Practical Techniques for Hydroponic Flower Cultivation and Daily Care Management
How are hydroponic flowers cultivated? Hydroponic flowers are quite common in people's lives today, so below the editor will discuss with everyone the cultivation process and care management techniques for hydroponic flowers.
1 Cultivation Process of Hydroponic Flowers
(1) Washing roots and pruning is the first step in hydroponic flower cultivation. First, soak the roots of the pre-selected flowers in clean water and gently rub and wash them by hand to remove the soil. After washing, cut off the old and weak roots, leaving the strong and vigorous parts.
(2) Disinfect the roots. Since the pruned areas are prone to infection, this step is essential. They can be soaked in aqueous solutions of chlorothalonil, carbendazim or potassium permanganate to achieve disinfection. Strictly control the soaking time, and let them dry naturally after soaking.
(3) Enter the acclimatization and root-promotion stage. When the root length reaches 3~5cm, quickly place them into a glass container. Under suitable conditions, such as temperature and humidity, neat and sturdy water roots can form within a short period.
2 Care and Management Techniques for Hydroponic Flowers
After hydroponic flowers are successfully cultivated, later care and management work is crucial, and attention should be paid to the following 6 aspects:
2.1 Scientific and Reasonable Fertilization
Fertilization is an important measure to promote healthy flower growth. Hydroponic flowers cannot do without fertilizer. The principles to follow when fertilizing are dilute, little, and thin. The N fertilizer in fertilizer can make plant leaves thicker and more glossy green, but excessive fertilization will cause the leaf color of hydroponic flowers to become dull, affecting their ornamental value. Therefore, N fertilizer can be used as a supplementary fertilizer, with P and K fertilizers as the main ones, and fertilization should be scientifically and reasonably carried out at any time according to seasonal changes. For example, in summer, the fertilization concentration should be reduced to avoid fertilizer damage.
2.2 Timely Water Supplementation and Water Changing
Hydroponic flowers mainly live in water and are highly dependent on water. Water is an indispensable important condition for their survival. Water provides the nutrients and air needed for flower growth. Due to the absorption by flower roots and water evaporation, water will decrease, so water needs to be supplemented in time. In addition, changing the water is also very important, because if the fertilizer is not completely absorbed, part of it will remain in the water and harm the flowers. Combined with other reasons, this can cause flower roots to rot, the water to become turbid, and mosquitoes and algae to breed, thus affecting the healthy growth of flowers. Therefore, fresh clean water should be replaced in time to promote vigorous plant growth. When changing the water, also cut off excess, aged, and rotten roots at the same time to ensure the healthy growth of the flowers.
2.3 Timely Root Pruning and Leaf Trimming
Hydroponic flowers live in water all the time. After a period, the flower roots will become woody and aged, and root rot often occurs, which is unfavorable to healthy flower growth. To address these problems, promptly cut off aged and rotten roots so that the flowers can grow new water roots. In addition, if the flower root system is particularly developed and affects the ornamental value of the flowers, these roots should be pruned at this time to ensure root vitality. At the same time, attention should also be paid to the branches and leaves of the flowers. If they affect the ornamental value of the flowers, pruning is necessary to ensure that the flowers have higher ornamental value.
2.4 Supplementing Dissolved Oxygen
Supplementing dissolved oxygen can ensure the normal growth of hydroponic flowers, because hydroponic flowers grow and survive under a static container cultivation mode, which is especially likely to cause dissolved oxygen levels to be too low. Therefore, supplementing dissolved oxygen is very necessary. The dissolved oxygen content can be increased by increasing the number of water changes, especially when using tap water that has been exposed to sunlight and left standing for a period of time, the effect is even better. Oxygen can also be increased by shaking, and this method is suitable for hydroponic flowers in smaller containers. Hold the plant steady with one hand and gently shake the container with the other, which is simple and convenient. An aeration method can also be used to increase oxygen by using an oxygen pump to intermittently aerate the nutrient solution to increase the dissolved oxygen content.
2.5 Spraying Water and Washing Leaves
Hydroponic flowers can only grow healthily in an environment with high air humidity and have relatively high requirements for air humidity. Therefore, during care, do a good job of spraying water and washing leaves by spraying water onto the flower leaves to increase air humidity. Otherwise, dry indoor air will cause leaf edges to scorch and leaf tips to burn, which affects both their growth and their ornamental value.
2.6 Proper Ventilation
During the growth process of hydroponic flowers, maintaining a good ventilation environment is also a necessary condition. If indoor ventilation is poor, the oxygen content in the water will rapidly decrease, which will have an adverse effect on the growth of hydroponic flowers. Maintaining good indoor ventilation can increase the oxygen content in the water. Therefore, ventilation should be strengthened to promote healthy flower growth.
