Have you ever wanted to grow vegetables and herbs at home, but didn't have the space? Hydroponic gardening may be the solution you have been searching for. Hydroponics is the science behind soil-less gardening. This is basically growing healthy plants without using traditional soil. Instead, you use a nutrient such as a mineral rich water solution. To grow, a plant only needs certain nutrients, water, and sunlight. What are the benefits? Because hydroponic gardening uses fewer resources than traditional methods, it is quickly becoming a preferred choice for growers all over the globe. Here are some of the many benefits that hydroponic gardening offers: Hydroponics can help plants grow up to 50% faster by providing them with constant nutrition. Hydroponic gardens can also be used to harvest fresh produce throughout the year. Hydroponic gardening is great for the environment as well as the product. It virtually eliminates the need to use pesticides or herbicides when compared with traditional soil gardening. Hydroponic gardening uses water that stays in the system. This reduces the need to constantly replenish water supplies. Arable land is scarce and the availability of gardening space is decreasing. Hydroponics is a great choice for those with limited yard space and small balconies. It also works well indoors. The Nutrient Solution You can either buy ready-to-use solutions in stores or make your own solutions to cater for different crops depending on what chemical elements they need. A nutrient mixture is a combination of primary nutrients (nitrogen and potassium, magnesium), secondary nutrition (calcium, sulfur, phosphorus), and micronutrients iron, copper, manganese. Here's a recipe to make a basic nutrient mix. Simply dilute the nutrients with 20 litres of water. 25 ml CaNO3 (calcium Nitrate) 1.7 ml K2SO4 (potassium sulfurate) 8.3 ml KNO3 (potassium Nitrate) 6.25 ml KH2PO4 monopotassium phosphate 17.5 ml MgSO4 (magnesium sulfurate) 2 ml trace elements Keep your solution at room temperature in a food-grade container. Before using, shake the solution well. Your plants will also tell you if they have received too little or too many nutrients. Too little and they will turn yellow. Too much will cause them to look burnt, brown or curled. Important Considerations Although you can grow most vegetables hydroponically, there are some vegetables that thrive better in hydroponic systems. You should choose plants that are not sensitive to moisture and don't grow too large for your set-up, such as tomato, cucumber, capsicums, strawberry, lettuce, and leafy greens. Three ways to build a home-made hydroponics system: Hydroponic Raft: A simple raft system works well for beginners. It's easy to make, cheap and will give you vegetables much more quickly than conventional gardening methods. Vertical hydroponics: This is a great option for gardeners with limited space. Make sure to recycle materials when assembling the hydroponic system to make it as green as possible. Aquaponics: This combines hydroponics and aquaculture in a symbiotic setting. Fish waste is used as fertilizer for crops. It is enclosed and produces little waste. There is no need to use pesticides or fertilizers.
