Hydroponics. Part 2: General principles of mortar preparation

Lush flowering and fruiting is an indicator of the health and rapid growth of a plant. Flora grown on soil can take nutrients from the soil. And for hydroponic systems, special fertilizers have been created that are involved in creating a nutrient solution.

The editors of the Yanashla website made an overview of fertilizers produced by the best manufacturers, according to buyers. I figured out the questions: what is hydroponics and additives for hydroponics, what are they and how much they cost. The article describes the selection criteria, what to look for when buying.

What is hydroponics

Hydroponics is the technology of growing plants without soil. Although the vast majority of crops grow in the ground, they can thrive in a hydroponic plant that supplies nutrient-rich water. In such conditions, plants do not need watering and protection from weeds.

The advantages of such an installation are its compactness and environmental friendliness. A well-designed hydroponic plant maximizes the use of all available space. When properly positioned in a hydroponic plant, even a small area can grow a rich crop.

There is a misconception that crops from a hydroponic plant are unnatural. However, even without contact with the ground, the seeds grow exactly as intended, and without any structural differences. On the contrary, such a crop will be much safer and healthier than vegetables from the garden or herbs from the field, because it has nowhere to absorb toxic substances.

Types of solutions for hydroponics

In the process of growing plants without soil, only two types of nutrient solutions are used:

Most often, mineral fertilizers are used during the cultivation of plantations without soil. You can buy them at specialized stores. Such mixtures are easy to prepare: just dilute them in the right amount of water. They are ideal for beginner gardeners. There are several manufacturers of mineral fertilizers that are in great demand among summer residents and gardeners. Mixtures from Flora series undoubtedly occupy a leading position in the fertilizer market, since they can be used to feed plants.

Efficiency of a hydroponic plant

Hydroponic systems have been designed primarily to keep costs down. The compact hydroponic plant allows you to grow plants in ideal conditions, even on the balcony of your apartment. Nutrient solutions and substrates completely replace the soil.

The installation can be bought or made by hand: the finished equipment is released at affordable prices, and the components for the installation are cheap. Both the one and the other option will serve stably and without breakdowns for several seasons.

Benefits of a hydroponic plant:

1. You can grow vegetables, horticultural crops and ornamental plants. In a hydroponic system, it is possible to grow even those crops that cannot develop in the soil of a region unsuitable for the climate.
2. In a hydroponic plant, the plant consumes all the water, and in the garden, a significant part of the moisture is evaporated or absorbed by the lower layers of the soil. The same goes for nutrients.
3. In a closed system, plants are less likely to be sick and damaged by pests, so much less pesticide is required to protect them.This primarily applies to annual plants.
4. By improving plant health, yields and fruit size are increased.
5. The amount of vitamins and minerals in the crop can be doubled. This is especially important when growing medicinal plants.
6. Since weeds cannot grow in small pots without soil, there is no need to use herbicides.
7. Hydroponic sprouts are much more viable even when transplanted into soil.
8. Optimal conditions for the growth and development of plants are provided (lighting, humidity, temperature, nutrition). Useful substances do not linger and do not bind in the soil, therefore they always reach the goal.
9. There is constant access to the roots. This is very convenient when growing plants, the main product of which is the root.
10. An increase in nitrogen concentration will lead to accelerated vegetative growth, which is important for obtaining green mass.

Maintaining a hydroponic system is very easy. The solution can also be purchased or prepared on your own, which allows you to completely control the nutrition of the plants. This makes the crop much cleaner, because when the crop grows in the soil, it can absorb harmful compounds.

Strawberries in hydroponics: preparing a solution

A mixture with beneficial trace elements for strawberries should not be high in salt. You can make your own hydroponic nutrient solution, or you can purchase it from a specialist store. To prepare one liter of top dressing, you need the following substances:

• Calcium nitrate one gram;
• Potassium sulfate 0.25 g;
• Magnesium sulfate 0.25 g;
• Ferrous sulfate 0.025 g;
• Ascorbic acid 0.035 g;
• Potassium phosphate 0.25 g.

All these substances must be mixed and added to one liter of ordinary water. This will create a nutrient solution for strawberry hydroponics.

Disadvantages of a hydroponic system

The main advantage of soil is its ability to maintain balance. Microorganisms and soil's own chemistry maintain balance even in the event of a farmer's mistake (introducing the wrong mixture, raising the pH level, overdoing it with fertilizers). A single mistake in a hydroponic plant can damage the entire crop very quickly.

A hydroponic plant requires electricity. Climate control is expensive, so the normal crop is harvested early. Plant growth in a hydroponic system is highly temperature dependent. The ideal temperature is between 18 and 22 ° C within the roots. Without serious consequences, the plants can withstand up to 26 ° C, then growth slows down, and at 35 ° C the roots begin to die off without oxygen.

