Epic Gardening – Hydroponics

You want to grow hydroponically!

There are very few things that can take your gardening to the next level quite like moving to Hydroponics does. However, whether you’re totally new or just adding onto an existing system, you need an overview of all your choices before you start on hydroponic system design.
In this article, we’re going to review the parts of a hydroponic system, the 5 main methods of hydroponics, and factors to choose the perfect system for you.

The If you’re familiar with any one of these techniques, you know that these are very broad categories, and each has dozens of variations in layout and design. Growers have a lot of choices when it comes to choosing a system! In India, small-scale and large-scale Hydroponics has now gathered momentum, with more people becoming aware of hydroponic system design and the use of hydroponics kits.

Back to making your garden epic, through Hydroponics, There are a few important factors to choosing a technique and/or system that fits you:

Location – Your location is integral and starts with, and is not limited to, light – it dictates temperature and sunlight angles. You need to understand the consistency of your temperature. Do you need to have protection for your hydroponic kit?

Crops-Two important factors to consider are what crop varieties you can grow and how you plan on building capacities to maximise the returns of your hydroponic kits, which leads you to:

Platform– Depending on what type of crop you want to grow, you can pick between an NFT and/or DWC unit.

Which is better – Hydroponics VS Soil Cultivation

Hydroponics refers to the method of growing a plant without the use of soil. Some centuries ago, farmers realized that plants absorbed nutrients via the soil that soaks around their roots the soil, acting as a nutrient reservoir, and as a medium in which plants stabilizes itself. Hydroponic systems in India are still a rarity. Though there are now a few companies that provide hydroponics kits in India. If the water supplied to a plant already contains the necessary material and the plants are secured by another material, the soil is unnecessary. This discovery demands the attention of farmers who were involved in agriculture although it did not cause an immediate change in farming. Interest in hydroponics increased in the 20th century as they gained interest on other large-scale agricultural operations. Hydroponics farming does not need pesticides and they pose no threat to humans. Hydroponic farming uses less nutrient material to feed their plants; these exist within a self-contained environment that can easily control the waste products. This is much better, as prevents excessive use of fertilizers unlike in the traditional farming where more fertilizers are used and end up flowing into the rivers and spoiling the water to be used by the humans and the animals. In states like Tamil Nadu where there is the severe shortage of water Hydroponic farming can effectively improve agriculture output. The government in other states have also started giving out small hydroponic kits to farmers so that they can gain exposure to the types of hydroponic systems in India.

Hydroponics calls for less amount of water and nourishment; in the hydroponics system less water is used since the required water is supplied in fixed proportions and a controlled environment, furthermore, water is recycled in this system.
This is very advantageous compared to irrigation where a lot of water is wasted without recycling or in the traditional farming methods. This also reduces the farmer’s water cost hence lowering the production costs.
No soil is needed in this system; farming is done without any soil and it only uses 10 percent of the water used in traditional farming. Furthermore, the plants grown on this method have a higher growth rate compared to the normal planting.
The faster growth is contributed by a highly controlled environment with the availability of more oxygen, water, and nourishing substances for the plants.
Large amounts of foods can be grown in small plots of land; this system requires only a small plot of land since the hydroponics produce faster growth of plants. The areas produce more foods per acre plot of land than the normal farming.
Hydroponics can be produced at any season since they grow into their own controlled environment which is controlled and protected from predators like plant-eating animals.
Less amount of time and work is required in hydroponics gardening; the amount of work needed is very little due to the absence of the weeds that would require time to pluck them out.
This method is time-saving since no weeds are present only some few minutes are needed to check the nutrient levels and the harvesting processes.
Hydroponics provides the exact needs to the plants appropriately; this means that plants will grow fast depending on their genetics and compared to a plant grown to the normal soil, hydroponic plants grow faster and they appear to be much healthier.
Hydroponic plants will grow larger; this is because you have full control over the plant’s environment to the optimal. However, plants access all the nutrients that they require and in the right proportions.
Hydroponic plants are also said to grow 50% faster, this is because plants do not need to expand their roots to look for nutrients; they are already there in abundance and home hydroponics are said to grow extremely fast.
If you find the correct pH, growing medium, and technology, the results could be amazing; however, it does not require advanced knowledge it only requires the basic knowledge of the equipment and a little of the scientific knowledge.

