Creating a Recipe

A recipe on the Ponix app is a predefined set of nutrient and water quality parameters designed to optimize plant growth. It acts as a guideline for the auto dispenser, specifying target values for key water parameters such as pH, EC (electrical conductivity), and nutrient concentrations. By following the recipe, the system continuously adjusts dosing to maintain ideal conditions, ensuring consistency and efficiency in hydroponic and aquaponic setups. This automation reduces manual intervention, improves plant health, and enhances overall system stability.

To start a recipe, click Select Formula in the top right of your home screen.

Click New Formula

Enter a name for your recipe. We recommend this label to be the name of what you are growing (i.e. Salanova) if you are growing a single variety. This can help distinguish different recipes as you develop your crop catalog and what you grow.

Select a date and then select Add in the top right corner.

Choose your start and end date for the formula. We recommend to choose a date range that is a minimum of 4 weeks. Please keep in mind that the formula will stop working on the end date you select but you can always edit the recipe to extend your harvest.

Phase: Vegetative

We recommend maintaining a pH range of 5.8–6.2. EC values vary by crop, but a universal setting of 2.0 mS works well across different plants. For Salanova, an EC as low as 1.0 mS can still yield great results. During training, we suggest keeping EC at 2.0 mS to simplify replication across crops without significant adjustments to water parameters.

Below the EC set point, you will also want to select how many milliliters of Grow A & B you want the NIDO to dispense. In the Pilot Farm, we have this set to 5 mL for both solutions.

Our indoor systems allow precise control over light timing—both when the lights turn on and how long they stay on. We recommend aligning the start time with local sunrise to ensure plants experience a true dark period at night. This helps prevent disruption from natural light leaks and supports healthy rest cycles.

That said, every grow environment and farmer’s schedule is unique. Choose a start time that fits your routine, allowing you to regularly check that the lights are functioning properly and supporting your plants’ growth.

As for duration of hours, we recommend setting the light cycle between 12 to 18. Exceeding 18 hours is not advised, as plants reach a photosynthetic limit and extended lighting may result in unnecessary energy use without added benefit.

For greenhouse irrigation, set the day cycle to 24, representing 24 hourly start points across a full day. Within each of these cycles, you can customize how many minutes the system will flood and drain—essentially determining how long water flows during each hour.

Think of it this way: you're choosing how many minutes per hour water will be delivered to your plants.

In the example below, the system is programmed to irrigate for 15 minutes every hour throughout the 24-hour period.

For indoor irrigation, set the day cycle to 12 (representing 12 hours of light) and the night cycle to 12 (representing 12 hours of darkness), creating a full 24-hour cycle.

Next, determine how many minutes per hour you'd like the system to flood and drain—essentially deciding how long water will flow during each hour.

In the example below, the system is set to irrigate for 15 minutes every hour during both the day and night cycles, ensuring consistent hydration across the full 24-hour period.