How to Make an Indoor Hydroponic Garden
An indoor hydroponic garden is a great way to grow vegetables such as tomatoes and lettuce or flowers like roses or orchids throughout the year. A hydroponic growing system is inexpensive to make and maintain, and plants can be grown very successfully using a hydroponic system. Indoor gardening is a great solution for gardeners who want to increase the number of plants they grow, and for people who have limited gardening space. Hydroponic growing is easy and fun for gardeners of all ages. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Hydroponic tank
- Grow lights (optional)
- Air pump
- PH test
- Nutrient pump
- Polystyrene sheet
- Scissors
- Plants
Instructions
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Choose a location for your hydroponic system. Hydroponically grown plants require sunlight to grow well; place a hydroponic tank near a window if possible. Use grow lights to supplement sunlight if no windows are available for the hydroponic system.
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2
Fill the hydroponic tank about three quarters full with water, or fill it according to the manufacturer instructions. Use clean, distilled water; hard water and water with too many minerals can damage or kill plants, especially seedlings.
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Install the air pump in the hydroponic tank and turn it on. The air pump keeps oxygen and nutrients circulating throughout the water, leading to an even growth pattern for all of the plants. The movement of water and nutrients is what allows hydroponic plants to be grown without soil.
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4
Check the pH of your hydroponic water before installing the nutrient pump, and once a week during the growing cycle. Hydroponic plants grow best in water with a pH between 5 and 6, according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
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Install the nutrient pump and turn it on. This will provide your hydroponic plants with the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients required for successful growth. Plants absorb nutrients at different rates; change the nutrient pack in the filter about every two weeks to ensure that plants receive enough nutrients.
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Cut small circles out of the polystyrene sheet to hold your plants. Each hole should be around a half-inch in diameter; space the holes about 5 inches apart. This will allow you to plant many items in the polystyrene sheet. Enlarge the holes as your plants grow.
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Place one plant in each hole in the polystyrene sheet. Ensure that the hole is not too big for the plant; plants that fall completely in the water will drown.
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Place the polystyrene sheet on top of the water in the hydroponics tank. This will begin the hydroponic garden's growing process.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit maroon orchid,orchid,maroon,showy,flower,beautiful image by Earl Robbins from Fotolia.com
