Hydroponics FAQ
Why are my hydroponic plants dying?
Unfortunately, there is no way to tell you the exact problem areas with your hydroponic system. However, here are a few problematic areas to check first:
Is your hydroponic system in the correct PH range?
Is the root system completely submerged in water?
Are the roots receiving enough oxygen?
Is your grow area completely free from foreign contaminants, like bugs, fungus, algae, and pesticides?
Is your hydroponic temperature range correct? (i.e. is your plant too hot or cold?)
Is your hydroponic system receiving enough light to support healthy plant growth?
Are you replenishing the nutrients in your hydroponic system as the plant uses them?
Is the container that holds your water medium sealed from the light?
For a thriving hydroponic system, it needs to be in its own climate, and completely sealed away from any harmful contaminants, including the things you track into your house. Your hydroponic plants need a fresh abundance of all the key nutrients, like light, oxygen, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and all of the trace elements.
Ok, so what kind of nutrients does my hydroponic system need?
The first thing your hydroponic system needs is fresh, dechlorinated water! You will also need to provide the three macro nutrients; nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Additionally, your hydroponic system should also receive micro nutrients, like iron, magnesium, and calcium.
What can I use to reflect light back to my hydroponic plants?
Use Mylar to reflect light back into your plants – it’s more reflective than other materials, and you’ll waste less power. White paint is the second best if you can’t find Mylar. Mirrors, foil, and other seemingly reflective surfaces absorb light, which makes them less efficient for your hydroponic system.
What’s the cheapest DIY hydroponic system?
The cheapest DIY hydroponic system is the air stone method, which uses a 5 gallon bucket, an air stone, air pump and tubing, and a (netting basket/net basket).
How does the hydroponic air stone method work?
plants absorb nutrients from water easily
In the simplest terms, the air stone disrupts the surface of the water, which is nutrient filled, so that it lightly splashes up onto the root system.
Do I have to adjust the water level in my hydroponic system when the roots start to grow?
Yes. When the roots start to drop, the water level needs to be lowered at least 1/2-1in below the bottom of the net basket – the root system cannot be completely submerged in water. Before they grow, the water can touch the bottom of the basket.
Why can’t my roots be fully submerged in a hydroponic system?
The roots of your plant cannot be fully submerged in the water because they need oxygen to metabolize nutrients – just like the top of the plant does. If you allow the roots to fully submerge, you will cause them to rot, which called root rot.
I have algae in my water, how do I get rid of it? Can I use an algaecide?
No, you cannot use any of the algaecide – from the hardware store or the pet store. This will kill effectively kill the algae, but it will also kill your plants, as well. Instead, do a full system flush, which includes removing all of the water and replacing your water container.
Why is algae growth harmful to my hydroponic system?
If you allow algae to grow inside your hydroponic system, your plants will not receive enough nutrients to survive. Algae competes with the plants for the same food source, and it will quickly take over your hydroponic system because it grows faster than your plant can; thus outcompeting your plants and killing them off.
How do I prevent algae from growing in my hydroponic system in the future?
In order to prevent your hydroponic system from growing algae, you will need to completely seal the container so that it does not receive any light. In other words, the top of your plant is the only part that needs exposure to light; not the roots. To do this, you can cover the outside of your container with black paint or tape – make sure you get the lid, as well.
What’s the most important part of a hydroponic system?
The most important part of your hydroponic system is the light, closely followed by the nutrients. You cannot skip out on the light; this is what makes a hydroponic system a superior alternative to growing plants outdoors. The light never has to turn off in an indoor hydroponic system, which means the plant growth never has to stop – along with an abundance of nutrients, that’s why you’re able to see such rapid plant growth in a short amount of time.
What’s the cheapest type of light I can use for my hydroponic system?
If you’re strapped for cash, you can set up a low budget hydroponic system with fluorescent lights. However, if you choose to use a fluorescent light source, make sure every other aspect of your hydroponic system is as good as it can be so that your plant can still metabolize food efficiently. When you can afford to switch, change over your hydroponic system to wavelength specific LED lighting.
How do I get the most yield out of my plant using a hydroponic system?
The yield of your plant will depend on a few factors, such as the source of the seed, strain, abundance of fresh nutrients, and the abundance of the correct light.
Do I still need to prune my hydroponic plants?
Yes, a great example of this are indeterminate hydroponic tomatoes. If you allow your tomato vine to grow unchecked, you will not get a healthy crop. Instead, you have to remove undproductive parts of the plant, which in the case of a tomato vine, are all of the stems below the last 3-4 ft. Make sure you use a sharp-edged tool, like shears, when you prune your plants – you don’t want to rip the leaves and stems off with your fingers.
How do I clone my hydroponic plant?
To clone a hydroponic plant, you will first have to ensure that you have a plant that can actually be cloned – not one that’s germinated by a seed only. If you have a clonable hydroponic plant, then you can take an approximately 7in clipping of off your original plant; make sure that the clipping is healthy. Once you have removed the 7in piece of your plant, you will need to trim the bottom of the clipping by about 2in so that the stem is bare. Once this is done, you can replant it in a new grow medium.
When is the correct time to clone a hydroponic plant?
The best time to clone a hydroponic plant is right before the plant starts to flower. This holds true with all methods of cloning, and all flowering, hydroponic plants.
How do I change the Ph of my hydroponic system with household items?
If you need to make your hydroponic system more acidic, then you can add diluted lemon juice to the water, and coffee grounds in the soil. If you need to raise the Ph in your hydroponic system, you can safely add Epsom salt to the water.
What are the advantages to setting up a hydroponic garden?
In addition to being a great learning experience for all ages, setting up your own hydroponic system indoors is a wonderful way to ensure you have a healthy choice of fresh vegetables and herbs year round – when you’re growing your food indoors, you don’t have to worry about losing warm weather plants during the winter, and vice versa, because you are in full control of the ambient temperature that they are exposed to.
Another great perk to growing herbs and veggies hydroponically is that the plant stays much cleaner – for instance, you won’t have to worry about having to scrub off dirt from your lettuce leaves before making a salad!
lettuce is a great hydroponic plant!
Is it easy to grow a hydroponic garden?
Once you get the basics down it’s very easy to set up a hydroponic garden.
As long as you provide your plants with the proper light cycles, fertilizer, aeration, ambient temperature, and space, you’ll do just fine.
However, it’s important to note that care should be taken when mixing and adding anything to your hydroponic system – since the roots don’t have soil around them, they lose a layer of protection that would otherwise buffer the plant against simple mistakes. In other words, it’s much easier to kill your hydroponic plants inadvertently than it is to harm an outdoor crop because you won’t have as much warning that something is wrong.
What are the easiest beginner hydroponic plants?
If you’re new to hydroponics, then you may want to try your hand with beans, lettuce or tomatoes – all three are very undemanding plants and they grow quickly. You can grow almost any type of vegetable you would like with your own indoor hydroponic system! Just remember to group your plants based on their temperature and lighting needs, and you’ll do just fine. A few great beginner hydroponic plants include tomatoes, lettuce and peppers.