After all, hydroponics isn't suitable for all crops. For example, root crops and tubers require a complex structure for full development in such conditions. Cereals, even if they grow well in hydroponic installations, are not profitable.

Water problem number three - water treatment chemicals

Water from many urban sources is great for soilless growing and hydroponic systems and can be used without any adjustment. However, the water treatment methods used by municipal services change over time as technology improves. In the past, the main problem with urban water quality was chlorine content.

Chlorine is a disinfectant that kills bacteria, including human pathogens, and its residual content in water can usually be detected by smell. High chlorine levels can be hazardous to sensitive plants. Fortunately, chlorine is a chemical that wears off quickly and can be easily removed from the water with aeration or simply settling for a few days.

Hydroponic growers have found relatively simple methods of chlorine control, but municipal services are now switching to other, more modern methods of treating drinking water. Scientists found that some pathogens were resistant to chlorine, and therefore water treatment standards had to be revised. Water is still chlorinated today, but more and more suppliers are switching to using ozone, UV radiation, chloramine and chlorine dioxide to fight pathogens.

Most of these methods are not a problem for the hydroponic grower, but it is chloramine and other similar chemicals in high concentrations that pose a threat to plant life. Chloramines are much more difficult to remove from water than chlorine, and it takes a much longer time to erode, and therefore can accumulate in hydroponic systems and cause damage to plants.

Chloramine damage to plants is very difficult to diagnose and is similar to root rot and microbial damage, and therefore gardeners are often unaware of what exactly is causing their problems. Some plants are naturally more resistant to chloramines than others, making it difficult to determine overall toxic levels.

If you suspect there are chloramines in your water, you can use special activated charcoal filters or water dechlorination products available at aquarist stores. Carbon filters for chloramine must be of the correct type, with high quality activated carbon granules that provide the long-term contact with water necessary to remove chloramine from the water.

Soilless systems with a substrate such as coconut fiber are a safer solution than recirculating substrateless systems if you suspect there are chemicals in your water. The substrate acts as a buffer in a manner similar to soil, which can help deactivate some of the chemicals used to treat the water.

Mass cultivation in hydroponics

One square meter of hydroponic system can grow up to 70 plants. They will not fight for nutrients and will spend all their energy growing. This is how a lot of greens and lettuce are grown.

The yield of some crops is highly dependent on nutrition during the flowering and fruiting stage. In the conditions of the garden, it is changed by repeated watering, but in a hydroponic installation it is enough to change the water. The plant receives a signal that it is time to bloom, and this happens much faster than in a vegetable garden.

It is very profitable to grow mother plants in hydroponics. Nutrition with a lot of nitrogen provokes the lush growth of cuttings, which can be transplanted into the same plant or into the ground.

Top dressing of tomatoes

A gardener or summer resident can choose fertilizers for tomatoes based on their financial capabilities. The most common blend containing beneficial chemicals is perlite, which is also inexpensive. Hard perlite allows you to quickly ventilate and supply the roots of tomatoes with useful microelements. Usually, two tomato sprouts can be planted in one container with perlite.

Each seedling should be placed on an area of ​​one square meter. The grower must choose the right nutrition for the tomatoes. During the preparation of the mixture, it is necessary to measure out all the nutrients to the gram. Usually, the same ratio of nutrients is used as when feeding cucumbers.

Learn how to make a hydroponic seed germinator here.

Where to place your hydroponic plant

Experts advise placing the hydroponic plant indoors (basement, greenhouse). It is advisable to choose a small room without windows. The area must be level and stable so that the water is evenly distributed.

In extreme cases, the unit can be installed in the backyard of a private house, but it will be necessary to equip it with wind protection and ensure control of liquid evaporation. In addition, you will have to monitor the temperature, because plants freeze easily. It is more convenient to place a hydroponic plant in the house, but additional lighting is required.

Water problem number four - dirty water and pathogens

Water in urban springs is filtered to remove any organic matter and processed to kill microorganisms and viruses, including human and plant pathogens. However, water from other sources, for example, wells, rivers, reservoirs, or rainwater can be contaminated with both organic matter and potentially harmful spores and bacteria to plants.

Many large commercial hydroponic farms use untreated water without much problem, but in some areas, contamination by pathogens is a particular problem. Zoospore pathogenic fungi such as Pythium, which causes root rot, and other bacteria can spread through water. Fortunately, they are easy to remove from the tank before they become dangerous.

The safest methods of water treatment in such cases are UV irradiation, ozonation and slow filtration through sand filters, since in these cases there is no chemical contamination of the water, which is dangerous for young sensitive roots. Light UV exposure and filtering through aquarium filters work well for hydroponics, as it gets rid of most pathogens and algae, however, these methods are only suitable for treating the water, not the nutrient solution: UV radiation can deactivate some nutrients in the solution.

