What is hydroponic farming and how does it work?
A hydroponic farm is a soilless farm where the plant is only supplied with nutrients and water. If we look at the word itself, hydro means water and tonic means work – that is, working water. In a hydroponic system, it is easier for the plant to take in oxygen as well as water, leading to faster growth. The nutritional needs of different plants vary, but generally 1-2 ml/liter of water is a good starting point. The key to preventing overwatering is to leave the upper part of the root system hanging freely in the air – all you need to do is pour the right amount of water.
What are the benefits of growing hydroponically?
Whether you live in a house or an apartment, hydroponic farming could be for you – either as a supplement if you want to extend the growing season or if you don’t have a garden to grow in. Although it doesn’t take up a lot of space, you’ll quickly get a big harvest, especially if you’re growing lettuce, basil or parsley. There are also several practical advantages to growing hydroponically, for example, you don’t have to:
- Dragging heavy bags of soil home and getting soil spills on the floor.
- Worry about overwatering your plants.
- Get a flower guard when you go on vacation.
- Managing soil-borne diseases that affect plants.
What can be grown hydroponically?
Anything that grows above ground can be grown hydroponically, but some plants are more grateful to be grown than others. Remember to choose varieties that you will want to eat – if you rarely eat tomatoes, there is no reason to grow them. Starting from the plant, you can then choose a hydroponic system that favors it.
Plants suitable for growing directly in water:
- All varieties of lettuce
- Herbs with leaves, for example coriander, basil & dill
- Cucumber
Seedlings suitable for growing with leca beads:
- Tomatoes
- Chile
- Strawberries
- strawberry
- Larger herbs
- Flowers
Keep in mind that vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant and chilies take up much more space than herbs and lettuce.
What are hydroponic systems?
Hydroponic systems can be divided into passive and active. If you choose a passive system, you need to water yourself, while an active system has a pump and hoses that do the watering. Active systems are usually more expensive, more bulky and rarely completely silent. For those who are new to hydroponics, we recommend a passive system. For the same reason that someone trying out a sport doesn’t need to buy brand new equipment, it’s better to try a simpler version first to see if hydroponics is for you.
What do you need to start growing hydroponically?
Although there is a plethora of more or less advanced hydroponic systems, you don’t need to buy any expensive equipment to succeed in growing. The necessary parts are seeds, nutrition and plugs to sow the seeds in. Otherwise, you decide whether you want to build your own solution or buy a ready-made growing system. Here on Tradera you can find most things you might need when growing hydroponically, everything from seeds to entire systems.
Hydroponic cultivation DIY
If you want to build your own hydroponic solution, one option is to buy a small transparent plastic box and drill holes in it. In the holes, you then place the plugs in which you have sown your seeds and fill up the box with water. A simpler variant is to cut a regular pet bottle in half and turn the top of the bottle upside down. Then fill the bottom with water and insert the plug into the opening. Remember to leave an air gap so that the plant gets oxygen.
Starter kit for hydroponic cultivation
If you want to get started growing quickly without building your own growing system, you can get a hydroponic starter kit. These come in various designs, with or without an oxygen pump and plant light. Take a look at our new plant category, here you can most likely find everything you need to start growing without soil.
