# Fertigation

> Fertigation is delivering fertiliser dissolved in irrigation water, so plants are fed every time they are watered rather than through solid amendments.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/fertigation.html
- Also written: fertigate, fertigating, feed and water, nutrient irrigation
- Glossary category: Systems and media · Evidence: Established
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

Fertigation (fertiliser plus irrigation) means supplying nutrients in the water. It covers hand-watering with a nutrient solution and automated [drip systems](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/drip-irrigation.md) using a dosing pump or [stock tanks](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/stock-solution.md). It is the default method in soilless media such as [coco](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/coco-coir.md), rockwool and peat mixes, where the medium itself holds little nutrition.

## In practice

The grower mixes or injects a solution to a target [EC](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/ec.md) (for example 1.2-2.4 mS/cm depending on stage and cultivar) and pH (about 5.8-6.2 in coco), and applies it with each irrigation. Automated systems use one or more concentrated stock solutions and an injector or dosing pump at a set ratio. Fertigation gives precise, fast control of what the [root zone](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/root-zone.md) sees, and enables crop steering and [per-element dosing](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/per-element-dosing.md). GenetixBay's Jardin uses per-element dosing so nitrogen can be tapered in late flower without cutting P, K, Ca, Mg and the micros.

## Don't confuse with

- **Foliar feeding**: spraying nutrients on leaves.
- **Top dressing**: solid amendments on the surface.

## Related terms

[Drip irrigation](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/drip-irrigation.md), [Drain-to-waste](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/drain-to-waste.md), [High-frequency fertigation](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/high-frequency-fertigation.md), [Hydroponics](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/hydroponics.md), [Crop steering](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/crop-steering.md)

## Read more

- [Drain-to-waste drip and crop steering (generative vs vegetative dryback)](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/systems/drain-to-waste-crop-steering.md)
- [Hydroponic salts explained: what each fertiliser salt supplies](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/nutrients/hydroponic-salts.md)

## Sources

1. Raviv M, Lieth JH, Bar-Tal A (eds), 2019. Soilless Culture: Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2015-0-01807-5