Summer Growing Tips for the Hydroponic Garden

Hydroponics in Summer

Summer is synonymous with rising temperatures, which is the primary concern for most gardeners. Although most hydroponic gardens are indoors, excessive heat can still pose a problem. Summer brings with it other plant problems involving water and nutrient uptake, insect attacks, air circulation, etc. Gardening in summer requires you to check that your plants are growing properly and are not experiencing distress.

Tips for Growing Plants in Summer

Here are some tips to make your plants comfortable in summer and ensure their active growth using hydroponics:

Space: In summer, you may feel the need to bring your plants indoors especially if they are sensitive to the high temperatures. When growing plants indoors, it is better to invest in a grow room, which has been designed and tested to accommodate plants in an indoor setting without compromising on their growth.

Heat: It is important to keep track of the temperature in your garden to ensure that your plants are not subjected to excessive heat. The temperature in the garden should vary from 70 to 80 ˚F and night temperatures should be a few degrees lower than daytime temperatures. For indoor gardens, light cooling kits can reduce the amount of heat produced by grow lights and thus keep grow room temperatures down.

Air circulation: Proper air supply is essential to keeping plants healthy. An oscillating fan is a good option to ensure adequate air circulation in the garden. Oscillating fans are easily mounted on walls and their blades distribute a cooling breeze throughout the room. Other air circulation options are Active Air blowers and axial fans.

Pests: Summer is boom time for insects. This is the season for them to breed and thrive by feeding on plants. There are many pest control products that can keep your garden pest-free. Some of the pest control products available are sticky traps, diatomaceous earth, insecticidal soaps, etc.

It is important for you to monitor your plants’ health and growth progress. The only way to do this is to examine them on a regular basis. A healthy plant will constantly sprout new shoots and have a nice rich color.

Indoor Grow Light Tips for the Hydroponic Garden

Lighting is one of the essential aspects of hydroponic gardening. Indoor grow lights are commonly used in hydroponics to provide lighting to plants. This is because, for an indoor garden, indoor grow lights are a suitable alternative to sunlight.

There is a wide variety of indoor grow lights available. Here are some tips to help you choose the best lighting system for your needs:

High Intensity Discharge Lights

High intensity discharge lights or HIDs are electrical lights that are highly efficient. Depending on the spectrum of light they produce, they are classified into two types, i.e. metal halide (MH) and high pressure sodium (HPS). While MH lights provide light in the blue spectrum, which promotes leaf and shoot growth, HPS indoor grow lights are more suitable for flowering, as they emit red or orange light. Here are some tips to maximize the benefits of HID lights:

• Use MH lights for 18-24 hours daily to promote growth. HPS lights generally run for around 12 hours per day, to ensure optimum flowering and fruiting.

• HID lights should be positioned slightly away from the plants so that the plants are not exposed to the heat that the lights generate. Small systems (up to 250 watts) should be hung 1-2 feet away, while large lighting systems (over 1000 watts) need to be fitted at least 2 feet away from the plants. Using air cooled lights will allow you to keep the lights closer to the plant canopies thereby giving your plants a higher lumen output.

Other Light Sources

Apart from HID lights, there are many other indoor grow lights available for hydroponic gardens. Full spectrum T-5 fluorescent grow lights produce high light output and generate less heat, making them ideal for young plants and shade-loving plant varieties. Incandescent grow lights are cheap but ineffective as far as light output is concerned. A newer light source that is now available is the light emitting diode (LED) light. Although advertised as highly efficient, it has not yet been proven to outperform currently available indoor grow lights.

How to Use Hydroponic Growing Systems

Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants without soil. It works on the principle that plant growth can be optimized by controlling the conditions of growth. Towards this end, different hydroponic growing systems have evolved to suit different growing requirements.

The choice of an appropriate hydroponic growing system depends on the type of plants, the scale of the growing unit, and the expense and time that the grower is ready to invest. Described below are some hydroponic growing systems:

Wick system. This is the most basic hydroponic growing system. It makes use of an absorbent ‘wick’ such as a nylon rope suspended between the growing medium of the plants and a reservoir of nutrient solution. The wick draws in nutrients based on how soon the plants absorb it. A suitably absorbent medium is needed for this system such as a combination of perlite with either vermiculite or coconut coir. This system can be built using simple materials at home and is ideal for hobby growers having few plants.