The above is all the content brought to you today by the editor of Huinong.com. Friends who are interested in growing hydroponic flowers can refer to it more.
Management and Methods for Hydroponic Flower Cultivation
Like other cultivation methods, hydroponic flowers also require a certain amount of management. Compared with soil cultivation or substrate cultivation, its management techniques are relatively simple and not very complex technically, but throughout the entire hydroponic process, strengthening scientific management is still a very important link and the key to whether hydroponics succeeds.[1] Reasonable fertilization. As everyone knows, the medium for hydroponic flowers is water, and the fertilizer used is completely mineral inorganic nutrition, and it is formulated from multiple nutrient elements {major elements and trace elements}. As for the nutrients contained in water, everyone is also relatively clear; the major elements nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium required by flowers are almost blank, and the trace elements contained are also vastly different compared with soil. They are far from meeting the normal needs of flowers. Therefore, timely and reasonable fertilization for hydroponic flowers is undoubtedly a very important management measure. So how should we grasp the fertilization characteristics, fertilization amount, fertilization time, and fertilization techniques for hydroponic flowers?
First, we should know that the flowers we plant are cultivated in pots, bottles, jars and other containers without bottom holes, using liquid fertilizer {nutrient solution} in a hydroponic manner. This obvious characteristic means that the fertilization techniques differ from other cultivation methods. Because the substrate for soil cultivation is soil, and the surface of soil particles can adsorb part of the nutrients, while excess nutrients can also automatically drain away through the holes at the bottom of the pot, so it plays a certain buffering role in fertilization concentration. But fertilization for hydroponic flowers is different. The various nutrient elements in the nutrient solution we apply are all dissolved in water. As long as it slightly exceeds the degree of fertilizer concentration that the flowers can tolerate, harm will occur. Due to the above characteristics, strict control of the fertilization amount and fertilizer types for hydroponic flowers is a very important link. Therefore, when applying nutrient solution, care should be taken to choose special fertilizer for hydroponic flowers as much as possible. And use it strictly according to the instruction manual, strictly preventing excessive application and excessive concentration from causing fertilizer damage.
Second, in terms of fertilization amount and fertilization time, the main principle is to apply little but frequently, and generally add nutrient fertilizer once with each water change according to the number of water changes, so as to supplement the fertilizer loss caused by changing the water. Third, hydroponic flowers should also be scientifically and reasonably fertilized according to their different conditions. Reasonable fertilization according to different flower species: this is because different flower species have different adaptability to fertilizers. The general rule is that flower species with slender roots, such as coleus, begonia and other flowers, have somewhat poorer fertilizer tolerance and do not need a large amount of fertilizer or a relatively high concentration. Therefore, when fertilizing them, the principles of dilute, little, and thin should be followed. However, many flowers such as Syngonium, red gem, and Philodendron are relatively fertilizer-tolerant. The principle of applying little but frequently can be followed. In addition, for foliage plants, fertilization should mainly be nitrogen fertilizer, supplemented by phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, to ensure thick leaves, smooth leaf surfaces, and pure leaf color. But it must be noted that for flower species whose leaves have colored stripes or patches, somewhat less nitrogen fertilizer should be applied, because when there is too much nitrogen fertilizer, the leaf color will become lighter or even disappear, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be appropriately increased. For flowering flowers, during the flower bud differentiation and flower bud development stages, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers must be mainly used, appropriately supplemented by nitrogen fertilizer, so as to avoid excessive vegetative growth caused by plant spindling, which affects reproductive growth and causes undesirable consequences such as small flowers, few flowers, light flower color, or even no flowering. Reasonable fertilization according to season and temperature: generally, in high summer temperatures, the adaptability of flowers to fertilizer concentration decreases, so the fertilization concentration should be reduced at this time, especially for some flowers that fear intense heat. In high-temperature seasons, they enter a dormant state, the physiological activities in the flowers are slower, and growth is also in a semi-stopped or stopped state. For such flowers, fertilization should be stopped at this time to avoid fertilizer damage.
Fertilize according to the growth vigor of the flowers: as everyone knows, the light conditions in our rooms are generally relatively poor. Although most indoor foliage flowers are grown in shade-loving or semi-shade-loving environments, if they lack light for a long time or are under too weak light, the plants will also grow relatively weakly. Therefore, their adaptability to fertilizer concentration will also decrease. So, for plants growing poorly in poor light conditions, or growing poorly due to other reasons, fertilization should be stopped or reduced, and the fertilization concentration should be reduced as much as possible.