It is also possible to purify the water using bleach (chlorine) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), although this can be quite risky. Sufficient concentration of these chemicals in water to kill pathogens will also damage sensitive young roots, so make sure these chemicals are deactivated or removed before using such water to prepare a hydroponic solution. Hydrogen peroxide is deactivated upon contact with organic matter, and chlorine evaporates over time, especially if the solution is aerated, but it is rather difficult to determine whether the concentration has decreased to a level that is safe for plants. Aquarium test strips are available for purchase, but safer methods of killing bacteria in the water are much easier.

Quality water is vital to a successful hydroponic system. Fortunately, gardeners today have at their disposal a wide range of analysis methods and the necessary treatment of their water. Paying attention to the quality of your water when designing your hydroponic system will help you get rid of many major problems down the road. 12.09.2019

How to plant plants in a hydroponic plant

The simplest option for arranging a hydroponic system is to plant sprouted seedlings. If the sprouts are purchased at the store, you need to choose strong and healthy ones. Sick, dry and too long areas are removed from home sprouts.

The roots of the seedlings are moistened and freed from the soil, and then placed in the pots of the hydroponic plant. The roots must be absolutely clean, because the remains of the soil can spoil the water. It is necessary to carefully pass the roots through the holes so that they fall into the solution. For the stability of the seedlings, the pots are filled with expanded clay. This material is light enough not to damage the roots.

How to understand the quality of your water?

Fortunately, most water problems are fairly easy to solve with knowledge and modern technology. It is very important to know what exactly you have to deal with, since some water treatment compositions can be even more harmful to plants than the treated water itself.

A water analysis or a waterworks report is a good start in case you suspect water quality problems. Municipal water suppliers must provide consumers with complete reports on water quality, including mineralogical analysis and a list of additives used to treat the water, such as chlorine or other chemicals.

For those of you who use other sources of water, such as your own wells, rivers or reservoirs, obtaining a water analysis is relatively easy: all you need to do is send a sample to the laboratory. The information obtained may not cover the entire list of possible problems, but it is still very valuable and can make it clear if there is any serious problem with your water source.

Hydroponic plant control

It must be remembered that in the home hydroponic system, plants grow very quickly, as they do not have to spend energy to extract nutrients. The condition of the plants and the liquid level in the installation must be checked daily. It is also necessary to monitor the operation of the pump and the amount of fertilizer in the solution. The acid-base balance is checked periodically.

You need to prune and tie up plants on time. Affected stems are removed to avoid spreading the disease. Pests are destroyed in the usual way. Mold and mildew will appear much less frequently in a hydroponic plant if it is indoors.

For pest control in a hydroponic system, it is better to use internal preparations and general insecticides. However, it is important to reduce the standard dosage so as not to damage the delicate leaves of the plant. With insecticides, you can wipe and spray the leaves of the plant, soak the roots in a weak solution. It is very important to notice the substrate and nutrient solution and to disinfect the system.

Cucumber solution

Young cucumbers can easily withstand solutions with a high concentration of chemical elements. When watering, the solution temperature should be 26 ° C or higher. If it is lower, plant growth will be greatly slowed down. In this case, the cucumbers may well die. The simplest cucumber hydroponic nutrient solution consists of the following chemical elements:

• superphosphate 55 g;
• ammonium nitrate 29 g;
• iron sulfate 2 g;
• potassium salt 29 g.

All these substances should be dissolved in 1 liter of water. During the ripening of the fruit, it is necessary to double the concentration of these elements.

Solutions for a hydroponic plant

There are many recipes for preparing a solution in a hydroponic plant. Most plants require this ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium - 1: 0.5: 2: 3.

Knop solution

Knop's solution is optimal, but not universal. It is not suitable for growing plants that require a minimum of calcium. The product does not contain trace elements, only macronutrients and iron, but you can add them yourself. Knop's solution is first administered diluted: in the first week 4 times, in the second - 2 times, in the third they switch to a concentrated solution.

Recipe for Knop's solution (1 l):

• calcium nitrate - 1 g;
• magnesium sulfate, potassium phosphate - 0.25 g each;
• potassium chloride - 0.125 g;
• ferric chloride (FeCI3) - 0.0125 g.

Each ingredient is dissolved separately with a small amount of water. 700-800 ml of water is taken into a measuring vessel and each of them is poured in turn, constantly stirring. After that, more water is added to make a liter of solution. If the mixture is prepared correctly, there will be no sediment.

Since iron can cause the appearance of a rusty sediment, it can be replaced with ferrous sulfate: make half a liter of solution from 1.5 g of vitriol and 1.7 g of citric acid. For 1 liter of Knop's solution, you need 5 ml of ferrous sulfate.

