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Light
Without proper light your plants simply will
not perform well. If you are putting your system outdoors then you will
have no problem. If you are doing hydroponic gardening indoors then you
are going to need a very bright window or you will need to supplement
your plants with artificial lighting such as fluorescent (shop light) or
a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp. HID lighting is the best source
of artificial light on the market. They can be expensive so shop around
on the internet. Do not expect to grow roses or tomatoes indoors without
a HID light. You need some serious light to get plants to produce
lots of flowers or fruit. If your plants start to s-t-r-e-t-c-h or
become "leggy" then your light source is not bright enough.
Bottom line: If you plan to get serious about hydroponic gardening
indoors get a good lamp.
Water
It is best to use distilled or reverse osmosis water in your system. Tap water is the next best thing. If you have a water softener, use potassium chloride tablets. Do not use sodium chloride.
Bottom line: Use the best water that is
available to you.
Ph
Checking the ph in your growing system is similar to checking the ph in a swimming pool. This is very important and must not be overlooked. You will need to buy a ph test kit for hydroponics that can be purchased at any hydroponic store. You can also buy one online. It basically consists of a testing solution and ph up and ph down formulas. Follow the label directions and adjust if necessary. You want to keep the ph between 5.8 and 6.3 for most plants. As your plants use up the nutrients the ph will change. Only adjust the ph if it is way off. You can safely allow the ph to drift between 5.5 and 7.0. Dumping chemicals into the nutrient solution to maintain a perfect ph of 6.0 does more harm than good. Always check the ph after you add your nutrients. Many times the ph will fall to the appropriate level once nutrients are added so you will not have to adjust anything. Check the ph once every couple of days. If the ph is way off, your plants ability to take up nutrients will be diminished resulting in nutrient deficiency's and possibly death.
Bottom line: Get a pH test strips and check
your solution regularly.
Click here for pH test kits and strips.
Air
If you are gardening indoors, room temperature is just fine for most plants. The optimal temperature for most plants is 75 degrees during the day and 65 degrees at night. You also must have good air circulation. A ceiling fan is great for hydroponic gardening or you can use an oscillating fan to provide air movement. Keep your humidity between 40 and 60%. A hygrometer will help to keep this in check. Keep your growing area well ventilated. Plants need fresh air and it is not good enough to just move the air around with a fan.
Bottom line: Keep a close watch on
temperature, air circulation, ventilation, and humidity.
Fertilizer
You cannot use regular garden fertilizer in this type of growing system. They do not contain all of the essential minerals necessary for plant growth. You must buy fertilizer specifically formulated for hydroponic gardening. There are many brands of these fertilizers on the market.
Most are formulated for different stages of
plant growth. "Grow" formulas are intended for the beginning
stages of plant growth. "Bloom" formulas are intended for the
flowering stage of plants. Feed your plants with the grow formula and
then when they start to bloom, you will change the nutrient solution and
mix in the bloom formula. Always check the ph after you change your
nutrient solution. Bottom line: Buy quality fertilizer specifically
formulated for this type of growing.
Maintenance
Your nutrient solution needs to be drained and refilled with fresh water and nutrients at least once a month (every 2 weeks is better). Plants deposit wastes in the water which can build up and become detrimental to the overall health of the plants. Use the drain tube on your system (if it has one) to empty the water and then refill with new nutrient solution by pouring it down through the grow rocks (or rockwool). This will remove any salt buildup that has accumulated. When your crop is finished, everything needs to be sanitized with a 10% bleach solution. Note: Grow rocks are reusable. Just make sure they are clean and sanitized.
Bottom line: Keep everything sanitary to avoid
future problems.
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