A Guide to Growing a Hydroponic Garden

A hydroponic system enables gardeners to grow various types of herbs, vegetables, and fruits without soil, which is very convenient for those who would want to grow a garden in places that are not common. For example, the United States Navy plants veggies in their submarines using hydroponics. Although hydroponics normally refers to the method of planting in water, such planting technique can likewise integrate plants grown with aerial roots or those flooded with hydroponic nutrient solution.

A hydroponic system will help plants conserve water as well as prevent problems concerning traditional gardening using soil, like diseases, pests transferred from the soil to the plants. In order to enjoy such benefits, you will have to set up the hydroponics system carefully in order to provide the plants with everything they need to grow and develop.

1. Find an area with good air circulation, then set up a hydroponic garden there. If you like an indoor area, choose a place that is not exposed to direct sunlight; keeps temperatures ranging from 55-70 degrees Fahrenheit, could survive spilling of water, and has a source of electricity and water. The basement is an excellent location.

2. Get a large tray or a container, for example an empty tank, and drill 1 1/2 inch holes in lid of the tray or container where plants will grow. Also, cut one-inch think holes in a Styrofoam sheet, to float on the water's surface. Drill some more holes in random for aeration and fill the container with water.

3. Set up a 2-bulb, 4-foot fluorescent light that provides cool white light for a hydroponics system set up indoors. This type of lighting fixture supports most green, leafy veggies. Mount the light so that they are three to four inches above your plants.

4. Put your plants in the holes. Pack some cotton around the stems of your plants, so they stay in place. Submerge the roots in the water.

5. Apply fertilizer every other week with hydroponic nutrient solution, which has micronutrients and potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Increase the frequency of supplying fertilizer to one time per week as the plants grow and develop. Every day, add some plain water and fill your container up to two inches before the brim. This is necessary because water will evaporate.

6. To oxygenate the roots of your plants, pump air bubbles into the water, spacing the bubbles 1/2 to an inch apart. A fish tank aerator will do if you have small tray or container.

More Tips:

Before you start the planting process, you could plant the seeds in rock wool, then rinse the potting materials and transplant seedlings into the tank when they have started to have leaves.

Warning:

Don't add hydroponics nutrient solution if you top up the water. This would cause fertilizer overdose which could burn your plants.

If you'e looking for Hydroponic nutrients that can help you grow productive, disease-resistant plants, simply visit CXHydroponics by clicking on the given link.