BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO HYDROPONICS 2023

BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO HYDROPONICS 2023

This guide describes how to create your hydroponics garden step by step and offers recommendations to improve your harvest.

Because this guide is extensive, we want to provide a handy index that you can return to after each section.

GENERAL INDEX

1. Introduction to hydroponics
2.  How hydroponics works
3.  Advantages and disadvantages
4.  Comparison between hydroponics and traditional methods
5.  Location of a hydroponic garden
6.  Nutrients for hydroponics
7.  Better substrates
8.  How to control pests
9.  Conclusion

BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO HYDROPONICS 2023

1: INTRODUCTION TO HYDROPONICS

Hydroponics is an ancient technique dating back approximately 2,600 years. The first application of hydroponics that history records are the hanging gardens of Babylon, which King Nebuchadnezzar I in Egypt and China built. They also practised hydroponics in Chinampas. Large area with hydroponics

Before we get into it, where did hydroponics come from? I recommend you look at the article on the history of hydroponics, which we wrote some time ago.

This article will take you from knowing nothing about hydroponics to knowing enough to build your hydroponic system and grow your food! Before we get to all that, we must understand precisely how hydroponics works. This fundamental knowledge is necessary to know how our hydroponic systems work entirely.

2: HOW HYDROPONICS WORKS

How Does Hydroponics Work?

The word “hydroponics” is made up of “hydro” and “pony,” which means “water” and “labour” or “work.” In hydroponics, water and a nutrient solution make the plant grow…no soil! The image to the right exemplifies a passive irrigation setup, one of the most basic types of hydroponic systems.

Hydroponics is often defined as “growing plants in water.” However, hydroponics is a technique for growing plants without using soil. Using this technology, the roots absorb a balanced solution of nutrients dissolved in water that meets all the requirements for plant development.

Another technology is called « fish farming » or « aquaponic system.» In this case, a culture of freshwater fish is used. The culture water is used for cultivating garden vegetables, taking advantage of the culture’s mineral nutrients and the plant’s purification capacity.

Research has determined that many different clumps or media can support plant growth. Therefore the definition of hydroponics has been expanded to: “the growing of plants without soil.”

In this installation, the plants are held in place by a growth medium (perlite is used in this case). The 2-litre soda bottle is the reservoir for the perlite and water at the bottom of the compartment. Add light to this setup, and you have a working hydroponic system!

Of course, this is a straightforward installation. Although it will keep these plants alive, they won’t thrive in this system. Read on to find out why.

What are plants made of?

To understand how to feed and care for our plants, we must know what they are made of. All living things are made of organic matter. The organic mat must be made of the following elements:

• nitrogen;
•  oxygen;
•  hydrogen and
•  Coal.

These four elements represent more than 90% of the weight of a plant and have different roles in the operation of the other systems of a plant.

What do plants need to grow?

Now that we know what plants are made of, we need to know what they need from the environment to thrive. The five keys to plant growth are light, carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, and nutrients.

Light

Plants need light to carry out the process of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis creates glucose, a sugar that provides energy for a plant’s life processes.

carbon dioxide

oxygen

Toilet

nutrients

macronutrients

micronutrients

This is a fundamental explanation of what nutrients do for plants. In the future, we will publish an extensive guide to hydroponic nutrients. Jump straight to the nutrient section for more details.

Just like humans, plants need food (nutrients) to grow. The nutrients come in organic and synthetic varieties and are available in liquid and dry forms. Nutrients can be divided into two categories, macro and micronutrients.

Hungarian Wax chillies in hydroponics

The macronutrients are nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and chlorine are micronutrients or trace nutrients. If there is a lack or excess of nutrients, you can see that the plants burn, roll or turn yellow. Your plants don’t have to lack fertilizer, but you don’t want to overfertilize them.

Many different types of nutrients/fertilizers are available on the market, and you can buy organic, synthetic (chemical), or a combination of both. Most nutrients/fertilizers will say NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) on the front of the bottle.

