Nowadays, many people have a hobby of gardening and growing vegetables. For those of you who have a land that is not too large, you can choose the hydroponic planting method. Hydroponics is indeed very familiar to our ears, but not many people really know what cultivation is growing plants with a hydroponic system.
Planting by hydroponics is planting by utilizing water without using soil media as a place for plants to grow. Planting in a hydroponic way emphasizes the fulfillment of nutritional needs for plants. The water requirement in this planting method is less than the planting method in the ground, so it is suitable in areas with minimal water supply.
There are many reasons why people choose to grow in a hydroponic way. Hydroponics work is relatively easy, does not require much time and cost, the use of fertilizer is also more efficient. If dead plants can be immediately replaced with new plants, planting in this way also has a smaller potential to be attacked by pests because it is in a human-controlled environment or is not dependent on nature.
Hydroponic Planting Media
Before starting to grow hydroponic plants, you must first prepare the required planting medium.
- Husk charcoal
Husk charcoal has a good water binding ability, besides it is also environmentally friendly.
- Cotton
Cotton has a high water-absorbing ability so it is good for plants.
- Sponge
Because it has large pores, cotton wool has the ability to flow nutrients to the roots well. In addition, sponges are also lighter and cheaper.
- Cork
Cork is usually used for adjustment of plant parts before transplanting into the ground.
- Gravel
Gravel has many pores so that it can conduct air and nutrients in plants.
- Rockwool
In addition to being environmentally friendly rockwool is also made of natural fibers which are useful for making the stems and roots of plants more upright and stable.
- Cocopeat
Cocopeat has a high water-absorbing ability and has a stable pH or humidity.
- Fern stem
Fern stems easily bind water, besides their soft texture can easily penetrate the roots.
How to Grow Hydroponics
For those of you who just want to start growing hydroponics, you can pay attention to the methods below so that your planting process runs smoothly.
- Preparing the necessary tools
You need to prepare a paralon pipe with a diameter of 7.6 cm with a length according to your wishes. Also prepare plastic cups that have been hollowed out in small pieces, paralon covers, paralon connectors, glue and paralon saws. After that, also prepare water, plants, and gravel as a hydroponic planting medium.
- Perforating paralon pipes
This hole serves as a place for plastic cups that will be filled with plants. Make sure that the distance of the holes from each other is parallel.
- Closing both ends of the paralon pipe
Closing the end of this paralon pipe serves so that the pipe does not leak when filled with water.
- Setting up the racks
Prepare shelves or gutters that are useful for laying paralon pipes.
- Filling water into the paralon pipe
Fill enough paralon water, not too much and not too little. Too much water will make the roots rot, while too little water makes the plant unable to develop properly.
- Grow vegetables into plastic cups
Plant vegetables into plastic cups that have been hollowed out with gravel.
- Putting plastic cups in paralon pipes
Put the plastic cup that has filled the plant into the hole of the prepared paralon pipe.
- Observing the volume of water
Periodically observe the volume of water and the roots of the plant.
Home Hydroponic Plants
For those of you who cultivate hydroponic plants at home, you can take advantage of your yard by growing hydroponic plants that you can use daily, such as:
- Sealed
- Paprika
- Tomato
- Water spinach
- Celery
- Pakcoy
- Spinach
- Wine
- Strawberry
- Mustard greens
Hydroponic Farming Requirements
The requirements for hydroponic farming are that it requires certain land, namely land that is less water than soil media, using water media, plants that can be planted are also certain, have sufficient planting time, sufficient light and water, and good care.
Hydroponic Plant Growing Requirements
In the cultivation of hydroponic plants, you must pay attention to the growing requirements of hydroponic plants so that plants grow well and healthily. Here are the terms of growing hydroponic plants:
- Sufficient sunlight
Hydroponic plants need 8 to 10 hours of sunlight every day in order to produce good plant growth. You can also use brightly lit LED lights when you feel the sun’s light is lacking.
- Air
Plants need the right oxygen and carbon dioxide to be able to photosynthesize perfectly.
- Air
Not all water can be used in the cultivation of hydroponic plants. Water that has been filtered through reserve osmosis is most appropriate at 15-16 EC or the equivalent of clear groundwater. This water will be excellent when dissolved with nutrients.
- Level pH
pH itself is hydrogen contained in water. Nutrient pH is one of the important things in hydroponic cultivation. The pH is certainly different for each plant, but a fairly safe range for hydroponic plants is 5.5-6.5.
- Temperatures
Air temperature is a staple in the process of plant growth. You need to be able to tell which plants require high air temperatures and plants that require low air temperatures.
- Nutrients
If you want to get a good and abundant harvest, you need to pay attention to the nutrients you provide to the plant. Replace your plant nutrient shelter between 12 to 14 days with new nutrients.
How to Care for Hydroponic Plants
For those of you who have hydroponic plants, you should not care for them.
- Checking the water reservoir
- Always check the condition of the nutrient solution every day and replace it once every three days
- Check nutrient channels
- Use clean water as a nutrient solution mixture
- Make sure the nutrients are not in an expired state
- Diligently clean the container and place of the nutrient solution
- Take care of the plant environment
- Check the condition of the planting media and plants periodically
Benefits of Hydroponic Vegetables
Hydroponic vegetables are vegetables that grow with the help of liquids containing minerals for growing. Because hydroponic vegetables do not need soil, these vegetables are far from pesticides, making vegetables healthier. In planting it you need to pay attention to the supply of minerals in the water used, air, and sufficient light so that the vegetables are more nutritious.
Advantages of Growing Hydroponic Vegetables
In growing hydroponic vegetables, there are many advantages that you will get. Here are some of the advantages of growing vegetables by hydroponics are:
- Requires only a small amount of water
- Vegetables grow faster
- Humidity, nutrients and the environment in which vegetables grow can be adjusted
- More yields
- Does not require a large area of land to plant
- Plants do not need weeding
- Does not contain chemicals
- Has a fresh plant when going to cook