What are the methods for growing potted plants hydroponically?

Livestock Farming Jan 1, 1970 0 views

Many foliage plants can be grown hydroponically. Because hydroponics is relatively clean and very simple to care for, it is deeply loved by people. However, if you want to convert potted plants to hydroponic cultivation, you need to pay attention to the method of conversion.

Spider Plant

Step one, determine the hydroponic subject

General indoor tropical foliage plants can all be grown hydroponically, and those with aerial roots are best. Such as rubber tree, pothos, Monstera deliciosa (details), Alocasia, lucky bamboo, bromeliads, ferns, spider plant, and so on. The above plants are best started hydroponically at the seedling stage; when grown hydroponically at this time, the plants are easily "tamed."

Step two, washing the roots

Take the selected plant, dig it out of the soil, gently shake it by hand, and pat it slowly (do not use too much force, or you will damage the roots). After shaking off the soil to expose all the roots, place them in clean water to soak for 15-20 minutes, then gently rub and wash the roots by hand, changing the water and rinsing 2-3 times until the roots are completely free of soil. If necessary, you can slowly dig them out with a bamboo stick; not a bit of soil may remain. This is one of the important steps for successful hydroponics and must not be neglected. After washing the roots, properly trim away excess old roots, because the roots of hydroponic flowers are equally a key ornamental point, so clean roots are also a very important part.

Step three, forcing roots

Forcing roots is converting soil roots into water roots. The specific method is: place the washed plant roots into a prepared nutrient solution and soak for about 10 minutes, then place them in foam board or perlite so that the roots come into contact with the water surface (pay attention to increasing the oxygen content in the water at all times). Plants treated this way will quickly grow water roots.

Step four, potting up

When the water roots have grown to about two centimeters, the plant can be placed into a suitable bottle or container for hydroponic management.

An introduction to the hydroponic methods for 8 common potted plants! They can survive without much care

In recent years, as living standards have continued to rise, people increasingly like to keep some potted plants at home. They not only purify the air and green the environment, but also lift the spirits and enrich life. However, the commonly used soil cultivation method, with repotting and changing soil, is rather cumbersome and unsanitary, so many friends like hydroponic potted plants, which are convenient to care for and also clean and hygienic. Below, the editor will introduce some hydroponic methods for common potted plants. Let's take a look.

Image: Ivy

One, the hydroponic method for ivy

First take the ivy out of the pot, and using the root-washing method, put the root ball into water and carefully remove the soil from the roots. Be careful not to break the root system; if the roots are damaged, it is not good for the subsequent hydroponics. After the plant is prepared, put it into a hydroponic container and set it upright. The water only needs to cover 2/3 of the roots. In the early stage of hydroponics, pay attention to changing the water frequently, preferably once every 1 or 2 days with clean water, so as to keep the water clean and prevent the lower end of the stems from rotting. After about 10 days, the ivy will grow tender white aerial roots. After new roots grow, the water should likewise be changed frequently. After about another 2 or 3 weeks, the hydroponic ivy will show a lush growth trend. After the ivy grows normally, you can add a few drops of nutrient solution to the water each time you change it. Before the hydroponic ivy has rooted, do not give it light; the hydroponic ivy needs to be placed in a spot with diffused light or in shade, and the temperature must be suitable, neither too hot nor too cold. After rooting, supplement light appropriately, and diffused light is sufficient. Do not think that hydroponic ivy only needs timely watering; every so often, spray and wash the branches and leaves once with clean water to increase air humidity and keep the leaves clean and emerald green. In the midsummer season, use clean water for cultivation as much as possible.