Salts must be stored separately from each other, each in a sealed glass container. Iron salts are stored in a dark container and dissolved only before use.It is necessary to weigh the substances with pharmaceutical scales, since ordinary ones are very mistaken when calculating fractions of a gram.

Ready mixes for a hydroponic plant

1. Uniflor. Fertilizers of the Uniflor line are distinguished by high chemical resistance, complete accessibility to plants and the absence of slag formation. There is the classic Uniflor with 18 elements, Uniflor-growth with a lot of nitrogen and Uniflor-bud with potassium and fluorine. Plants need uniflor growth in the first half of the growing season. Uniflor-bud is used during budding, flowering and ripening of the crop. Uniflor-micro is more concentrated and contains magnesium sulfate.
2. HESI. HESI solutions have an optimal composition of vitamins, they support the plant at every stage of development. The range of solutions is very diverse: Hydro Growth for accelerated growth, Hydro Bloom and PK 13/14 for good flowering, Root Complex for cuttings and mother plants, Super Vit with a strong concentration of vitamins and amino acids, Power Zyme with enzymes.
3. Lewatit. It is an ion-exchange fertilizer, which consists of synthetic resin balls with mineral ions. When in solution, mineral ions are displaced by water ions and enter plants. The classic fertilizer is suitable for hard water, while soft water has too few calcium ions. Lewatitya HD5 + is suitable for all water hardness levels. One of the advantages of Lewatit is the gradual release of mineral ions, so an excess of minerals is extremely rare.

Hydroponics: composition of solutions

Previously, gardeners and summer residents manually mixed fertilizers, exactly following the recommended proportions. It was tough, and it didn't always work out the right product. Recently, ready-made mixtures have begun to appear, for example FloraSeries... Here are some examples of calculations:

What chemical elements should be contained in fertilizers:

• Nitrogen (N)
• Potassium (K)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Calcium (Ca)
• Magnesium (Mg)
• Iron (Fe)
• Sulfur (S)
• Zinc (Zn)
• Manganese (Mn)
• Molybdenum (Mo)
• Boron (B)
• Oxygen (O2)

PH value for water

The pH value determines the acidity level and indicates the level of OH– and H + ions in the water. What concentration affects:

• A high content of OH– (7-14) means that the water is alkaline;
• A high content of H + (0-7) indicates the acidity of the water.
• The optimum pH for hydroponics is 6.5. In order for plants to absorb all substances well and grow well, it is necessary to maintain a low acidic level of water (pH 5.5-6.5 - most plants require this very pH of water).

In our store there are solutions for lowering and increasing the pH of water with special liquids. This section contains everything.

Water hardness level

Hardness indicates the content of magnesium and calcium. If their level exceeds the optimal level, then the water is hard. This has a negative effect especially on fast-growing plants, they consume 165-185 mg / l of calcium per day, and its excessive intake can cause problems.

Certain types of water fertilizers of different levels of hardness can be found on sale. For example, GHE FloraDuo fertilizers are available for both soft and hard water. Before buying, you need to make sure that the calcium level is suitable for fertilization. The border between the level of water hardness is within 70 mg / l.

Indicator of electrical conductivity

Electrical conductivity (EC) is a measure that determines the level of salt in water. The higher the salt level, the faster the flow of electricity. To measure the EC of water, you must use an EC meter or conductometer. It is important to remember that instruments need constant calibration. In the result obtained, there may be errors in the indicators due to the content of some elements. For example, magnesium has low conductivity, so the indicator is reduced by 20%.

If you use tap water or well water, it will contain a lot of salt. The most common indicator is 0.5-0.8, but sometimes it can be higher. depending on the city. What is the risk of high salt content? High concentration makes it difficult for plants to absorb water.

As mentioned above, water can contain other elements that affect plants in their own way.Most often, water contains such elements - magnesium and calcium carbonates. Optimum levels of these elements are beneficial for plants, but in excess concentrations, carbonates can block nutrients.

Calcium can react with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate. It does not dissolve in water and is not absorbed by plants. Therefore, when choosing a fertilizer, you need to make sure that it can be used for hydroponics. An improperly selected fertilizer causes salt deposition, which leads to difficulties in growing plants.

In this section, there are devices that measure such indicators as EC, TDS, ppm, and there is also Flora Kleen GHE with which you can clean the hydroponic system from accumulated salts.

Fertilizers for hydroponics

Mineral

The popularity of mineral fertilizer models is due to the fact that this species contains a whole range of nutrients. Used in classic hydroponics and aeroponics. It is important to observe the proportion and frequency of use of the complexes so as not to cause salinization of the substrates.

Answering the question - which fertilizer company is better, we can single out General Hydroponics Europe, which has developed a unique formula for Flora Series. The care can also be used for crops grown on soil.

Organic

The composition of organic fertilizers includes substances that are of plant and animal origin. Decomposition produces minerals. Slowly but gently act on the root system without burning it.

