Sweeping across the UK, hydroponics has gone from a small scale hobby practiced by more scientifically minded growers- and has morphed into an ever evolving industry where professionals and hobbyists rub shoulders together. Long gone are the days of slow, considered crop rotations and seasonal hurdles. When it comes to hydro growing, if you can think of it, you can grow it. Today, the Senua Hydroponics team (with our years of experience) will be taking a deep dive into the ever evolving, ever expanding world of hydroponic growing. We'll be going over everything you need to pop into a hydro store and know what you're looking for and start your growing journey. Consider this the ultimate handbook for modern home growing.
So what is Hydroponics?
Simply put: hydroponics is a practice of growing plants, fruits, vegetables and herbs without the need for soil. Sounds simple? That's because it can be. Hydro growing is about taking the randomness out of traditional farming and plant growing and putting control directly in your hands. One way to think of it is overcoming nature. The best way to think of it is using science to work with nature. Instead of being dependant on things like soil quality, water quality, rainfall and sunlight (all of the things which nature can change on a whim,) hydroponics is as straightforward as growing your plants in a way that resembles nature.
Going back to the part where we said "hydroponics can be simple." A simple Google search will bring up all of the wacky and Bladerunner-looking set ups that can send the mind racing. The best advice for new starters? Ignore them. Hydroponics is a simple hobby to pick up, but make no mistake- professional growing does exist. And whilst it may be tempting to take a look at all of the test tubes and irrigation systems and cloning tools; it can also be very off putting for new starters. So the best advise is to focus on small scale growing at first and then expand. Not only does this give you a better idea of the products available, but this scaling-up method also allows you to get a feel of working in a hydroponics environment.
Why should I get in to Hydro?
Compared to traditional growing/gardening, hydroponics produces faster and more consistent results. So what's the catch? Well, really... there isn't a catch. Hydroponics might be one of the most rewarding hobbies that not very many people have heard of. From fruits, vegetables, herbs and exotic flowers. Hydro growing is showing no signs of slowing down. Entire communities like farming communities, botany groups and allotment societies have steadily been embracing and pushing hydroponics for a while now. And for good reason.
All-in, hydroponics works out much cheaper than the old fashioned methods of acquiring land, ploughing fields and much more. Instead hydro growing can be easily set up, moved and adjusted. Want to grow in an attic, basement or other small, enclosed space? With hydroponics, you can. Long gone are the necessary fields of wheat waiting to be ruined by Theresa May and her chums. With hydroponics, you can grow indoors. Away from the topsy-turvy elements that British farmers know all too well. As hydro growing gains more and more recognition, both hobbyists and professionals have found themselves making the switch to save money, get more yields and grow freely.
So where can you start?
In the age of the internet, almost nothing is off limits. If you can think of it, there are probably threads, forums and entire communities dedicated to it. That may be scary to think about- but when it comes to hydroponics, horticulture and botany, there is nothing more wholesome. In our experience, the best way to start to ask questions. Hop online and check out various message boards or (better yet) take a trip to your local hydroponics store and ask around. No one knows the industry better than those who work in it day-in, day-out. Grow shop employees are usually more than happy to help you get to terms with the best tips, tricks and developments.
But never underestimate the head start you can give yourself by doing some research beforehand. This comes from years of experience, but one of the most crucial sticking points for new growers happens to be terminology. That's not entirely surprising. At the end of the day, any kind of home growing is technically a science and will use science-y words. But don't let the faux Latin and technical-sounding words stop you from giving growing a good chance. Here, we're aiming to breakdown some of that stuffy jargon.
Some things you need to know about home growing
Let's tackle some of that wordy, complex stuff right now with a quick terminology round-up. These are things that are crucial to understanding when it comes to starting your home growing journey off and that- really- aren't all that complicated at all.
First up, we have Rockwool. If you're brand new to hydroponics, this one might be the tapping-out point already. Which is why we're going to tackle it first. Rockwool is a popular growing medium made from molten rock spun into fibers. It has excellent water retention capabilities and provides good aeration for your plants. Rockwool is available in different sizes and shapes, making it versatile for various hydroponic systems.
For the environment lovers we're going to dive into Coconut Coir next. Coconut coir is a sustainable and renewable growing medium derived from coconut husks. It has excellent water retention and aeration properties, allowing for the best and most natural root development. Coconut coir can be used as a standalone medium or mixed with other materials.
