Hydroponic growing is a cultivation technique that provides all the minerals plants need through nutrient rich solutions. This method has been studied a number of years and is used by many indoor gardeners.
There are now many different hydroponic systems that can be utilized to grow a range of various plants in almost any environment. In order to set up a complete hydroponic system there are several components that must be thought out;
- an irrigation technique
- growth medium
- grow lamps
- maintenance of the environment.
Every herb and flower species can have different requirements so the best garden systems are able to reproduce the optimum environment for whatever plant is being grown. There are several options to consider when planning a hydroponic system, it is vital that all the choices you make are compatible with the plants you intend to cultivate.
Inert Growth Medium
One of the vital parts of any soilless technique is the medium. Hydroponics means using only water as a growth medium instead of soil, however certain techniques use inert substances as grow mediums. All hydroponics utilizes special nutrient rich solutions to feed herbs. Some systems suspend a plants root structure in solution while some deliver water through inert filler including
- expanded clay
- rock wool
- perlite
- gravel
- brick shards.
Watering Systems
Hydroponic systems that suspend root systems in solution alone can either be constant current techniques or static systems. No matter the grow medium watern can be delivered up from the bottom wth subirrigation or from up top in top irrigation. There are several methods designed to regulate both nutrient and oxygen levels known as
- aeroponics,
- deep water culture
- ebb and flow
- and passive subirrigation.
Hydroponic Grow Lights
Light is an important aspect of every soilless method and can impact plant size and quality. The most common kinds of bulbs used for indoor growing are
- fluorescent lamps
- LED lights
- high pressure sodium lights
- metal halide lamps
Hydroponic Maintenance
Other than providing your plants with the minerals they require and light they need it is also important to ensure that the environment stays appropriate for them. An appropriate environment means fresh air is provided, stable gas levels, proper humidity, and no pests. All hydroponic systems</a> have to be kept up throughout the whole growth process to ensure all issues that can occur are taken care of