An approach based on the decomposition of organics into easily digestible elements is called bioponics.

Liquid - ETISSO

Liquid fertilizers are usually used to feed indoor plants. This is a homogeneous solution that is diluted in water, since the concentration of trace elements is very high. There are: mineral and organic.

Solid

The name implies that the nutrients are contained in a solid form. There are: fertilizers in granules and candles. Round small granules support indoor flowers well. They are spread over the soil and sprinkled with a small layer of soil. The "balls" get wet and gradually spread useful substances.

Candles are placed vertically along the perimeter of the pot. Suitable for large tubs, since in this case the substances do not come into contact with the root.

Soluble

Soluble species are released in the form of a concentrated powder, which is diluted with water. On the one hand, the user only purchases fertilizer, does not overpay for water, on the other hand, the fertilizer in the form of a powder cakes after some time.

Why is it important to use fertilizers?

The benefits of complementary foods can be compared to the effects of vitamins on humans.

They provide:

• full vegetation;
• stimulation of photosynthesis;
• ovary formation and lush flowering;
• seed and fruit formation;
• are used for the treatment and prevention of diseases.

Water filtration is an important part of hydroponics

If the plants begin to wither and feel bad, but at the same time do everything according to the rules, then the point is in the water. It is not worthwhile to carry out filtration work right away. You need to send a sample of water for analysis to understand what the problem is. If an excess of calcium and sodium is found in the water, then it must be filtered using a charcoal filter. This will help purify the water to an optimal element level. But there are times when a high degree of water purification is required.

The most effective way to remove unnecessary elements from water is reverse osmosis. With its help, all dissolved elements can be removed from the water. Reverse osmosis technology is simple: water is pumped under pressure through a membrane, while all impurities are captured.

Reverse osmosis can produce perfectly clean water.But this does not mean that such water is suitable for hydroponics. Osmosis water has no buffering properties. If you immediately add fertilizer to the osmotic water, it can cause spikes in the hardness level. Therefore, in order for the plants to feel good, 20% of the water from the water supply must be added to the water after osmosis.

How to make a hydroponic solution: different options

You can buy the nutrient mix from a grocery store or make your own. First of all, it is necessary to use filtered water. It is recommended to defend it for a couple of days. To weigh nutrients, you will need to use an electronic balance. The usual ones will not work, since they have a large error.

For five liters of water, add 0.2 grams of ferrous sulfate. If you mix two grams in one liter, you get a 0.5% solution. You can make a large amount of different salt mixtures. Thanks to this, 5 grams of salts will be enough for one liter of filtered water. Anyone can make such a nutrient mixture. After weighing, the salts are added to the water and mixed. The resulting mixture can be poured into a glass container, but you can also pour it into a clean plastic container.

Making hydroponic fertilizers with your own hands

Many formulas have been developed that allow you to create nutrient solutions. When selecting components, the proportion must be respected. The ratio of magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen should be equal to 0.3: 2.0: 0.5: 1.0.

The components are stored separately in sealed glass containers in a dry or diluted form. Iron is allowed to be kept only in the form of a powder in a darkened container.

The main advantage of a self-made mixture is the complete satisfaction of the needs of plants.

Accuracy is achieved by weighing the components on a pharmaceutical scale. Household ones will not work because they have a large error. You can act differently - make more saturated solutions. For example, dilute 1 g of calcium nitrate in 1 liter instead of 0.1 g / 10 liter. Take 100 cm³ from the resulting solution. The shelf life of liquids is limited.

Water purification methods

There are quite a few of them - the reason for this is the variety of all kinds of pollutants. However, according to the principle of operation, these methods can be divided into four main groups:

1. Physical or mechanical (settling, straining, filtering and UV treatment);
2. Biological (cleaning with activated sludge, sand, etc.)
3. Chemical (reduction, neutralization, oxidation);
4. Physicochemical (reverse osmosis, sorption, extraction, flotation, ion exchange, thermal methods and electrodialysis);

Naturally, in many cases, complex use also takes place. The whole range of these methods is widely used in water purification for industry, as well as household and agriculture. Therefore, we will focus only on those that growers need.

Mixed fertilizers

Mixed fertilizers are composed of organic matter and minerals. An example is the fertilizer Flora Nova. It refers to highly concentrated fertilizing, which can be called universal. It can be applied to all plants.

This fertilizer is produced by an American company. It is easy to use and can be applied to any type of water. The composition of the dressing includes humic acids, which help the nutrients to be absorbed.

Flora Nova Grow by GHE. The fertilizer is used during the growing season, when the third pair of young leaves has appeared. Can be used to fertilize mother plants.

You may be interested in: Succinic acid as a fertilizer for indoor flowers

Flora Nova Bloom. It is a concentrated fertilizer that should be applied when plants begin to bloom and bear fruit. They help to improve the quality of the crop.

