Hydroponic Tomato Problems
Hydroponic tomatoes are grown without soil, under carefully controlled and balanced systems of nutrients, light, water and air. Though tomatoes grown in a hydroponic system grow larger, faster and with more nutritional value than ones grown in soil, they are prone to a number of problems. Does this Spark an idea?
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Light Deficiency
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If tomatoes can't get approximately 18 hours per day of bluish light at an intensity of around 1,000 foot-candles, they will not grow well. A high intensity metal halide lamp works best.
Insects
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Many insects that harm tomatoes flourish in hydroponic greenhouses because of the lack of natural environmental controls on their populations. Whiteflies, tomato fruit worms, tomato pinworms, leaf miners, two-spotted spider mites and cabbage loopers are all common pests of hydroponic tomatoes.
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Infections
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Because of the wet conditions of hydroponics, tomatoes are prone to a number of bacterial and viral diseases, such as bacterial canker and the mosaic viruses. These conditions also encourage the spread of fungi.
Calcium Deficiency
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Hydroponic tomatoes need to be kept at a humidity under 70 percent in the daytime, under 80 percent at night, or they can develop calcium deficiency.
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