#hydroponic-garden

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What is Hydroponic Gardening?

In short, hydroponic gardening refers to plants grown without a soil-based medium. Typically, they are suspended in nutrient-rich water where the roots dangle freely, but this is only one of the many different methods of hydroponic gardening. As long as there's water supplying essential nutrients and vitamins to the plants and not soil, then it's considered hydroponic gardening.

The term “hydroponics” was first coined by a University of California scientist named William Gericke in 1937. Originally, he wrote several papers in regards to the benefits of using nutrient-rich water to grow tomatoes and other plants, which he was doing inside his own home. Gericke called the process “aquaculture,” but found out later the term was already used to describe marine-based organisms; therefore, he came up with “hydroponics,” and it's been used ever since.

Most people choose to use the nutrient film technique (N.F.T.) for their hydroponic garden, which allows you to place the roots of your plants directly into the water. As the nutrients fill the water, it creates a layer of film that supplies your plants with everything they need to survive. Of course you'll need to closely monitor the type and quantity of fertilizer used to ensure your plants get precisely what they need; otherwise, you could flood then with unnecessary nutrients and ingredients.

There are many other methods of hydroponic gardening besides N.F.T., one of which is the use of a gravel medium. Instead of placing the roots of your plants directly into the water, you can allow them to grow inside a small pit of gravel sitting in the water. This allows your plants to absorb nutrients from the water in the same way as before, but it also keeps their roots under control. Some other common growing mediums used in hydroponic gardening are sand, fibers and Rockwool just to name a few. Before jumping into your hydroponic project, you should first educate and familiarize yourself on the advantages and disadvantages of each growing medium. 

The key to successfully growing plants and vegetables in a hydroponic garden is to follow the same basic principles as you would with any other garden. All plants require a specific combination of nutrients to thrive. If you fail to provide these nutrients for your plants, they will likely die off. Find out what nutrients your plants need and choose a liquid fertilizer based on these specifications. Only then will you be able to give your plants the right combination of nutrients to grow and thrive.

Without the requirement of soil, plants can be grown indoors using hydroponic methods. If you live in an area without a large backyard or space for a traditional soil-based garden, you can still grow all the plants and vegetables your heart desires by using one of the many hydroponic methods. All you have to do is dedicate a room or portion of your home to your new hydroponics hobby and set up a system there. This alone is reason enough why many people choose to grow their plants hydroponically.

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What is Deep Water Culture?

In searching for various hydroponics methods, you may have come across one known as deep water culture. Although not many beginners know about it, deep water culture is actually a fairly easily and effective method for growing plants and vegetables in a hydroponics system. Whether you’re a novice or experienced grower, you should take note of what I’m about to tell you. 

Overview of Deep Water Culture

In short, deep water culture is a system of hydroponics where the plant roots are suspended in a nutrient-rich, heavily oxygenated water. There are countless different methods used to accomplish this, with gardeners inventing their own style each and every day. No matter which set up you intend on using, a deep water culture system must use a high amount of oxygenated water in order to succeed. Without it, the roots will shrivel up and die off without taking hold.

It’s important to note that deep water culture systems can be as simple as a few pipes provided nutrients to half a dozen plants, or they can be as complex as an entire greenhouse with an elaborate system of hundreds of plants. If you’re limited on space, you can still create a deep water culture system using the right materials.

Netting The Plant

Some deep water culture systems use a net to suspend the plant in air while the roots grow in the oxygenated water below. When the plants are netted, there’s more room for them to grow and thrive. Although it’s not necessary for a deep water culture system, many growers recommend it if you have the appropriate amount of space.

To successfully create a deep water culture system with plant netting, you’ll need to run your hydroponics through a series of buckets. You can then place netting on top of the buckets to separate the plants and roots. This will allow the plants to grow on top and the roots to travel into the water below. As stated earlier, oxygen is the key ingredient to a deep water culture system, so you’ll need an airstone or air pump.