A bit of history

Already in the 18th century, scientists discovered that plants are able to absorb nutrients from water. Under natural conditions, the soil acts as a so-called reservoir with the necessary minerals, but its presence is not an absolute condition for the life of various cultures. It should be noted that plants begin to absorb mineral substances from the soil only when they dissolve in water.

Hydroponics in its current understanding emerged at the beginning of the twentieth century (20-30s). It was during this time that the English scientist William F. Guerick was able to take aquatic culture out of laboratory conditions and put the cultivation of plants using hydroponics on an industrial basis. He owns the very term "hydroponics", and most experts consider him the founder of this science.

William F. Guerick

The use of hydroponics on a large scale first occurred during World War II, when the US Army faced food shortages in the Pacific Islands. This method took root there so that growing plants using hydroponics continued after the war, until the 50s.

Hydroponics got a new life in the 60s and 70s of the twentieth century, when the industrial production of various synthetic materials began. So, mineral wool began to be used as a substrate, and lightweight plastic structures replaced hydroponic concrete baths. At the same time, artificial chelates began to be produced, which made it possible to retain minerals in nutrient solutions much more efficiently.

It appeared in 1978. Its founder, Lawrence Brooks, has been working on improving large-scale hydroponic structures, reducing them to the size of an urban greenhouse. Since that time, hydroponics has become very popular among vegetable and fruit growers.

In 1986, at the All-Russian Industrial Exhibition, the method of growing crops on artificial substrates was demonstrated for the first time, the author of which was Timiryazev. In the same year, Israeli agronomist Hillel Soffer invented the whirlpool, which is still considered the most efficient hydroponic system.

Since the mid-1980s, two opposite directions have appeared in hydroponics - industrial and home. This division has survived to this day. There are many options for hydroponic systems on the agricultural market today, ranging from industrial scale installations to home structures that can be placed in almost any apartment. Let's take a closer look at what hydroponics methods are now, and what is the peculiarity of each of them.

Solutions for different cultures

Many plants have individual requirements for nutrition and growing conditions:

1. Strawberries feel good in ground coconut shells, mineral wool, peat. Top dressing is fed through droppers directly to the root zone. The system works with the help of a pump or under the force of gravity - a vessel with a solution is fixed over the beds. Universal fertilizers are suitable for vegetation, the concentration of salts is 1.8-2.2.
2. Green and spicy-aromatic crops (dill, tarragon, celery, parsley, fennel, hyssop, spinach, sorrel, asparagus, rhubarb, lovage, coriander) prefer universal feeding. PH - 2.8-4.0, concentration - 0.5-2.5.
3. Similar fertilizers are suitable for tomatoes, acidity - 6.3.

Hydroponics is a promising and convenient system with which many crops are grown. The main thing is to maintain suitable conditions and provide the plants with everything they need. Top dressing is bought in gardening stores or made on their own. The choice depends on the skills and desires of the gardener.

Nutrient solution for tomatoes

DIY hydroponic systems

When feeding tomatoes, the same components are used, in the same concentration as for cucumbers. From purchased fertilizers, you can take a universal option, like for strawberries, and apply according to the instructions.

Interesting!

Perlite is often used in hydroponics. It is a silicate material of volcanic origin, which can be found commercially in the form of granules. If tomatoes are grown in it, then they will need much less nutritional dressing than when placed on peat tablets or other similar substrates.

The acidity of the water allowed for hydroponic tomatoes should be about 6.3. If it is higher, add the pH-down used for hydroponic solutions, and if it is lower, add the pH-up.

Interesting!

pH-down and pH-up are special dry mixes that respectively lower or increase the acidity of a hydroponic solution. You can buy them at flower shops or online.

What can and cannot be grown hydroponically?

In hydroponics at home or in greenhouses, they grow all garden herbs, onions on a feather. Great yields come from nightshades, legumes, broccoli, strawberries or strawberries, and even bananas.

In addition, most of the traditional indoor plants that do not require special conditions for flowering are successfully grown.

Not grown without soil:

• potatoes and all root vegetables, indoor flowers that form nodules;
• plants that bloom in coolness or need a low temperature during dormancy;
• mushrooms;
• chlorophytum and cyperus - they grow roots very quickly;
• various types of begonias and balsams, the dead particles of the root system of which clog containers and compressors too quickly;
• hydrangeas and bulbs, an excess of moisture in which leads to decay of the roots.

The successful use of hydroponics mainly depends on the quality of the nutrient solutions. You should not buy cheap components - their low quality will immediately affect the condition of the plants, causing diseases, delayed development, deformation of fruits and reducing taste.

Solution concentration control

For productive cultivation of crops, it is necessary to regulate the concentration of nutrients in the solution, the temperature and the pH level. Ignoring the indicators is fraught with stopping the development and death of plants.

