Chapter Eleven: Planting in hydroponic systems

Seedlings and Cuttings

You can grow almost anything in a hydroponic system providing that you have the right seeds or a cutting from the plant you would like to grow. Seeds are easily germinated in a hot water cupboard and then transferred into an NFT or aggregate filled system. The easiest way to do this is to place your seeds in small plastic containers filled with aggregate. Once developed the seedling can be placed, still in its container, into an aggregate filled system. This will also work in an NFT system as the nutrient solution is drawn up through the aggregate in the plastic container by capillary action to the seedling's roots. The aggregate may eventually be washed into the system to be caught in the strainer located before the discharge into the holding tank. This system works well especially if you select containers the same size as the holes in your gullies so that there are no gaps for allowing light to reach the nutrient solution. Sow two seeds in each container and remove the weaker one before moving the container into a hydroponic system. If you do not have enough room to germinate your seeds separately they can still be sown together and separated later.

Any seedlings raised in soil will need to be washed thoroughly to remove any particles of soil from around their roots. You will save time by using a seed raising mixture of clean sand and vermiculite, perlite or some other water retaining substance. Any plants which are liable to develop stems larger in size than the containers you are using should also be removed and placed directly into a gully or aggregate mixture before they become too large. You will be able to sow most of the root crops directly into aggregate filled containers by using a finer layer on the surface of the aggregate into which the seeds can be placed. Generally the techniques you should use for propagating new plants and planting them out are the same as those used for conventional growing.

Make sure for example that you harden off seedlings raised indoors before they are transferred to growing areas outside. You will be able to take whatever cuttings you require and grow them quickly and efficiently in an aggregate filled growing container. As with cuttings raised conventionally you may find that cuttings taken from tropical plants need to be raised inside if you live in a frost prone area.

 

Plants of different cultivars can be planted in the same media bed or gully providing the nutrient strength is appropriate. Here a new strawberry plant is along side some dwarf beans.

 

These seedlings are being raised in a long aggregate filled growing container inside a commercially operated greenhouse. A container only a fraction of the size would be large enough to produce a stock of new plants for a home system.

 

Seedlings can be started off as early as possible for a hydroponic system, by raising them in the appropriate media that will allow direct placement into the main growing system, either NFT or media bed.