Making the Most of Hydroponics Outdoors

Summer’s here and nature has provided us with an abundance of glorious sunshine and wonderful warm temperatures to bask in and enjoy. Summer is ripe with opportunities for gardening enthusiasts to try their hands at cultivating a wide variety of plant life. Some gardeners opt for the beauty and colour of flowerbeds filled with an array of annuals and perennials, while others pursue the more fruitful vegetable and herb gardens.

Gardening is the summer pastime for many North Americans. The therapeutic benefits of gardening go way beyond the simple pleasure and rewards of nurturing and creating. In the garden, you can make and control your environment. This control is empowering. Gardening stimulates all of the senses, giving great pleasure and satisfaction. Relaxing in the garden helps restore energy and relieve stress.

Many hospitals and nursing homes practice therapeutic horticulture at their facilities. Patients are encouraged to participate in the care and maintenance of the gardens on the property. Therapeutic horticulture brings people and plants together to improve general well-being.

Many institutions have begun integrating hydroponics into their therapeutic horticulture practices. Hydroponic gardens can be elevated to a comfortable height and spaced far enough apart for barrier-free access. Hydroponics is a clean method of cultivating plants. There is no dirt and therefore no soil-borne pests or contamination. Hydroponics gardening can be practiced indoors during the winter months or outdoors all summer.

Often people associate hydroponics with grow lights. It is true, you do need light for plants to exist, and supplemental artificial light is required to produce fruit and entice flowering indoors. This is true whether it is indoor hydroponic or soil cultivation. Hydroponics is the preferred method for indoor gardens because it is easy and clean and requires little space — plants can be grown much closer than in a conventional garden.

During the summer months, hydroponics and sunshine can work together in a harmonious relationship outdoors. The summer sun provides all the light necessary to grow a full crop of hydroponic produce or flowers. Plants reap all the benefits of the outdoor atmosphere as well as the benefits that hydroponic cultivation offers. The wind will help strengthen stems and deter insects, as well as help with natural pollination.

Hydroponics has always been an ecologically sound gardening choice. It uses much less water than conventional gardening and does not erode the soil or add toxins to the environment. Soluble nutrient formulas are recirculated and used by plants’ roots, eliminating environmental waste. Plants tend to be healthier in a hydroponic system than those grown in soil, making them more pest resistant. Biological control agents, such as the introduction of predator insects prior to any infestation of destructive bugs, are used as preventive measures. Harmful herbicides are simply not required because there are no weeds in a hydroponic garden!

Many gardeners today are choosing to grow organically. Organic crop cultivation in hydroponics has become very popular in recent years. Organic gardening is the cultivation of plants without the use of synthetic chemicals or pesticides. Growers are willing to invest in the extras required by organic gardening because it ensures that no harmful pesticides or fungicides will be used. There are many organic nutrients and additives designed specifically for use in hydroponic gardens.

Most of the potted plants purchased at the local nursery are already in a soilless growing medium, thereby making them hydroponic by definition. The medium most commonly used is a mixture of sterilized peat, vermiculite, and/or perlite, with small amounts of nutrients added. This is an inert combination of substrates that have water retention capabilities and provide plant roots with good aeration while supplying a firm foundation to anchor roots—all the requirements of a good hydroponic growing medium.

Incorporating hydroponics in your outdoor environment is quite simple. Passive hydroponic systems as described above work well for decorative potted plants and small plugs that will be transplanted. Soilless mixes are a perfect option for container gardens. They guarantee that plants are free from soil-borne contaminants. Soilless mixes will retain water and nutrients longer than soil, ensuring that plants don’t dry out between watering.

Self-watering pots are an effective, passive system whereby plants receive water that is wicked from the self-contained reservoir. The reservoir will hold enough water to prevent plants from drying out over an extended period of time. These pots are especially useful for out-of-the-way or shady areas, where evaporation is not so much of a problem. Self-watering pots are excellent for plants you wish to move around or bring indoors during the winter months.

Your arrangements will need to be transplanted into the self-watering pots. Carefully remove the entire root ball and all its surrounding soil from the existing pot. Roots can be bathed in cool water to remove all the remaining soil from the roots. Spread a thin layer of pre-dampened soilless mix on the bottom of the self-watering pot. Place the root ball into the pot and top up with more damp soilless mix. Slowly top water the plant until the bottom reservoir is full. This should keep the plant moist for a week or two.

Many growers opt for a drip system in their gardens. This stress-free gardening method effectively automates the watering of patio arrangements and hanging plants. It’s ideal for extended periods where you have to be away from your garden. A reservoir, a submersible pump, an outdoor timer, and some hose and fittings are all that are required for the automation. Visit a hydroponics store for all the supplies and instructions on how to incorporate this practice into you garden. Drip systems can also be employed in a small vegetable garden or flowerbed to subsidize a regular watering schedule. If you have access to a small pond or lake, it could be used for all your gardens water requirements.

Deep-water culture is the most commonly used hydroponic system. Plants roots are suspended over a highly oxygenated nutrient bath in a self-contained system. It is a pure form of hydroponics because the roots are exposed directly to the nutrient solution. Deep-water culture gardens are ideal for small- to medium-sized plants outdoors. These gardens are available in many sizes and shapes and can contain from one to 50 plants. These systems can be easily elevated to any height and are especially suited for balconies and patios. Window box deep-water systems are also used for decorative flowers and herbs. Deep-water culture allows the grower easy access to the roots for inspection and pruning.

The majority of outdoor commercial hydroponic crop production is done in a system called N.F.T. or Nutrient Film Technique. It is also the form of hydroponics most intriguing to the public because of its futuristic nature and appearance. When all plant requirements are met, a fine-tuned N.F.T. system delivers superior results. Unfortunately, N.F.T. requires very careful monitoring because it leaves little room for error and can be very unforgiving. N.F.T. is usually used by experienced growers

In N.F.T., the nutrient is fed into grow tubes where the roots draw it up. The excess drains by gravity back to the reservoir. A thin film of nutrient allows the roots to have constant contact with the nutrient and the air layer above at the same time. Nutrient solution is recirculated through an extruded plastic channel by a pump submersed in the reservoir, providing plant roots with a constant supply of fresh water, nutrients, and oxygen.

This type of hydroponic culture is used frequently in space-restricted areas. N.F.T. gardens can be stacked where the recirculated nutrient can run through a series of channels. Small plants like lettuce and strawberries grow well in these gardens.

Incorporating hydroponics into you outdoor garden can add interest and intrigue. The natural conditions available outdoors in the summer make it a perfect time to experiment with the various types of hydroponic cultivation. Annual flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables do exceptionally well in hydroponics.

Give nature a helping hand while you’re enjoying the therapeutic benefits of your garden. Grow hydroponically and watch the spectacular improvements you can bring to your garden.