Hydroponics – what it involves and how to get started?

Hydroponics is a modern and very clean way of growing plants without soil in a nutrient solution. Simply put, for this kind of cultivation you need only the plant, a nutrient solution and a growing medium to anchor the plant in a pot. Cultivation of herbs, fruit and vegetables is made easier by a hydroponic system, of which there are several types, and we will among other things advise you how to get oriented in the individual growing systems.

Hydroponic cultivation of plants is really very popular among growers. No wonder. These are the main advantages of hydroponics:

• Perfect control of plant nutrition throughout the entire growing cycle.
• Higher growing efficiency associated with increased yields.
• With proper care of a hydroponic system this is a very clean growing method, which means:
  • Lower risk of pests or plant diseases.
  • Much less mess.

Regular soil contains many organic and inorganic substances that the plant can use, and so a plant can often grow without much help from fertilizers.

Hydroponic media that growers typically achieve the best results with are: 

• coconut fibre
• expanded clay (hydroton)

In the past perlite was also used, for example perlite, but hydroponic cultivation in perlite is now a thing of the past.

When growing hydroponically, pay attention to the choice of propagation medium, namely propagation cubes. For example Jiffy is not suitable for hydroponics, because it often releases impurities that clog pumps or irrigation lines. On the other hand we can clearly recommend rockwool or stonewool, especially Grodan propagation cubes.

The media listed above are inert, which means they contain no nutrients and so all nutrients needed for healthy plant development must be supplied via the nutrient solution, i.e. water combined with nutrients sourced from quality hydroponic fertilizers.

Fertilizers for hydroponics are discussed in more detail in a separate article: What are the best fertilizers for hydroponics and how to use them correctly?

A common feature of hydroponic fertilizers is that they are mineral-based. Growers who prioritise organic fertilisation but also like hydroponics are increasingly using bioponics, most often with products from the brand Terra Aquatica. Bioponics is essentially organic hydroponics. You can read more about this method in the article: What is bioponie?

OUR TIP: In addition to the legendary maker Terra Aquatica (formerly General Hydroponics) we also recommend a new arrival in our range, namely the best British fertilizers with an emphasis on research.

What should you consider before you start with hydroponics in practice? First answer the following questions:

• What is your budget?

With a smaller budget you can get by at the start, when you can get a feel for hydroponics on your first plants using simple but practical passive systems (see below). With a larger budget you can afford a sophisticated hydroponic system that allows efficient large-scale growing at the cost of electricity and additional accessories (see below).

• How much time and effort do you want to dedicate to your plants?

Hydroponics requires more than just regular watering. You will hardly enjoy beautiful, abundant flowers or tasty fruits if you do not take into account that during the growing cycle you must regularly check and measure electrical conductivity (EC) and the optimal pH of the nutrient solution using EC meters as well as temperature and its stability.

Especially more complex hydroponic systems require regular maintenance and cleaning. You can get a better idea of hydroponic system maintenance from the separate article HERE.

• Which specific plants or crops do you intend to grow and on what scale?

Based on that we will help you choose the right size grow tent including accessories and the hydroponic system itself.

Hydroponic systems are generally divided into active and passive.

• Passive hydroponic systems, such as the popular AutoPot 1Pot system (pictured below), consume no electrical energy. They do not require switches or pumps to operate. They work using the gravitational pressure from a reservoir that is usually part of the system. They are therefore a perfect choice especially for beginners who want to try hydroponics in practice first on a few smaller plants.
  • Advantages: low purchase price and negligible running and maintenance costs.
  • Disadvantages: lack of advanced dosing and irrigation timing options, suitable only for small-scale growing, requires the presence of a grower.

• Recirculating hydroponic systems, which include for example Atami Wilma (pictured below), allow uncompromising control over growing processes, whether it is irrigation timing or optimal nutrient supply. A clear advantage of active hydroponic systems is the use of a circulation pump, thanks to which you can leave for several days with the certainty that your plants are being cared for exactly according to the growing plan. To be objective, we list higher electricity consumption as a disadvantage compared to passive systems, but the reality of modern hydroponic systems is that they are very economical. LED lighting, which costs more than conventional lamps but is far ahead in efficiency and economical operation. We definitely recommend it for INDOOR growing, whether using a passive or active hydroponic system.
  • Advantages: savings on fertilizers that circulate in the system instead of being dumped, full control over growing processes, autonomous operation, almost unlimited possibilities with regard to scale and budget, compatibility with various growing media, longer lifespan.
  • Disadvantages: higher purchase and operating costs, electricity consumption, more demanding maintenance.

An example of hydroponic recirculation are also the complete ebb-and-flow trays from GHE, which are often incorrectly confused with the run2waste systems described below.

• Run2waste (also Run-to-waste or RTW) are simple hydroponic systems. As the name suggests, with this method the irrigation is applied until it drains from the root zone into a waste tank, after which it is discarded and does not return to the system (unlike the recirculating systems above, where the nutrients dissolved in the water are recycled). Hydroponic cultivation using the RTW method is illustrated in the picture.
  • Advantages: from a practical point of view mainly safer plant cultivation.
  • Disadvantages: higher operating costs.

For hydroponic systems the rule is that the smaller the system, the more susceptible it is to fluctuations and also that the larger the reservoir, the better. That covers their general division into active and passive systems.

It is also good to become familiar with the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of specific systems corresponding to particular hydroponic methods, which we address in a series of separate articles. These are:

• NFT hydroponic systems and vertical NFT systems
• Ebb and flow - flood & drain hydroponic systems
• Drip - drip irrigation

The most efficient growing method is aeroponics. However, this method is also associated with the highest risk, because if you lose power and the pumps stop working, all plants connected to the system can quickly perish. Aeroponic systems feature special chambers with nozzles where plant roots hang freely and breathe, efficiently absorbing nutrients from the microdroplets that cling to them. The most powerful, most efficient, most dynamic and most flexible hydroponic/aeroponic system on the market GrowStream from the brand Terra Aquatica functionally combines elements of aeroponics and NFT systems.

We must not forget to mention that not everything is worth growing hydroponically, because it simply does not pay off. A typical example is potatoes.

So that's it. Hydroponics is above all about the desire to learn and improve. It allows you to start with minimal costs and gradually move forward as far as you want. If you need any advice, do not hesitate to contact us at the familiar e-mail address info@higarden.cz. And since we're on hydroponic beginnings, we've prepared one more TIP for a book: William Texier - Hydroponics for Everyone. It represents an ideal first step for anyone interested in hydroponics.