Pest and Disease Control with Hydroponics
Pest and Disease Control with Hydroponics
As you would expect with a traditional garden, a hydroponic garden also requires control of pests and diseases. The alternative is the same as with 'ordinary' gardens: spindly or dead plants. As most people grow fruits and vegetables with hydroponics, this means a crop of inedible plants.
Hydroponics, however, can be a bit more difficult as the environment is actually ideal for pests or diseases. This is because hydroponic plants are being constantly kept wet, either via water immersion, or by being sprayed, or even via a wet soil like perlite or sand. Fortunately, as with soil-based gardens, there is an array of techniques available to manage the problem.
Using beneficial organisms is one popular way to control unwanted pests, including certain types of bacteria and fungi. They can aide with control of pests like spider mites by either releasing toxins into the plant, or simply by eating them. They're considered to be beneficial as they do not cause any harm to the plant.
There are different types of pesticides available as well.
One example dating all the way back to the 18h century is the use of pesticidal soaps - as old as the technique is, they still provide an excellent defense against pests. One sub-category called botanicals are compounds released by plants themselves that have been packaged into an easy-to-use pest control method. Botanicals break down naturally from exposure to air and water and leave no harmful chemicals behind.
Neem oil can control over 400 different types of bug that commonly invade gardens, including hydroponic ones. Neem oil is applied simply by spraying the leaves. It is absorbed by the bugs and prevents them from reproducing resulting in a lowered population.
If the infection is serious, there are many commercial pesticides available.
White flies, aphids, mites and other pests can be a problem in hydroponics settings, just as in soil-based gardens. Powdery mildew is a common problem. In fact, because of the continual moisture, they all have a 'friendly' environment. Making it 'unfriendly' is easy though, using fungicides and organicides. Sulfur-based compounds help control white flies, mealy bugs, thrips and more.
Another commonly used solution is Pyrethrum. It my sound scary, but the product is made from flowers. This class of natural compounds released by plants are extracted and used in many commercial insecticides. As dosage is low, the compound is safe to use, when used correctly. Azatrol is another option as is provides a solution for a wide variety of common pests.
As with any garden, a hydroponics gardener needs to be careful with use of any pest or disease control.
It is easier to damage the plant when moving the stems and leaves as there is no soil present to secure the roots. That means, for example, that if you pick off mites by hand - an effective method for low-number infestations - it's important to exercise extra care.
Since moisture is present, mildew and other fungi are more common. Keeping leaves dry and just the roots wet will help. Any insecticide sprayed on should be allowed to dry under the lights. For aeroponically grown plants, for example, that may require a temporary relocation.
As you would expect with a traditional garden, a hydroponic garden also requires control of pests and diseases. The alternative is the same as with 'ordinary' gardens: spindly or dead plants. As most people grow fruits and vegetables with hydroponics, this means a crop of inedible plants.
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