Questions
Answers
Q.The
tomato is a patio type that promises to be a compact variety. As
I've mentioned, the pepper is a jalapeno, and I have some seed for
some large leaf basil. The flowers are tuberous begonia and nemesia.
Is all of this going to be compatible in the same garden?
A.This is one of the many benefits of Hydroponics! Most plants
have
the same/similar requirements and can be grown side by side
where it is not possible in soil. But, we have found that peppers do not like being grown in the same system as Tomato plants.
Q.How can I teach a
plant to grow
shorter and fuller ?
A. You
can pinch the middle stem at 3-4 leaves growth, and continue
to pinch during the life of the plant.
Q.Could you please reccommend
a setup or requirements best suited forgrowing Orchids and other flowering plants.
A. Homegrown's 'Garden
That Jack Built' is popular among orchid
growers. It employs 'heydite' growing medium which is a
perfect balance between moisture and air for the root area.
Metal
Halide light is the prefered indoor lighting for orchids. Our
Sunmaster line is the most state of the art metal halide on
the market.
Q.I have always loved orchids ,
but have been a little scared to grow these expensive flowers for
fear of killing them! I would like to know the best types to grow
hydroponically and how to go about it.
I did a purchase a book about growing orchids from the "Ortho" series
but there is nothing in it about growing orchids in a hydroponic
garden. Is there another book that you might know of (or have!)
that I could buy?
A.Homegrown Hydroponics carries a book 'The World of Orchids' by Jack Ross. It is lovely full colour and loaded with general orchid
info. He does not talk specifically about Hydroponics but
does recommend Hydroponic media such as Perlite and Rockwool.
On feed back from other orchid growers we have heard
that our Heydite and Leca growing mediums are excellent
for many varieties of orchid. Here is an excerpt from an
article on Orchids in Hydroponics: 'Did you know that orchids
grow in nature hydroponically? In the rainforests of South
America orchids are found growing on the bark of trees. The
rain runs down the side of the tree supplying the perfect balance
of water and oxygen to the orchid roots.
Orchid
growers are simulating this technique with amazing results.
Hydroponic growing mediums such as Heydite, a crushed
shale product, and Perlite, a volcanic rock, are quickly taking
the spot light as the ideal root environment for orchid life.
Both of these are free draining and virtually impossible to
over water. Unlike peat and soil these mediums are sterile,
very easy to leach and have excellent nutrient retention.
A very effective method employed by orchid growers
is deep water, culture. This involves the plants' roots being
suspended over a nutrient filled reservoir. An air stone attached
to an air pump is placed in the reservoir to provide oxygen
to the roots. The roots have to search for the nutrient solution
thus making them stronger. It is often found to be beneficial
to use an aquarium heater to maintain a consistent water
temperature. The oxygen available in hydroponic mediums
provides abundant aeration. Young seedlings can be planted
into hydroponic growing mediums at any time and repotting
is a snap'
Q.I am interested in
growing Witlof (Belgian
Chicorrea) . What nutrient do you recommend?
A. A
small Ebb&Flow
table using Rockwool cubes should do nicely.
You can light this with a 400 Watt Metal Halide light. Our
A and B Hydro Gro would be a good nutrient to grow Witlof!
Q.Please could you send
me details of an example setup to grow tomatos in a small room (the size of a toilet for example).
I have the price list, but would like a run down of the essential
bits required to get started.
A. A
400 W Metal Halide, 400 cfm fan, 4 Expando Gardens, Reservoir,
pump, pH kit, timer, nutrient, mylar (reflective material for the walls). That's
it!
Q.Can you grow root
crops such as potatoes, carrots etc. hydroponicaly.
If yes which systems would be best?
A. I
have grown baby carrot, radish and spring onion on an ebb
& flow using Rockwool. Very tasty, some carrots were shaped
strangely.
Q.I would like to take asparagus seed and grow it into the roots before planting. Can you offer
any suggestions as to what you have that will allow me to grow the
seed to the root stage, and then allow me to plant in soil?
A. Asparagus will germinate in rockwool cubes in approx. 60 days
(check seed packet for germination time). As with any plant
it would require light as soon as it germinates. The rooting/vegetating
asparagus could then be kept going in any hydroponic
media or soilless mixture.
This
slow growing plant should be planted in the garden as soon
as the ground permits. Asparagus usually takes 3 years before
any spears, and 5 years before anything edible is produced.
A quicker alternative is to purchase rooted plants that
have a 3 year head start on the seed.
Q.What is the optimal
temperature for lettuce ?
A. Lettuce requires a cool environment, 68-72degrees and high
light. Lettuce will elongate in high temperature/low light
conditions.
Q.What kind of hydroponic
nutrients do you need to grow beans ?
A.Beans do not have special requirements, any Hydroponic Nutrient
should work just fine (read the directions on the packages!)
Q.My partner
and I are going to try growing strawberries hydroponically. Please send us information on this topic (light
requirements [intensity, amount of light needed per day], nutrient
requirements, etc.).
A.Strawberries
need one year or longer to mature from seed.
Try and find a cutting to propagate. Also try to get a self
pollinating variety. They require a high level of light for 16
- 18 hours per day. Any standard hydroponic nutrient should
be sufficient.
Strawberries
grow well hydroponicaly, I tried it myself with very
good results!
I
used Rockwool as a growing medium and a flood and drain system.
Read
the Article from Maximum Yield on Strawberries.
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