Tips On Hydroponic Growing
For Healthy Gardening
| Creating better and healthier living with environmentally
friendly products. Quality dehumidifiers,
tankless water heaters, test kits and hydroponic growing nutrients, delivered right to
your door! Hydroponic growing is often defined as "the cultivation of plants in water." Research has since determined that many different aggregates or media will support plant growth; therefore, the definition has been broadened to read "the cultivation of plants without soil." Hydroponic growing enthusiasts all over the world are using hydroponic growing techniques due to the lack of a large water supply or fertile farmland. Home gardeners have used
this method on a smaller scale to grow fresh vegetables year round and to grow plants in smaller spaces, such as an apartment or balcony. Greenhouses and nurseries grow their plants in a soilless, peat- or bark-based growing mix. The nutrients then are applied to the mix through the water supply.
Therefore, they are applying the same type of science to their plants. |
Hydroponics Plant Nutrients
Hydroponics Plant Enhancements
Hydroponics Growing Media
Hydroponics Equipment and Systems |
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 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 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. 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.
Air
If you are growing 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 growing 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 gardening system.
They do not contain all of the essential minerals necessary for plant
growth. You must buy fertilizer specifically formulated for soilless
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 gardening.
Safe Environment Friendly Products
 |
Make your environment comfortable and safe. Quality dehumidifiers,
tankless water heaters, and test kits all delivered right to
your door!
Choose a category...
|
|
