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Hydroponics is one of the most popular topics in the sphere of modern agriculture as the way of plants cultivation without using soil. In gardening or even at the onset of commercial farming business, hydroponics is the best method to adopt. This guide will introduce hydroponic farming, how it operates, the various forms of systems, the types of crops most suitable for hydroponic farming, and everything else you need to know regarding hydroponic farming.

What is Hydroponic Farming?

Hydroponics is the science of growing plants in nutrient solution and not in soil. Here, the nutrients that the plant roots need are in a form that dissolves in water hence encouraging faster growth, higher yield and ability to grow the plant in any climate, either indoors or outdoors. How Does Hydroponics Work? The principle behind hydroponics is simple: therefore, plants are capable of taking nutrients directly and in a much better way if they avoid the soil. In the soil base method of farming, plants search for the nutrients they require, while in hydroponics nutrients directly get to the root area leaving the plant to grow and bear fruits.

Why Hydroponic Farming:

There are several advantages of hydroponic farming over traditional soil farming, which is why more and more farmers are turning to this method in recent times.

1. Space Efficiency:

A major advantage of hydroponics is that it can be done vertically, therefore suitable for urban areas where space is a limiting factor. You can have more plants within a smaller space, a feature that is advantageous if you are using the pots indoors or in limited space or using climate controlled vertical farming.

2. Higher growth rates and better yields will also be achieved:

Plants grown using hydroponics get all the necessary nutrients directly without having to struggle through the soil and this is why hydroponics grown plants tend to grow faster and produce higher yields than plants grown in soil. For instance, vegetables such as lettuce can take only 30-45 days to grow in a hydroponic system while it takes between 60-90 days in soil.

3. Water Conservation

Hydroponic systems consume up to 90% less water than soil farming techniques used in the traditional farming. In such systems, the water is reused, meaning that hydroponics is environmentally friendly as a method of farming.

4. Pest and Disease Control

Organic farming involves growing plants in structures that minimize contact with the soil which in turn minimizes pest and diseases hence the need for few pesticides.

Types of Hydroponic Systems

Hydroponics is a broad category of gardening that has many different systems which can be used with their own advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a look at some of the most common systems used by beginners and experts alike:

1. Deep Water Culture (DWC)

In a DWC system, the plant roots are in a nutrient solution where the plants’ roots float. An air pump is used to provide water with oxygen so that the roots will not be submerged in water. DWC systems are easy to design, inexpensive and suitable for producing lettuces and spinach among other crops.
Example: A small scale DWC system can be set up in a home and it can produce up to 10 heads of lettuce in an area that will not be larger than a kitchen table and this is ideal for home based growers.

2. Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

The NFT system consists of a low flow rate nutrient solution passing over the roots of plants that are placed in a gently inclined channel. This method is very efficient since the plants are supplied with nutrients throughout while the solution is being reused.
Example: NFT system is used in commercial hydroponic farms to grow plants such as basil and mint because of their shallow root system.

3. Drip System

Drip system is whereby nutrient solution is distributed to the base of each plant through drip emitters over a period of time. The remaining solution is collected and reused, which means that this system is both water- and crop-specific.
Example: Drip systems are most useful when you are growing large fruiting plants such as tomatoes and peppers where it is best to have control of each plant.

4. Flood and Drain or Ebb and Flow

In this system nutrient solution flows to the grow tray and it is flooded at a particular time interval and then it drains back to the reservoir. This method is particularly effective for a large number of plants and provides more opportunities to regulate the feeding process.

Hydroponics: What Can You Actually Grow?

One of the biggest advantages of hydroponics is the possibility to cultivate almost any type of plants. Different plants are more suitable for hydroponics than others especially those that grow fast or those that have shallow root systems.
Best Plants for Hydroponic Farming:
• Leafy Greens: The most important hydroponic crops include lettle, spinach, kale and arugula. These crops require short growth periods and are well suited to production in systems such as the DWC and NFT.
• Herbs: Some of the easy to grow plants for beginners include basil, mint, cilantro and oregano plants, as they grow well in hydroponic systems.
• Fruit-Bearing Plants: Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and strawberries are examples of plants that are grown in large hydroponic systems such as drip irrigation systems.
• Microgreens: These are young vegetable greens that are harvested early. They are packed with nutrients, and as such, are ideal for smaller systems.
Example: Hydroponic Tomato Farming
Tomatoes are one of the most common plants to be cultivated in hydroponic systems. Through drip system, the amount of water or nutrients that reach the plant is controlled hence leading to faster growth and high yield than soil farming. Tomatoes grown through hydroponics are usually of standardized taste and size, facts that have made them popular among commercial producers.
This paper focuses on setting up the first hydroponic system, and will briefly compare and contrast the types of hydroponic systems before delving into the process.

Setting up your first hydroponics system

This paper focuses on setting up the first hydroponic system, and will briefly compare and contrast the types of hydroponic systems before delving into the process.
For beginners, it is recommendable to begin with a basic hydroponic system. Here are the basic components you’ll need to set up your hydroponic farm:

1. Growing Medium

Typically modern hydroponics farming does not require soil to grow plants instead it requires growing mediums such as coco coir, perlite or Rockwool to hold the plant roots.

2. Water and Nutrient Solution

Plants require a nutrient solution that includes the major elements; nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; and minor elements; magnesium and calcium.

3. pH Control

pH is of utmost importance in hydroponics since wrong pH hinders the intake of nutrients. Most hydroponic systems should have a pH of between 5.5 to 6.5.

4. Lighting

In case you have decided to grow your marijuana indoors, you will have to supply artificial light. GROW lights are LED, thus energy saving and can be programmed to deliver the right spectrum of light required for various stages of plant development.

5. Air Circulation

Setup proper ventilation and humidity are important in order to avoid mold formation and to have sturdy and vigorous plants.

The Challenges of Hydroponics and How to Avoid Them

Clearly, hydroponic farming is not without its challenges, particularly to the new starters in the field. Here are a few common issues and how to address them:

1. Nutrient Deficiencies

The plants in hydroponic systems are totally reliant on the nutrient solution for their nutrients requirements. If the solution is devoid of some nutrients, the plants will not take long before manifesting the effects of the lack of the nutrient in question. To prevent this, feed your parrot with a premium, equal blend of nutrients, and always check the nutrient levels.

2. pH Imbalance

If the pH is too low, plants cannot absorb nutrients and if it is too high, a nutrient cannot be released, thus, the plant does not grow. Daily monitor pH and add pH control agents to ensure the solution is within the ideal pH range.

3. Algae Growth

Nutrient algae can grow in the nutrient solutions that have access to light and this compete with plant for the nutrients. Always try to avoid direct exposure to light by using dark-coloured containers in order to minimize chances of algae growth.

Conclusion

One of the biggest advantages of hydroponic farming is that it is sustainable, space efficient and yields higher returns than soil farming. It doesn’t matter whether you’re growing lettuce, basil, or tomatoes, there is a type of hydroponic system for you. Once you know the fundamentals – picking the right system, identifying appropriate crops, and tracking key parameters such as nutrients and ph, you are well on your way to growing strong plants in just about any climate.
Before you get started on hydroponic, always begin small and learn throughout the process while testing on different systems. If done right, hydroponics can be a fun and very enriching farming experience for both the novice and the experienced farmer.