Mike Straumietis has seen evidence that the U.S. food supply shortages exposed the country's weakening agricultural industry. If you want to get started with hydroponics, there are a few basic things you should know. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil. In place of traditional soil, plants are grown in a solution of water and nutrients. This method can be used to grow plants indoors or outdoors. Gardeners don't necessarily have room for traditional farming methods. Statistics show that only 40% of U.S. land can accommodate plant growth, most of which already belongs to food and agricultural corporations.
Fortunately, growers without access to farming land can still grow crops using hydroponics. It involves growing plants without soil. Most hydroponics systems consist of water alone, but you can also use gravel, sand, or perlite as your base.
Hydroponic growing systems can produce bountiful crops. These systems use soil-free methods of growing plants, which can provide many benefits. Hydroponically grown crops often have a longer shelf life and can be less susceptible to pests and diseases. To produce bountiful crops from hydroponic growing systems, master the following elements:
Light
Since hydroponic systems don't use soil, you'll need to expose your crops to much more sunlight. Ideally, strive for 6 to 7 hours of sunlight per day. Crops need sunlight to grow. Without enough sunlight, they will wither and die. At the same time, too much sunlight can also be harmful, causing them to produce less food.
Air
Ensure that your greenhouse has adequate airflow. Be careful, though. You will want to avoid miscalculating vents, or you'll risk storms entering your temperature-controlled space. Without proper air circulation, crops will suffer. Make sure your crops are getting the air they need by ventilating your grow space properly.
Water
Mike Straumietis emphasizes the importance of proper hydration for your plants. Dousing plants in too much water might cause rotting, but neglecting to water them will cause them to wilt. Also, be sure to adjust your watering schedule based on your state's climate.
Nutrients
Again, hydroponic systems have no soil. As a grower, you'll have to compensate for the lack of soil nutrients by investing in more fertilizers and supplements. Make sure you account for the specific vitamins and minerals that your crops need.
Space
Hydroponic systems don't need as much space as traditional farming methods. However, plants still need proper spacing. Otherwise, they'll end up competing over the mineral nutrients you provide through fertilizers.
Growing Food Takes Patience
Overall, the key to hydroponic gardening is proper plant feeding. Mike Straumietis works with growers from 110+ countries, most of whom initially struggled to produce bountiful crops. However, they all produced better results after overhauling their feeding chart.
With that said, don't feel bad if your initial hydroponic growing system yields few crops. Hydroponics takes time to master. Just keep researching different feeding systems; you'll eventually find one to help you achieve your long-term gardening goals.
