Many vegetable growers, flower growers, plant breeders, having learned about hydroponics and its amazing possibilities, are excited about the idea of trying this system and getting a harvest all year round. At the same time, if you have previously practiced soil method cultivation, then there are probably plants that are a pity to destroy, and you want to transfer them to hydroponic installations safe and sound in order to continue cultivating using a new method. The problem is that not everyone knows how to do it right. So, what rules need to be followed to make “moving” plants the least painful?
Rule #1
If we are talking about perennial plants, then when choosing those that are planned to be transferred to a hydroponic installation from the soil, you need to discard weak and diseased plants. Firstly, old plants do not take root well and are very reluctant to switch to a new type of nutrition. Secondly, diseased plants can infect others, that is, destroy their neighbors in the grow tent, giving them pests and pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, they choose the young, strong, healthy plants.
Rule #2
Transplantation is carried out in spring or summer. During this period, active processes take place in the plant, it is filled with juices and feels great, so a positive result of the transplant is most likely. In winter, plants, as a rule, are weakened, in a dormant state, and cannot adapt well to new conditions.
Rule #3
All soil must be removed from the roots of the plant. Otherwise, if soil gets into hydroponic systems, pests and microorganisms will get into them along with it. The nutrient solution and new substrate will be ruined. To remove the soil completely, the plant removed from it is immersed with its roots in warm water until completely soaked. Then the roots are carefully washed, and rotten or diseased areas are cut off. In the event that, for one reason or another, severe pruning of the roots is required, it is necessary to trim the leaves so that the weakened root system was able to provide the plant with everything it needed.
Rule #4
It is important to plant correctly in the substrate. First, it needs to be moist. Secondly, when planting, the roots of the plant should not look up - they are carefully straightened. In addition, it is not recommended to compact the substrate - this can damage the root system. It is better to water the plant, and when the substrate settles, add it. We are, of course, talking about loose substrates such as expanded clay, vermiculite, perlite or mixtures thereof. If the substrate is elastic (mineral wool or coconut fiber), then such precautions are not required; the plant is simply placed in a mat or block.
Rule #5
It is very important to monitor the concentration of the nutrient solution in hydroponic setups. When the plant is just transplanted, the concentration should not exceed 10% for two to three days. Then this figure is increased to 50%, and after 10-14 days you can already use a full nutrient solution with a concentration of 100%. In this way, the plant will be able to gradually get used to the new type of nutrition of its root system and tolerate the changes more favorably.
As for the composition of the nutrient solution, each culture needs a certain amount of certain substances, macro- and microelements, a certain acidity and CO2 level. Therefore, when the plant has already taken root and has fully adapted to the new conditions, it is necessary to create a nutrient solution suitable for this particular crop and subsequently use it, making sure that the nutrients are always present in it. the right amount. If there is a lack of one or another nutrients use a variety of additives and fertilizers.
In custody
The first days after transplantation, the plant may look weakened, and the leaves may partially wither. However, if the plant is healthy and strong, then these symptoms will soon pass, the root system will get used to the new conditions, and the plant will grow quite quickly. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid. And only if within a week or a week and a half the plant withers more and more and obviously dies, it is removed from the hydroponic installation.
This artificial ground For indoor plants, part of a group of drugs that provide “inhabitants of window sills” with excellent conditions. By the way, if you feel that plant care takes a lot of your time and effort, purchase this product. The soil is represented by small granules made of baked porous clay. The latter resemble a sponge - they absorb water and then gradually release it, nourishing the plant. Growing using ceramis is similar in many ways to hydroponics, but the first approach is more simple and safer for plants.
Is it worth giving potted plants to a sick person being treated in a hospital?
Flower soil is an excellent environment for mold fungi, including aspergillis. It is known that the spores of these organisms, under certain conditions, cause allergic reactions in humans when inhaled. This fungus is especially dangerous for patients with severe pathologies - blood and bone marrow diseases, leukemia. In such people, aspergillis can provoke infectious diseases. No other harmful effects are known.
