Who said that plants needed soil to grow? If you don't have enough space to plant your orchard or garden where you live, don't worry, here we show you How to Create Your Own Hydroponic Garden or Hydroponic Orchard where you can grow whatever you need without the need for soil.
Everything explained very simply, step by step, and with advice and recommendations on products you should buy…
What is hydroponic cultivation?
El hydroponic cultivation It is an advanced agricultural technique that allows plants to grow without using soil. This has been studied lately for space missions, where food can be grown for long-distance space travelers without the need to carry extra weight of soil on the spacecraft, but it also has its applications here on Earth for many people who live in cities and want to grow their own plants.
Instead of land, Plants are grown in an aqueous solution rich in nutrients essential for their development.This method is based on the premise that plants do not require soil itself, but the minerals and nutrients it contains. Therefore, if you give them water and nutrients, it will be enough for the plants to grow and develop properly. In other words, it is like the myth that people need to eat and drink, but the truth is that when some people go on a hunger strike for some reason, they can be kept alive by feeding them intravenously. Well, something like that, but with plants…
This type of crops have some and advantages clear, such as:
- Efficiency in water use: It uses up to 90% less water compared to traditional agriculture, since the water is recirculated and reused, and not as much is lost through absorption into the soil or evaporation.
- Nutrient control: allows for precise control of the nutrients received by plants, which can result in faster growth and higher yields. This is not always the case with conventional soils, which may be lacking in some nutrient, hence the use of fertilizers.
- Reduction of pests and diseases: By not using soil, many of the problems related to soil pests and diseases, such as some insects, worms, etc., are eliminated.
- Lower food contamination: It is also possible to avoid contamination or toxins that enter the food chain, since by not having soil, crops grown on contaminated soil that could be problematic are avoided. Likewise, by reducing the use of phytosanitary products for plaques, diseases, weeds, etc., the toxins that enter the food chain are also reduced.
What is a hydroponic garden?
Within hydroponic crops, we can talk about hydroponic gardenThis term is most often used to refer to smaller growing systems, often located in confined spaces such as balconies or interiors, and with a more ornamental focus, i.e. for growing flowering plants, lawns, etc.
What is a hydroponic garden?
On the other hand we could also talk about hydroponic gardenIn this case, it usually refers to larger crops or on a commercial scale, although it is not a primary condition. Unlike hydroponic gardens, in hydroponic gardens vegetables, fruits, tubers, cereals, legumes, etc. are produced for personal consumption or for sale.
Indoor vs outdoor hydroponics
The main difference between indoor and outdoor hydroponics lies in the growing environment.
- Indoor Hydroponics: Cultivation is carried out in closed spaces such as greenhouses, basements or adapted rooms. It allows for precise control of factors such as temperature, humidity, light and nutrients, optimising growth and production. Ideal for extreme climates or for growing all year round. However, it requires a larger initial investment in lighting and air conditioning equipment.
- Outdoor hydroponics: Cultivation is carried out outdoors, taking advantage of sunlight and natural climatic conditions. This allows for a lower initial investment, since natural resources are used. But there are also disadvantages, such as greater exposure to pests and diseases, less control over environmental conditions and seasonality in production.
Vertical vs horizontal farming
This classification refers to the orientation of the plants:
- vertical cultivation: Plants are grown on vertical structures, such as towers or walls, maximizing the use of available space. This allows it to be grown in small spaces, such as apartments or urban areas, meaning it allows for growing a larger number of plants in a smaller area. However, it is important to note that it requires specialized support and irrigation systems.
- Horizontal cultivation: In this case, plants are grown on horizontal tables or trays, similar to a conventional vegetable garden. The advantage is that it is a simpler and easier system to implement. However, it takes up more space compared to vertical cultivation.
Hybrid crops
It is important to note that these types of cultivation are not mutually exclusive. It is possible to combine several of the types seen in the two previous sections. In fact, many combine both to get the best of each type.
