Hydroponic Growing for Beginners

Hydroponic growing systems involve growing without soil but instead using some other type of organic media such as coco peat, hydrocorn or perlite. In that way you have significantly more control over the nutritional balance of the plant and avoid the risk of soil born pests and diseases. The quantifiable advantages of hydroponics include higher yields, shorter growing times, more efficient use of space, lower water costs, lower fertilizer cost and improved nutritional content.

The first step is to choose what to grow. Consideration should be given to starting out with an easier crop, with a faster growing time, lower maintenance and simpler nutritional needs. Good starter crops are tomatoes, lettuce, bell pepper and herbs. Certain crops require altitude and temperatures not to exceed certain levels. For example lettuce in Jamaica will be difficult and should be avoided at lower elevations and higher day time temperatures.

Next you should decide on the system and growing medium that best suits your needs which will depend on the crop you are planting, your budget and the space you have to work with. For example the mapal growing system is more suitable to vine crops such as bell peppers and tomatoes while the raft system is more suitable for lettuce and other leafy vegetables. The choice of growing medium depends on what you are growing and the options that are available to you.

Plants require sunlight to survive and grow so location should have good access to sun. The ideal relative humidity is 50%. Ensuring that there is adequate air circulation to maintain the right humidity and availability of CO2 is important to prevent issues such as powdery mildew and fungal problems.

The mineral content and pH levels in water can limit its ability to deliver soluble nutrients to the plant. Hydroponics requires a slightly acidic pH of 5.8 to 6.2. It is important to monitor these levels and filter and/or add chemicals to maintain the ideal balance.

You will need to research and seek advice regarding the correct type and volume of micro and macro nutrients required for the crop you have chosen to grow, Choose from the variety of products that are designed for hydroponic growing and specific to your needs such as flowing, vegetation, etc.

Once the growing system is set up, you should consider purchasing a few other pieces of equipment to include ladders, pruning shears, pH meters, fans, crates, a scale, humidifier/dehumidifier.

Choose varieties of seeds that are tried and proven to provide adequate yield, minimal risks and appropriate success rate for the climatic conditions that you have to deal with. Don’t reinvent the wheel, learn from other persons successes and mistakes by asking around to find out what seeds and varieties have worked well for other growers.

Once the above has been completed and you have thoroughly researched the details of growing the specific crop you chosen you should be ready to sow seeds and plant your crop. Happy Growing

Planting tomato seedlings in mapal trough hydroponic growing system using coco peat as the planting medium.