Several issues to note when fertilizing: First, newly hydroponically cultivated flowers have not yet adapted to the water environment, and often show yellowing leaves or individual root rot. At this time, do not rush to fertilize. You can stop for about ten days, and fertilize after they have adapted to the environment or grown new water roots. Second, do not directly apply urea into the water, because urea is an artificially synthesized inorganic organic fertilizer, and hydroponics is cultivation under sterile or low-bacteria conditions. If urea is directly applied, not only will the flowers be unable to absorb nutrients, but some harmful bacteria or microorganisms will also quickly reproduce and cause water pollution, and ammonia will harm the flowers and cause poisoning. Third, if it is found that excessive fertilization has caused flower root rot and led to water quality deterioration, pollution, and odor, quickly cut off the rotten roots and change the water and wash the roots in time.
[2] Changing water and washing roots. In the management techniques for hydroponic flowers, changing water and washing roots is an important link in ensuring good growth of hydroponic flowers. So why should water be changed and roots washed for hydroponic flowers? First, the conditions for plant growth are mainly water, nutrients and air. The water and nutrients of hydroponic flowers can absolutely guarantee their needs, but the oxygen content in the water will gradually decrease as the flowers grow. When it decreases to a certain extent, it will affect flower growth due to oxygen deficiency. Although oxygen in the air will continuously supplement the water, the amount supplemented is far from enough. Second, the roots of hydroponic flowers growing in water, on the one hand, absorb nutrients from the water.
On the other hand, they also discharge some organic substances into the water, as well as waste or toxins, and these deposit in the water. In soil cultivation, these organic substances mainly dissolve nutrients in the soil that are not easily absorbed by the roots, while waste and toxins are distributed in the spaces of the soil or flow out through the holes at the bottom of the pot, and will not be absorbed by the roots and affect the normal growth of the flowers. But in hydroponic containers there are no bottom holes, so these organic substances, waste or toxins all deposit in the water and are very easily taken into the plant body again. Such repeated absorption, excretion, re-absorption, and re-excretion form a vicious cycle, which is extremely unfavorable to the normal growth of flowers and the performance of normal physiological functions.
Third, the nutrient fertilizer often applied to hydroponic flowers in the water, apart from part of the mineral elements being absorbed by the roots, the rest remains in the water. When the residual substances reach a certain amount, they will also cause certain harm to the flowers. Fourth, the roots of hydroponic flowers that grow in water for a long time will produce a kind of mucus. When there is a lot of mucus, it not only affects the absorption of nutrients by the flower roots, but also pollutes the water.
Due to the above reasons, hydroponic flowers must be managed with regular water changes and root washing. So how do we grasp the techniques and timing of water changing and root washing?
First, carry out regular water changes according to different flower species and their adaptation to hydroponic conditions. Some flowers, especially aquatic or wetland flowers, adapt very well to the hydroponic environment. After water cultivation, they can quickly continue to grow new roots from the original root system and grow well. For these flowers, the interval between water changes can be longer. However, some flowers are not very adaptable to the hydroponic environment after water cultivation, recover and grow slowly, and may even show root rot after water cultivation. For these flowers, in the early stage of just entering the hydroponic environment, water should be changed frequently, even once every 1-2 days. Only after new roots sprout and normal growth resumes can the number of water changes gradually be reduced.
Second, this is closely related to air temperature and plant growth. The higher the temperature, the less oxygen in the water; the lower the temperature, the more oxygen in the water. On the other hand, the higher the temperature, the stronger the respiration of plants and the more oxygen consumed; the lower the temperature, the weaker the respiration of plants and the less oxygen consumed. Therefore, when the temperature is high, the oxygen content decreases, and when the temperature is low, the oxygen content in the water is greater. So, in high-temperature seasons, water should be changed frequently, and in low-temperature seasons, the interval between water changes should be longer.
Third, for flowers growing normally and with strong plants, the water change interval can be longer; for flowers growing poorly due to various reasons, water should be changed more frequently. Based on the above aspects, regarding the requirements for changing water and washing roots, the following principles can generally be followed: in hot summer, change water once every 4-5 days; in spring and autumn, change water about once a week. In winter, the water change interval should be longer, generally once every 15-20 days. When changing water, carefully wash away the mucus on the roots, and remember not to break or injure the root system. If moss is found on containers, rocks, etc., remove it in time. This improves ornamental value and is beneficial to the normal growth of flowers.
[3] Spraying water and washing leaves. Hydroponic flowers, especially indoor hydroponic foliage plants, mostly prefer relatively high air humidity. If the indoor air is too dry, it will cause leaf tips or leaf edges to scorch. This affects the ornamental value of the flowers. Therefore, water should often be sprayed onto the plants to increase air humidity, which is beneficial to the normal growth of flowers.
