Cultivation of plants has been carried out since time immemorial. But with the development of the times, technology and human needs began to find creative ideas in developing planting methods.
During the pandemic, hydroponics is known to the public as one of the independent solutions to provide food sources without having to leave the house. What and how to plant hydroponics will be spelled out in the following review,
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What Is Hydroponics?
Hydroponics is a word that actually comes from Greece. Hydro means water while Ponos means Power or Work. Therefore, we can conclude that the meaning of hydroponics is to grow crops by maximizing water resources.
However, in line with the growth of the times, hydroponics, which was originally only known as a method of cultivating plants that only depended on water availability, is now hydroponics known as soilless culture, which means growing crops without using soil media.
The higher the attention and understanding of humans on the needs of fertilizer use, hydroponic techniques are increasingly known as a way of planting without using soil but paying close attention to the needs of nutritional elements for plants.
Even without soil media, plants will still grow as long as their nutrition is well met. The mindset that soil functions as a buffer for plants and water as a nutrient solvent that will be distributed to plants makes hydroponic techniques increasingly believed to be a solution to save soil and fertilizer but with the fulfillment of sufficient nutrients in plants.
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Benefits of Hydroponics
By using the hydroponic method you will get many benefits.
First, there is no need to be confused with the location of planting because the hydroponic method only requires a place as necessary, aka saving space.
Second, although it depends on the availability of water, the hydroponic method can apparently save water use.
Thirdly, as the definition of the term Hydroponics implies, the mini tana method does not require soil.
Fourth, hydroponics does not wait for the arrival of a certain season, until you can plant using this method at any time.
Fifth, the provision of nutrients that are important in plant cultivation can be done easily.
Sixth, there is no need to worry about environmental pollution because the hydroponic method is pollution-free.
Fifth, do not need pesticides, that way your plants must be healthy and safe for consumption.
Sixth, the hydroponic method has clean properties so that you can still guarantee its sterility.
Seventh, it will be very troubling if the plants you care for are infested with weeds, the good news of the hydroponic method is the safety of the bully or weed.
Eighth, without the headache of constantly replacing planting installations, because the media in hydroponics can be used for many years.
Ninth, hydroponics has the advantage of its faster and better production.
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Disadvantages of Hydroponics
Although Hydroponics has many benefits, there are some drawbacks that the method has.
First, it requires a large amount of capital
Secondly, it is not easy to find the tools and materials
Third, extra precision is needed
Fourth, it is required to have skills
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How to Make Hydroponics
First, if you want to try farming with hydroponic techniques, you need to find or collect used bottles that are still good. It also has the benefit of keeping used bottles from being thrown away for nothing.
Secondly, take the cap of the bottle and put a hole in it by stabbing.
Third, cut off the center of the bottle and combine the two. The upper bottle puts it upside down.
Fourth, closed that has been hollowed out give flannel as the axis.
Fifth, pay attention to the position of the wick and bottle media so that nutrients can flow well in plants.
Sixth, fill the bottom bottle with nutrient water. Note that the distance of the seedling with water will have an effect on more or less the plant absorbing nutrients.
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Hydroponic Planting Media
First, rice husk charcoal has the advantage of absorbing water well and can store water for food reserves. Husk charcoal apparently has benefits to be used as fertilizer and can be used as a planting medium in the seedbed.
Secondly, hydrotones are products produced from clay and then processed by heating at high temperatures. Because it has small pores, hydrotones are excellent at coping with excess moisture and can cope with overwatering.
Third, rockwool is a product produced from pumice that is processed into a growing medium in vegetables and ornamental plants. Rockwool can retain a large amount of water, and is also useful as a support on the development of plant roots.
Fourth, synthetic and natural zeolite. Synthesis zeolite is the result of scientific engineering of a material with a fairly difficult procedure. While natural zeolite is a mineral that can be obtained directly from nature.
Fifth, gravel has large pores when compared to sand. Gravel media has often been used as a hydroponic planting medium. Unfortunately, the binding force of water to gravel is relatively low which causes it to dry and wet easily if you do not do regular watering.
Sixth, bricks have the function of attaching roots. It is good if the size of the bricks that will be the hydroponic planting medium is reduced to a size of only two or three centimeters.
Seventh, hydrogel is a planting medium that is quite efficient and also practical. Because by using a hydrogel you don’t need to replace a new one. If you have a favorite color, the use of hydrogel planting media can be tried because there are various colors available.
Eighth, coconut husk powder or what is called cocopeat block is the rest of the processing from the description of coconut husk. Cocopeat, which is printed in the form of cubes, is often used as a substitute for soil and mixture in making organic fertilizers.
Ninth, vermiculite functions to increase water absorption when used in a mixture of planting media. So that plants can easily get water you can use vermiculite, because it has a high water absorption capacity.
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Types of Hydroponic Plants
First, kale is a vegetable that is commonly consumed by the people of Indonesia. Not only does it taste good, but kale also has good nutrients needed by the body. By using the hydroponic method, you can reproduce this vegetable plant.
Secondly, red tomatoes are one of the hydroponic plants that require special care. Whether or not its growth is determined by the selection of seedlings. Therefore, use quality seeds so that the tomatoes you care for can develop properly.
Third, pakcoy is a green vegetable that contains a lot of minerals and vitamins. This vegetable has a similarity of shape with mustard, the difference is that the stem of pakcoy is round and short. If you manage to plant well, you can harvest the result after twenty days of caring for it.
In addition, there are also cucumbers, kailan vegetables, spinach, celery, chili, and onions that you can grow hydroponically.
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Hydroponic System
If you really want to try hydroponics, then it is necessary to know what systems are used in hydroponics. Some of those systems are
First, the wick system.
Secondly, the water system.
Third, ebb and blow.
Fourth, drip hydroponics.
Fifth, nutrient film technology.
Sixth, aeroponic systems.
Seventh, DFT hydroponics.
Eighth, bubbleponic hydroponics.
You need to know the eight systems in hydroponics before deciding on the cultivation of hydroponic plants.