Image: Pothos

Two, the hydroponic method for pothos

When growing hydroponically, choosing good material is very important; choose healthy, strong stems and branches with aerial roots. Such stems and branches can quickly adapt to the water environment after being placed in clean water and will grow water roots in 10 days. Note that the part placed in the water should not have leaves, otherwise it will affect water quality. Select a potted plant with a good plant shape and growth; after separating the plant from the pot soil, wash the soil off the roots, and be sure not to damage the roots and stems. Cut off the excess old roots and place them directly in clean water; they will root very easily. In the first few days of hydroponics, change the water frequently, once every two or three days. The water temperature should be close to room temperature. After the hydroponic plant has rooted, reduce the frequency of water changes to once a week. After new leaves grow, change the water once every 10 days, and spray nutrient solution on the leaves at the appropriate time to make the leaf surface emerald green and glossy. The root system of hydroponic pothos is very important. Note that it must be cleaned and trimmed often. If the roots are too long, cut them short in time to reduce nutrient loss. If the roots rot, also clean them in time, remove the rotten roots, disinfect with potassium permanganate solution, and then resume care. After disinfection, the roots need extra care, changing the water once every 2 days; after recovery, the frequency of water changes can be reduced. Hydroponic pothos needs to receive sufficient diffused light to grow robustly. Usually place it in a spot with enough diffused light, and ensure it receives several hours of light every ten days, which can keep the leaves emerald green and glossy. Pothos likes a humid environment; when the air is dry, often spray water on the leaves to increase humidity, which can also help clean the leaves.

Image: Spider Plant

Three, the hydroponic method for spider plant

The roots of spider plant are white and plump, very suitable for viewing. The most important point is that there is no interference from soil; even in the hot and stuffy summer, spider plant can grow in a cool environment. Therefore, for hydroponic spider plant, try to choose a transparent glass container, so you can view both the leaves and the roots, and it is convenient to observe the hydroponic condition and adjust in time. Take the soil-grown spider plant out of the pot, and rinse the soil off the roots with a gentle stream of water. Using scissors, cut off the old roots and rotten roots, keep the whitish fibrous roots, and clean up diseased leaves and remnant leaves, making the spider plant look entirely renewed. Then soak the plant roots in potassium permanganate solution for 10 minutes to disinfect. Rinse the leaves with a gentle stream of water to wash off soil and dust from the leaves; be careful not to damage the leaf surface during the process, and keep the leaves intact. Put the prepared spider plant into a hydroponic container. For a professional hydroponic container (one with a hydroponic basket), fix the spider plant and use stones to secure it, ensuring the plant stays upright; for an ordinary glass vessel, place the plant upright and let the leaves lean near the bottle wall. During fixing, avoid damaging the roots and let the roots spread around the container. Pour water along one side of the bottle wall; the water only needs to cover 1/3 of the plant roots.

Image: Maidenhair Fern

Four, the hydroponic method for maidenhair fern

First, wash the roots of the soil-grown maidenhair fern clean, and disinfect with potassium permanganate. Then find a container, add clean water, and pair it with nutrient solution in the appropriate ratio (nutrient solution can be bought on the market), or fix it at the mouth of the container or on the water surface with something. Maidenhair fern is suitable for planting on coral stone; just place the coral stone directly in water, and after it survives it grows very well. Coral stone can be bought at shops in flower and bird markets that make rockeries; there are many styles, so you can choose one. Before use, the coral stone must be soaked in water to remove salt. To let the stone grow moss, it cannot be kept indoors for a long time; give it appropriate sunlight. When growing hydroponically, do not let the water submerge the crown of the maidenhair fern. During care, replenish water in time, and change the water once every 5-10 days.

Image: Peperomia

Five, the hydroponic method for Peperomia

Peperomia needs a certain amount of time to adapt to hydroponics. This is usually done in spring from April to May. After hydroponics, place it in a cool place to recover, and after a week it can adapt to normal growth. Select a soil-grown plant with a relatively good plant shape; after taking it out of the pot, wash the soil off the roots clean, then cut off old roots and withered leaves. Put the plant's roots, note, the roots, into a 0.05% concentration potassium permanganate solution and soak for 10 minutes. To make it easier to fix the plant, you can put a small amount of colorful stones or ceramsite into the hydroponic container to secure the root system. After putting the plant into the hydroponic container, add water to cover 1/2-2/3 of the roots; during this process, it is best not to let the leaves soak in water. At the very beginning of hydroponics, change the water once a day, clean off the sticky substances produced on the roots, then replace with clean water; in about 10 days new roots will grow. After roots grow, change the water once every 2-3 days. For Peperomia, tap water is usually used, and well water is generally not used. Compared with other hydroponic plants, Peperomia needs fewer nutrients and basically does not need fertilizing; water that is too nutrient-rich instead easily causes microorganisms to breed in the water, which is not good for plant growth. So just change the water on time and ensure the water has sufficient oxygen.

