Hydroponics is a relatively new trend in the world of amateur gardening. This modern approach to producing plants allows people who have little outdoor space to grow large, healthy plants easily indoors, and it is also the perfect alternative to traditional growing methods for people who want to increase their yields without having to put in long hours of manual labour.
Hydroponics is a low maintenance growing method, especially when it is compared to conventional growing methods. Unlike growing plants in pots or in the ground, plants grown using hydroponics are not grown in soil and instead are rooted into an inorganic substrate. The roots are either permanently suspended in water, are periodically flooded with water that is allowed to drain away, or will have a spray or drip feed of water delivered to a certain schedule, depending on the system being used.
Whichever type of hydroponics system is used, you will be able to have absolute control over the growing environment of your plants. You will be able to control everything from the amount of water the plants get, to the nutrient levels, the lighting conditions, and temperature and humidity levels. This means that growers using this method will be able to optimise the growing conditions for their plants, allowing them to produce bigger, better plants.
Hydroponics sounds too good to be true, but with a little research and planning you really can get these results. Having said this, not every single type of plant will take to being grown in this method. There certainly are some that are perfectly adapted to hydroponics, so it is best to stick with the plants that have a reputation for their suitability for hydroponic growing.
Easy plants to grow using hydroponics
The best plants to grow in a hydroponics system are plants that have smaller roots and shorter life cycles, and plants that are thirsty and difficult to keep on top of watering. Most of these plants are considered foolproof, and even the least confident beginner will be able to see success on their first attempt.
Lettuce is one of the easiest and most rewarding plants to grow indoors using hydroponics and can keep you and your family supplied with fresh, crisp salad leaves all year long. Most types of lettuce will work well in these systems, and popular varieties for beginners to try their hand at growing include romaine, butterhead and spinach. Bok choy, rocket and Swiss chard are also fantastic growers.
Keeping up with the salad theme, tomatoes need a lot of supplemental light using LED grow lights to keep them happy, but they grow extremely well and taste just as good as the ones you grow in your greenhouse. There are loads of different tomato varieties to choose from, and many of them have different growth habits with some needing lots of careful attention and pinching off. If you want a problem free tomato that requires minimal maintenance, choose a bush forming cherry variety. These will stay relatively compact and most don’t require support stakes.
Many beginners will take on a herb garden planting project, stocking their hydroponics system with fragrant aromatic herbs. The most popular herbs can be grown in this way, including all kinds of basil, thyme, coriander, chives, sage, mint and chives. Fresh herbs can be extremely expensive, so choosing to grow your own can save you a lot of money, while providing you with the freshest, tastiest herbs to complement your dishes.
Plants to avoid
We have already touched on the fact that not every kind of plant will be suitable for growing using hydroponics, and there are a couple of factors that make these plants unsuitable. For example, plants with very deep roots will not grow well in one of these systems. Corn is a good example of this. Other plants that bear their crop on their roots will also be unsuitable, such as potatoes, carrots and parsnips.
Some plants will not work in hydroponic systems purely because of their need for large amounts of space. Pumpkins are a prime example of this as they need a lot of ground space in order to grow to their mature size and produce well developed pumpkins. Vines are also not ideal for these systems because they tend to get top heavy and need a lot of space and support.