Usually, the “N” will be higher in the vegetative or growth stage. Usually, the “P” will be higher in the flowering stage. Adding additives/supplements to the nutrient mix may also be considered. Additives/supplements can enhance microbial activity in the root zone and increase size, flavour, and aroma. The nutrients and accessories will help you achieve maximum results when used together.

How does this fit in with hydroponics?

Now we know what plants need to grow and the basics of hydroponics. What makes a hydroponic system work?

If we look at it, we’re removing the dirt. This means that we are releasing a plant’s only source of nutrition. To counteract this, we need to provide the plant with adequate nutrition. By removing the land, we are doing a few things:

• Remove nutrients (which we then add back)
•  Eliminate the primary source of pests
•  Eliminate a medium that retains water

You might be thinking that all of this sounds like BAD stuff. Why would you grow in a hydroponic system instead of in the ground?

It is a valid question, and the truth is that we always prefer to interfere as little as possible in the natural growth process of the plant. However, in the case of hydroponics, it is okay because you get almost total control over the growing environment, which means healthier plants that grow faster. In addition, less space is needed for cultivation compared to the traditional way of growing in pots.

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Why is it necessary to know all these things?

When you start building your hydroponic systems, you create a new environment for your plants. Knowing what a plant needs to survive makes it easier to grow vigorous, healthy plants. Solving problems in a home hydroponic system would also be more challenging.

lettuce showing hydroponic roots

It is essential to know all the different variables involved in a system. In this way, you can find a way to optimize them and make everything work in harmony. A well-designed plan is nice to see…everything works automatically, creating a utopia for your plants!

A poorly designed system is an atrocity. Too little light? Lack of irrigation? The wrong mix of nutrients? These could cause your plants to grow poorly and get a lacklustre harvest.

3: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF HYDROPONICS

Advantages of hydroponics

As has been shown through research activities, including field trials, hydroponics is a much cheaper and more profitable technique than traditional agricultural cultivation. Some of the benefits noted are:

1. The possibility of obtaining more products in less time than using traditional agriculture:
2.  The possibility of growing plants more densely.
3.  The possibility of growing the same plant species repeatedly because there is no depletion of land
4.  Plants have a balanced supply of air, water, and nutrients.
5.  More product/surface unit is obtained.
6.  Cleaner and fresher produce can be harvested.
7.  Production can be more efficiently scheduled to meet market demand.
8.  Fresher products can be produced.
9.  Products are more resistant to diseases.
10.  Natural or Biological control can be used.
11.  Pests (fungi) and soil-borne diseases can be eliminated.
12.  Troublesome weeds and intrusive seedlings that necessitate herbicides and increase labour costs can also be eliminated.
13.  Reduced health risks associated with pest management and land care
14.  Reduced response time between plantings as no soil preparation is required.
15.  Stable and significantly higher yields and shorter crop maturation cycle
16. It can be used by families with a small garden space or even without a garden.
    1.  When using water as a substrate: no soil is needed.
    2.  Water stays in the system and can be reused – thus reducing the cost of water.
    3.  Total nutrition levels can be controlled – thus reducing nutrition costs.
    4.  There is no nutrient pollution in the environment due to the controlled system.
17.  It is easier to eliminate pests and diseases due to the mobility of the containers.

Disadvantages of hydroponics

There are also some disadvantages to a hydroponic system, although they are fewer than one would expect:

1. The Commercial Scale needs technical knowledge as well as a good understanding of the principles;
2.  On a commercial scale, the initial investment is relatively higher;
3.  Great care and attention to detail are needed, particularly in the preparation of formulas and monitoring of plant health;
4.  A constant supply of water is needed.

