Welcome to the world of hydroponics, where plants flourish without soil! Imagine a garden brimming with greens and fruits, nurtured without a speck of dirt. The secret? pH—the tiny yet mighty key to hydroponic success. Discover the wonders of hydroponics and the importance of pH in gardening, whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a newbie. By the end, you’ll be ready to create your own thriving hydroponic retreat.
What is Hydroponics?
Hydroponics is gaining popularity in recent days as an alternative method of traditional farming. This method of growing plants doesn’t require soil, and the roots of your plant are supported by a solution of nutrients and water.
Advantages of Hydroponics:
The hydroponics market is expected to reach $725 million by 2023, as per the survey conducted by Berkshire Hathaway.
Growing in hydroponic systems has several advantages over traditional soil farming.
- With this growing technique, you can grow food anytime of the year and anywhere without the need for fertile soil.
- You may grow plants in hydroponics with fewer resources, as it requires 95% less water than traditional soil farming.
- There is an increase in productivity of 3 to 10 times as plants have direct access to the necessary nutrients.
- It is scalable and saves space, making hydroponics suitable for urban and indoor farming.
- As a grower, you have precise control over the nutrient content. This leads to the growth of healthy plants, eliminating the risk of nutrient deficiency.
- The need for pesticides and chemical treatments is eliminated, leading to safer and cleaner produce.
- Hydroponics is an environmentally friendly option as it reduces soil erosion and nutrient leaching.
- The controlled environment leads to improvements in the quality of plants, their taste, and their nutritional value.
What plants can be grown with Hydroponics?
Almost all varieties of plants can be grown with the help of hydroponics. Here are a list of few plants that work particularly well:
- Leafy vegetables: Leafy greens like spinach, kale, lettuce and broccoli are well-suited due to their shallow root systems.
- Herbs: Micro herbs like mint, basil, cilantro, oregano can be successfully grown in the hydroponics
- Vegetables: Vegetables like carrot, radish, tomatoes, beetroot, and cucumber can thrive in an elaborate hydroponics setup.
- Fruits: Fruits like strawberries, raspberries, grapes, blueberries are well-adapted to hydroponic cultivation.
Understanding pH and its importance in Hydroponics
The pH scale determines how acidic or basic the water is. The range of pH is 0 to 14, with 7 representing neutrality. pH values below 7 indicate acidity, whereas pH values above 7 indicate baseness.
Every plant needs to consume a balanced diet of nutrients to grow to their full potential. The availability of these elements for your plants is greatly influenced by the pH (potential hydrogen) of your fertilizer solution.
Different pH levels are needed for soil-grown plants than for plants grown in hydroponic systems. Monitoring and maintaining the pH levels is crucial for hydroponically produced plants because they cannot absorb nutrients when the pH levels are either too high or too low.
What is the Ideal pH for Hydroponics?
The pH of nutrient solutions used in hydroponics should range from 5 to 6 (often 5.5), ensuring that the root environment stays between 6 and 6.5. This pH range is where plants may access nutrients most easily.
How to measure pH of the nutrient solution?
You can measure the pH of the nutrient solution using any of the following methods. They are:
- Paper test strips:
This is the cheapest method available to measure the pH of a solution. All you need is a strip that contains pH sensitive dye. This strip changes color when you dip it in a solution.
You can determine the pH of your solution comparing the color of the strip on the color chart. Though it is inexpensive, the results aren’t accurate when you don’t have a clear nutrient solution.
- Liquid based pH test kit:
This is another popular method available to test the pH of a solution that gives more accurate results than the paper test strips.
Add a few drops of pH sensitive dye to a cup containing the nutrient solution. Depending on the pH value, the solution will change color.
You can then compare the color to a color chart to determine the pH of the nutrient solution.
- Digital pH meter:
A digital pH meter is the best tool for checking pH levels. Hobby gardeners often use a digital pH pen as pH reading equipment, which is available in a wide range of sizes and price points. Just dip the meter’s electrode tip into the nutritional solution until a pH value appears on the screen.
It’s critical to maintain the accuracy of your electronic pH meter. To calibrate your meter, you’ll need a calibration solution. Place the meter’s top into the calibration solution. When the reading on the display agrees with the pH of the calibration solution, alter the calibration setting on the meter.
How do you maximize the yield of produce in Hydroponics?
With the combination of the right tools and right practices you can get the highest yield of produce in Hydroponics.
They are as follows:
- Conductivity or EC meter:
The conductivity of the nutrient solution determines the need for nutrient replenishment and concentration. An EC meter helps you determine the conductivity of your solution.
- pH meter:
It’s important to measure the pH of the nutrient solution with a digital pH meter to ensure that your plants get the right amount of nutrients.
- Lighting:
To increase yield, sunlight, artificial light, or a combination of both can be employed. Due to their low power consumption, LED lights have become more popular recently.
- Air control:
To boost fertility, the amount of CO2 in the air can be increased in enclosed spaces.
Final Thoughts:
You did it! With the power of pH now in your hands, you can explore the fascinating world of hydroponics. With hydroponics, there are countless opportunities and immeasurable benefits. You have the ability to create your own beautiful, lush paradise, whether it’s a sunny balcony or a spacious garden. So put your hands to work, let your plants flourish, and watch as your garden blossoms like never before.
