Hydroponics - what is it?

To ensure good plant growth, it is necessary to periodically prepare land mixtures for their transplantation. But not all lovers of indoor floriculture have time and patience for this . This problem is perfectly solved by hydroponics. What it is? The method of growing the culture is not in the soil, but in a special nutrient solution based on water. It contains all the nutrients necessary for plants. For the implementation of such cultivation, a substrate made of fine expanded clay, which perfectly retains water, is usually used. It can be replaced with perlite and vermiculite. There are also fillers made of glass or granules of polyethylene. Ion exchange substrates are very interesting. They deliver ions to the roots of plants.

Hydroponics is, first of all, a substrate. The main qualities that the filler should have:

- it should be well wetted by the solution and let air through;
- be neutral for substances that make up the nutrient fluid (do not react with them);
- have a neutral or slightly acidic environment.

Reusable use of the substrate is one of the main advantages that hydroponics has. What does it mean? Duration of filler use: quartz and granite - up to 10, from expanded clay or perlite - up to 6, from vermiculite - up to 2 years.

Hydroponic Growth Rules

In a pot or other container, you need to pour the nutrient solution and place the roots of the plant there. Water is periodically added, and the composition with fertilizers is replaced from time to time, as it is depleted. When hydroponics is used, the equipment should consist of 2 different pots. In a small container, more holes must be made. The roots of the plant are placed in it, it is covered with gravel or other material. After that, a smaller pot is placed in a large container with a nutrient solution. Its level should be such that the solution covers the roots by no more than two-thirds. When they change it, then the larger pot needs to be washed, and then again put a small container in it and fill in a new solution.
For cuttings that have taken root in water, hydroponics will be the optimal method of vegetation (what kind of method is described above). If you need to transfer to cultivation without soil a culture grown in the ground, then certain rules are followed. Gently take out the plant without damaging its roots, then place it in a container of warm water. You need to wait until the soil softens, carefully rinse the roots in water.

If they are damaged, the plant is placed in an activated carbon solution for 2 days (10 tablets per 1 liter of water).

Carefully plant the culture in the inner pot with filler, spreading the roots. Then it is installed in a larger container into which liquid is poured. If the plant is transplanted from the soil, then for several days it should be in water, which is then gradually replaced with a nutrient solution. As you can see, hydroponics is not so complicated. What is this method of growing various crops, how to use it effectively indoors, you already know.