4: COMPARISON BETWEEN HYDROPONICS AND TRADITIONAL CROPS

Comparison between two farming methods

As many people always wonder why to choose one method of cultivation or another, we found it helpful to make the following comparative table so that you have an idea of ​​​​the difference between the yield of a harvest of the same crops when using hydroponics and when a traditional method is used.

production systems

Hydroponics can be classified as an open system or a closed system. Here we describe the difference between each system and the requirements of the two:

• open hydroponic system
•  closed hydroponic system
•  requirements
•  In the open hydroponic system, the nutrient solution is mixed and applied to the plant as needed rather than being recycled. Some examples of available methods are:– Grow beds.
•  – Columns made with tubular plastics or vertical or horizontal PVC tubes

Location of a hydroponic garden

There are some key pointers when it comes to choosing a location for a hydroponic garden, for example:

• Avoid places with a lot of shade or a lot of wind and those that are highly sunny;
•  Keep the garden protected from domestic animals and pets.
•  The planting space should receive a minimum of six hours of sunlight.
•  It should be close to a water source and where nutrients are kept.
•  Must stay away from polluted water
•  It should be kept away from trees and other plants affected by pests and diseases.

Location: the right environment

Having the right environment is essential for your garden. Key elements to a successful garden space include relative humidity, temperature, CO2 (Carbon Dioxide), and air circulation/exchange.

The ideal humidity for a garden space should be between 40 and 60 per cent. Some plants like higher humidity, but be aware that higher humidity can lead to problems with fungus and disease. The temperatures in your grow space should be between 20 and 24oC. Temperature changes will lead to variations in humidity levels.

Avoid drastic temperature changes in short periods. Your plants need CO2 to grow. Assuming good air circulation/exchange, your garden space will naturally have between 300 and 400 PPM (parts per million) of CO2; higher CO2 levels should speed up growth rates. If you choose not to supply CO2 in your garden space, it is important to consider air circulation/exchange so that your plants receive fresh CO2.

Location: availability of good water

The water you use for your plants will determine how well your plants grow, regardless of what you add in terms of nutrients and supplements. PPM (parts per million) or EC (electrical conductivity) are measurements of salts in a solution. Neither PPM nor EC readings will tell you what is in your solution/water, but they are indicators of the solution’s ability to conduct electricity.

Ideally, you want to start with a low PPM or EC; then, you can add nutrients specific to your plant’s needs. You can reduce the PPM of your water by using a Reverse Osmosis (RO) unit, then create your nutrient solution based on what your plants need. The ph (potential hydrogen) measures the activity or alkalinity of your answer on a scale of 0 to 14. A solution is considered acidic below seven and basic at seven or higher.

Habanero in Hydroponics

When working with hydroponics, you generally want your ph to be between 5.8 and 6.2. When growing in soil or coco, you will wish your ph to be between 6.0 and 6.8. The most important rule to remember with ph is to avoid extremes. Nutrient “locking” occurs at high and low ph levels.

Location: choose a method

Drip gardens fill and drain a plant tray with a nutrient solution regularly. A drip garden supplies the nutrient solution through tubes and emitters (drip stakes) to each plant.

Aeroponic growing sprays an oxygenated nutrient solution directly into the roots of a plant. NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) gardens create a slow-moving nutrient solution –’film’- that floats on the origins of plants.

Organic has become a preferred method of cultivation. Choose the size of the container you want, an organic soil/medium, an organic fertilizer, and water manually.

Location: Lighting

High-Intensity Discharge (HID) is a landscaped space’s lighting. The two commonly used types of HID lighting are SAP (High-Pressure Sodium) and MH (Metal Halide). SAP lamps provide a more orange/red spectrum, ideal for most flowering-stage plants.

MH lamps provide a more blue/green spectrum, ideal for most plants in the vegetative/growing stage. Another type of lighting ideal for plant growth is T5 lighting. T5 lighting is a high-output fluorescent light with low heat and minimal energy consumption. It is an ideal light for cuttings, mother plants, and short growing cycles.

All plants need light to grow and flourish. Most plants grow and thrive according to the amount of light given to them. Typically, plants require 15 to 18 hours of the morning in the growth or vegetative stage. In the flowering stage, you reduce your plants’ glare to 10-12 hours.

You must ensure that the light turns on and off simultaneously every day (just like mother nature). The best way to accomplish this is to put your light on a timer. Please consult your nearest hydroponics store for more information on the best light for your plants.

