A detailed guide to hydroponic plant care techniques: master the key points and growing them becomes easy
Hydroponic plants are a method of growing plants that differs from traditional soil cultivation: instead, the nutrients the plants need are added to water and the plants are grown in water. Hydroponic plants have better ornamental value, and now there are even products on the market where a few goldfish are kept among hydroponic plants, giving an even better decorative effect. So what kinds of hydroponic plants are there, and what growing techniques are involved? Below, the editor will introduce them one by one.
How to tell real hydroponic plants from fake ones
Hydroponics is a developing industry in China, involving bioengineering technology and the use of physical, chemical and biological engineering methods to domesticate ordinary plants and flowers. Because they are convenient to carry and care for, cheap, clean, and have healthy flowers and leaves, and can achieve the scene of enjoying fish and flowers together, they are loved by most people. China's market is very worrying! Because fake hydroponic techniques exist…
Hydroponic technology originated in some developed Western countries, and when hydroponic technology was introduced to China, essential changes occurred. For the sake of profit, some Chinese merchants skip artificial domestication and bioengineering methods and directly put washed plants into water to save costs. This way the plants may look like they will not die at the time, but after a few days the leaves of the hydroponic plants begin to gradually turn yellow, and finally the hydroponic plants slowly die. This is not only irresponsible to customers, but also harmful and of no benefit to the real hydroponics industry.
True hydroponics, however, places plants in a nutrient solution, and the nutrient solution is formulated through professional hydroponic technology. The plants are produced through artificial domestication or seedling cultivation, and the survival rate is as high as 95% or more. If professional later-stage care is added, it can be said that they are guaranteed not to die. Therefore, only hydroponic plants cultivated by people who know true hydroponic technology will not die. A reminder to everyone: when buying hydroponic plants, ask and look more, so you do not buy fake hydroponic plants.
Hydroponic plant care techniques
1. Choosing containers: according to the specific conditions of the flower variety, form, specifications and flower color of the hydroponic plant material you intend to grow, choose substitute bottles, pots, vats and other containers that can complement and bring out the best in that flower and tree variety. According to the principles of choosing hydroponic containers mentioned earlier, buy or process and make them yourself, so that they are appropriate to use and elegant to look at. Never just grab whatever container is at hand and use it randomly, so as not to affect the image of the hydroponic flowers and the beauty of the indoor decoration. Achieve unity and harmony between the containers, flowers and the room environment, so as to achieve a relatively ideal ornamental effect.
2. Removing soil and washing roots: when soil cultivation is changed to hydroponics, the work of removing soil and washing roots must be done well. Everyone knows that soil cultivation is organic nutrition, while after changing to hydroponics, it is completely changed to inorganic nutrition cultivation. The organic matter in the soil and attached to the root system must be strictly washed clean, so as not to affect the normal growth of hydroponic flowers and the infection of pests and diseases. Take the selected flower plant, dig it out of the soil or gently tip it out of the flower pot. First use your right hand to lightly lift the stems, and your left hand to lightly support the root system, then switch to your right hand and gently shake, slowly patting, so that the soil at the roots falls away and all the roots are exposed. Then soak in clean water for 15-20 minutes, and gently knead and wash the roots with your hands. After 2-3 changes of water and washing, until the roots are completely free of soil and the water used to wash the roots is clear and transparent without mud or sand, only then is it washed clean. But pay great attention: some flower roots are hard and tangled in crooked knots, and a lot of soil is in the gaps. When necessary, use a bamboo skewer or wooden stick, or a screwdriver, to dig it out. You must achieve not a bit of soil left. This is one of the important links for successful hydroponics, and you must not be negligent.
3. Temperature: the suitable growth temperature for hydroponic plants is above 5 degrees and below 30 degrees. In other words, as long as the temperature feels fairly comfortable to people, the plants will also feel fairly comfortable, and they can grow normally. Even in winter, they can still have luxuriant branches and leaves, adding vigorous vitality for us.
4. Light: mainly scattered light. What is scattered light? It is natural light coming in through windows and other places, naturally scattering indoors. Generally, plants only need appropriate brightness to grow; they do not necessarily have to be exposed to the sun. In summer, also try to avoid direct sunlight.
5. Nutrient solution: generally, everyone can just use the special hydroponic nutrient solution sold on the market. Prepare a suitable concentration according to the instructions, for example diluting 400 times or 1000 times; do not get the ratio wrong. When preparing it, leave the tap water standing for two hours to half a day, wait until its temperature is close to room temperature and the chlorine in the water and so on have fully volatilized, then add the concentrated nutrient solution according to the ratio, and it becomes a nutrient solution that can be used to grow hydroponic plants.
6. Changing water: changing water means replacing the water in the bottle to which nutrient solution has been added. Generally, in spring and autumn, change the water once every 5-10 days; in summer, change it once about every 5 days; in winter, change it once every 10-15 days (after the tap water has stood for half a day, add the concentrated nutrient solution according to the ratio). Changing the water is to ensure the oxygen supply in the water. Fresh water contains more oxygen, and plants will grow more healthily. If the water is not changed for a long time, the plants can also hold on for a period. For example, sometimes everyone goes on a business trip or vacation, and is not at home for ten days to half a month or even a month. Soil-cultured plants would long ago have been unable to bear it and would have died, while hydroponic plants, as long as you add more water, can still hold on. But if the time is too long, the water in the bottle becomes very stale or deteriorates, which will affect the growth of the hydroponic plants and, in serious cases, also cause their death. Note: when changing the water, please expose half or one third of the plant's roots.
7. Cleaning: each time you change the water, rinse the plant's roots and the container with clean water, and prune dead branches, withered leaves and rotten roots. Under normal growth conditions, hydroponic plants will regularly rot part of their roots and then grow new roots. So when you find rotten roots, do not panic first. Use sterilized scissors (disinfected with alcohol cotton) to prune away the rotten roots. Sometimes you can also prune away some old roots to promote the growth of new roots (note: this should be done under the guidance of professionals). But be sure not to damage the water roots, otherwise it will affect the growth of the plant. The roots of hydroponic plants, those white and tender roots on top, are the water roots. Some grow directly from the base of the stem, and some grow from the main root. They are all responsible for the plant's absorption function, so be sure not to damage them.
8. Moisture retention: in winter there is very little moisture in the air, especially in the north, where indoors is very dry, which is unfavorable to plant growth. So in daily care, please spray the leaf surfaces with clean water to maintain humidity. You can spray clean water twice a day.