Hydroponic Gardening Techniques for Indoor Gardens

By Harry Jackson

Hydroponic gardening systems have been researched for a long time and are presently used by various gardeners. There are now various hydroponic techniques that can be utilized to grow a range of different herbs in almost any environment.

In order to set up a complete hydroponic system there are a few aspects that must be thought out; an irrigation method, grow medium, lights, and maintenance of the environment. Every plant species can have various requirements so the best grow systems are able to reproduce the optimal setting for whatever herb is being cultivated.

There are many options to consider when designing a hydroponic system, it is vital that all the choices you make are appropriate for the plants you intend to grow.

The grow media used for hydroponic cultivation is an important decision. Hydroponics, or soilless growing, by definition does use use soil or dirt to provide nutrients for plants, only a nutrient rich solution. However, some growers still use inert grow mediums when growing.

All hydroponics uses special nutrient filled concentrations to feed plants. Some methods suspend a flowers roots in water while others deliver water via inert compounds such as diahadro, coir, vermiculite, gravel, and wood fiber.

The watering system used is very important and all plants have an ideal schedule for when to provide them with nutrients and water. Static solution culture and continuous flow solution culture are two categories of indoor watering techniques. Other systems for watering include aeroponic, ebb and flow, passive sub-irrigation, and deep water culture.

Lighting is an important part of every soilless system and will influence plant size and quality. The standard types of lamps utilized for hydroponic growing are fluorescent lights, LED lights, high pressure sodium bulbs, and metal halide lights. These lights can be utilized together to achieve the best growth.

After giving plants the water and light they need it is also important to constantly monitor their environment. Factors such as temperature, circulation, and atmospheric gas levels will have have a significant impact on the rate and and quality of growth.

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