Grow lights. By far the most crucial part of home growing and (surprisingly) one of the most overlooked. Grow lights are horticultural lights that facilitate plant growth. By mimicking the sun, they help to trick your plants into believing that they are receiving natural sunlight. When it comes to starting out, be sure to take the time to evaluate all options before picking up a grow light as a grow light can form the backbone of your growing for years to come.
Finally, let's go over the basics of pH levels. pH levels are simply the levels of acidity or alkalinity that can be measured in growing mediums or nutrient solutions. Ranging from 0-14 pH is vital to getting an optimal grow. For hydroponics (which mostly uses nutrient solutions) a pH level of around 6 is best however there can be some difference for different plants.
Building your hydroponics set up
So you've tried at your local hydro shop, read this guide and want to start growing. What's the first actual step? Let's introduce a hidden term: Environment. That's right. The first thing that we need to establish is our growing environment (which is a really fancy way of saying "make some space for our equipment.")
There are a lot of tools in hydro that allow you to customise your growing. You mix things up and find things that work precisely for you. But your growing environment is essential. As previously mentioned, there's no growing without a grow light. So it's a good idea to make sure that you've got a grow light ready to go. But what else do you need to establish a good growing environment?
Firstly we'll need a nutrient solution. We're not going to go into the ins and outs of nutrients today (keep an eye out for a future nutrient guide!) but needless to say, nutrient solutions are beginner friendly and affordable. Keeping a nutrient solution close to hand is perfect and making sure that it is safely stored is the first step outside of the grow lighting needed to mimic the light of the sun.
Next, we need our reservoir and, when we say this, we actually mean "a plastic container with a lid." Why do we need this? Well, the nutrient solution has to go somewhere. The idea here is to dangle the plant above the nutrient solution (in the container) so that the roots dip into the nutrient solution. You can use almost anything here and- for beginners- you can easily convert an old plastic container for this purpose. Just make sure that the container is deep enough to hold an adequate amount of nutrient solution.
A net pot or a plant pot with holes in the bottom. This is to store the plant itself and also allow the roots of the plant to develop through the bottom of the pot. Depending on your budget, you can use either a dedicated plant pot for this or (if you're comfortable with a bit of DIY) make one yourself. As long as the plant bulb or seed can develop roots out of the bottom of this pot and the pot can be suspended above our nutrient solution, then we're good to grow.
But we're not just going to put our seed/bulb in a pot and leave it there. A covering of coconut coir or clay pebbles will be our best bet here but make sure not to cover the top of the bulb/seeds. We still need to use a bit of growing medium in order to support our roots although (depending on what you're growing) there's nothing stopping you from experimenting without using a growing medium. That said, to be on the safe side, we would recommend giving your roots that little bit of additional support.
More guides coming soon!
And, believe it or not; that's all we need to start growing. An entire field of science captured in a single beginner's guide. Keep in mind that, although hydroponics is a science, there's a lot of flexibility to home growing. Whether you're planning on growing your own fruit, vegetables or plants, there aren't really any strict rules in hydroponics. Instead, this great and rewarding hobby allows you to fully experiment and express yourself whilst also being incredibly productive.
For the hydro pros out there- we know. We completely understand that we've only just scratched the surface when it comes to home growing. But we've all got to start somewhere. By following the steps outlined in this guide, any new grower will be able to have a go and really test if hydroponics is something they want to stick with.
As an expanding hobby, hydroponics is rapidly becoming a mainstay way for gardeners, farmers and the every-man to come together and enjoy growing again. Relaxing, productive and easy to expand and make money from, hydro is a brilliant way to indulge your artistic side and scientific side at the same time. Requiring logical planning and organisation whilst also being open to interpretation and practical. The more the hydro industry the more we can continue to educate people in science, farming, botany and more.
So stay tuned to Senua Hydroponics for the latest news and advice as well as more articles like this one. We're more that just a hydro shop in Liverpool- we're looking to develop a community a great growers who are dedicated to helping hydroponics grow (pun intended.) Hydro shops may come and go but the communities that this fantastic hobby has created will stand the test of time and, at Senua Hydroponics, it is our aim to expand those communities and help encourage growers across the UK.
