subject: Hydroponic Gardening: 3 Tips You Should Know [print this page] Hydroponic gardening can be very simple for people who are really interested in this kind of growing. But even if you are an enthusiast of hydroponics, you could still have a hard time especially when you are just starting.
Hydroponic gardening could be a challenge because you are basically growing plants with water only and no soil. Fortunately, there are valuable information available on the internet that would help you grow fruits and vegetable in a limited area.
The following are some simple tips you must know so your hydroponic gardening will be a pleasant and productive one.
1. Know the right nutrient requirement for your plant. Find out the nutrient requirement for your plant because different plants have different nutrient requirements. There are at least sixteen different nutrients and minerals which a plant needs to grow strong and healthy. The nutrients needed by a plant are, calcium for the growth of new roots, potassium for combating diseases, nitrogen for growing new leaves, and phosphorus for root growth. Iron, cobalt, zinc, boron, and copper are some of the minerals a plant need.
2. Find out the amount of light appropriate for your plant. Just like with nutrients, different plants require different amount of light. Find out if your plant needs much or less light. Remember that plants also have different light requirements as they undergo different stages. In general, a plant which is starting to grow needs the Metal Halide (MH) or red spectrum light. But when the plant is already flowering, it needs more blue spectrum light of the High Pressure Sodium (HPS).
3. Help your plants resist diseases and fight pests. Hydroponics, just like the traditional gardening, also concentrates in combating harmful insects and diseases, and aiding plants grow healthy and strong so they can fight diseases.The best way to achieve these is by maintaining a hygienic growing environment. It is strongly advised that you only visit your greenhouse when you are fresh from the shower or when you just changed your clothes. Ask your visitors to do comply with such simple standard. Proper ventilation and temperature in your growing environment is also vital. If you have special dress or gowns exclusively worn in your greenhouse then it is better. Make sure that you regularly monitor your plants for potential pest infestation. You should be able to see early signs of diseases or pest attacks to solve the problem instantly before they get worse and uncontrollable.
