If you are looking for a way to grow plants that will give you excellent results every time then you can’t go wrong with hydroponics. While it is relatively new to the mainstream, hydroponics is a growing method that has long been used by commercial growers because it is able to produce much better plant yields than more traditional methods, while also managing to be a lot more efficient and convenient for the grower.
Unlike traditional methods, hydroponics does not involve planting seeds in soil. Instead the seeds or young plants are grown in an aquatic environment with their roots anchored into an inorganic growing substrate such as vermiculite or LECA. This may seem counterintuitive to many, but if you can get the method right, even the most inexperienced grower will be able to produce impressive results.
Before you make a start
As with anything in life, preparation can go a long way to ensuring the success of a new project and this is certainly true of hydroponics. As a complete beginner you will still need to put in some groundwork and sort out the basics before you start. Failure to do so may mean you end up facing more issues than you actually need to, and you can end up making things much harder for yourself.
Before you get stuck into your new hobby you first need to do some research into the different kinds of hydroponic systems you can buy. The systems that are designed for use at home are very different to those used for large scale commercial grows, and the most common type of system for people who want to start a hydroponic garden are deep water culture systems, also known as DWCs.
Once you’ve had a look at the different system types, you’ll need to set yourself a budget. It is no use to go in with no idea of how much things should cost, so do some window shopping online or in your local hydroponics store. You’ll be able to see the kind of systems you can get at different prices and then set a more realistic budget to work with.
Avoid the rookie mistakes
Almost every beginner will fall into one of a few traps that always seem to catch newbies out. For example, most newcomers to the hobby will want to stuff as many plants as possible into their systems because they have made a significant financial investment and want to get as much value as possible. This is a mistake and can actually do more harm than good.
Plants can sense when they are growing too close to another plant and will limit their own growth to fit the available space. The result is stunted plants that fail to reach their full potential and are nowhere near as productive and high yielding as they could be. Instead, give your plants plenty of space to grow.
Another mistake many beginners make is to try and save money by buying a cheaper light rig. You need the right LED grow lights from UK sellers to suit the number of plants you have and the size of your grow space. Don’t be tempted to skimp on the lights because this will more than likely leave you with lights that are not strong enough to allow your plants to reach their potential.
Many beginners also make the mistake of ignoring their water parameters until something goes actively wrong and damages their plants. Anyone who is new to the hobby should get into the habit of checking their water conditions regularly to make sure there are no potentially dangerous buildups of harmful chemicals taking place.
Plants that are grown hydroponically can do extremely well when the grower is switched on and is attentive to the plants needs in a proactive manner. If you have gone to the trouble of investing in your system and getting some plants started then it makes total sense to do the other small, simple tasks that will help you a lot in the long run. You’ll be a better, happier and more successful indoor gardener as a result, and will be able to enjoy much larger yields and more enjoyable plants.
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