Organic Gardening Tips and Methods Hydroculture/Hydroponics This system has developed from hydroponics, a method of growing plants in water with additional nutrients. In Hydroculture “water-roots”, which differ from roots growing in soil, are supported by inert growing media, with water and nutrients added as required, plant roots need oxygen to thrive and this method allows more air to the roots than potting composts. Hydroculture has advantages; it is easy to provide precise amounts of water and nutrients; the growing medium is clean, well drained, not too acidy, odourless and free from clogging, discouraging diseases, pests and weeds, growth is often faster and stronger than in soil, bulbs, cacti, bonsai, orchids and many popular office plants flourish under Hydroculture. The porous clay granules used as the growing medium absorbs more than their own weight in water and nutrients, these are taken up by the plant as required, which means watering is less frequent, unlike ordinary compost, the terracotta pellets do not shrink or compact and are clean and easy to use, and attractive. Water indicators change colour when root ball is dry, and suitable nutrients are added at every watering so plants are kept well nourished. Different types of liquid food/feed have been formulated for foliage and flowering plants, other methods of Hydroculture require a two part container; an aggregate one and a watertight one, but the clay medium is suitable for any pot, another advantage is that, when transplanting, it is not necessary to wash the old potting compost off the plant roots. Setting up the system; Choose a watertight container at least twice the size of the current plant pot. Measure and note how much water it holds, future waterings need a quarter of that volume to avoid water logging, fill about a third of the pot with granules. If the plant was previously in potting compost, gently wash the soil or debris off the roots, carefully place the root ball on the granules and in fill with more granules, push the tip of the watering indicator gently into the centre of the root ball, ensuring the gauge window is visible, poor a measured amount of water (quarter of pot capacity) containing a suitable liquid feed over the granules, the gauge windows will turn from red (when it’s dry) to blue (when it’s wet), set the plant in a suitably lit position. Routine Maintenance; Wait until the gauge turns completely red before watering with the same volume of water and liquid fed, and replace water indicator once a year. House plants need watering and feeding all year, plants in active growth use more water than those resting (semi-dormant), so the red-window signal appears more often, in active growth, feed succulents, cacti, and orchids at half-strength. During winter dormancy keep cacti and succulents in a brightly lit place, do not feed succulents but water at half the normal volume. Cacti should be drier, water sparingly to prevent dehydration but do not add fertilizer, give orchids a quarter-strength feed every 4-6 weeks if growth or flower spikes appear in a rest period, re-pot plants into larger container as required, clay granules can be re-used, wash them thoroughly break up any lumps and dry. Propagation fro cuttings; Due to good aeration, cuttings root quickly in moist granules, prepare as normal and insert cuttings to a third of their length in a watertight pot filled with granules, treat as rooted plants, but feed at half the usual rate. Free draining pots can be used in a greenhouse/glasshouse, but increase humidity by covering with a plastic bottle or bag to prevent excessive water loss and drying out, keep cuttings in a bright place with indirect light until rooted, remove covers when new growth appears. Re-pot the plants and start normal watering and feeding. Seeds will germinate in watertight or free draining pots, after sowing add one-quarter water measure and half strength feed, then cover with plastic film/cover or a bag, place in a shaded position until new growth appears, take off the cover and move the pot into bright indirect light, if the pot is watertight, start normal watering and feeding, but let granules in free draining pots dry out between applications. Note; All information coincide with RHS guidelines...
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 09:35:47 +0000
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