What is it and how to do hydroponics
He hydroponic cultivation It is one in which water, and not earth, is used as the main material to grow a plant. In this type of technique, the nutrients and chemical elements necessary for the plant are dissolved in it, where they are absorbed by the roots. This means that water becomes the new reserve of sustenance, replacing land in that function.
To do this, it is important to take into account the nutrients for hydroponics, i.e. those elements that a plant needs to grow healthy and strong and that we must add to the water:
- Nitrogen
- Potassium
- Match
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Sulfur
- Iron
- Manganese
- Zinc
- Boron
- Copper
- Silicon
- Molybdenum
Hydroponics at home: first steps
The advantage of homemade hydroponics is that it is very simple and does not involve the cleaning and maintenance work that large-scale hydroponic crops demand.
To start applying this technique in your garden, the first step is to get some elements:
- Nutrient solution for hydroponics: These are the nutrients that we mentioned previously, in different containers. You can make it at home or buy a ready-made hydroponic solution.
- bucket or container: It must be 20 or 30 centimeters deep and must be black or dark in color so that light does not reach the roots.
- Wood plank: must have the same dimension as the previous container.
- Air pump: Check for the same ones used in fish tanks. They are to oxygenate the water.
- Substrate to use as a base for plants: It serves so that the crop can retain the nutrients it needs to live. It is the equivalent of organic fertilizer for conventional crops.
- Floors (or seeds).
- A plastic or rubber plug.
Do not panic. Not only is there a great variety and kits that allow you to have everything you need to make a hydroponic system at home but it is quite easy to build if you have some skill with crafts. You just need to figure out how to reuse certain materials and, in a few steps, make an ecological garden.
Hydroponic garden: assembled at home
After obtaining the materials that we mentioned above, it remains to get to work to achieve your goal: a homemade hydroponic garden.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Make a hole in the base of the container you chose. Remember that the depth has to be 20 or 30 centimeters. The plug (rubber or plastic) will go into the hole you make, to change the water from time to time.
- Make holes in the wooden board with a drill and make sure they are all the same size and the same distance from each other. The number of holes you can make will depend on the size of your board.
- Pass the seedlings through the holes in the board very carefully to protect the roots. These have to be submerged in the water of the container and the stem must remain on the surface.
- Before submerging the roots, surround them with substrate, which is what will give them support and protection.
- Oxygenate the water with the aerator pump two or three hours a day and check the hydroponic solution levels constantly so that your plants receive what they need day by day.
How to care for your hydroponic plants
To make your hydroponic garden is in perfect condition, there are some recommendations that you should take into account:
- Change the water in the container every 15 days (removing the cap) and remember that you can use that same water to water other plants instead of throwing it away.
- To prevent pests, diseases or problems in your vegetables and plants, we recommend that you observe their development carefully. When you see any signs of something strange, such as white spots or some type of fungus, check with the nursery where you usually buy.
- Make sure your plants receive sunlight.
Advantages of hydroponics at home
The most notable benefit of home hydroponics is the possibility of producing our own food without having to depend on others to produce it. In addition, we avoid the exploitation of more surfaces for agricultural use, making our garden a source of organic food.
Another advantage of daring to explore the benefits of hydroponics at home is that it is a system that guarantees a reliable source of food, free of pesticides or agrochemicals that may affect our health in the long term.
Being organic, we can ensure that hydroponic crops are healthier than those we buy in the supermarket, since we do not know the production process.
What we must keep in mind is that, although this type of crop does not involve land or depend on its conditions, it consumes a lot of water.
Disadvantages of hydroponics
Despite its many benefits, it is worth clarifying some disadvantages of hydroponics so that you can approach your project with a realistic and organized vision. First of all, know that A hydroponic crop requires a lot of attention and precise supervision to ensure that plants grow properly. This means two things: Hydroponics does not guarantee the success of a crop and more time must be invested in its care. to achieve good results.
Another disadvantage is that plants become very susceptible to any change because they are in optimal conditions to develop. This means that they lose their ability to adapt because they do not have to compete with anyone else or fight against any environmental condition. Hydroponic crops become “man-dependent”. At that point we could say that they are “fragile”.
Another disadvantage has to do with economics. The investment to have a hydroponics-based crop is not minor, especially if you want to have a large garden. You have to buy materials and installations (pipes, pumps, stopcocks, etc.) and some elements are not cheap.
Likewise, it all depends on how you want to do it. Kits or proposals like the ones we told you about previously do not require as high a budget as others.
Another important issue, also linked to your time and desire, is that to carry out hydroponic cultivation you will have to “study”. If you have fun and can handle it, great. But, depending on the person, this can be an advantage or a disadvantage. You just have to be clear that plants grown with this method need very fine and specific care that requires you to inform yourself as much as possible.
According to , if you enjoy it and do it responsibly, it can be a beautiful adventure.