Let’s talk hydroponic growing. Anyone who chooses to grow hydroponics understands the benefits. Hydroponics can improve growth rates and provide more crops. In addition, hydroponics typically requires less space. There’s also less labor needed to maintain the plants. And we know that hydroponics also reduces water use, helping with conservation efforts. While we listed a few, there are many reasons why some residential and commercial growers opt for hydroponics. But how can you make the most out of your hydroponics and get the best success? Here are a few tips.
1. Make sure the system is cleaned routinely. This can help avoid any diseases or unwanted pests. It is important for a healthy and “fruitful” operation. The whole room should be tidied up and cleansed. The reservoir for the nutrient solution should also be washed and the tubing needs to be free of buildup. This should be completed usually biweekly or triweekly. Grow trays should also be cleaned out at the end of harvesting.
2. Keep a close eye on the quality of your water. Watch the pH; it should typically be 5.5-6.5 for hydroponics. Temperature is, of course, also important. This typically needs to be 68-72 degrees. Make sure to keep watch on the electrical conductivity (EC) as well so you know the nutrient level in the water.
3. Improve the dissolved oxygen (DO). While we know that the solution needs to be 5 ppm at a minimum so that roots can remain healthy, higher amounts of DO can be helpful for plants. For example, “The University of Guelph reports benefits in plant growth in tomato crops when DO increased up to 30 ppm, while higher levels of DO reduced root growth.”
4. Use Worm Power. Worm Power is ideal for hydroponic operations. It will inoculate your growing media and populate your root zone with beneficial microbes that will aid in nutrient uptake and enhance overall plant health. Worm Power works great for any growing operation that employs the use of an artificial mix or soilless media. It can help improve crop yield and plant performance.
While you may have been aware of some of these tips already, depending on how deep you are already into hydroponics, we hope you have learned something new. We know how important it is to produce a healthy crop and yield greater results. If you’d like to give Worm Power a try, please visit our website to find out more about this powerful product. Once you’ve tried it, it will quickly become an integral part of your gardening operation as you see the results it offers.