Reservoir system. This is another simple hydroponic growing system that is somewhat more advanced. Instead of a wick, the plant containers are directly placed in the reservoir of nutrient solution. An air pump is used to keep the nutrient solution aerated with oxygen. This system can be used with mediums having limited absorbing properties, such as volcanic chips or clay pellets combined with vermiculite. This system is inexpensive to set up and easy to maintain, but may lead to a root rot situation as the plants are always submerged in the water so much aeration is required for the reservoir full of water.

Flood and drain system. In this system, the plant container is separated from the nutrient reservoir below. A pump attached to a timer is used to periodically draw up the solution into the plant container and flood the roots before being drained out. It is important to set the flood drain cycle to suit the growing medium. Less absorbent mediums, such as clay pellets or perlite, may require flooding for 5 minutes, 10 times a day. More absorbent mediums, such as rockwool, will require less flooding. This popular hydroponic growing system is used by both hobby and professional growers. It can easily be built at home at little cost.

Drip system. In this hydroponic growing system, the nutrient solution is fed to plants from above using thin tubes. The flow is controlled using different emitters. More absorbent mediums require a slower drip as compared to less absorbent ones. This is an advanced system that can serve the needs of the serious hobby and commercial grower. It cannot be used with organic nutrients that can clog the emitters.

The Nutrient Film Technique (NFT). This hydroponic growing system involves using a running thin stream of nutrient solution flowing through the plant roots. This system is good for larger growing units and can easily be set up at home. However, it is only ideal for plants with a root system that is large enough to benefit from the flowing stream.

Aeroponic system. In this hydroponics growing system, the roots of the plants grow in the air, suspended above a reservoir containing the nutrient solution. A pump is used to spray the roots through tubes with a fine mist of oxygenated solution. While it is an excellent system for advanced hydroponic gardening, it requires the most attention. Also, it requires regular maintenance. As with the drip system, it cannot be used with organic nutrients.

Quality Growing by Additives and Stimulants

What Are Additives and Stimulants Used for?

Additives and stimulants are available for a variety of purposes, be it ensuring better blooms or growing longer branches. Some additives are used to improve the plant’s tolerance to drought and heat. Others may help to leach off excess salt in the nutrient reservoir at the end of the fruiting and flowering cycle.

Most of these products are organic or natural. Some are made from plant extracts such as GreenFuse or a mixture of marine, microbial, and mineral extracts as in Floralicious.

Here’s a look at some of the important additives and stimulants.

1. Phosphorus

Phosphorus, in the form of phosphates helps the plant in photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, cell division, and several other vital processes. Plants with sufficient phosphorus mature earlier. Phosphates along with growth enhancers are known to produce better blooms, lush growth, and stronger roots.

To get quicker results, use a well-known brand such as Grotek Monster Bloom and Grow, which is very popular among hydroponics enthusiasts. Alternatively, you can use a combination product such as additives from Canna.

2. Amino Acids and Carbohydrates

While plants synthesize amino acids and compounds naturally, adding these compounds increases yield and improves the overall health of plants. These compounds help plants to overcome stress during critical growth conditions such as fruiting and flowering. Some amino acids are known to have a chelating effect, which simply means that they help the plants absorb and transport nutrients. For professional growers, using a tested solution such as SugarDaddy is a must to get better flowers and fruits. Another well-known brand that you can try is Sweet.

3. Magnesium

For lush green leaves, you need to add magnesium from time to time. After all, magnesium is a component of chlorophyll, the substance that plants use to prepare their own food. Limited magnesium can lead to yellow older leaves. Many hydroponics enthusiasts use products such as MagiCal that combine magnesium with calcium, another vital nutrient, to achieve better results.

