Solution and Direct Mixing modes? Concentrate Solution is for programs where fertilizers are dissolved into a concentrated stock solution and then dosed into the reservoir at a defined ratio. Direct Mixing is for programs where solid salts are weighed and added directly to the reservoir without pre-dissolving. Choose the mode that matches how you prepare your nutrient solution.

Can I download a Feed Chart as a PDF? Yes. Open any feed chart, click Actions, and select the download option. The PDF includes all stages, dosages, EC and pH target ranges, and nutrient levels for each cultivation week.

Can I use fertilizers and Blends together in a Feed Chart? Yes. In step 2 (Input) of Feed Chart creation, you can add parts from both the Fertilizer Library and the Blends Library in any combination.

What are the EC and pH targets in a Feed Chart? EC and pH targets define the acceptable range for the nutrient solution at each cultivation week. They are set during the Schedule step (step 3) and are used by the Dashboard to compare your measured values against the expected ideal range.

How can I find my custom Feed Charts? In the Feed Charts library, uncheck the Built-in filter. This will show only the Feed Charts you have created. You can also use the search field to find a chart by name.

Cultivation Cycles

Why do I need to start the cycle manually? The cycle must be started manually so the system knows the exact date the grow physically began. The Start Cycle button sets day 1 of the cultivation day counter. If you start the cycle in the system days after the grow begins, all day numbers, scheduled measurements, and plan cards will be offset. For accuracy, click Start Cycle at the same moment the real grow starts.

What information is required during cycle setup? During the Growing Setup step, you must provide: Crop Type, Growing Medium, Tank Volume (L), System Type, Number of Plants, and Substrate Volume (L). In the next step, you select the Feed Chart that will govern the cycle.

Can I edit a Cultivation Cycle after creating it? You can edit the growing setup details before starting the cycle. Once Start Cycle has been clicked, the linked Feed Chart cannot be changed. Individual week targets in the Plan tab can still be adjusted manually to reflect real-world conditions.

General Usage

Can I use Hydrogene for different crop types? Yes. Hydrogene Pro supports any crop type. When creating a Cultivation Cycle, you specify the crop type in the Growing Setup. The platform is used for vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers, and other plant species.

How does Hydrogene help optimize fertilizer recipes? Through the Blends feature, Hydrogene Pro uses an optimization algorithm that calculates the best combination of available raw salts to match a target commercial fertilizer’s nutrient profile. This allows growers to reduce costs and gain greater control over their nutrient program.

Can I manage multiple cultivation cycles simultaneously? Yes. Hydrogene Pro supports multiple concurrent active cycles. Each cycle is independent, linked to its own feed chart, and tracked separately. The Home page shows a summary of all active cycles and any overdue tasks across them.

How do measurements, events, and health records work together? Measurements provide quantitative data (EC, pH, ppm, temperature) that populates the Dashboard charts. Events log cultivation activities (irrigation, transplanting, applications). Health records track plant problems and their outcomes. Together, these three data types create a complete picture of each cultivation cycle and provide the data needed for diagnostics and future planning.

What data is used to generate cultivation insights? The Dashboard uses measurement records entered in the Measures tab, combined with the EC, pH, and nutrient targets defined in the linked Feed Chart. This allows the system to compare actual measured values against the expected ideal ranges for each cultivation week.

How can I improve the accuracy of recommendations and diagnostics? The quality of insights improves as you log more data. Enter measurements consistently throughout the cycle. Conclude health issues with detailed outcome descriptions — this information is used by the Plant Diagnosis feature to suggest better solutions for similar problems in the future.

Where can I find all my custom-created resources? Your custom fertilizers, blends, and feed charts are accessible in their respective library sections. Use the Custom filter in each library to view only the items you have created, and uncheck Built-in to hide the pre-loaded entries.

Can I export cultivation data from Hydrogene? Feed Charts can be downloaded as PDF files. For other data, check the Actions menu within each section for available export options.

What is the recommended workflow for new users? The recommended starting workflow is:

  1. Add any fertilizers you use to the Fertilizer Library (if they are not already in the built-in list).
  2. Create a Blend using Automatic or Manual Creation (if needed).
  3. Create or select a Feed Chart that matches your crop and growing method.
  4. Create a Cultivation Cycle, link it to the Feed Chart, and click Start Cycle when your grow begins.
  5. Log Measurements, Events, and Health Issues throughout the cycle.
  6. Monitor progress in the Dashboard.
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