Why choose to cultivate your food at home with a hydroponic system?

There are various reasons to use a domestic hydroponic cultivation system:

• Reduced size – Vertical hydroponic cultivation does not occupy much space and can be used even if you do not have any land as it does not require soil.
• Greater harvest – Hydroponically grown plants can grow quicker and larger than soil-based plants due to the specific nutrition that they receive.
• Less water required – In a hydroponic system, the water is recycled and reused, there is no loss of water as there is for soil-based cultivation. This makes hydroponics very efficient in terms of energy savings.
• Precise control of nutrition – Hydroponic cultivation allows for the correct and precise amount of nutrition to be given to the plants. This can improve the health and growth cycle.
• Energy efficiency – Hydroponic systems can offer a very high level of energy efficiency when using renewable energy sources such as the sun or solar energy.

How to choose the right hydroponic system for your needs?

It is important to identify the scope of the hydroponic system, this is the first step in choosing the ideal system for you. For example, do you want to grow leafy greens, vegetables, aromatic plants or flowers?

Dimensions of the hydroponic kit: it is also important to consider the dimensions of the hydroponic system as this will determine the amount of water, nutrition and light that will be required for the plants.

.Vertical hydroponic towers

Analise the cultivation method: there are various types of hydroponic cultivation systems such as the NFT method or the drip method. When choosing a hydroponic system, it is important to consider how much maintenance will be required and how it will work with your specific layout. Very little maintenance will generally be required for domestic systems.

KIT: there are many hydroponic cultivation kits available on the market.

These kits are an excellent choice for anyone that is seeking a cultivation method that offers many advantages and that can meet any budget.

Available space: an adequate space is required to accommodate a hydroponic system. A vertical hydroponic garden requires very little space, whilst a horizontal hydroponic system requires a much larger area.

The dimensions of the system must, therefore, be taken into consideration as sufficient space will be required.

Level of experience: if you are a novice in hydroponic cultivation, it is important to choose a simple system. More complex systems require greater knowledge and are more difficult to manage.

Type of cultivation: each vegetable species has its level of difficulty and has different requirements.

Which are the best plants to cultivate for beginners?

For beginners it is recommended to start with an easy and diversified range of plants in order to gain experience with hydroponic cultivation whilst requiring less attention. Here are some examples:

Basil

Leafy greens

Chard

Peppers

Strawberries

Which is the best source of light for a domestic hydroponic cultivation?

For domestic hydroponic cultivation direct sunlight is by far the best possible source of light and can also be obtained during the colder months indoors providing that there is a window of glass door facing the sun. Alternatively, LED grow lights can be used which offer good levels of energy savings as well as high quality illumination that is suitable for plant growth. It is important to choose lamps that generate a temperature between 3000 and 5000 Kelvin, so that he light produced is similar to that of the sun.

Maintenance and cleaning your hydroponic system

Maintenance and cleaning of the hydroponic system is crucial for correct functioning and to grow healthy plants. Here are some useful tips:

• Regularly check the pH of the water and ensure that the correct amount of nutrition has been added. The pH should be between 5.5 and 6.5
• Check the water in the water tank
• Check that the tubes and filters are not clogged and clean them if necessary.
• Remove any residue from the roots of the plants

By following these simple steps, it will be possible to maintain your hydroponic kit in good condition and grow strong healthy plants.