Optimal pH

The rate of assimilation of nutrients depends on the acid-base balance.

To check pH, a device has been created - a pH meter. It displays information when the electrode is immersed in liquid. It can be bought inexpensively from Chinese manufacturers on the famous Aliexpress site.

Some gardeners buy pH tests for aquariums. They are distinguished by their budgetary cost and ease of handling. To measure acidity, take a little solution from hydroponics and add 2 drops of a pH test. The liquid changes color. The color is compared with the attached table.

Do not measure pH with litmus paper: it gives too rough a result.

To change the pH, formulations are purchased:

• pH Down - reduce acidity;
• pH Up - increase the indicator.

They are used in accordance with the instructions.

Regulation of nutrient concentration

By changing the amount of macro- and microelements, it is possible to influence the size of the plants, the quality, the rate of ripening, and the taste characteristics of the fruits. Measurements are carried out with an EC meter. It determines the electrical conductivity and resistance of the water.

The optimal amount of mineral salts depends on the vegetative phase and the type of crop. To reduce the concentration, water is added to the solution, to increase - fertilizers.

Plants signal excess minerals with pale, wilted leaves.

If EC falls below the permissible limit, it is necessary to immediately add the missing elements, or it is better to completely change the solution. The ideal refresh rate is every 3-4 weeks.

Solution temperature value

Fertilizer dilution water should be at room temperature (+ 18… + 24 ° С). In a hot solution, there is less oxygen, which is indispensable for metabolic processes. Cold liquid inhibits growth. In winter, top dressing is prepared 2-3 ° C warmer.

Electrical appliances and sodium lamps lead to overheating of the hydroponic system. Instead, it is better to install air-cooled luminaires: they remove excess heat.

Nutrient control of solutions

Taking up growing plants hydroponically, you have to master many professions (or at least take their basic course) and constantly learn new things. How much did you have to measure the indicators of hydrogen ions (pH) when everything was growing in the garden and you only need to take care of manure and compost? In hydroponics, this indicator needs to be monitored all the time, and for such tracking, aquarium indicators, which can only be used once, cannot be dispensed with. You have to buy a pH meter - the device is expensive, but necessary, and it will soon pay off.

Or, more importantly, to monitor the concentration of nutrient solutions, which also changes as the roots absorb minerals from them: after all, plants, depending on their need for certain elements, can selectively suck them out of aqueous solutions, thus changing and their saturation.

The concentration of minerals is measured by their electrical conductivity, denoted in the international system in EU units. Such control needs to be done every day, and, moreover, the scope of this device will not be limited only to a hydroponic greenhouse - it will be very appropriate in an ordinary soil garden too!

Hydroculture keeping conditions

Lighting

... Particular attention is paid to the illumination of plants, since even the most effective fertilizers will not help with a lack of lighting. They are usually illuminated with special fluorescent lamps or other phytolamps: plants with a long daylight hours - 12-16 hours a day, short - about 10 hours. Lamps are placed at a distance of 15-30 cm for flowering species and 30-60 cm for decorative leafy.

Temperature

... Plants are protected from drafts, hypothermia and overheating. The temperature in the room is maintained at least +20 degrees, during the day and +16 degrees, at night. It is important that the temperature of the nutrient solution is 3-5 degrees higher than the air temperature.

Humidity

... For species requiring high air humidity (with sealed hydroponic systems), they create it in the usual ways - spray the foliage of plants with soft water and place it near a container with wet expanded clay.

Advice

Several important nuances for proper hydroponic crop care.

If you carry out top dressing with your own hands in an external way, then do spraying in cloudy weather or in the evening when it gets dark. Spraying leaves in the sun can cause severe burns.

Be sure to purchase mineral and organic nutritional products only from trusted manufacturers and in those stores where quality control is not an empty phrase. It is very likely that you will run into a low-quality product in small shops, at suspicious market breakdowns, where expired fertilizers are often sold. For culture, at best, such means will be useless, at worst - they can destroy it or lead to disease.

Bottom line: Hydroponics is now widely used. It is especially good and convenient for growing tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, strawberries, and other "greenhouse" vegetables and berries. We have covered the main features of the choice of fertilizers for hydroponic cultivation. As you can see, this method has a lot of nuances and interesting points. With the help of our recommendations, you can make the best choice of fertilizers, and competently approach the cultivation of botanical crops.

Ready-made nutrient solutions

We recommend reading our other articles

• Cherry variety Fatezh
• Description and characteristics of the cherry variety Molodezhnaya
• Keeping horses
• The best varieties of radish for a greenhouse

Fertilizers for hydroponics are packed with nutrients. There are different types of such dressings, they differ in brands, purpose. There are fertilizers for rapid growth, productivity, active flowering, and so on, you just need to buy the one that is suitable in one case or another and use it according to the instructions. The concentration of the drug for certain crops is indicated on the label.