4. Hormones and Vitamins

Hormones and other substances affect the plant’s time of flowering, seed growth, leaf formation, longevity, and fruit development and ripening. These essential hormones and stimulants are used by plants only at specific stages. However, unlike animals, plants lack the glands to secrete hormones. Hence, it becomes necessary to externally add these substances to get better yields. Well-known brands include Nitrozime and Superthrive.

Ballast for Hydroponics Growing

Hydroponics uses several different types of lights for optimum plant growth. While using different grow lights, it is important to invest in a specialized digital ballast, which is a necessary component of any lighting circuit. Simply put, a ballast is an electronic component in a lighting system that controls the amount of current in a circuit. Without it, a grow light would fail to work.

Why Digital Ballasts
Earlier ballasts consisted of resistors, which is an inefficient way to control current, as it leads to loss of electricity. Modern digital ballasts limit current flow without wasting electricity. They also help to extend the lifespan of grow lights. Moreover, they help to reduce flickering, a common feature in older ballasts. Also, the performance of most conventional magnetic ballasts worsens after few years of operation, while digital ballasts provide a consistent lumen output and efficiency over its lifetime. As a bonus, digital ballasts offer noise-free operation and less startup time, or the time required to achieve full brightness.

Factors to Consider While Buying a Digital Ballast
The most important factor to consider is efficacy, which is measured in Watts / Light output. Another important factor in hydroponics is heating. A ballast that emits a lot of heat will affect the temperature of your growing environment. Some ballasts may include a fan for cooling, but these are known to have a high failure rate. A good ballast should also switch off automatically in case of a short circuit. For best performance, always opt for known and tested products for your indoor growing environment.

Ballasts for Indoor Gardening
If you are growing plants the hydroponic way, you will often use either metal halide (MH) or high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps or both. Consider buying a ballast that is versatile enough to power both types, such as the Dual ballast by Lumatek. Lumatek digital ballasts are well-known in the hydroponics industry for their efficient performance. Other well-known brands include Maverick and Xtrasun

Best Ways to Use Hydroponic Grow Lights

Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants in a regulated environment. It aims at optimizing the development of plants by controlling the conditions of their growth.

Hydroponics depends on supplying plants with carefully measured substitutes of factors found randomly in nature. To be successful, a hydroponic grower has to ensure that the quality of these substitutes is as good, or better, than those available in nature.

Light is one such important factor. Plants require light for photosynthesis i.e. the process by which they manufacture their own food. Hydroponic grow lights such as HID (high intensity discharge) lamps—including metal halide and high pressure sodium lamps, fluorescent lamps, and LED (light-emitting diode) lamps are some of the available artificial light sources.

These are some tips to help you get the best from your hydroponic grow lights:

1. Match knowledgeably. Select hydroponic grow lights to suit your requirements. You can do this by researching different options to find out their ideal application. For example, while metal halide lamps support robust growth in plants, high pressure sodium will help your plants to produce quality flowers.

2. Plan properly. For best results, include lighting plans in the overall layout of your unit. This will enable you to install hydroponic grow lights to your best advantage. For instance, fluorescent lamps, which give out little heat, can be placed much closer to your plants than HID lamps. Also ensure safety by keeping ballasts, lamps, and wiring away from water.

3. Use wisely. Keeping your hydroponic grow lights on twenty-four hours a day will inflate your power bills without doing your plants any good. Ideally, your plants should be exposed to light for up to about eighteen hours a day.

4. Maintain regularly. Service your hydroponic grow lights at regular intervals to ensure a longer working life and to prevent accidents.

5. Monitor continually. Assess the results you are getting to determine scope for improvements. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different types of lights or lighting cycles.

Setting Up Grow Lights in Hydroponics

Most plants require light to carry out photosynthesis, a process that enables plants to make their own food. For an outdoor garden, plants get their light quota from natural light sources like sunlight. However, in the case of an indoor garden, an artificial light source has to be provided. The best way of providing light in this case is to use grow lights.

What are grow lights?

Grow Lights are lamps that mimic outdoor lighting conditions in an indoor setting. These lights emit light in the same electromagnetic spectrum or wavelength as that emitted by sunlight. Most grow lights available emit light of a particular wavelength only since plants rely on different wavelengths at different stages of growth. For example, light in the blue spectrum promotes vegetative growth while flowering and fruiting relies on the red spectrum of light.

