Hydroponics | Benefits of Hydroponics | Reservoir | Net Pots | Growing Medium | Seeds and Cuttings | Grow Light | Cleaning | pH | Kratky Method | AeroGarden | Ebb and Flow System | Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) | Aeroponics | Manage Pests In Hydroponics |
Are you wondering if indoor gardening without soil is possible? Then the answer is- 'Yes', it is absolutely possible! And the benefits of growing plants without soil are endless!
Indoor gardening without soil, also known as 'Hydroponics', is a technique of growing plants without soil.
It uses water mixed with nutrients to grow plants rather than soil. The roots of the plant are submerged in nutrient-rich solutions, which provide all necessary nutrients (such as minerals) for growth and sustenance.
This technique allows you to grow almost anything if you provide the right environment and conditions.
Plants grown in hydroponics often grow faster than those grown using the traditional dirt-based approach. And these plants are often more nutritious!
This is because, in hydroponics, the plants get better nutrients and oxygen, which is often lacking in soil.
It's especially beneficial for those who don't possess a large land patch and only have minimal space in their homes.
In this blog post, we will discuss how to do indoor gardening without soil and why it may be your next big thing!
There are several benefits of indoor gardening without soil over soil-based gardens.
You'll never miss out on that juicy tomato or crisp cucumber again as you can grow any vegetable, all year round!
Hydroponics is made possible with a powerful substance referred to as a nutrient solution. This is basically water that has been enriched with minerals and other nutrients to help plants grow better than they would in soil.
In addition, the plants are provided with the perfect environment for optimal growth!
The roots of your plant will be submerged into the nutrient liquid which provides it everything necessary - no need of any dirt or sand type mediums.
This means you'll not only have less work but also have more produce per harvest.
Also, hydroponics is considered much healthier by many experts (due largely thanks to their chemical-free nature). And what's not to love about it?
Now that you're aware of how hydroponics works, it's time to learn how to grow plants in water without soil. First things first! Grab yourself some supplies such as:
After you monitor and adjust these key variables, you can begin to discover precisely what your plants need in order for them to thrive. This will allow you to replicate those conditions for every growth in the future. Read more about how to maintain a hydroponic system?
pH is an important factor to consider in hydroponics since most plants are sensitive to pH changes in nutrients. Although the pH requirement depends on plants, most plants prefer pH to be around 6-6.5.
There are several ways to do hydroponics. This method of indoor gardening without soil depends on the space available, and the kind of plants you want to grow. Some of the best indoor hydroponic systems are:
Some of these systems are easy to use for beginners. Others require more time but can produce a higher yield per square foot than traditional gardening methods.
Kratky method of hydroponic is perfect if you're spending a small amount of money or are just getting into hydroponics.
All you need is a pot, some rocks, a soil substitute, and your plant of choice. It’s that simple!
Fill your container with nutrient solution and water till the solution reaches ~3 inches from the top of the container.
Next, put your seedling in the net pot and ensures that the growing roots are constantly in touch with the nutrient solution and that it never dries out.
Ebb and Flow also known as Flood and Drain method, is one of the most well-known hydroponics systems out there.
Ebb and Flow have a medium difficulty level for setup because it's versatile but not too expensive to build.
The basic concept behind Ebb and Flow is that plants are placed in grow trays with holes below them so nutrient water can be pumped into the plant's roots from a reservoir.
Water returns back into the reservoir from these grow trays once you open the drain.
Nutrient Film Technique, or NFT for short is a popular and dynamic hydroponics system.
NFT has a medium difficulty level and the system needs more space than Ebb & Flow.
In NFT, plants are grown in the channels (such as PVC pipes) and water is pumped into these channels from the reservoir constantly.
There's one unique difference between NFT and Ebb and Flow: In NFT, the roots are constantly being moistened by an ever-flowing 'nutrient film' unlike in Ebb and Flow, in which the nutrient solution is pumped periodically. Read more about how to build your own nutrient film technique at home?
Aeroponics is a revolutionary new technique for cultivating plants.
Plants roots are suspended in the air and nourished with nutrient-laden mist.
The roots are provided with periodic puffs of mists from specially designed misters, giving nutrients to the roots.
You can grow any kind of plant in hydroponics provided you give the right nutrient, space, and appropriate environment such as light, temperature, and pH.
Some of the most common plants to grow in hydroponics include lettuce, basil, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers. You can even grow citrus and apple and other trees if you are willing and are dedicated!
Read more about common problems associated with hydroponics.
Now that you know how to grow plants without soil, you need to know what are common pests in hydroponics.
Gardening without soil means that pests can't hide in the soil which significantly reduces their chances of survival and also they're more easily spotted by you.
Learn more about how to manage pests in hydroponics.
People like hydroponic gardening because it is convenient and easy to maintain, it will save time by not having to do weeding, fertilizing, or other labor-intensive gardening activities, since most parameters in hydroponic can be timed and automated. With hydroponics, we can grow crops year-round since environmental parameters can be adjusted according to plants' needs. We can grow a variety of crops in the same space, year-round!
The electricity requirement for hydroponic depend on the size of the system but in general, it can be from 25-320 watts per square meter
A nutrient solution is a solution that contains all the necessary mineral nutrients for plant growth. It usually also includes additional ingredients such as fertilizer, vitamins, and micronutrients or supplements to provide essential sustenance to plants.
The nutrient is important for the growth of any plant. Without it, the plants can't survive. So you cannot grow hydroponics without nutrients.
Hydroponics is great for people who live in apartments or at home, especially since it does not take a lot of space and does not require constant caring and management efforts as needed in traditional gardening.
Aeroponics and hydroponics are two different methods for growing plants without soil.
-Hydroponics is a technique of growing plants without soil. It relies on liquid nutrients which flow through the plants' roots.
-Aeroponics is also a technique of growing plants without soil and it relies on nutrient mist sprayed onto hanging roots in an open-air environment (not submerged into water).