If you’re new to hydroponics, the grow systems and entire process can be rather intimidating. However, hydroponics can be a really good way to start growing your food at home. One of the first questions most growers have when starting hydroponic gardening is: what do you feed hydroponic plants?
We’re covering this question, and the pro’s of hydroponic growing today!
Just getting started with hydroponic growing? Check out our other resources like how does a hydroponic system work or the best hydroponic grow systems for beginners.
If you’re looking for our full collection of resources for hydroponic growing, check out our hydroponic section for more info!
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What Do You Feed Your Hydroponic Plants?
In short, hydroponic plants need a fertilizer solution to thrive in their grow systems. Think about it – hydroponics means you’re growing in water, and water by itself has essentially no nutrients present.
This means you’ll need to add a fertilizer solution for your plants to thrive. Hydroponic fertilizers are pretty easy to use and affordable, and adding those extra nutrients will help boost your plant’s growth and flowering.
Top Overall Pick: General Hydroponics Flora Grow Set
If you’re looking to do a deep dive on hydroponic fertilizers and which one might be best for you, check out our post on the best hydroponic fertilizers. However, if you’re looking to make a quick decision, our top overall pick is the General Hydroponics Flora Grow set.
This set of fertilizers comes with three different options, with each one intended for a specific growth cycle for the plant. This allows you to customize your fertilizing to exactly what your plant needs. For a fertilizing schedule, you can refer to General Hydroponics website for a full guide.
Types of Fertilizer – Liquid Vs. Powder
When selecting your fertilizer you’ll notice there are two main types of hydroponic fertilizer – liquid and powder.
For beginners just getting started with hydroponic growing, we recommend starting with a liquid solution. This is simply because it takes out an additional step of mixing and dissolving the powder prior to putting the fertilizer in your grow system. With liquid fertilizer, you simply pour the correct amount (noted on the instructions that comes with the fertilizer) into the system.
Pro’s of Hydroponic Growing
There are many perks to hydroponic growing, and there’s a reason why its a trending niche in the gardening industry!
Year Round Grow Cycles
First, with hydroponic growing, you’re not subject to the typical weather cycles or outside conditions that you are with traditional growing. This means you can grow fruits and vegetables year round instead of just a few months out of the year.
Space Saving
Second perk – you can start hydroponic growing in a relatively small area – most home systems can fit on a countertop or tabletop within your home! Many hydroponic grow systems are made specifically to fit into small areas, so they’re perfect for small spaces.
More resource efficient
The third perk we’re going to cover in this post – did you know hydroponic growing is actually more efficient with water than traditional soil growing? This might feel counter-intuitive since you’re solely using water to grow your plants.
With hydroponic growing there’s zero waste of water, and everything is continuously cycled through the system. This means you don’t lose any water sitting at the bottom of a pot (or into the ground) like you might with normal soil gardening.