How are grow lights used?

Grow lights have a wide range of uses, both domestically and industrially. To maximize the efficiency of the lights though, it is necessary to install reflectors as part of the lighting system. The most commonly used reflector is a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) sheet painted white on the inner side for reflective purposes and black on the outer side to prevent fungal growth. Other reflectors used are white paint containing titanium dioxide, or special reflective substances like Mylar, Astrofoil, and Foylon.

Another way to obtain maximum light is to set-up grow lights as close as possible to the plants. The disadvantage of doing so is that the plants also receive excess heat produced by the lighting system and may get damaged by it.

What are the different types of grow lights available?

Many different types of grow lights are available. The choice of lighting system will largely depend on the lighting needs of the plant itself. The preferred systems for most plants are high intensity discharge (HID) lights like metal halide (MH) and high pressure sodium (HPS) systems. Other popular lighting systems make use of incandescent, fluorescent or LED (light-emitting diode) grow lights.

An Introduction to Hydroponics and Hydroponic Systems

An Introduction to Hydroponics and Hydroponic Systems

What is hydroponics?

Hydroponics is the method of growing plants without soil. In place of soil, water enriched with oxygen and nutrient salts is used. This solution is well balanced to provide plants with the nutrition they need. It is also environmentally safe, since there is no excessive spillage of fertilized soil.

How does a hydroponic system work?

In a hydroponic system, a soil-free medium is used to keep the plant in place. Options for this medium include sand, stone, or fiber. Because these are porous, they enable the absorption of air and water, which is required for plants to grow.

Typically in a hydroponic system, nutrition is efficiently directed to the roots of the plants. Thus, there is no need for the plant to expend its energy in developing long roots. As long as they are exposed to light, hydroponic plants will flourish.

What are the different types of hydroponic systems?

There are six different types of hydroponic systems. A brief description of each is given below:

Wick System

This is the simplest of the hydroponic systems. A rich nutrient solution is pulled into the growing medium with a wick. Coconut fiber, vermiculite, perlite, and pro-mix are used as growing mediums. This system works best with smaller plants because the wick can only supply a limited amount of water.

Water Culture

This hydroponic system consists of a styrofoam platform that holds the plants, while floating on a nutrient solution. Nutrients and oxygen are filtered to the plants’ roots by an air pump. This hydroponic system works best for plants which thrive on water, such as leaf lettuce. As with the wick system, the water culture system is not ideal for larger plants that require a more efficient feeding cycle.

Ebb and Flow

The ebb and flow system operates by temporarily flooding the plant’s grow tray with the nutrient solution and then letting it flow back into the nutrient reservoir. The cycle is controlled by a pump that is activated by a timer. This hydroponic system is more versatile than the previous two.

Drip System

This hydroponic system is widely used because it involves a simple operation. A timer is used to turn on a submerged pump that enables the nutrient solution to reach the plant via a thin drip. A recovery drip system recycles excess solution that is not absorbed by the plant; a non-recovery system allows this to go waste.

Nutrient Film Technique

This technique uses a constant flow of food so no timer is used. A tube is used to pump the nutrient solution into a tray where it can be absorbed by the plants’ roots. Any solution that is not absorbed automatically flows back into the reservoir. Typically, the plant is placed in a basket whereby the roots can hang freely into the solution. No other growing medium is required.

Aeroponics

The technology involved makes this the most complicated of the hydroponic systems. No medium is used as the roots grow in air, but are misted with a nutrient solution according to a precisely timed schedule every few minutes. The misting cycles need to be monitored to avoid the roots drying out.

Dark Room Grow Tent Vs. Homemade Grow Room

For hydroponic enthusiasts who do all their gardening indoors, a grow room is a good investment. It allows the grower to provide the exact growing conditions that plants need. Grow rooms can either be made at home or bought from a hydroponics store, for example, the Dark Room grow tent. Before you decide to go for a homemade grow tent or a readymade one, here’s what you should know:

Homemade Grow Room

For a homemade grow room, you are responsible for seeing to every aspect of your growing space, especially lighting and ventilation. Homemade grow rooms are designed to use natural sunlight, artificial lighting, or a combination of both types.

