Every cycle, part of the root system dies off. Enzymes break that material down into sugars and minerals the plant can take up again, instead of leaving it to rot in the bottom of the pot. Most of what you gain shows up in what you can do with that substrate afterwards.
They make reuse realistic
A pot of coco or soil that has run one cycle is full of dead root. It clogs the structure, holds water where air should be, and feeds exactly the organisms you would rather not have. Clear it out and a second run becomes a real option rather than a gamble. Do expect a reused batch to hold less feed, so you start feeding sooner; how that plays out in soil is under Soil.
They work during the grow, not after it
This is not something you run once between cycles. Enzymes do their work while the plant is standing, so you feed them through the whole cycle at your brand's dose. Aptus Enzym+ is heavily concentrated and dosed per 10 litres of water, Plagron Pure Zym per litre. Read the dose first, because it differs by a factor between brands here.
What is on the shelf
CANNA Cannazym is the best known. Aptus Enzym+ is a mix with cellulase and beta-glucanase plus manganese. Atami Ata Atazyme leans on making the feed you already give more available. Plagron Pure Zym publishes its enzyme activity in measurable units, which makes comparison possible. Bio G Power Ashley Fert Zym has one foot in the next group: alongside the substrate it also works against biofilm in lines and drippers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use enzymes together with a system cleaner?
Not with an oxidative one. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down organic material and draws no distinction between fouling and your enzyme product, so you are paying for something that is destroyed on contact. Which products those are is set out under System Cleaning.
How do I store them?
Cool, dark and closed. These are biologically active preparations and they lose potency standing warm or in the light.
Do I need them if I use fresh substrate every time?
Less, but not never. Root still dies off within a single cycle, and in a system that circulates water they keep the root zone cleaner. On single-use fresh soil, though, this is the first add-on you can reasonably skip.
