If you want to start growing your own food, hydroponic systems can be a great option. There are a wide variety of plants that will thrive in a hydroponic system.
Here are some of the most common hydroponic plants. Tomatoes, cucumbers, and carnations are just a few of them. You can also try growing exotic vegetables, such as goji berries, okra, and mango.
In this post, we will cover:
Common hydroponic plants
Herbs and lettuce are common hydroponic plants that grow well in a system. Herbs like warm temperatures and need frequent pruning, while lettuce requires very little light and needs a lot of water.
Some other common hydroponic plants include lavender, thyme, and mint. These plants also tend to grow much faster than their soil counterparts. Lettuce can last for two to three years, depending on the variety.
While not as popular as tomatoes, cucumbers, and melons, hydroponics can still provide a steady supply of produce. Tomatoes, for example, need six hours of daylight per day.
Plants grown in a hydroponic system may require more complex lighting than conventional gardens, due to different spectrums, intensity, and power needs. This makes hydroponic lighting a complex process.
Celery can take up to eight weeks to reach maturity in a standard growing system. However, it is important to provide it with extra attention during this period, including trimming the stem buds.
Proper pH levels and EC levels are critical to the success of your hydroponic garden. Chives can be grown outdoors or indoors under fluorescent grow lights. But they need a large amount of light for them to flourish.
Fertilizers used in a hydroponic system are similar to those used in soil. Fertilizers are soluble in water and can be used to feed plants. They are available at hydroponic supply stores.
Most nutrient solutions are highly concentrated and use two to four teaspoons per gallon of water. Liquid fertilizers are easiest to use because they dissolve quickly into the reservoir. Powerful nutrient solutions require careful monitoring.
Tomatoes
One of the best plants to grow in a hydroponics system are tomatoes. These plants have been found to have 40 percent higher yields and can reach very high heights. Although you can grow them with soil, tomato seedlings can often get infected with germs and insects.
Many hydroponic growers start their seedlings indoors. Rockwool cubes make for an excellent growing medium and can be soaked in water to prevent weeds and mold.
Tomatoes thrive in a pH level of 5.5 to 6.5, though they can survive at temperatures as high as 90 degrees. However, it’s important to maintain a constant batch of seedlings and plants in your hydroponics system in order to have consistent, plentiful crops.
To ensure a continuous supply of tomatoes, you should monitor the pH levels in your growing medium. Tomatoes require high levels of nutrient solutions.
After transplanting your tomato seedlings into your hydroponics system, you can harvest them. Tomatoes are known to have high nutritional requirements, so it’s important to choose a good fertilizer that contains all of these ingredients.
Try using a NPK fertilizer to keep your plants healthy. For best results, use a nutrient package formulated specifically for hydroponics. Using non-hydroponic fertilizer may clog your system and lead to lower yields.
Tomatoes must be tied to a support or trellis, or other suitable structure. When tied properly, tomatoes will grow taller than soil-grown tomatoes, but they should not be too tightly tied.
They should be tied before fruiting and if tied early on, they will ripen well. They can also be tied to a supporting pole or frame. The support should be sturdy enough to hold the weight of the plants.
Carnations
In a hydroponic system, carnations are best grown from cuttings. Cuttings may be rooted immediately, or they may be stored for up to two weeks before rooting. Plant the cuttings in a medium that is at least 1/4 strength.
You may also want to use rooting hormones. Plant the cuttings in the grow medium at about 1/3 their original height, and mist daily.
As a rule of thumb, carnations are best grown in temperatures between 65 degrees Fahrenheit and 75 degrees F. They are best started in a rockwool starter plug at four to five inches high.
Unlike other plants, carnations need support as they grow. A hydroponic system can make this process much easier. When growing carnations, be sure to sterilize your rock-wool starter plugs thoroughly.
If you want to plant your carnations in a hydroponic system, you can start by harvesting tip cuttings from healthy plants. The cutoff tip should be three to five inches long. Larger tips make it difficult to root.
Aim to avoid cuttings that are dry, as they do not allow for cellular regeneration. Alternatively, you can use cold storage for up to two weeks before rooting your cuttings.
When rooting your cuttings, use perlite or vermiculite as your growing media. Other growers may use root cubes and oasis boxes.
Orchids also thrive in hydroponics. Orchids normally grow in soilless environments, latching onto rocks and trees with air roots. In nature, orchids absorb water from the rain, and hydroponics farms mirror this.
The best orchids grow in soil less environments with good air circulation and drainage around the roots. It is best to use a hydroponics system to grow these beautiful plants.
Cucumbers
There are many advantages of growing cucumbers in a hydroponic system. Unlike conventional cucumbers, hydroponic cucumbers do not require a soil mix, so they can grow in any kind of growing medium.
Unlike conventional cucumbers, which mature when they are around 12-14 inches long, hydroponic cucumbers can start producing as early as four to eight weeks after seed sowing. Cucumbers can also be trained to climb a trellis, which makes them perfect for hydroponic growing.
Aside from their low water requirements, cucumbers also have a relatively high yield potential. While most cucumber varieties are known for their high yields, they are not particularly attractive to consumers.
Moreover, cucumbers tend to develop a bitter taste if left on the vine for long periods of time. To avoid this problem, choose cultivars that produce fruit without pollination, which usually have the “PM” designation on the seed packet.
Aside from powdery mildew, other diseases commonly found in hydroponic garden environments include fusarium, verticulium, and wilts.
Because cucumber plants are vining plants, they need support in order to grow properly and produce enough fruit. Whether you choose a bush or an indeterminate variety, you should use a wire or string to train cucumber vines upward.
They should be planted deep enough in the soil to prevent drying and to release the seed coat during germination. They can also be grown in individual cell pots.
After seedlings are well-established, they can be trained to hang down and require moderate amounts of light and warmth.
Cucumber seedlings can be grown two or three plants per planting space and should receive nutrient solutions as per standard vegetable formulation.
In addition to these, cucumber seedlings can be fertilized with a moderate-strength nutrient solution.
Rosemary
If you’re looking for a culinary herb that grows well in a hydroponic system, rosemary is a great choice. Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean, so it needs long, uninterrupted daytime light.
You should make sure that your plants spend at least 11 hours per day basking under strong, full-spectrum light. The best way to mimic this light is to use high-pressure sodium lights, but these are expensive.
Another option is a compact fluorescent grow lamp. Make sure the light stays on for a longer period of time to avoid root rot.
For optimal hydroponic growth, Rosemary should be grown in a NFT system. The temperature should be between sixty and seventy degrees.
The plant’s growth rate is stunted at lower temperatures. The best time to sow the seeds is early winter. You can then transplant the seedlings into a larger pot. You can then transplant them to the hydroponic system.
While rosemary can grow in soil, it does best in an alkaline soil. Most varieties will need full sun, though some will do well in shady areas.
Moreover, rosemary can be easily propagated. The easiest way to propagate this herb is by making six-inch stem cuttings and sticking them in a mix of leaf mold and sand. Properly cared-for rosemary plants will give you a harvest of tasty, fragrant leaves.
The herb is a prized herb in central Asia and Europe. Its aromatic, fern-like leaves enhance any dish, including fish, soups, and vegetables. Its only drawback is that it has a short shelf-life, so make sure you plant a large quantity of it in your hydroponic system.
If you want to have fresh herbs for cooking and preserving, rosemary is the best plant to grow in a hydroponic system.