Lighting:
If you prefer artificial lighting for your homemade grow room, choose between high intensity discharge lamps or fluorescent lamps. High intensity discharge lamps, in the form of high pressure sodium (HPS) or metal halide (MH) lamps, generate the most light. However, they also produce large amounts of heat. On the other hand, traditional and compact fluorescent lamps have a lesser heat output, making these a better option for seedlings and young plants.

Ventilation: Growing plants in an enclosed space brings with it ventilation concerns. Not only do you have to make sure there is adequate air circulation for plants in your homemade grow room but also you have to find a way to disperse the excess heat generated by your lighting system. The best way to take care of this is to install a ventilation fan or blower.

Dark Room Grow Tent

Dark Room grow tents have been specially designed and tested to cater to all your grow room needs. These grow room tents save your time, energy, and the hassle of trying to see which growth conditions work for your plants.

Dark Room grow tents are convenient due to their easy assembly, portable carry bag, and sturdy yet lightweight structure. They are constructed of a highly reflective material like Mylar, which improves lighting performance of the grow tent by reflecting up to 97% of light produced. A Dark Room grow tent comes equipped with inlets and outlets for all necessary cables, lights, irrigation accessories, and ventilation chambers. Components within the tent can be shifted as needed thanks to the movable cross members in the frame of the roof.

While Dark Room grow tents are a bigger investment than a homemade grow room, their convenience and enhanced performance make them the preferred choice for most hydroponic gardeners.

Quality Growing by Additives and Stimulants

Plants need a regular supply of essential nutrients and compounds to grow to their fullest potential. Since hydroponics does not involve the use of soil, it becomes necessary for you to specially add these compounds to the growing medium. While you can prepare your own nutrients at home, it can be difficult and tedious to know the exact mixture and proportion of nutrients. Hence, it is not uncommon for professional growers to use scientifically tested brands of nutrients, hormones, stimulants, and other additives to ensure better and faster yields.

What Are Additives and Stimulants Used for?

Additives and stimulants are available for a variety of purposes, be it ensuring better blooms or growing longer branches. Some additives are used to improve the plant’s tolerance to drought and heat. Others may help to leach off excess salt in the nutrient reservoir at the end of the fruiting and flowering cycle.

Most of these products are organic or natural. Some are made from plant extracts such as GreenFuse or a mixture of marine, microbial, and mineral extracts as in Floralicious.

Here’s a look at some of the important additives and stimulants.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus, in the form of phosphates helps the plant in photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, cell division, and several other vital processes. Plants with sufficient phosphorus mature earlier. Phosphates along with growth enhancers are known to produce better blooms, lush growth, and stronger roots.

To get quicker results, use a well-known brand such as Grotek Monster Bloom and Grow, which is very popular among hydroponics enthusiasts. Alternatively, you can use a combination product such as additives from Canna.

Amino Acids and Carbohydrates

While plants synthesize amino acids and compounds naturally, adding these compounds increases yield and improves the overall health of plants. These compounds help plants to overcome stress during critical growth conditions such as fruiting and flowering. Some amino acids are known to have a chelating effect, which simply means that they help the plants absorb and transport nutrients. For professional growers, using a tested solution such as SugarDaddy is a must to get better flowers and fruits. Another well-known brand that you can try is Sweet.

Magnesium

For lush green leaves, you need to add magnesium from time to time. After all, magnesium is a component of chlorophyll, the substance that plants use to prepare their own food. Limited magnesium can lead to yellow older leaves. Many hydroponics enthusiasts use products such as MagiCal that combine magnesium with calcium, another vital nutrient, to achieve better results.

Hormones and Vitamins

Hormones and other substances affect the plant’s time of flowering, seed growth, leaf formation, longevity, and fruit development and ripening. These essential hormones and stimulants are used by plants only at specific stages. However, unlike animals, plants lack the glands to secrete hormones. Hence, it becomes necessary to externally add these substances to get better yields. Well-known brands include Nitrozime and Superthrive.