What is hydroponic plant growing and its benefits?
Hydroponic plant growing is the cultivation of plants without using soil. It’s a water-based plant system providing nutrients, hydration and oxygen to feed the root system.
Water is oxygenated with a pump or through a drip method, which is vital in keeping plants alive and thriving. This fosters rapid growth, sturdier yields and better plant quality. If the root system is exposed directly to water and nutrition, the plant does not need to exert energy in sustaining itself.
The advantages of hydroponic growing
With hydroponics, direct exposure to nutrient-filled water can be a more effective and versatile way of growing versus traditional irrigation. There are several advantages to growing hydroponically compared to conventional growing practices.
- Fast growing. Hydroponics reduces the time needed to produce plants. They can be grown without the need to cultivate, weed and mulch. Watering and fertilising can also be automated.
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Reduction in pests and diseases. Only a small number of seedlings are required to produce what you need. Plant loss from pests and disease are greatly reduced when grown hydroponically, especially if the plants are in a protective structure.
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Water efficiency. Hydroponics use less water than traditional agriculture.
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High yielding and space saving. Hydroponic growing is highly efficient. It requires low capital cost while producing higher yields with less labour input – ideal for commercial growers. This form of growing also takes up less space.
Are Bluelab products suitable for hydroponic growing?
Whether for home or commercial applications, Bluelab has been dedicated to helping the hydroponic industry manage crop health and productivity easily and effectively for over 30 years.
Offering a wide range of tough and dependable nutrient solution testers and accessories that measure pH, conductivity (PPM/EC) and temperature. Our testing products make knowing the essentials easy – so you can have better plants and a better growing horticulture business.
Introducing some top Bluelab products for your hydroponic growing
Bluelab pH Pen
Plants get their nutrients from minerals but they can only get all the right minerals needed if certain conditions are right. A key factor that affects food uptake is whether your solution is acid or alkaline, which is measured in pH.
The Bluelab pH Pen also measures the temperature of the solution, as root health is vital to the success of a crop. Temperature affects the growth rate and structure of a plant so a solution temperature of 18 - 22˚C or 65 - 72˚F is recommended.
The handheld pH Pen provides a compact quick and handy way to ensure maximum uptake of nutrients for your crops. It has selectable units for temperature, a backlit display and is fully waterproof – ideal for hydroponic growing. Learn more
Bluelab Guardian Monitor
The Bluelab Guardian Monitor provides 24-hour continuous reading for pH, conductivity and temperature within a nutrient solution.
Designed for indoor use, the Guardian Monitor can be mounted on a wall or hung on a support bar. Set up your reservoir, place the pH and conductivity probes in the solution, then adjust and glance. If the solution moves away from the ideal range, the display flashes. A quick look at the monitor will let you know when your nutrient solution needs adjusting. Learn more
Bluelab Leap pH Probe
The pH Probe is ideal for directly measuring nutrient solution. The toughened-glass spear-tip can be inserted in the solution for direct measurement. The Bluelab Leap pH Probe can be used by everybody, from the home enthusiast to commercial applications. Learn more
