Now that you’ve decided that you want to grow your favorite vegetables in a hydroponic garden, you are likely to have carefully selected the equipment like your grow lights and water pumps. You’ve also probably done the research needed to be sure that you understand how to setup your equipment for a great yield. As you reach the point where your crops begin to grow, you may find that it is not as automatic as you had previously hoped. This short guide is geared toward giving you a few tips for successful hydroponic growing.
Know What You Need
Having the proper equipment is a must for just about everything in life. The same goes for successful gardening, especially in regards to hydroponics. Be sure that you know what every piece is for, and why it is important. Also, be sure to have all of the proper nutrients and how much of the nutrients are needed by your plants. A misstep during a crucial time can decrease plant health, and even kill it. Don’t use any additives your first time setting the nutrients. Keep it simple to reduce any chance for issues.
Daily Maintenance
Use only high quality products to make your nutrient-rich water. Measure and adjust your nutrient water reservoir every day. This will protect your plant from any mistakes, sudden changes, or other things that can chemically go wrong. It’s important to know exactly what is happening in your system. Be sure to have a feeding schedule written before you begin a crop. Keep sunlight away from your nutrient solution. It may be a good idea to change your nutrient solution at least once every two weeks. Use a digital timer to keep track of dark periods. Do not visit your crop after you have visited other crops or being outdoors.
After the Harvest
Take the time to clean and sterilize your reservoir after each and every crop. This prevents any sort of contamination. Have an extra reservoir handy for quick replacement after water changes. Garden indoors once the temperature reaches 13 degrees Celsius or below. Only visit your garden after you have changed your clothes. It would be preferable to keep pets out of your garden. Be sure that visitors to your garden follow similar rules.