In this blog article we explain which plants are most suitable for growing in hydroponics. For starters, let's make it clear that when we talk about hydroponic plants, we're not really referring to one type of plant, but a way of growing plants that can thrive very well when grown with this technique. Hydroponic cultivation consists in producing plants without using land, so that the plant develops only in water, to which all the nutrients necessary for cultivation are applied.
Hydroponic cultivation is applicable to almost all plant species and it is very common to use it for ornamental species, since thanks to it the flowers are kept longer. However, although this type of cultivation is practiced more and more, it is not a recently invented technique: the Aztecs practiced it already in ancient times in their floating gardens.
As we mentioned, virtually any plant can be grown hydroponically. This type of technique is used more and more frequently by some gardening and horticulture lovers, as it is a different and suggestive way to have a bumper harvest.
However, in some territories where the land is not fertile or there is not an abundance of land but there is a lot of water, hydroponic cultivation can also establish itself as a valid alternative in industry, since in addition to producing foods richer in nutrients and healthier, it needs shorter times.
Despite this, there are some species of plants that are particularly appreciated and suitable for hydroponic cultivation due to their individual characteristics:
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Pepper
- Spinach
- Mint
- Celery
- Marjoram
- Mint
- Portulaca
- Wise
- Basil
- Origan
- Valerian
- Ginger
- Lavender
- Parsley
- Garlic
How to grow hydroponic plants
Hydroponics is defined as the agriculture of the future due to the fact that it produces healthier and more nutritious crops, better optimizing the resources that are supplied to the plant, as well as requiring less fertilizers and pesticides. Every day more and more people are encouraged to practice home hydroponics. If you want to practice vertical or horizontal hydroponics to have your garden on the water, you will need a home hydroponic kit, which you can buy in our ready-made online store or assemble yourself.
Next, we'll show you how to make a simpler home hydroponic grower that can be done. One system that you have probably seen on our site is the NFT hydroponic system, which is very striking because it works through a series of pipes and channels that are arranged in several rows like a vertical garden. In them, the nutrient solution is in constant circulation, so that the water never stagnates and the plant gets what it needs at all times.
In these cases it is much more advisable to purchase one of the systems and kits that are sold, as they are more complex and efficient and of a higher technical level.
As for the care for growing hydroponic plants at home, it must be taken into account that, apart from the technique with water, each species or type of hydroponic plant can have different needs, so we recommend that when buying seeds or plants ask the shop specialist about that plant's specific needs (light, temperature, nutrients, etc.).
How to start a homemade hydroponics
Hydroponic or hydroponic cultivation is the system of growing plants without the use of soil, plants grow with water or with some inert material and nutrients. To set up a hydroponic system you need a series of basic elements that can be purchased on a limited budget and that facilitate the cultivation of plants when the soil is not available or space is very limited. To finish talking about growing hydroponics, let's explain how to make a homemade hydroponic grow in a simple way. To do this, you will need the following:
Materials for home hydroponics
- An air pump. You won't be able to do this easily, because it has to be a pump that oxygenates the water, like those used in aquariums. Without this oxygenation of the water, the roots will not develop properly and contamination in the water may occur. Therefore, it is better to buy one.
- An opaque container. A box, basin, large tube, or other container of sufficient depth. It must be opaque because the roots need darkness.
- Germinated seeds. You can sprout them yourself or buy them ready-made.
Step by step to get a hydroponic crop
- Make a hole in the bottom of the container you have chosen. It is important to have a plastic cap or waterproof material to cover it with.
- Fill the container with water, without reaching the edge. At the same time, prepare the lid of the container by preparing a few holes the size of those that can be drilled, all of the same size.
- Put the germinated shoots in the holes, so that the roots are well covered by the water, then fix them with the substrate of your choice. Some popular hydroponic substrates are pumice stone and gravel.
- Place your hydroponic plant in an area that is lit but where it does not receive the most intense hours of natural light. Do not forget to add the oxygenating pump to the water and program it to activate at least a few minutes every 3 hours.
- Additionally, a hydroponic nutrient solution will need to be applied to the water and substrate. Here, each species has its own needs and frequencies.
Origins and Advantages of Hydroponic Cultivation
From its origins it is known that two German scientists discovered in the 1860s how to grow plants without the need for soil: they only need a means of support so that their roots are in contact with water and periodically provide the food of they need. . They were also able to verify that the use was higher than that of traditional cultivation and that it increased horticultural production.
This technique has numerous advantages, both for domestic use and for commercial exploitation in agriculture. Some food and ornamental plants are grown in this way due to lack of adequate soil or to make the most of the space, at home it is very easy to keep a hydroponic home garden and also ornamental plants inside the house that live well in a pot of water. .
Optimal plants to grow with this method include:
Lettuce and other leafy vegetables require minimal maintenance and grow very well in hydroponic systems. Tomatoes and peppers can also be planted, but they require a little more sophisticated systems and more maintenance due to the size of the plant. The flowers of these vegetables, so fashionable in the decoration of dishes, are usually obtained by hydroponic means as the growth is quite fast.
There are ornamental plants that grow well in a simple pot with water, such as pothos, spatiphilum or the sweet potato plant. A hydroponic system that has been used in a traditional way in many homes and which probably gave rise to a deeper understanding of the subject.
Hemp is another plant suitable for this type of cultivation. On our site it will be easy to find hydroponic systems, both for normal seeds and for autoflowering seeds with which to obtain an easy and high quality harvest.
Hydroponic agriculture has many points in its favor: the inert substrate guarantees the absence of harmful germs for plants, allows a saving of irrigation water, is less influenced by atmospheric agents, a better use of nutrients and a considerable increased production. You can make a hydroponic home garden, but to get good results you need to know the methods and apply them well.
Hydroponics is definitely an option to consider because there are many agents that influence the traditional way of farming, such as its ecological impact and its high production costs.
Whether it is to always have fresh and available aromatic plants or to grow tasty tomatoes and fresh salad, have fun with us to experience Hydroponic cultivation!