Tips on Using a Deep Water Culture System

You can either choose to buy a deep water culture system or make your own. Although making them is a fairly straightforward process, beginners may experience difficulty. If you haven’t used them before, I recommend purchasing one to understand exactly how it works. Failing to provide your plants with adequate oxygen will result in a disaster for your garden.

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What Is a Hydroponics Drip System?

Have you heard of a hydroponics drip system before? If you’ve done any research on hydroponics, then chances are you have. The drip system is one of the most commonly used types of hydroponics systems to date. If you’re interesting in learning more about this popular indoor gardening method, keep reading and we’ll explain everything you need to know about the drip system. 

Overview of a Hydroponics Drip System

A drip system works like a traditional hydroponics system but with a few major differences. The most notable feature that a drip system has is its network of small lines used to carry nutrient-filled water to the base of the plants. In most other methods, the nutrient-filled water is only circulated throughout the pipes leading to the roots. However, in a drip system there’s the addition of a network of pipes that “drip” the water on the base of the plants; hence the term “drip system.”

Advantages of a Hydroponics Drip System

You might be wondering just why in the world so many gardeners choose to use a hydroponics drip system. After all, the extra pipes hanging overhead can only mean extra work for the gardener, so why do people choose them? Well, studies have shown that plants grow better when the water is being circulated through a hydroponics drip system. It’s believed that the water touching the base of the plants help them to absorb a greater amount of nutrients in the water.

A hydroponics drip system is also easy to use and maintain once it’s set up. You can add small amounts of liquid fertilizer to the pump for it to disperse it throughout your plants.

If you plan on setting up a hydroponics drip system, you’ll need a pump to keep the water flowing up into the pipes. Without a proper pump, there won’t be any way for the water to go through the network of smaller pipes, therefore the plants won’t receive their nutrients. In addition to a pump, there will also need to be a return drain for the used water to go back into the reservoir. While this is the most commonly used method, there are many other ways to create a hydroponics drip system. The most important thing to remember is to allow proper flow of the water in the overhead pipes. As long as the water is able to constantly drip on the base of the plants below, you shouldn’t have any problem setting up a proper hydroponics drip system.

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Top Mistakes Made With Hydroponics Gardening

While the advantages of using hydroponics typically outweigh the disadvantages, a lot beginners run into some common problems when growing plants in a soil-less environment. You have to remember that your plants aren't going to get the moisture and nutrients they need from soil; therefore, you must ensure the water in your hydroponics system is set up to adequately nurture your plants. Failing to do this will result in your plants' death or stunt their growth. Here we'll take a look at some of the top mistakes made with hydroponics gardening and reveal how you can help prevent them from happening.

Not Checking The pH Levels Enough

One of the most common mistakes made by beginners trying to grow plants hydroponically is not checking the pH levels enough. There's no denying the fact that soil is a more stable environment where the pH levels don't change rapidly without using chemicals. On the other hand, most hydroponic systems will have their levels change frequently and rapidly without giving you any warning. For this reason, it's recommended that you check the pH levels of your hydroponics system at least once every other day to ensure it's balanced and suitable for the plants you're growing.

Not Using Enough Lighting

Because hydroponic gardens are set indoors where there's no exposure to the sun, you must supply them with enough artificial lighting for them the photosynthesis process to take place. Without light, your plants will cease to create the energy they need to grow and thrive. There are a number of different options to choose from when it comes to hydroponic lighting, such as incandescent, fluorescent LED. Take the time to educate yourself on each of these and choose the one that's right for your garden.

Not Utilizing Space in The Best Way Possible

One of the unique advantages of hydroponic gardening is the ability to grow more plants in a smaller amount of space. Without having to worry about the roots of your plants spreading into other plants, you can pack more into a smaller space. With that said, most indoor environments aren't at spacious as outdoor ones, so you have to make sure you're utilizing the space in the best way possible. Make sure that you don't have large watering lines set up without any plants running into them. If you do, perhaps you should do some adjusting to make use of that water.

