How to Grow Food for Rabbits with Hydroponics
Rabbits range in size from dwarf to larger breeds, like lop-eared, but make affectionate, relatively docile, pets. Like any animal, rabbits require a specific diet to keep them healthy, including fiber, pellets, protein and fat. Unlike cats and dogs, though, rabbits cannot live on commercial food -- like pellets -- alone, and need supplements of fresh fruits and vegetables. Instead of purchasing fruits and veggies at the store, which can get expensive, many rabbit owners choose to grow their own in a garden or indoors. Hydroponic indoor gardens allow more space efficiency, year-round vegetable supply, and the freshest vegetables for rabbits. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Set up a hydroponics system according to included directions. In hydroponics, plants grow in pods filled a with non-soil-based growing medium and float in a nutrient solution. Fit the grow pods into their spots in the upper tray, and fit the pump into the lower water tray.
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Fill your hydroponic garden's growing pods with peat moss for growing. Non-soil growing foundations are cleaner and eliminate the possibility of pests or diseases in the vegetable crop.
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Plant one seed or seedling per growing pod of lettuce, beans, basil, alfalfa sprouts, radishes, cilantro, clover, endives, parsley, pea pods, romaine lettuce, spinach, watercress or wheat grass. Plant your seeds according to that plant's depth requirements. Grow one pod of each vegetable to maintain good variety for your rabbit, or concentrate on its favorites.
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Mix water with hydroponic nutrient solution designed for leafy greens, herbs and root crops. The nutrient solution provides the vitamins and minerals that would normally come in soil, and is vital for vegetables growing in hydroponic situations. Without this nutrition, vegetables will fail. Mix the solution per the directions on the label in regard to garden size and amount of water, and fill the watering tray.
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Turn the system on to start water circulation and put it in a place where it will receive at least eight hours of natural or artificial light every day. Most herbs and vegetables require full light for leaf and fruit development, and will fail if you keep them in the dark. The vegetables will, however, succeed in well-lit rooms.
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Harvest your vegetables when they get large enough. Most leafy greens mature within 60 days, while beans, radishes and alfalfa sprouts are ready for harvest early, when they're still young and tender.
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