How would you describe hydroponics? Is it something that you’ve heard of before? If yes, you might already know that it’s a method of growing plants without soil. Hydroponic gardening is a form of gardening where water is used instead of soil. This means that you don’t have to worry about the weather or pests destroying your crops. In addition, you’ll also save time and effort.
Hydroponics is a great way to grow vegetables indoors because it allows you to control the environment. The only stuff you need to worry about is supplying enough light and nutrients to your plants. You can quickly do this by using small containers growing in water.
If you’re new to hydroponic gardening, there are several things you should know before getting started. Let’s cover the steps to take when starting up!
Learn Basics
Start with how to grow in the soil first to understand the growing process. Understanding biology will help you determine why specific methods work and others don’t. Biology works differently than organic farming. For example, you will be growing cells instead of foods (like tomatoes). So if you haven’t ever studied biology, learn it now while you still have time.
Also, keep reading blogs on different mediums and see which one resonates with you most. Try each blog to see what you like/dislike about them.
Getting Started
Once you understand the biological principles behind hydroponic gardening, you can move on to choosing a system you want to use. Choose your size based on how many plants you plan on initially. A more extensive system will give you more options, but it also costs more money.
To ensure that you get each nutrition you need from your plants, choose a nutrient formula specifically designed for hydroponic gardening. This is especially pivotal if you’re going to be using fish emulsion or liquid fertilizer as a source of nutrients. These fertilizers are not considered essential to good plant growth, but they can provide extra assistance.
Growing Techniques
Choose the correct type of lighting depending on whether you want high-intensity spectrum lighting (which has the highest impact on photosynthesis) or low-intensity spectrum lighting (for general lighting purposes).
There are also LED lights available for hydroponic systems that produce both types of wavelengths. Most LED lights require very little maintenance. They also allow you to regulate their intensity. However, some people prefer having overhead sunlight to supplement the light.
When selecting a light fixture, remember that you’ll want to put at least 60 watts per square foot into your light and space to allow for good root development.
Watering Systems
For starters, you just need an aerator. An aerator keeps the surface of the water moving continuously to prevent stagnation. Aerators come in many shapes and sizes, but the best ones aren’t cheap. Make sure you research what the best aerator is for you before buying, so you end up happy with your purchase.
As far as growing goes, you’ll want to consider adding a pump. Some people add a timer to help manage their plants’ water needs and save money. If you live where weather conditions vary greatly, a timer can assist. In areas that experience frequent drought, a timer might be a great option.
A reservoir makes watering easy, but you shouldn’t need one unless you’re doing large quantities. With a reservoir, you simply connect hoses to a tap on either side of the tank. Water flows automatically through. Alternatively, you can buy automatic systems.
If you opt for this irrigation method, you won’t have to worry about other equipment, such as timers or air pumps. Because these are self-contained units, using a timer isn’t necessary. However, if you’re planning on starting with smaller quantities of plants, it could be beneficial because there’s less chance of over-watering the plants due to timing issues.
In addition to an aerator, most growers hook up one or two submersible pumps to circulate the water between the roots and the leaves. You might want to invest in a pump if you intend to grow fast-growing varieties of cannabis, such as Sativa.
Other Considerations
You’ll also have to figure out the materials you’d be using to build your garden. The best materials are always made from natural wood and stone. Some people use concrete blocks, steel, metal mesh, fiberglass, plastic, etc., and then paint them when they’re finished.
However, you should know that choosing materials over time will change your garden. For example, some people might decide to add pebbles once their plants become established. You may realize that you don’t enjoy seeing rocks in your garden.
Similarly, you might decide to repaint or replace certain materials after a few months. Just be aware that you want to see changes within your garden easily. If your goal is to create a garden that looks natural, keep in mind that you can never go wrong by making things out of raw materials.
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