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Tips on Using a Hydroponics Raft System

A raft system is oftentimes used by newcomers to hydroponics gardening because of its flexibility and fast set up. Unlike more complex methods, a raft system uses basic materials that can be purchased from most home improvement stores. If you’re interested in learning more about using this method, keep reading and we’ll reveal how anyone can use a hydroponics raft system in their garden. 

What is a Raft System?

Basically, a raft system is a method of soilless hydroponics gardening where the plants are suspended above a nutrient-rich water solution with their roots resting inside the water. The benefit to this type of system is that it’s super-easy to set up and requires little maintenance. The downside to using a raft system is that it doesn’t allow you to grow as many plants as you possibly could.

Because a raft system suspends your plants over the water, you must ensure they are getting the proper nutrition they need to grow. All plants require different types of nutrition to survive, so do some research on the ones you’re growing before adding liquid fertilizer. A simple internet search will reveal the necessary nutrients for a specific plant’s optimal growth.

How To Make a Raft System

As stated earlier, many people choose to use raft systems simply because they’re easier and don’t cost as much as some of the more complex methods. You can get started with a raft system using a basic 5-gallon bucket with a sheet of styrofoam. Simply place the styrofoam over the bucket, and cut out small holes for the roots to fit through. You’ll want to space the holes about 3 to 4 inches apart to allow room for the plants to grow.

After setting the bucket and styrofoam, the last think you’ll need to do is purchase an airstone to keep the oxygen flowing through the water. Place it at the bottom of the bucket, fill it with water, and turn it on. Congratulations, you’ve now made your very first raft system!

Once your raft system is complete, you can go ahead and start transplanting some of your plants to it. Remember to be extremely gentle to prevent them from going into transplant shock. As long as your airstone system is working properly, and there’s liquid fertilizer in the raft system, your plants should grow and flourish without a problem. Just remember to check the pH levels frequently, and make adjustments when necessary.

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Tips on Growing Tomatoes

Does it make you jealous to see your neighbors tomato plants growing twice the size of yours? While some people may brush it off as “bad luck”, the fact is they probably aren’t growing them properly. If you want big, juicy, deep-red colored tomatoes, you should take note of the tips below. 

Sunlight

Tomatoes can be grown indoors under artificial light, but there’s nothing that compares to the sunlight. When they are still seedlings, you should be giving them an average of 10 hours of direct sunlight a day. After they’ve sprouted, you can transplant them into your garden and cut back to 8 hours of sunlight a day. If you give your tomatoes any less, they’ll produce small, weak fruit.

Water

One of the most common mistakes beginners make when growing tomato plants is watering them too frequently. When you give your tomatoes too much water, it drowns and kills them. While there’s no specific amount for how much water a tomato plant needs, you should only water them about once every 2 to 3 days. Also, be sure that you’re watering them down at their roots and not on the leaves. The roots of the plant is what needs the water, not the leaves.

Using The Right Soil

If you want your tomato plants to take well in your garden, you need the proper the soil. Using a pH testing kit, you should check the soil in your garden to see if it’s suitable for tomato growth. Tomatoes prefer soil with a pH level between 6.1 to 6.8. You should also be using a strong fertilizer with a balanced NPK rating.

Mulch can also be added to increase the nutrients in the soil. When using it, be sure to till it up thoroughly into the soil to give all of your plants an equal amount.

Pick Them When Ripe

Don’t allow your tomatoes to sit on the vines after they’re ripe. When they look red and juicy, pluck them off the vines, take them into your kitchen and wash them. If you leave ripe tomatoes on the vines, you run the risk of letting them rot or get eaten by garden pests.

Growing tomatoes isn’t difficult to do, but if you want them to look big and juicy, you’ll need to take a few extra steps. Ensure you’re giving your tomatoes enough sunlight, water, and that you’re growing them in the proper soil to start with. Just by doing these few things, you’re certain to see larger and healthier tomatoes growing on your vines.