It has been established that these mushrooms are dangerous only for patients at risk. In this matter, you need to follow the recommendation of your doctor. If you have hydroponic indoor plants in your hospital room, you need to keep in mind that mold can grow in old expanded clay tiles. This means that only fresh hydroponic solutions are allowed in the room.
Fragrant plants in the ward are taboo. This is due to the fact that people perceive aroma differently, which can worsen their well-being under certain circumstances.
Replanting plants with simultaneous pruning of roots
Flower growers sometimes resort to this trick when they need to obtain as many plants as possible in the spring. At the same time, you need to understand that severe pruning of the roots can lead to the opposite effect. Many plants react very poorly to this and may drop their leaves.
After removing the plant from the pot, the root system is carefully examined. All dead or rotted parts of the roots must be removed. Sometimes due to improper watering a large number of roots die. They are carefully removed from the rhizome. In some plants, the roots grow too much and turn into “felt”; it is thinned out. This is done carefully so as not to damage the entire root. After such thinning, it sits in the same pot, but in new soil; the old one is carefully shaken out from the roots. Used for all events sharp knife, which guarantees smooth cuts.
The nuances of replanting large indoor plants
If a transplant is planned too large plant, it is removed from the pot, the old soil is carefully shaken out of the roots, and bad roots are removed. Afterwards, the old pot is thoroughly cleaned, and the plant is replanted in fresh substrate. If this whole process is carried out carefully, then it is possible to use the same pot for replanting the plant. In it, the plant will feel good again after rooting in the new substrate.
This measure will be effective if the integrity of the roots is not damaged during transplantation. It is also necessary to create ideal external factors for the plant.
The plant is removed from the pot, the substrate is completely removed. It is necessary to ensure that the soil does not get into the hydroponics, as this leads to its rotting. Please note that this procedure is difficult when working with old plants, as they often lose a lot of roots. Therefore, success when converting plants to hydroponics is not always guaranteed. This process is quite complicated, since “earth roots” are not very suitable for absorbing substances from solution. First, “water roots” must form. If the transplant is successful, the plants will be able to develop well in hydroponics.
Replanting young plants is easier than replanting older plants. The grower must decide for himself whether to convert an old plant to hydroponics.
By the way, the likelihood of successfully transplanting new plants into hydroponics is higher if they are purchased in specialized nurseries, where various types of plants are propagated directly in nutrient solutions.
During the holidays, the most pressing question for all flower lovers is: who can you trust with green pets while you’re away? Especially in the summer, when some plants need to be watered and sprayed every day! Great solution in this case, it may be necessary to transfer plants to hydroponics- a method of growing plants in which instead of soil, an artificial substitute is used - sand, gravel, etc., periodically moistened with a solution of mineral salts.
Hydroponic method growing indoor plants is hygienic and quite simple - recently it has become increasingly popular among indoor plant lovers. Moreover, the experience of growing plants “on water” has already proven its advantages compared to the traditional (soil) method.
Benefits of hydroponics
. The flowering of ornamental plants and the productivity of fruit and plants increases several times. Flowers grow strong and healthy, and much faster than in soil.
. Convenience of plant care.
“Water”, and in our case, change the nutrient solution, needs to be much less often, sometimes only once a month. In addition, the transplant process is greatly simplified perennial plants: you just need to transfer the plant into a large bowl and add more required amount substrate.
. The absence of factors critical for the plant such as drying out, lack of oxygen, lack or overdose mineral fertilizers, a number of soil pests and diseases, etc., characteristic of the conventional soil method.
The only disadvantages include the relative complexity of the design and the rather high cost.
But this factor can be easily circumvented by using available means or even doing without some of them.
Homemade hydroponic growing methods
1. The plant is located directly in a vessel with a nutrient solution. Water is added as the solution evaporates, and the entire solution is replaced with fresh one at certain intervals. Indicated for plants such as fern and tradescantia. A significant disadvantage of this method is that not all plants tolerate it, since it is difficult to supply the roots with oxygen.