Most common hydroponic systems
On the other hand, we also have several common hydroponic systems that do not vary in orientation or location, as in the previous cases, but also vary depending on the system used for the cultivation itself:
- NFT (Nutrient Film Technique): the plant roots hang over a channel through which a thin film of nutrient solution circulates. This allows for a more efficient crop in terms of nutrient use, plant density, and makes it easier to monitor the roots. However, it also has disadvantages such as being more sensitive to possible failures of the liquid pump and requiring a constant supply of energy.
- Aeroponics: the roots of the plants hang in the air and are periodically sprayed with a fine mist of nutrient solution. This ensures maximum oxygenation of the roots and rapid and vigorous growth of the plants. However, it requires precise control of humidity and temperature and a higher risk of fungal contamination.
- Ebb and Flow: In this case, the plants are grown in trays that are periodically flooded with nutrient solution and then drained. The positive aspects of this system include its simplicity and reliability, which makes it particularly suitable for beginners. The problem is its higher consumption of nutrient solution compared to other systems.
- Floating Root (Deep Water Culture): In this system, plants are placed on a polystyrene foam net that floats on a reservoir of nutrient solution. It is easy to set up and is ideal for lettuce and other leafy plants such as spinach, chard, etc. However, it has a higher risk of algae growth and requires constant aeration.
- Goteo: In this case, the nutrient solution is supplied to the plants drop by drop through a drip irrigation system. It is a very versatile system, and can be used both with and without substrate. In addition, it is simple for beginners, but there may be a greater risk of drippers and microtubes becoming clogged.
- Wick: Finally, in this other case, the nutrient solution is transported to the plant roots through wicks. It is also a simple and economical system, ideal for small crops. But it is limited for large plants, and there is less control over the supply of nutrients.
How to assemble the hydroponic garden structure
At the structure of your hydroponic garden or orchard You can use a metal structure that you can weld yourself, or you can make it with PVC pipes, elbows, T-pieces, and other elements, and it is quite simple. Although if you do not want to complicate your life too much, you should also know that there are already made structures, and that they can be both vertical and horizontal, and thus have it ready to start growing on your terrace, balcony, or wherever you need.
It will all depend a bit on what you need to grow, the weight it has to support (keep in mind that it is not just the plant and the fluids, but also the fruit when it develops)…
As for the the substrates, if you are going to use themYou can choose the ones I show you or directly create them yourself using biomass, etc.:
hydroponic greenhouse
On the other hand, growing native plants or plants that can withstand climatic conditions like those you have in your area is not the same as growing other plants that may be from tropical climates, or from more specific climates, and even for growing plants out of season. For all this, you will need to condition your hydroponic garden or orchard to prevent frost, heat, and other conditions from ruining your plantation. That is, set up a greenhouse of your ownYou can make it either with a structure that you develop yourself, and plastic, or buy it already finished:
Remember that you can use Arduino or electronic elements to control the conditions inside the greenhouse, such as humidity, temperature, light sensors, etc., and use this data to monitor the conditions or to apply corrective measures to moderate the conditions.
How to create the drip irrigation system
This will depend on the type of hydroponic system you have chosen, from among those we have mentioned above. It will also depend on the size of your installation, since depending on the extension you will need more or less resources. However, to build the drip irrigation system or irrigationIf it is not integrated into the structure you have already purchased, it is very simple, as you would do for any other garden or orchard, except that, sometimes, instead of water, you will have to pump the solution with the nutrients.
Of course, you can add timers and control systems with humidity sensors, etc., to make it smarter…
Hydroponic fertilizer
For a hydroponic crop to be successful, Fertilizers or nutrients should contain a balanced mix of essential macronutrients and micronutrients.The life of the plants, the speed of growth, productivity, or quality will depend on it. And for your crops to be good, you must buy solutions (or create them yourself) that have:
- Macronutrients:
- Nitrogen (N): essential for vegetative growth and chlorophyll production.
