If you like gardens but don’t like digging, you can hydroponics.
What is hydroponics?
Hydroponics is a method of cultivating plants in soil-free solution. Because this method is called hydroponic method, “hydraulic” means water. Most people think that soilless solution is water. Of course, it can be water, but not all. Hydroponics can be any nutrient solution or inert growth medium, such as perlite and sand – basically anything other than traditional potted mixtures or soil.
Is hydroponics complex?
Hydroponics is not necessarily more complicated. In fact, hydroponic growth can be so simple that children can do it. You may even have tried when you were a child. Did you put the toothpick in the potato and put it in a can of water? If so, do you remember waiting for the roots to grow into the water and then watching the green buds on the water? This is hydroponics.
How do I start?
Before you start planting, you need a hydroponic system, hydroponic nutrients, an inert hydroponic medium, a light source, time and plants.
What is hydroponic system?
Hydroponic system is a variety of structures (e.g., tower, tray, A-frame) can contain water or other inert media without providing a place for plant planting. Hydroponic systems are divided into two categories: solution culture and collective culture. In the solution system, plant roots grow directly into nutrient filled solution. In an overall system, such as gravel, sand or small clay particles, roots grow into media. In In each method, the system provides three basic components that plants need to grow: water, nutrients and oxygen. Different types of systems can be used to meet the individual comfort level in the growth of hydroponic plants. These include drill, ebb and flow, NFT, hydroponics and aeroponics.
Where can I get a hydroponic system?
Hydroponic systems are available from commercial suppliers. Search the Internet by using the keyword “hydroponic package” or “hydroponic system” to find a system suitable for your needs. Searching for “suit” may lead to a simple system, which is very suitable for beginners to carry out soilless cultivation and home planting. On the other hand, searching “system” may find advanced or commercial systems more suitable for large-scale growers.
How to establish hydroponic system?
If it’s convenient for you, you can definitely design and build your own system. Some websites will provide a free list of soilless cultivation system design. The advantage of building your own system is that you can customize the design to suit your planting space and plant species.
How to focus on nutrition and media?
For various reasons, hydroponic nutrients are different from those used to feed plants growing in the soil. If you are not familiar with hydroponics, keep it simple. Just choose a reliable manufacturer.
In addition to water, the hydroponic medium may also include rock wool, Small clay rock (sodium hydroxide), coconut fiber or wood chips, perlite, sand and vermiculite. All these are inert media, which means that they will not decompose quickly. It is a process that helps to provide nutrition for plants growing in the soil. There is no absolutely best medium, you just need to decide which is best for you. It should be noted that it is important to choose coconut fiber Avoid excessive wetting. Continuous exposure to the medium will lead to asphyxiation of the root due to hypoxia. There is no need to worry about whether the growth of plant roots in the water will suffocate under other circumstances, because the air pump used in the water system will produce bubbles and increase the dissolved oxygen in the water, both of which will provide oxygen to the roots.
Light required for hydroponic planting
Metal halides are the light source of choice for many gardeners. Other types include artificial lamps, including high pressure sodium lamps, LEDs, high output fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps. LED lamps grow more powerful and cost less. They can save electricity and generate less heat. Less heat can make the plant lamp closer to the plant without worrying that the plant will be scorched. Because of this, LED lamps can effectively promote plants to grow better, so LED plant growth lights are widely adopted throughout the world. Led plant lamp also has the following characteristics: rich wavelength types, just consistent with the spectral range of plant light synthesis and light morphology; The half width of the spectral wave is narrow, which can be combined to obtain pure monochromatic light and composite spectrum as required; It can focus light of specific wavelength to irradiate crops evenly; It can not only regulate the flowering and Fruiting of crops, but also control the plant height and plant nutrients; The system has less heat and small occupied space. It can be used in multi-layer cultivation three-dimensional combination system to realize low heat load and miniaturization of production space.
Can I plant in outdoor hydroponics?
of course. Hydroponic plants are not an indoor winter sport. Hydroponic technology can work in places with sufficient artificial or natural light.
How long does it take?
Like all hobbies, hydroponic growth takes time. If you are a novice in hydroponics, you need to invest some time to learn more about the process before you start. Although you don’t have to spend time weeding like in a traditional garden, you must spend time maintaining your system instead of nutrients and harvest.
Is this an organic gardening?
Not exactly. The components of organic fertilizer must be in contact with the soil in order to be transformed into a form that can be absorbed by plant roots. Because hydroponics does not involve soil, it is not really organic horticulture. However, the ecological value of hydroponics is the same as that of organic horticulture.
What kind of plants can I plant?
Include almost any indoor plants, fruits or vegetables you want. As a general rule, the solution system is most suitable for shallow root plants. Such as lettuce, spinach, radish, tomato, pumpkin, celery and herbs.
What kind of output can I expect?
With the proper balance of light and other growth conditions, growth rates and yields are said to exceed those of traditional horticulture, including horticulture.
How does it taste?
The flavor and nutrition of hydroponic crops are also considered to exceed those of soil cultivated crops.
Post time: Dec-28-2021