No Wetsuits Needed when Talking the Deep Water Culture in Hydroponics

 

More and more hobby gardeners and commercial farmers are experimenting with hydroponic gardening. This is the act of gardening without using soil. There are two main types of hydroponic gardens that you can construct-media based gardens and water-based gardens.

 

The one that this article is mostly about is the water-based hydroponic gardens, which are commonly known as the deep-water culture garden. In this type of garden, you do not need any growing media (i.e. peat moss, sand, gravel) at all, like you would if you were going to construct a media-base garden.

 

In a deep-water culture garden-or any water culture garden for that matter-you do not need any substance besides the water. You will need other materials to make your wet planting experience successful, however.

 

For instance, all gardens, including hydroponic ones are apt to grow better if the seeds you plant receive adequate nutrients. Besides water, your plants need a sufficient supply of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and other minerals. In addition, your plants will need an adequate light source, and it will also need the proper amount of darkness so they can rest.

 

As far as lighting is concerned, you can either position your plants so they will receive as much natural sunlight as possible. However, this could involve needing to most your hydroponic system periodically. Therefore, if you do not want to move it every so often you can also designate a spot in your house or other building, and set up grow lights.

 

Grow lights are a special plant light that looks much like a fluorescent light. The right grow light will give off just the right amount of radiation that your plant will need to successfully grow.

 

Another material that you may need for your deep water culture garden will include wire supports (or similar type of support) to help you prop your plants in a way they will have access at all times to the nutrients they need. You may also consider setting up pumps and other gadgets that will help continuously send the plant its nutrients.

 

Beware of the complications that could arise in using the deep-water culture hydroponic gardening system, however. If you have a system set up and it runs on electrical power to help feed your plants you are advised to still check your plants as often as possible. You will need to carefully monitor them especially during a time of a power outage, and you may even want to have a back-up power source connected as well.

 

Hydroponic gardening had begun in research settings well over a hundred years ago. Then, in the 1929, it became more evident as a valuable way to grow crops commercially. Some of the plants that have successfully produced by way of the hydroponic system include strawberries, lettuces, cut flowers, cucumbers and herbs. A Chinese plant known as Pak Choi, which is, and both medicinal plants and essential oil extract plants have been grown using this method as well.

 

One of the major advantages that hydroponic gardening has over other types of gardening is the fact it takes up less space. Additionally, some hydroponic gardens allow for various plant species to grow clustered together. The other advantage is that these types of gardens are pesticide-free. Depending upon how you build this type of garden your food may be considered certified organic (check with the USDA or similar organization, if you do not live in the United States).

 

Hydroponic gardening systems including the deep-water culture systems are used all over the world. You can read more articles like this one to help you learn more about this new type of gardening for the 21st Century.