Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Start a Hydroponic Garden
How to Start a Hydroponic Garden. Hydroponics involves growing plants without soil in a nutrient enriched liquid. This method of gardening is sometimes preferred over conventional soil because the gardener maintains control over the nutrients and oxygen the plant receives, which leads to faster growth. Professional growers invest thousands of...
Hydroponics involves growing plants without soil in a nutrient enriched liquid. This method of gardening is sometimes preferred over conventional soil because the gardener maintains control over the nutrients and oxygen the plant receives, which leads to faster growth. Professional growers invest thousands of dollars in hydroponic gardening systems; but you can start your own hydroponic garden at home with minimal investment. Read on to learn more.
Things You'll Need
Hydroculture pot
Marbles or gravel
Vermiculite
Rock wool
Plastic
Bubbler
Hydroponic Solution
pH test kit
Styrofoam
Cork
Choose plants that grow well in hydroponic gardens. You can plant tomatoes and lettuce, which commonly grow in commercial hydroponic gardens. Peppers, herbs and cucumbers are also good choices.
Use a double-walled hydroculture pot, a ceramic container or an opaque glass container. You can display a single specimen in a colored-glass vase or a jar filled with marbles or decorative gravel.
Give hydroponically grown plants support. Use vermiculite, gravel or rock wool to anchor the roots. Alternatively, you can anchor the stems in a thin sheet of plastic and let the roots dangle freely.
Provide oxygen to plants grown in hydroponic gardens. A fish tank bubbler is sufficient for small gardens grown in tanks with less than a 50 gallon capacity.
Fertilize plants with a product specifically designed for hydroponics. This fertilizer provides the 13 micronutrients and macronutrients essential for growth. Monitor the pH of the solution with a pH test kit and maintain at a level of 6.0.
Allow the solution to drop to the lowest level of the roots occasionally to promote oxygenation. Change the hydroponic solution every 2 weeks to replenish nutrients.
Turn your aquarium into a hydroponic garden. The fish provide nutrients and the bubbler provides oxygen to the plants. Float a small piece of cork or Styrofoam on top of the aquarium, and let the roots filter through a hole or slit you cut in the floating island.