2. The second method, the main and most effective - using special ones that can be buy in specialized stores or make it yourself. A hydropot is a structure consisting of two pots inserted into one another: the inner, smaller one, with holes, is used for the substrate, and the outer, larger, decorative one is used for the nutrient solution. If you buy a pot from a store, it will be equipped with a liquid level meter (float).
Plants that can be grown hydroponically.
For hydroponics Almost all plants are suitable, and if you comply with a number of requirements for lighting, thermal conditions, etc., which for various types Since plants are individual, absolutely any plant can be grown using soilless technology.
It is best to grow on hydroponics ferns, schefflera, scindapsus, chlorophytum, ficus, philodendron, phalangium, fatsia, common ivy, hoya. When growing flowers from cuttings or seeds, we recommend using asparagus, anthurium, coleus, begonia of all varieties, cissus, dracaena, monstera, etc.
Some nuances when growing in a hydroponic system exist with succulents (crassula), heathers (azalea, camellia), and bromeliads. Let's leave this for professionals, as well as for those who are not looking for easy ways.
Converting a plant to hydroponics
Let's consider the construction option the simplest design for hydroponics yourself.
Containers
We will need 2 pots, different in size. The inner pot may be made of plastic. Make several small holes in the bottom. The outer pot must be opaque and 2-3 cm larger in diameter than the inner one.
Substrate
We will use as a substrate that holds the roots of the plant, although, of course, this is not the only good material for hydroponics (there is also zeolite, sand, gravel, etc.). Before use, the expanded clay is thoroughly washed under running water. hot water, to facilitate the process, you can use a sieve.
Water, nutrient solution
It must be remembered that initially, when transplanting a plant into hydroponics, you must use only water. If you immediately pour a nutrient solution into the pot, it will damage the plant. The water for preparing the solution must be soft and clean, without impurities. Settled or purified water is suitable; you can use distilled, rain or frozen water.
As for the nutrient solution, you need to select your own solution for each crop used (), but you can also use universal ones. Some gardeners use standard complex fertilizers as nutrient solutions. This can be done, but very carefully. Firstly, complex fertilizers should be used in a concentration of 1/4-1/2 of the norm, which is recommended for liquid fertilizers. Secondly, fertilizers often lack iron, so it will need to be added separately.
At first, only water is used during transplantation, and only after 7-12 days it will be possible to replace the water with a nutrient solution. For particularly careful gardeners, we advise you to use a weak concentration solution at first, and only after 10-12 days transfer the plant completely to a nutrient solution.
Progress
1. Carefully, so as not to damage the roots, remove the plant from the ground. To do this, you may have to soak the pot with the plant in water for a couple of hours (for example, in a bucket).
2. We wash the roots especially thoroughly under running water with warm or room temperature(or in a bucket) to finally get rid of the soil, because... any organic matter remaining on the roots will cause root rot.
3.Now we “work” with the hydroponic structure. Our task is to carefully place the prepared plant in the inner pot. To do this, we first place it in an empty pot at approximately the depth of its location in this pot; With the other hand we fill in the expanded clay until the roots of the plant are completely covered with it.
4. Water the plant with water so that it completely wets the expanded clay and its excess accumulates in the lower part of the installation (larger pot).
5.Add water so that the expanded clay is 1-2 cm in the water.
6. At first we take care of the plant and hide it from direct sun rays and drafts. After 7-12 days, replace the water with a nutrient solution.
Further care consists of maintaining the optimal level of the solution in a timely manner - adding it and replacing it with a new one once a month. The maximum permissible liquid level is when the roots of the plant are immersed in the solution by 2/3, the minimum is 0.5 cm. To reduce the concentration of salts, every third fill should be replaced with plain water.
The substrate is thoroughly washed each time the plant is replanted. For hydroponics replanting, it is better to take cuttings rooted in water.
(18
ratings, average: 4,28
out of 5)
The art of hydroponics has become known in Russia quite recently, but there are already several hundred happy owners of home agroponic installations. Plants grown in this way look healthy, bear fruit well and are protected from pests. DIY hydroponic installation - is it difficult? Let's figure it out!