- Phosphorus (P): important for root development and flowering.
- Potassium (K): Helps in water regulation and disease resistance.
- Calcium (Ca): necessary for the formation of cell walls.
- Magnesium (Mg): is the central component of the chlorophyll molecule.
- Sulfur (S): essential for the synthesis of amino acids and proteins.
- Micronutrients:
- Iron (Fe): It is crucial for the synthesis of chlorophyll.
- Manganese (Mn): This element participates in photosynthesis and the formation of organic compounds.
- Zinc (Zn): important for the production of growth hormones.
- Copper (Cu): necessary for photosynthesis and plant respiration.
- Boron (B): helps in the formation of cell walls and cell division.
- Molybdenum (Mo): involved in nitrogen fixation.
Remember that you have both the elements separately on the market, in case you want to make personalized recipes, as well as everything together, and even some specialized for flowering, for horticulture, etc.
Additionally, you should consider controlling other parameters, such as the pH, which should be optimal, and should generally be between 5.5 and 6.5, otherwise the absorption of nutrients will not be correct. You also have liquid solutions with everything you need, or powder solutions or water-soluble tablets to prepare…
Suitable seeds for your hydroponic cultivation
Not all plants adapt well to this type of cultivation, although in principle it could be used for any plant. To make things easier for you, we show you which ones are those that best adapt to hydroponic cultivation, so we can start with the simplest.
First of all, you need to know the reasons why these plants adapt better to hydroponic cultivation, and thus help you choose future plant seeds that allow you to guarantee success outside of this list that I will show later. Features you should consider to choose the best ones are:
- Short life cycle: Many of these plants have a relatively short growing cycle, which allows for frequent harvests. In other words, plants that last too long, or trees, do not adapt well.
- Shallow roots: Most leafy vegetables and herbs have shallow roots, making them ideal for hydroponic systems. Therefore, plants with many roots and thick taproots should be discarded.
- Available space: Also consider the size of the plant, as some plants, such as tomatoes or cucumbers, require more space than others. And if they grow too large before producing, they are not suitable, as they will overwhelm your space before you get any benefit.
- Lighting design: choose plants that are suited to the light conditions of your indoor or outdoor installation. Not all plants are suitable for indoor or outdoor use, as you may know…
- Climate: If you grow indoors, you will need to control the temperature and humidity. Outdoors you may also need to control the conditions in your hydroponic greenhouse, as we said above. Either way, this will be more expensive and complicated. To start, I recommend choosing native and seasonal plants.
So, I encourage you to investigate and start growing easier plants like the ones I'll show you later. Also, you can experiment with the crops and refine the methodology to get the best results. It's not an exact science, you can make many modifications on your own regarding light conditions, nutrients, conditions, etc., to see what works best for each species.
Leafy vegetables
Plants such as lettuce, spinach, chard, lamb's lettuce, watercress and also the so-called microgreens (tender sprouts of soybeans, chives, broccoli, radishes, etc.) adapt very well to hydroponic crops because they grow quickly or have very short growth cycles. In addition, they are quite resistant, and can even adapt well to indoor conditions in some cases.
Orchard
Of course, you can also grow some typical garden plants, such as melon, watermelon, various varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, aubergines, various peppers, etc. All of these adapt well to hydroponic conditions, but keep in mind the weight of the fruit, since when a melon or watermelon grows, it can weigh several kilos, so you would have to provide a structure to support it and give it enough space for it to grow…
Red fruits or berries
On the other hand, berries and red fruits can also be good varieties to start with in your hydroponic cultivation. For example, I would highlight strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. All of them produce well in this type of cultivation.
Aromatic herbs
Finally, if you like spices to flavour your meals, you can also have a variety of aromatic plants such as mint, parsley, basil, oregano, thyme, coriander... They tend to grow quickly and are easy to care for.
And remember! Always respect the planting times and other recommendations for each type of seed…