How to Grow Hydroponic Flowers in 2023

If you are intrigued by growing flowers as a leisure pursuit or to enhance the ambiance of your home, investing in growing hydroponic flowers is a great option. Usually, in the city, there isn’t much open space for gardening and if you are one of them then keep on reading until the end.

What is Hydroponics?

Hydroponics is the craft of planting without soil. Hydroponics is a Latin word signifying “working water”. This system works by authorizing minute restrictions over factors like pH balance, temperature, increased subjection to water, and nutrients.

Without even a trace of soil, water provides necessary supplements, hydration, and oxygen to plants. Utilizing small space, 90% less water than conventional agriculture, and proper plan, hydroponic gardens develop vegetables and flowers 50% faster. Moreover, it enables the growers to monitor and control the exact amount of light and nutrients plants receive according to their individual needs.

Plant growth elevates in such a custom-built and tailored environment. Through hydroponics day to day vegetables like tomato, broccoli, lettuce, as well as flowers like Orchids, Zinnia, and Carnation, can be grown.

What Is Hydroponics Gardening System? 

Origin of Hydroponic System

Even though this method of gardening sounds modern, the historical backdrop of hydroponics traces back to the popular Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Euphrates River was redirected into channels that fell down the luxurious garden walls. In the thirteenth century, Marco Polo wrote about viewing a floating garden in China.

Hydroponics is a long way from just a development of the old ages. During the 1990s, aeroponic bean seedlings were developed by NASA in zero gravity on board a space station, opening up the feasibility of durable agriculture in space. Hydroponics keeps on being an ageless and dynamic strategy for water conservation and crop production. Busy city life usually doesn’t allow us a lot of free time and we end up being stressed. Hydroponic flowers gardening could be a wonderful outlet to wind down after a busy day.

How to grow hydroponic flowers: Ebb and flow system

The Ebb and flow system is one of the most used methods of hydroponic gardening, also popularly known as flood and drain. This method calls for flooding and draining of nutrient solutions at fixed intervals. It enables hobbyists to grow their favorite flowers without much hassle. Moreover, it is totally feasible indoors. This method is comparatively less expensive and favored by professionals as well as non-professionals.

Required tools

• Plant tray 
• Growing container 
• Nutrient solution basin 
• Growing media 
• Overflow tube 
• Submersible pump
• Timer

How does it work?

• Tip cutting or seed should be harvested from plants that are in good health or procured from a good supplier and planted in the grow tray.
• The submersible pump begins pumping nutrient solution and water as the timer goes on and keeps pumping until the solution reaches water the r limit, above the growing container and, floods the plants’ roots.
• While keeping the standard level this circulation continues for a given time. In consequence, the flow tube maintains the water level during the circulation and makes sure that it does not trickle out of the reservoir.
• At a certain point in time, the timer goes off, as a result, the submersible pump stops pumping and starts to drain the water back into the reservoir.
• The growers need to ensure that there is sufficient airflow in the system for proper ventilation

Specifications

Temperature

The temperature in the hydroponic system should be maintained at all times. Different flowers require different temperatures. For example, Petunias thrive in cooler temperatures between 57⁰F and 65⁰F. On the other hand, the preferable temperature to grow Zinnia is between 74⁰F and 84⁰. So plants that grow in the same temperature range should be planted in a hydroponic system and vice versa.

Pump

The Ebb and flow method is highly reliant on the submersible pump. The pump needs to be monitored regularly so that the health of flowering plants is not hampered. Make sure that the pump is not circulation the solution too fast because your plants will not obtain sufficient nutrients.

Sanitation

Maintaining proper sanitation is an integral part of this method. The growing container, the nutrient solution needs to be cleaned once a week to avoid root disease. Lack of cleanliness will allure insects and eventually grow mold. As a result, the plants will suffer.

pH level

A crucial element of this system is maintaining the appropriate pH level required for each type of flower. For example, Chrysanthemums require a pH level of 6 to 6.4 whereas Dahlias need 6.5 to 7.5

Aftercare

You have to add water to the nutrient solution after every 4 or 5 days. Or else the solution will become too concentrated and mess up the pH level. Keep a close eye on any growth of weed or other parasites in the system. The parasites will take up the nutrients necessary for plants so it is better to cut them off in an early stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is growing flowers hydroponically better than the typical way?

Hydroponics is incredibly economical as various plants can be planted in an extremely smaller space, water requirement is 90% less than that of typical gardening, and most importantly isn’t labor-intensive. An additional advantage of hydroponic gardening is that it augments the aura of your house, vertical gardens adding to the aesthetic value and creating a picturesque view. 

Is it easy to take care of hydroponic flowers?

Once the preferred growth medium, pH, natural or artificial light, and airflow system are set, it is simple to manage and requires almost no maintenance. Moreover, the system is self-cleaning due to the water rotation and gives healthy, of the highest quality and vibrant flowers. 

Which flowers are best to grow hydroponically?

• Orchids
• Daffodil
• Iris
• Freesia
• Chrysanthemum
• Carnation
• Zinnia
• Petunia

Is it feasible to grow different plants in the same system?

Yes, but fulfilling the nutritional prerequisites of various plants within the same system. Either you can grow similar plants in one system or all of the same plants within a system also known as mono-crop. According to experts, doing so is more convenient for beginners.

Conclusion

Busy city life usually doesn’t allow us a lot of free time and we end up being stressed. Hydroponic flowers gardening could be a wonderful outlet to wind down after a busy day. This could be your little contribution, towards the environment. No matter how big or limited is your extent is every plant counts. Hope this helps you and encourages you in your hydroponic gardening journey.

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