Starting Hydroponics? Read our beginners’ guide!

Starting hydroponics is a daunting world, especially to a newbie. There are so many aspects to think about from your crop type, to your nutrients to your setup. This can be especially hard to get into when you’ve got no solid source of information. It’s like there is no guidance to take you along this road.

Luckily, we’ve got you covered, with our handy guide on Hydroponics for beginners, so let’s get started!

1. Space

First, you’ve got to think about space. No matter how fancy a setup you could get into and no matter what produce you’re looking to grow, you’ve got to ask yourself: How much space do I have? Where can I get a setup going?

The good news is that nearly any amount of space, no matter how limited, can be utilised for Hydroponics. Locations might include disused garages and sheds, storage sections under stairways, basements and even attics. The only important things to note are your levels of humidity (which are more of an issue in basements than anywhere else), ambient temperature fluctuations (which you’ll see change from season to season, especially in attics) and stability. These can all be massively altered through air conditioners, heaters and specialised housing units. Or perhaps you’re already an avid gardener with a greenhouse? In which case, greenhouse units are ideal for Hydroponics setups!

2. Hydroponics Technique

Next, we need to think about what type of setup you want to use. What are the strengths and weaknesses to each type of setup? Can you use multiple types in conjunction with one another?

The most common type of Hydroponics setup is NFT, or Nutrient Film Technique. This technique sits the plants on a spreader mat that water is pumped into. The spreader mat will help to evenly distribute the nutrient water to the crops, keeping the plant’s nutrient levels at a consistent rate. The reason why they are so attractive is that their sheer simplicity and high growth rate makes them a very attractive prospect for many enthusiasts. They’re also incredibly easy to clean and maintain, with spreader mats that are no longer fit for purpose being easy to remove and replace.

The next most popular type is Ebb and Flow, also known as Flood and Drain. This technique raises the water levels on a set timer every so often in order to feed the nutrients to the crop. This helps ensure that the crops are all given an exact amount of nutrients on a fixed schedule.

Deep Water Culture is another popular type of Hydroponic technique. In this setup, the roots of a crop drop down directly into a nutrient-rich water source. To ensure that they get enough Oxygen, a pump releases a flurry of bubbles into the water just below the root zone which oxygenates it.

Drippers are the last major Hydroponic technique. This time, there are cables that pass through into the roots for each crop. These cables feed through a drip of solution into the roots directly. These can be controlled as desired, allowing a very precise command of conditions influencing the growth of the plant.

It’s important to note that there are other techniques too. These include Aeroponics, where a nutrient mist is released over the plants, and Aquaponics, where a nearly closed system of aquatic life and plants will feed each other with less human interaction than other techniques. However, these techniques tend to be a niche within a niche and are usually only applicable with smaller plants at an earlier stage in their life cycle.

It’s also important to note that many of the techniques listed above are often used in conjunction with one another. This ensures that if one system fails, another can support the plants until it is fixed. More than anything, it’s simply a failsafe.

3. Components

Each technique and/or setup will utilize a variety of components. Knowing what is needed to run each setup correctly is critical for success. These components can range from a very simplistic setup to more complicated systems. These in turn may be the result of a combination of different techniques.

No matter your setup, you’ll require one or more grow lights as well in order to ensure your plants can photosynthesize effectively. The spectrum of light needed for a plant varies on the type, as well as the stage in the plant’s lifecycle. It’s also important to consider the footprint that the light can effect, different wattages will usually have differing footprints.

4. Nutrients

The bread and butter of your crop are the nutrients. Without them, they won’t grow and if you get incorrect nutrients, your crops may not grow well enough for healthy produce. The main three nutrients that are needed are usually referenced as NPK – Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. These three, along with Calcium, Magnesium and Sulfur, are also called ‘Macronutrients’. Lesser importance is given to a second family of elements called ‘Micronutrients’. These include Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Boron, Molybdenum, Nickle, Chlorine, Aluminium, Silicon, Titanium, Cobalt, Sodium, Vanadium and Lithium. Important notes on nutrients:

• Nitrogen facilitates growth and is critical for ensuring consistency through the various stages of development.
• Phosphorus and Potassium facilitate flowering/fruiting, stem strength and root growth, and are more important for the later stages of development but are also needed throughout.
• The other three Macronutrients, as well as the Micronutrients, have unique uses that are important for specific plant life and crops. Always remember to read up on anything you want to grow to ensure you know what your specific plant or crop of choice needs to sustain healthy growth and vibrant produce.

Although the most common and easiest way of obtaining these nutrients for your plant life is through nutrient solutions, you can also find these nutrients in many organic materials such as bloodmeal, bonemeal, hoof/hornmeal, fishmeal, wool waste, wood ashes, dried insects, leather waste, kelpmeal, animal manure and more. These will all provide varying degrees of macronutrients and micronutrients. In some cases may lack some critical macronutrients entirely. So if you choose this route, make sure you know what your organic material of choice will produce in terms of nutrient value.

Whatever your choice in technique, components and nutrients, Future Garden has you covered. We stock a wide range of solutions for anything you may need. Our team is always up-to-date with the most advanced industry knowledge available. So if you need advice or assistance, feel free to drop into one of our stores or simply drop us an email and we will be in touch!