Growing plants without a soil substrate, in water, seems surprising and wrong. In practice, it turns out that this technology produces excellent results, however, a lot of effort will have to be made. The secret of this growing method is soilless cultivation, which stimulates plant development by regulating the composition of water, the percentage of oxygen and mineral salts in it.
In order for do-it-yourself hydroponics to bring the expected results, you will have to take into account many factors: humidity, water and air temperature, lighting and ventilation features, genetic characteristics of crops.
Advantages and disadvantages of this method
Agroponics has a very many positive aspects:
Disadvantage this method is significant initial investment, time and labor. But then it pays off in full.
Examples of plants suitable for hydroponics
What crops grow well in hydroponics?
- capable of overwintering at a temperature of about -15°, otherwise the roots will rot;
- having a root system with a low growth rate, otherwise you will often have to change pots;
- plants without tubers and rhizomes, because there is a high risk of their rotting;
- perennials.
These grow well hydroponic plants and flowers, such as: philodendron, ficus, cactus, ivy, dracaena, lavender, violet, hibiscus, all types of begonia, as well as monstera. Hydroponic roses have become increasingly popular lately.
From vegetable crops: cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, broccoli, tomatoes, eggplant, spinach, green beans.
Recently, this method has proven itself excellent in growing bananas.
DIY hydroponic system - options
Before you start assembling a hydroponic installation at home, you should decide on its operating principle. At the moment my Three agroponics options have proven effective:
To create the most easy installation, you will need: tank, aquapot, hydroponic compressor, substrate and plant pots.
Home Installation Basics
In order to store a mixture of water and nutrients, you cannot do without a special volumetric tank. It is better to buy a container dark color, matte so that light does not penetrate into the solution, thereby protecting it from algae development. If it was not possible to purchase such a container, you can use food foil or paint the walls black.
The hydroponics tank must be equipped with a tight lid. The volume of the tank must be calculated at the rate of 3 liters of water per plant. Optimal size The capacity is 50 liters; it is better to equip several small tanks for your home than to operate one large one.
Hydroponics Pots It’s better to purchase specialized ones - mesh ones. They will help the substrate always remain moist, as they have holes throughout the entire surface. The height of the purchased pots should not be higher than the equipped tank with nutrient solution. We must not forget about preparing the foam sheet. It is necessary to secure pots with plants. Holes are drilled in the foam, the diameter of which is equal to the diameter of the pot (so that it is fixed and does not fall through).
Growing hydroponics is not complete without constantly saturating the water with oxygen. For this purpose it is recommended use a two-channel pump. For home simple solution would be the purchase of an aquarium compressor with silicone hoses.
For the system to work effectively, you should place several cleaned stones on the bottom - they will break up air bubbles.
Once the hydroponic setup itself is assembled, you can begin planting.
Substrate and nutrient solution
You will have to grow plants in a substrate. His choice is one of key points system assembly. The main substrates for hydroponics are expanded clay, mineral wool, coconut substrate, vermiculite and perlite. Let's take a closer look disadvantages and advantages of each.
As for the concentration of the solution, it is done in accordance with the instructions.
To plant plants, the pots are filled with substrate and immerse them in the solution by 1/3 part. The volume of the solution must be maintained at the same level by adding water once every 2 weeks. Every month the solution changes completely. To prepare the solution, 2 components are used: complex fertilizer and 25% calcium nitrate solution.
Plant transplantation
To transplant a plant into a hydroponic setup, remove it from the pot with a lump of soil and soak it in water. Next, the roots are thoroughly washed and straightened. The plant is immersed in a pot with a substrate so that its roots do not touch the solution. Nutrients must come from the substrate. The first week after transplantation, the pot is immersed 1/3 in water to the plant has adapted and now it can be fully grown. Only after this the water is changed to a nutrient solution.
Where to place the system?
In addition to deciding how to grow hydroponics, you also need to think about where to place this system.
The best option is a greenhouse or basement, since you need warm dry room no windows. A patio at home would also be suitable. If you install agroponics outside the house, you will have to constantly monitor the ambient temperature, the rate of evaporation of liquid in the system and the surrounding gusts of wind.