Location: Team Test

Many ways are available to measure ph, PPM, EC, temperature, humidity, CO2, and light levels. Individual or combination measurements may be available to test and monitor your environmental conditions.

The critical thing to remember is that your garden will only be as good as the limiting factor allows. Water, nutrients, light, temperature, humidity, CO2, and circulation are the elements to achieve a successful garden space. Properly selecting these elements will ensure a successful and exuberant garden.

Optional gadgets

Many items are available to help your garden grow—Organics, controls, fans, blowers, plant stakes, relays, nutritional supplements, etc.

Hydroponic garden size

Space is not an essential factor in hydroponic gardening. A garden can be installed in a space as small as 1m. Most hydroponic gardens are between 10 and 20m in size, but some families can maintain extensive gardens of up to 200m. Within a small space, it is possible to produce enough vegetables that will be nutritious and free of contaminants.

Containers suitable for the hydroponic garden

Many types of containers can be used or built depending on the space available in the house, the technical and economic possibilities, and the specific needs of the family, e.g., Small wooden boxes/crates, old tires, plastic wash tubs, plastic gallon containers, or any other container (non-metallic) with a minimum depth of 4 inches.

Containers should be dark and opaque, as algae do best in light containers. They also have to be waterproof to prevent the loss of nutrient-rich water and made of chemically inert material. Finally, they need holes to drain excess water and allow aeration.

NUTRIENTS

This part is designed to give you an overview of hydroponic nutrients – what they are made of, what they do, and the different types. The hydroponic solution contains balanced nutrients to produce healthy and productive plants. In addition to the elements (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen) that plants extract from air and water, plants need some features that can be classified by quantity and necessity. What are hydroponic nutrients?

Because we are growing plants without soil, we lose much soil’s nutrients. When mixed with water, hydroponic nutrients are designed to replace all the macro and micronutrients in the ground. So what exactly constitutes a nutrient jar?

The first thing you’ll notice when looking at the nutrient jars is three numbers printed on the front of each jar. This is the NPK ratio or Nitrogen/Phosphorus/Potassium ratio.

The NPK ratio tells you exactly how much each macronutrient is in the bottle. If a bottle says 9-9-9, the solution contains 9% Nitrogen, 9% Phosphorus, and 9% Potassium. You may have noticed that this adds up to 27% – what’s in the other 73%? Usually, water, micronutrients, and other chelating agents make up the rest of the solution.

The NPK ratio will differ depending on the plant’s growth stage – but more on that later. First, let’s talk about what these macronutrients do for plant growth.

• macronutrients
•  micronutrients
•  Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium. These three nutrients are absorbed by plants in the most significant amounts and are known as macronutrients. They fulfil completely vital roles in the development of a plant. Here’s what each of them does: Nitrogen – Necessary for forming amino acids, coenzymes, and chlorophyll.
•  Phosphorus – Production of sugar, phosphate, and energy. It helps produce flowers and fruits, as well as stimulates root growth.
•  Potassium – High levels of this element are needed for protein synthesis. It helps manufacture sugars and starches and contributes to root growth and plant resistance.

Without these macronutrients, a plant could not survive. Plants need different amounts of these macros at varying stages of their lives. An excess or lack of these nutrients can devastate a plant’s development.

Types of Hydroponic Nutrients

Nutrients typically come in two different varieties – powdered and liquid. The powdered variety is generally more challenging to work with. It will not fully dissolve in water and often has no added ph adjusters.

The liquid varieties are much more popular and easier to use. They are highly concentrated, so it is important not to spill them on your body or plants. Other than that, they are easy to use. All you need to do is mix them with the water to the desired concentration, and you’re done. Most of them come with ph regulators, which means you don’t have to balance the ph of your water – the nutrients already do.

As your plants grow through their life cycle, you need to provide them with different ratios of nutrients. This is where the GH Flora Series shines, making it easy to customize your nutrient mix. It retails for about $20, making it a super affordable way to grow plants hydroponically.

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BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO HYDROPONICS 2023