Common problems encountered with Hydroponic Gardening

If you’re doing hydroponic farming at home, here are some common problems you probably face with hydroponics in areas like Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi and the rest of India. We will also cover some quick fix solutions for these problems! If you’re not a hydroponics urban gardener, what are you waiting for? Head on over to the FutureFarms Urban Store and pick up your very own hydroponic kit in India!

Water Management

You will find that the water level in your system goes down every couple of days. This is because of plant uptake as well as evaporation of water. When the water level in your system goes below a certain point, your plants will start to suffer from dehydration. The easiest way to overcome this is to top up the water in your reservoir every 2-3 days!

It’s not enough to ensure your plants get sufficient water, you also need to give your plants nutrients in the water. Additionally, you need to maintain your keep the water slightly acidic to maximise plant intake of nutrients. To keep your plants well hydrated and well fed, check the EC and pH of your water every 2-3 days and add nutrients accordingly.

Pest Management

While hydroponics has bypassed about 90% of the pest issues faced by soil grown crops, there’s still the 10% of fungal infections and air borne pests that may plague your crops. The most common fungal diseases you may face are root rot and sclerotinia while some familiar air borne pests are mealybugs, aphids, leaf miners and white flies.

There are three layers of protection you can provide your plant against these assailants. A physical barrier such as an insect net will keep airborne pests at bay but will burn a hole in your pocket. Instead, keep your system protected from rainfall and spray your foliage with organic plant extracts like chili, garlic or neem oil to extend protection from fungus and pests. You could also spray microbes such as Trichoderma and Pseudomonas to boost your plants immunity against diseases.

System Management

After a few weeks of using your hydroponic system, you may find algae growing inside your NFT channels or in your reservoir. Water abundant areas exposed to sunlight will foster algae growth. You may also find that there are salt deposits at the bottom of your gully or reservoir tank.

Flush your system with Flora Kleen to dissolve the extra salt deposits, kill algae and fungal diseases. The great thing about Flora Kleen is that it can be used while your plants are growing in your system! Also, ensure you clean your system with a brush after every cycle to for optimum results!

Plant Management

After transplanting your seedlings into your hydroponic system if they appear to look droopy and colorless and proceed to die over the next couple of days, this is because of transplant shock. To avoid this, ensure that the roots of your seedling are not exposed to air for long durations while transplanting. Once you remove the seedlings from the seeding mix, keep the roots in water till they are moved to the hydroponic system.

In certain climates, if your hydroponic system doesn’t have access to electricity you may find that your plants are dead by the end of the day. It is important to keep your system running all the time so as to keep the roots oxygenated. If your area is prone to frequent power cuts, use alternative sources of electricity to power your system! Solar power, diesel generators or inverters are just some options.

With these basics in mind anyone can start hydroponic farming at home! We at FutureFarms provide you with holistic hydroponic solutions to help with hydroponic farming at home! Get in touch to pick up your very own hydroponic kit in India over here.

What Hydroponic Supplies do I Need to Start Hydroponic Gardening?

If you are a hobby gardener looking for a Hydroponics Retail Supplier in India look no further than the FutureFarms store. FutureFarms is a Chennai based Hydroponics Retail Supplier in India which sells Hydroponic Equipment across the country.

The FutureFarms hydroponic kits in India are holistic growing solutions designed to provide one with all the essentials needed to get growing! If you want to try your hand at being an urban hydroponic farmer FutureFarms hydroponic kits in India are for you!

With a Hydroponic Growers kit, you will receive a FutureFarms hydroponic system of your choice along with all the accessories that you need, to take you from seed to harvest.

But what exactly is Hydroponics?