It is necessary to place a container with substrate and plants perfect flat surface so that nutrients are distributed evenly.
Hydroponics - interesting modern method growing plants, which helps save time, money, and also significantly increases the yield and endurance of the plant. A DIY home hydroponic setup will help you not only enjoy beautiful plants and flowers, but will also allow you to enjoy fresh vegetables at home, without chemicals.
The hydroponic method of growing plants involves not using soil mixture. Instead, an artificial substrate and nutrient solution are used, from which the roots receive everything necessary for culture substances. Mastering hydroponics technology is not difficult for you, and if this technique seems effective to you, you can gradually transfer most of your “green pets” to it.
And for indoor plants, hydroponics has its advantages: expanded clay provides ventilation for the roots, since this material does not compact like soil for flowers. But you should follow some rules when growing flowers hydroponically, primarily regarding watering and fertilizing. It is somewhat more difficult to transfer plants from the ground to hydroponics, but this technology can be mastered.
Growing home flowers hydroponically: equipment and materials
Hydroponic plants are aquatic crops. To live, such crops require only water enriched with nutrients.
To grow plants hydroponically, you will need the following equipment and materials.
Containers. Unlike keeping plants in the ground, two containers are always used here.
- An inner plastic pot with holes or slits where the expanded clay holding the plant is located. This pot also has a device for attaching a water level indicator.
- The outer pot is selected in such a size that it fits the inner pot. It can be made of waterproof ceramics or plastic - it’s a matter of taste and financial capabilities. The outer vessel contains a nutrient solution (water with dissolved fertilizer). There are also larger containers in which several internal pots with plants are placed.
Water level indicator. This is a very important piece of equipment for home hydroponics and is a plastic tube with a float that tells you when to add water. The indicator has a three-level scale: minimum, optimum and maximum. There is a mark on the top end of the float that lets you know when to add the nutrient solution.
Supports. If a plant in the ground rests on a trellis of twigs, then a plant of the same species in hydroponics needs the same trellis. The only difference is that only plastic supports should be used in hydroponics. For climbers and climbing plants There are special supports that are fixed to the bottom of the inner pot and also extended with the help of attachments. This home hydroponics equipment is made of plastic with a rough surface or covered with cork. Supports made from natural materials such as bamboo or rattan should not be used in hydroponics.
Expanded clay. The well-known brown balls are needed to hold the plant in the pot. You should use expanded clay from specialized gardening stores, since expanded clay used in construction often contains salts that can harm plants. Expanded clay for hydroponics comes in three different fractions, the smallest of which is suitable mainly for cuttings. The longer the water supply must be maintained, the larger the expanded clay fraction should be used.
Caring for hydroponic indoor plants
Many agricultural measures for caring for flowers when grown hydroponically do not differ from caring for plants in soil culture.
Location. If a plant in the ground loves the sun, then in hydroponics it needs a sunny place.
Trimming. Shortening shoots, removing wilted parts of the plant, cleaning leaves - all this, when growing plants hydroponically, is done in the same way as species growing in the ground.
Protection. Pest control also remains almost unchanged, even if some people claim that hydroponic flowers never get sick. What hydroponic plants don't have are certain pests, such as nematodes, that can only exist in the soil. aphids, spider mites, whiteflies occur on both species. And the measures to combat them are almost the same.
Transfer. Hydroponic plants at home should also be replanted when so many roots have formed in the inner pot that there is no room left for expanded clay. The time is right when its roots have already crushed the pot. Unlike containers with earth, take a fairly large container. In this case, there will be more time until the next transplant, and the roots will remain dormant longer.
Watering. If this is your first time growing hydroponically at home, then pour in enough water so that the level indicator rises only to the middle mark, and in no case more. When watering plants in hydroponics, some features should be taken into account:
- Add water or nutrient solution only when the red indicator reaches the minimum mark.
- If the water level is constantly maintained at the maximum level, then soon all the voids with air will be filled with water and the plant will choke, just as happens with plants in the ground if they are watered too much.
