What is organic hydroponic gardening and is it possible to combine hydroponics with organic nutrients? I believe it can be done.
Do you like eating healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables? If so, you may want to consider organic hydroponic gardening!
Organic hydroponics is a type of gardening that does not use soil. Instead, plants are grown in water with special organic nutrients added.
This type of gardening is becoming more and more popular, as people become more interested in eating healthy, organic food. In this blog post, we will discuss the basics of organic hydroponic gardening. We will also provide some tips for getting started!
What Is Organic Hydroponic Gardening?
To answer this question we first need to differentiate between organic nutrients and chemical nutrients.
So basically we will avoid manmade fertilizers and use those from natural sources.
Organic hydroponics is a hydroponics culture system based on organic agriculture concepts that does not use synthetic inputs such as fertilizers or pesticides. In organic hydroponics, nutrient solutions are derived from organic plant and animal material or naturally mined substances. Organic hydroponics – Wikipedia
If you are interested in growing your own food but do not have a lot of space, organic hydroponic gardening at home may be a good option for you.
Organic hydroponic gardens can be set up indoors or outdoors. They can also be set up on a small scale or a large scale.
No matter what your needs are, there is a way to set up an organic hydroponic garden that will work for you!
Benefits Of Organic Hydroponic Gardening
There are many benefits to organic hydroponic gardening. One of the biggest benefits is that you can grow your food all year round, no matter what the weather is like outside.
Another benefit is that you do not have to worry about soil-borne pests and diseases.
This type of gardening is also very water efficient. It uses much less water than field-grown crops. It is better for the environment too.
That is because only the area around the roots is watered directly while outdoors the surrounding soil around the plant is watered too.
The runoff from this type of agriculture can leach down into the water table and contaminate it.
If you are interested in setting up an organic hydroponic garden, there are a few things you will need to do.
First, you will need to choose the right location. Organic hydroponic gardens can be set up indoors or outdoors, but it is important to choose a location that gets plenty of sunlight.
Second, you will need to set up your grow lights if growing indoors. Grow lights are essential for organic hydroponic gardens, as they provide the plants with the light they need to grow.
Third, you will need to choose the right nutrient solution. There are many different types of nutrient solutions available, so it is important to do some research to find the one that is right for your plants.
Finally, you will need to set up a watering system. Organic hydroponic gardens need to be watered frequently, so it is important to choose a watering system that is easy to use and maintain.
Did You Know Coco Coir Is An Organic Hydroponic Growing Medium?
It’s true and it works great with organic nutrients and can be used in several hydroponic systems.
Many people think of it as a soil alternative and although it can be used like soil if used properly it will produce hydroponic growth.
There are organic coco nutrients readily available too. I really don’t recommend using DIY organic nutrients in hydroponics.
I have used Canna Nutrients for many years and they are top quality.
Organic Hydroponics What You Should Know
Conventional hydroponics uses chemical salts to feed plants. They can be absorbed much faster than organic nutrients.
If you accidentally overfeed they can easily be flushed out.
But organic nutrients are a bit different. They are not as fast acting as salts but on the other hand, they are more persistent in your system.
It is also more likely to have problems with residue in your reservoir so you will need to clean more thoroughly between reservoir changes.
If your nutrients are homemade or not manufactured properly they can clog drip emitters.
I don’t use drip emitters. Instead in my drip systems, I use open-ended tubing to deliver water to my plants.
Best Systems For Organic Hydroponics
Top Feed Drip
This is a great system for growing plants. You can use it with coco coir, hydroton, grow stones, or even perlite.
If you use inert media you can recirculate your nutrients. Coco coir is a bit trickier to recirculate but it can be done.
Flood And Drain
Works best with inert media and recirculating your nutrients. I have seen it done with coco coir too.
Deep Water Culture
I have not tried this but it should work fine as long as you use clean organic hydroponic nutrients and can keep water temperatures below 72 degrees, 68 degrees is optimal for DWC.
DWC can be difficult even using more conventional methods because it is prone to root rot if temperatures warm. Using beneficial bacteria may help prevent this.
The Kratky Method
This is very similar to DWC but without airstones. It works great for lettuce and greens and other small fast growing plants.
Coco Coir In Pots Hand Watered
This is probably the simplest hydroponic method. The idea is to water coco coir so it does not ever dry out but never stays wet.
You need to get some runoff every time you water to prevent nutrient build up and you need to empty the saucers after you water.
There is an art to hand watering. Honestly, coco coir does best with frequent smaller waterings and this is hard to do without a timer and drip lines.
What Is Organic Hydroponic Gardening? Final Thoughts
Organic hydroponic gardening is a great way to grow your own food. It has many benefits, including the fact that you can grow your food all year round and that it is very water efficient.
Organic Hydroponic Gardening Tips
Before you do anything you must decide what hydroponic growing system you will use.
It has to be compatible with using organic nutrients. That eliminates aeroponics of NFT systems.
I recommend checking out this article on hydroponic growing systems.
If you are interested in setting up an organic hydroponic garden, there are a few things you will need to do.
• First, you will need to choose the right location.
• Second, you will need to set up your grow lights.
• Third, you will need to choose the right nutrient solution.
• Finally, you will need to set up a watering system.
With a little bit of planning and effort, you can have a thriving organic hydroponic garden! Good luck and happy gardening!