1.Seedling Tray & ProGro Mix: It is not advisable to sow seeds in your hydroponic system as your rate of germination will be very low. For this reason, we provide you with a seedling tray and ProGro mix to help you germinate your seeds separately into seedlings which are then ready for your hydroponic system!

2.General Hydroponics Europe Flora Series Tri Pack Nutrients: Every plant needs 3 macronutrients and 11 micronutrients to grow. In hydroponics, to ensure maximum yield, nutrients are added in a predefined ratio at each stage of growth to give the plant exactly how much it needs when it needs it! The Flora Series Tri Pack consists of three bottles; Grow, Bloom and Micro of 500 ml each and a feeding chart to instruct you on the dosage of each nutrient. General Hydroponic Europe is a global leader in nutrient manufacturing and we at FutureFarms are the only licensed Hydroponics Retail Supplier in India that provides you with their nutrients because we want you to have the best!

3.Bluelab ppm pen: How do you know how much of the nutrients you’re giving your plants are actually being consumed? With your ppm pen! The Bluelab ppm pen measures the electrical conductivity (EC) of your water which in turn tells you how much nutrients you have in your reservoir. The EC readings will help you discern how much of your nutrients are intaken by the plants and therefore how much more you need to add! Bluelab is a Kiwi company that makes the best water testing equipment in the world. We at FutureFarms are the only licensed Hydroponics Retail Supplier in India to provide you with Bluelab equipment.

4.General Hydroponics Europe pH test kit:: Plants tends to favour a slightly acidic medium for growth because this is when they are able to absorb the maximum amount of nutrients. The pH test kit helps you measure the pH of your water.

5.pH buffers: What happens if your water is too acidic or too basic? This is why you have pH buffers. If your water is too acidic, a few drops of the pH up solution will help you decrease its acidity to bring it within the ideal range for your plants to flourish. Similarly, if it’s not acidic enough, a few drops of your pH down solution will do the trick!

FutureFarms designs Hydroponic Kits to meet your every budget, space, and plant requirement! While the head office is based in Chennai, FutureFarms has a logistic network that caters Hydroponic kits to all of India. Check out FutureFarms online store now to start growing!

Beginner Hydroponic Gardening Tips – Part 1

Many beginners attempting Hydroponics in India, usually struggle to grow and we attribute their reasons for failure under three categories:

1.Lack of knowledge: You don’t know how things should be or what you need to do

2.Lack of discipline: You know how things should be and you know what needs to be done, but you don’t take the time or make the effort

3.Lack of support: you do not have the necessary hydroponic equipment or supplies

At FutureFarms, we’d like to encourage more city dwellers to grow at home without worrying about support or knowledge. We believe you are no longer limited by climate or season in the pursuit of clean, fresh food. We can now grow virtually any plant, anywhere at any time of year. With FutureFarms simple, effective hydroponic systems, anyone can save precious resources like water, reduce their carbon footprint, and feed their family and community.

So, How do I get started with hydroponic?

Here are a simple set of questions to ask yourself to help get you started:

How do I choose my hydroponic Kit in India?

A. CROP TYPE

Do you want to grow fruiting vegetables or leafy greens? Depending on the crop type, there are appropriate systems to choose from.
For leafy greens: We suggest the leaf station series and the leaf pyramid series.
For fruiting vegetables: We suggest the Air Bucket series

B. SPACE

Do you live in an apartment with compact spaces to use for gardening or do you have an expansive terrace / balcony that you want to utilise? Based on your space constraints, FutureFarms has the system that works for you.

C. BUDGET

Based on what you would like to currently spend on your urban garden and your level of expertise, there are various solutions to suit your budget. Cost of hydroponic kits range from Rs.2000 to Rs.70,000.

This is the first of a 2 part series on Beginner Hydroponic Gardening Tips. For Hydroponics Farming in India and Hydroponic Kits India, we have an online community that serves as a support group, providing tips to beginners, and a place for advanced growers to share their knowledge with peers on The Indian Hydroponics Club.