- When growing plants in home hydroponics with your own hands, adding water to the maximum level should only be done by very heavy-drinking plants placed on sunny place, or when going on vacation.
- When the level indicator has reached the minimum mark, it is better to hold off on watering for another two to three days.
- Sometimes it happens that the water level indicator still remains at the maximum level after 2 weeks. In this case, you should carefully remove the inner pot from the outer one and check whether expanded clay balls or too long roots are interfering with the level indicator. Important Just like growing in soil, warm water should be used for hydroponic plants. A nutrient solution temperature below 15 °C is harmful to plants.
What fertilizers are needed to grow plants hydroponically?
Water alone is not enough to feed the plant. To obtain a good nutrient solution, fertilizer must be added to the water. Ordinary flower fertilizers are only conditionally suitable for this. It is necessary to use a special fertilizer that contains nutrients in a form easily absorbed by plants.
Fertilizers for hydroponics are sold mainly in the form of concentrated liquid or so-called ion exchange fertilizers. Liquid fertilizers They simultaneously regulate the pH value of the water. This means that they can be used for tap water of any quality, even with a high lime content. Liquid fertilizers are added to irrigation water according to the dosage instructions on the package.
Ion exchange fertilizers. When using an ion exchanger, you only need to apply fertilizer once every 4-5 months. Follow the application recommendations and determine the date of the next application of fertilizer. Similar fertilizers exist:
- In granular form, the appropriate portion of which is poured onto expanded clay and washed off with water;
- In the form of a nutrient battery that is attached to the bottom of the inner pot.
Changing the nutrient solution for hydroponics yourself
From time to time, you should completely change your hydroponic nutrient solution and wash your pots. Using liquid fertilizers this should be done after about 8 weeks, and when using ion exchangers only when a new portion of fertilizer is added after 4-5 months.
If you use a hydroponic nutrient solution for too long, constantly adding fertilizer, some of the salts that are not consumed by the plants will accumulate in such concentrations that they will harm the roots. When changing the solution and washing the pots, the expanded clay and plant roots are washed at the same time.
Changing your hydroponic nutrient solution is very easy. Do it like this:
- Remove the inner pot from the outer one.
- Remove the water level indicator.
- Place the pot in the bath and rinse the expanded clay for 10 minutes with shower water (not lower than 15 ° C).
- The outer pot should also be thoroughly rinsed to remove any remaining old nutrient solution.
- Place the inner pot with the water level indicator back into the outer pot.
- Pour in the nutrient solution.
Converting house plants to hydroponics (with video)
Having acquired your first experience of keeping hydroponics plants at home with your own hands, you may want to transfer all your plants to this system. For many crops this does not pose any difficulty, but sometimes plants do not tolerate this procedure. Young, not yet very large, healthy plants have the greatest chance of success. It is better to leave old specimens in their familiar environment.
Transferring plants to hydroponics is carried out as follows. When converting plants from soil culture to hydroponics, you should proceed very carefully to increase the chances of a positive result:
- Remove the plant from the pot and use your hands to free the roots from the soil as much as possible.
- Wash off the remaining soil on the roots with warm water, preferably in the shower.
- If necessary, soak the clumps in a bucket of water overnight.
- Rotten or very long roots should be trimmed. The roots should occupy no more than two-thirds of the height of the pot.
- Fill one third of the pot with expanded clay, soaked in water for several hours, and spread the roots over it. Add expanded clay to the edges of the pot. Fill with warm, nutrient-free water to medium level. To prevent evaporation, place a plastic bag over the top of the pot.
- After 2-3 weeks, remove the bag. From the first time you add water at the minimum level, fertilize it regularly.
It is difficult to convert all plants with very large and intertwined root systems, such as ferns, begonias and Anthurium, from soil culture to hydroponics.
The following species grow especially well in hydroponics:
(Streptocarpus)
Spathiphyllum ( Spatiphyllum)
(Anthurium)
Kalanchoe ( Kalanchoe blossfetdiana)