[4] Proper ventilation. As we said earlier, the quality of hydroponic flowers is directly related to the oxygen content in the water, and the amount of oxygen in the water is related to indoor human activity and ventilation quality. When indoor ventilation is poor and people are frequently active, the oxygen content in the water rapidly decreases, which will affect the growth of hydroponic flowers. Maintaining good indoor ventilation can increase the oxygen content in the water. Therefore, in places where hydroponic flowers are kept, ventilation should be strengthened to maintain fresh indoor air and good flower growth.
[5] Timely pruning. For some hydroponic flowers that grow luxuriantly and have relatively developed root systems, when the branches and stems grow too long and affect the plant shape, the overly long branches should be pruned in time to avoid affecting the ornamental value. The cut branches can also be inserted into the container for that flower to let them take root and grow, making the whole plant fuller and more perfect. The best time for root pruning is when flowers begin to grow in spring. It can also be combined with water changes to cut off excess, aged, and rotten roots at any time to facilitate normal growth.
[6] Maintain hygiene. As we know, hydroponic flowers use inorganic nutrition and most taboo organic matter entering the water, and organic fertilizers especially cannot be used. Therefore, often keeping hydroponic flowers clean and hygienic is a key measure to ensure their good growth. So ordinarily do not put food or organic fertilizers into hydroponic flowers. Nor should hands be casually put into the water, so as to ensure that the water quality used does not deteriorate or become polluted, keeping it clean and hygienic and ensuring flower growth.
[7] Winter warmth. Keeping hydroponic flowers warm in winter is a relatively difficult management task. Generally, maintaining the temperature above 8 degrees is enough to prevent most hydroponic flowers from suffering damage. For greenhouses where the minimum temperature cannot reach 5 degrees, necessary warmth measures must be adopted.
Teach You to Manage Hydroponic Flowers - Daily Management Methods for Hydroponic Flowers
For general flowers growing normally, change the water once every 7~10 days in summer, about every 15 days in spring and autumn, and every 15~20 days in winter. When changing the water, wash away the mucus on the roots and cut off rotten roots and yellow leaves. For hydroponic flowers that have just been repotted, because there are many new wounds on the roots and they are easy to rot, the water must be changed frequently; especially in high-temperature weather, when the oxygen content in the water decreases, the water must be changed even more frequently, every day, until the flowers grow white new roots in the water, after which the number of water changes can be gradually reduced.Before changing the water, first pour out the accumulated water in the outer pot, then repeatedly rinse the substrate in the inner pot or the single-layer pot with clean water to wash away the residual nutrient solution, and at the same time rinse the plant roots with water, then pour in enough fresh nutrient solution. Ordinarily, after the water is consumed by 20%~30%, it must be replenished with water; be careful not to add too much water, and let part of the root system be exposed above the water surface.
The fertilization results of hydroponic flowers and soil-cultivated flowers are different. Because the surface of soil particles can adsorb part of the nutrients, and excess nutrients can also be lost along with water through the bottom holes of the flower pot, soil can play a certain buffering role in fertilization concentration. Under hydroponic conditions, however, due to the lack of this regulating mechanism, all applied fertilizer is dissolved in the water, and as long as its concentration slightly exceeds the level that the flowers can tolerate, fertilizer damage will occur. Therefore, hydroponic flowers should generally be given a quantitative application of special nutrient solution, which is formulated according to the nutrient ratio, concentration, and pH required by the flowers. When using nutrient solution, strictly follow the requirements listed in the instructions, and do not use it blindly.
Ensure suitable temperature, humidity, and ventilation environmental conditions. The suitable growth temperature for hydroponic flowers is 18~25°C. If they are often in high-temperature nutrient solution, the root system of hydroponic flowers will turn dark brown, and in severe cases will rot, causing the whole plant to die. Therefore, in summer, prevent direct sunlight on the water basin, so as not to make the water in the basin hot and damage the plant root system. When flowers overwinter, avoid cold air invasion to prevent freezing damage. Measures such as sprinkling hot water on the ground, turning on a hot air blower or electric stove, or introducing heating can be taken to raise the temperature.
Most indoor foliage plants prefer relatively high air humidity, generally 50%~70% relative humidity. Too dry conditions easily cause flower leaf edges to scorch, thus affecting growth. The plants should be sprayed with water frequently, which can not only increase air humidity, but also remove dust from the leaves and enhance the ornamental effect of the flowers.
The growth quality of hydroponic flowers is closely related to the oxygen content in the water, and the oxygen content in the water is also related to factors such as indoor ventilation. Maintain good indoor ventilation.