Quick Results for your Hydroponic Veggies and Flowers
Have you ever wanted a garden that would produce beautiful
flowers and delicious fruits year ?round?
You can if you create a hydroponic garden in your home.
A well-balanced nutrient solution for your hydroponic garden
is the key to success. The nutrient
solution circulates around the roots of your plant and the formula will either
make your plants happy and fruitful or kill them. The perfect level must be found for the
plants you are trying to feed. The pH
level for plants determines what type of nutrient solution that they need. Acid loving plants need a pH level below 7
while other plants need a level above 7 to achieve optimal growth. In addition, for optimal absorption of the
nutrient solution, air must be allowed to circulate around the roots of the
plants. Plants that are constantly
waterlogged will not thrive and their leaves will eventually fall off.
Nutrient solutions can be made by the home gardener or
purchased pre-mixed from a variety of sources.
If you are a beginning hydroponic gardener you may want to use the
pre-mixed nutrient solutions and observe their effects before you begin to make
your own solutions. The basic nutrients
needed in any hydroponic solution are potassium phosphate, potassium nitrate,
calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate.
All of these salts must be thoroughly dissolved before being allowed to
circulate around your root systems. Micronutrients
are also needed for proper growth of your plants. Boric acid, manganese chloride, zinc sulfate,
copper sulfate and iron sulfate can be used in minute amounts in the nutrient
solution. The nutrient solution can be
used for up to two weeks before being replaced when plants are small. Once plants mature the nutrient solution
should be replaced once a week.
Many people who grow their hydroponic plants in a greenhouse
will also find that they need the correct amount of carbon dioxide in the air
in order for their plants to flourish.
The addition of carbon dioxide in these small spaces can be accomplished
in several ways. Burning hydrocarbon
fuels, the use of dry ice, fermentation, and decomposition of organic matter
and the use of compressed bottled carbon dioxide can create the correct
atmosphere for your plants to grow in.
The temperature that you grow your plants in is also very
important for their survival. If it is
too humid for your plants the increase in respiration of the plant will
decrease fruit life. A very dry climate
is not good for most plants either. The
ideal temperature for your plants will be between 40 to 97 degrees
Fahrenheit. The actual temperature for
the particular plant you are growing will vary.
For optimal growth, the amount of light your plants receive
can be the difference between life and death.
Too many lights can dry out your plants while too few can have your
plants stretching desperately towards the lights. All plants respond differently to light
depending on the intensity, wavelength and duration it receives. Many hydroponic gardeners have to experiment
with different lighting to achieve the best environment for the plants that
they are growing.
Air pollution can affect the growth of your greenhouse
plants and must be monitored if you live in a large city. Signs of air pollution include spotting or
twisting of the plant's leaves, flower and bud fall off, and unusual
discolorations as well as poor growth can signal a problem. Several ways to combat air pollution are to
avoid mercury thermometers in your greenhouse, move your greenhouse away from a
city or grow species that are not bothered by air pollution.
Remember, plants are affected by the following elements:
air, temperature, light, water and pollution.
If you take all of these things into consideration when planning your hydroponic
garden your plants are sure to thrive under your care.