Image: Peace Lily

Six, the hydroponic method for peace lily

Peace lily can be grown in soil or hydroponically. Hydroponic peace lily is simple to do and can be completed in a few steps. First is taking it out of the pot: take the soil-grown plant out of the pot, clean off the old soil from the roots, and wash with clean water. Cut off the aged and rotten roots; next is planting: fix the plant in a planting basket to secure it. Then add a small amount of stones to the hydroponic container. For ordinary hydroponics, if you choose a narrow-mouth bottle, you can directly use stones to secure it without choosing a planting basket; next is adding water: the hydroponic container must be guaranteed to have sufficient water. Converting from soil cultivation to hydroponics requires a certain adaptation process, so there should be some distance between the roots and the water, allowing the roots to breathe; just ensure 1/3 of the roots enter the water. The growth temperature for hydroponic peace lily is 5°C—30°C, and it can grow normally within this range. Place the plant in a brightly lit spot without direct sunlight for care. Do not expose it directly to strong sunlight.

Image: Pennywort

Seven, the hydroponic method for pennywort

Choose pennywort with roots; at the same time, for the sake of appearance, friends can choose pennywort of differing heights. Put the pennywort into the prepared container, then use small stones to press down the roots of the pennywort, and add water to the pennywort. Isn't it very simple, just two steps? But if you want the pennywort to grow well, there are also some small tips needed! You do not need to change the water especially frequently; if you change it too frequently, it is not good for the pennywort either. Basically, just ensure there is enough water in the basin, and changing it once a week is enough. In summer, you can change the water more frequently to avoid mosquitoes laying eggs in it. Pennywort likes sunlight; with sufficient sunlight it can grow quickly, and it does not need fertilizing. Note that it needs to receive more than 4 hours of sunlight per day on average. As for fertilizing, there is nothing major to pay attention to; you can appropriately add some nutrient solution, such as quick-acting fertilizer——Hyponex No. 2, or slow-release fertilizer——Magic Fertilizer, and so on. If you keep goldfish at home, pouring the water changed from the goldfish tank into the pennywort basin can make the pennywort grow better.

Image: Hyacinth

Eight, the hydroponic method for hyacinth

After buying the bulb, its surface will have a purple protective layer, or even a small amount of soil. We need to clean it thoroughly so as not to affect the water quality of the hydroponics. First rinse the bulb clean under a gentle stream of water, then peel off the purple outer skin until the white part is exposed. In addition, the roots should also be cleaned up. Before the bulb reaches your hands, it has certainly crossed the ocean, and there is no telling how much mold it carries (of course you cannot see it), so the old roots at the bottom should be cut off as well. Old roots are generally black and look dirty, while the new roots grown in hydroponics are white and only then beautiful. After the hyacinth bulb is washed white, it is still not completely clean; it also needs to be disinfected. Mix the prepared carbendazim with water, soak the bulb for 15-20 minutes, take it out, and blot the water dry with a paper towel, then place it in a cool place to dry naturally. After one day it can be planted. For hydroponic hyacinth, you only need to place the bulb in the container; generally the bulb is 2-5 millimeters from the water surface, and the amount of water must not be too much. Before rooting, ensure the root system has enough space to grow and breathe. For hydroponics, everyone can choose a glass cup with a diameter similar to the bulb; of course, a container with a hydroponic basket is best.

[Editor's concluding remarks]Ivy, pothos, maidenhair fern, and so on are all common potted plants in daily life and are very suitable for hydroponics. Above, we introduced the hydroponic methods for 8 kinds of potted plants, hoping to help everyone!

Converting potted plants into hydroponic plants

Hydroponic plants, with their characteristics of being clean and hygienic and simple to care for, have gradually entered people's lives. On a desk or table, in the living room or kitchen, placing a pot of lush green hydroponic plants looks refreshing and clean, making people feel renewed.

Nowadays, in order to cater to customers' demands, more and more hydroponic plants are being sold in flower markets. But sometimes, after carefully selecting and buying a plant in the flower market, not long after returning home it withers with dry branches and leaves and takes on a declining look. This is because, for the sake of profit, flower vendors directly wash the soil off the plant roots and soak the plant in water. True hydroponic plants, however, are plants that were placed in water to cultivate and adapt when they were very small, and have already grown water roots. For people unfamiliar with hydroponic plants, how to distinguish true hydroponic plants is a relatively difficult matter. Then, besides needing to choose carefully when buying, the most feasible thing is——doing it yourself to turn the potted plants at home into hydroponic plants.