Ready-made nutrient solutions

Purchased fertilizers are organic and mineral. They go on sale in solid forms (candles, capsules) and in liquid form. By the type of composition, they are divided into complex and one-component.

Among the different types of fertilizers on the market, there are three of the best types used in hydroponics.

• Greenwoeld Spezialdunger Hydrokultur - German development for the growth of green plants. It prevents yellowing of leaves, makes the harvest juicy and tasty. Components: 6% potassium; and 4.5% nitrogen and phosphorus each. There are also some other minerals.
• Guanokalong Extract 1 lt - universal organic fertilizer, which is made from the excrement of bats. This product nourishes crops, improves the taste of the harvest. The preparation contains some of the most important minerals.

Important!

Any of the purchased drugs are always diluted strictly according to the instructions on the label!

• Floraduo bloom - French fertilizer for any crops that are developing rapidly. Used during fruiting and flowering. Components: 5% phosphorus oxide, 3.5% potassium superoxide, 3% magnesium and 1% nitrogen and other minerals.

What is Bioponics

The new word in hydroponics was first heard in 2004, after the successful completion of experiments on growing plants hydroponically using organic-based solutions. This method was developed by the French biologist William Texier. True, the method is still very expensive to use due to the fact that:

• In hydroponic organic solutions, it is necessary to use a specially grown fungus richoderma harzianum, whose "specialty" is the non-waste decomposition of organic compounds.
• Connections must be sterilized and certified.
• Enhanced aeration of the solutions used for nutrition is needed.

What are hydroponic systems and how they work

Let's start with the basics - with a story about what a hydroponic system is, on what principles it works and what types of it exist. Its action is based on the cultivation of agricultural and ornamental crops in an artificial infertile environment saturated with oxygen. Plant nutrition is carried out exclusively through a fertilizer solution supplied directly to the root systems. The medium can be solid, liquid or air.

Hydroponic system

Hydroponic cultivation

There are several types of hydroponic systems that differ in their structure and the principle of supplying nutrients to the root systems of plants. You can familiarize yourself with them in the table below.

Table. The main varieties of hydroponic systems.

Types of materials for hydroponics

Hydroponic plant prices

hydroponic plants

Substrate for a hydroponic system

With a similar method of growing plants, a special substrate is poured into the container, which retains moisture well and is quite loose. Good moisture holding rates enable the substrate to provide abundant nutrition for the root system of your seedlings.

To prepare the correct substrate for growing seedlings, the following components are most often used:

1. Baking powder;
2. Expanded clay;
3. Peat soil;
4. Moss;
5. Gravel;
6. Mineral wool;
7. Special gels for hydroponics.

What is important to consider

Consider what features the solution preparation process has. What points should you pay attention to when making a solution with your own hands:

What is the temperature regime of this culture.

How long is a daylight

What stage of development is the plant at? So, for the beginning of growth, flowering, vegetation or fruiting, nutrient solutions with different concentrations of minerals, and sometimes with different contents in principle, will be needed.

Consider the watering regime.

Is the plant sick or not.

Whether it is required to fill the lack of minerals or organic matter. Or, conversely, it is necessary to lower their too high concentration in the tissues.

For the competent preparation of the solution, these and, possibly, other, individual factors must be taken into account. And then the resulting hydroponic fertilizer will really benefit.

Basic principles of hydroponics

The hydroponic method differs from the traditional cultivation of plants in the absence of soil - it has been replaced by a special moisture and air-intensive environment that allows the root system to feed and "breathe". Aerated water, expanded clay, crushed coconut shells, gravel and even hay can be used as such a medium. The main task of the substrate in which the roots develop is to deliver air, moisture and useful elements to their intended purpose.

Plants that grow in soil develop their root systems to extract nutrients from natural conditions and carried by groundwater. When using the hydroponic method, this is not necessary, since all nutrients are “delivered” through a specially prepared solution.

Diagram of a hydroponic system

Another feature of hydroponics can be considered that the slightest deviations in the composition of the nutrient solution or the proportions of elements can lead to disruption of the development process, dangerous diseases and plant death. The fact is that in such conditions, these plants cannot independently regulate and select useful elements in the required amount. It all depends on the actions of the person and his ability to properly prepare fertilizers.

Aquatic culture

The principle of operation of this system is simple, the most important thing here is the aeration system. You can purchase a ready-made device for the aquarium. In addition, a vessel without drainage items is needed, in which a plant is placed on an unsinkable pallet. Fasten it with soft foam rubber, and the roots are freely placed in the nutrient solution. The aeration system provides the oxygen needed. This system is best suited for swamp plants.

Tags: hydroponics, feature, setting

About

«Previous post