Starting a hydroponic garden at home is the great alternative to a soil garden if you have lack outdoor space and during cold months. Hydroponics also can increase growth rate by up to 50% compared to a soil-grown plant and increase the harvest yield. Hydroponic gardens are becoming popular, they are able to conserve water and pesticide use. You can start a hydroponic garden at home in order to provide you fresh produce and free of harmful pesticide foods.
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| Start a Hydroponic Garden at Home |
1. Pick Your System
The first thing to
start a hydroponic garden at home is pick your system. There are 4 most common hydroponic techniques as follow:
This classic hydroponic system is easy to build by yourself and can accommodate any sized pots. To
start a hydroponic garden at home using Ebb and Flow technique, just arrange potted plants onto a drain table, fill in the drain table with 2-3 inches of nutrient solution. You can install a pump to transfer nutrient solution from reservoir to drain table. Through the hole in the bottom of the pots, the nutrient solution is then brought in to the plant roots. After soaking for a few minutes, the table is drained and this ebb and flow process should be repeated 2-4 times a day.
This is most common hydroponics system. To
start a hydroponic garden at home using top drip technique, you need a pump to deliver the nutrient solution in a reservoir through tubing to the base of potted plants. The excess nutrient solution is then released through the hole in the bottom of the pot and returned back to the reservoir. This drip process should be repeated 2-4 times a day.
This is most economical hydroponic system choice to build. To
start a hydroponic garden at home using deep water culture, you need grow the plants in small net pots. These pots are suspended in a floating Styrofoam plank and underneath the plank lies a shallow pan of nutrient solution. The plant roots grow through the net pots into the nutrient solution. You need to install an aerator that provide oxygen to the roots by forming bubbles in the nutrient solution.
This is the simplest form of hydroponics system. Wick system does not require pumps, aerators or timers. To
start a hydroponic garden at home using wick system, you need a cotton wick as media to deliver the nutrient solution from reservoir to the plant roots. A wicking material is applied in the bottom of potted plant to bring the nutrient solution up to the plant.
You can choose one of above hydroponics system that suit your needs. You can purchase a starter kit at garden center or build by yourself. If you are beginner, it is recommended you choose
simple wick hydroponic system to start a hydroponic garden at home.
2. Lighting
Light is essential component for plant to do photosynthesis. If you
start a hydroponic garden at home indoors, you will need a light source. There are many light starter kits available in the market. You must match the kits such as ballast to the lamp and bulb wattage so it is recommended that you buy all of the components together.
3. Nutrient Solution
Next step to
start a hydroponic garden at home is preparing the nutrient solution. You can buy it or make your own solution. But if you are beginner, it is recommended to purchase it at the garden center. But remember to follow the package instruction label to use them.
4. Pick Your Medium
In hydroponic garden, you need replace soil with a good medium. There are two growing mediums suggested for beginners to
start a hydroponic garden at home, as follow:
This growing medium is made from coconut husks and is composed of tiny micro-sponges that can absorb water up to eight times their weight. Almost hydroponic system can use coconut Coir as growing medium except for the Ebb and Flow system.
- LECA (Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate)
This growing medium is made by heating balls of clay under very high heat until it expands. This medium is great for the Ebb and Flow system since it excel with drainage and do not move.
So let’s
start a hydroponic garden at home.
Growing hydroponic lettuce at home is the good choice to start a vegetable garden at home.
Good luck ..
photo credit: lt.wikipedia.org
