Microgreens in hydroponic system
What Is Hydroponic Microgreens System
Hydroponics means working with water,” in the Greek language. It is a water-based idea of growing plants. Instead of using soil, we utilize water in a hydroponic microgreens system.
Microgreens in the hydroponic system live in an aquatic-based environment. As a result, they grow without soil. All nutrition and oxygen for plants come from water rather than soil. That doesn’t mean that you don’t add fertilizers into your plants. For growing microgreens in the hydroponic system, nutrient-rich solutions are essential, which add through compost.
Benefits of Hydroponic Microgreens System
1. Less Water
In a hydroponic microgreens system, you can reuse the water. As a result, you can save much water compared to regular soil planting.
2. Little Space Required
Microgreens in the hydroponic system don’t require much space. You can grow them in your garage, in a tiny container, or at the terrace.
3. No Soil
You don’t have to stress over the following soil all through your home or incidentally spilling a tray of soil on your rug. You also won’t be worried about composting your waste. In this way, you can grow microgreens without soil.
4. Some Microgreens Grow Better Hydroponically
Amazingly there are some microgreens grow best in hydroponically compare to grown in the soil.
How To Grow Microgreens Without Soil
Microgreens were not first considering health, but they grow just for the sake of garnishing. But now it is evident that microgreens are full of nutrition. According to some research, microgreens are 5-40 times more nutritious than the grown plants.
Let’s discuss how to grow microgreens without soil or hydroponically. In a hydroponic system, plants grow without soil. Rather than using soil to plant, you can use coco peat, perlite, and sand, etc.
There are many benefits to grow microgreens without soil.
They can plant all year round
Can grow in minimal space
Less messy
Easy to handle
Now Let’s set started on how to grow microgreens without soil at your home First, let’s discuss all the supplies you’ll need to get started.
A brief detail will explain how to grow microgreens without soil as well as it also provides affiliate links of products that are required to grow microgreens in the hydroponic system.
1. Seeds
Seeds can be bought from any market, nursery, or online, but remember they must be growing microgreens seeds. The best seeds are those who are not treated with artificial products.
Where to buy microgreens seeds? You can read in my other blog post Here
2. Growing Medium
The best option to choose from coconut coir or hemp growing mat for growing microgreens without soil
Buy Best Coconut coir:
Minute Soil Compressed Coco Coir Fiber Grow Medium - 30 MM Discs - Bag of 70
SPONGEASE Coco Coir Brick, Makes 2 gals Potting Soil for seedlings
3. Trays
Any tray can work for growing microgreens, but that must not have a hole in it. As the aim is to grow microgreens in a hydroponic system,The best tray to grow microgreens in a hydroponic system can be bought from bootstrapfarmer.
1020 TRAYS - EXTRA STRENGTH
4. pH Testing Kit
A must-have if you plan to grow microgreens without soil. If the water has a pH around 6, that means your microgreens can grow health will be at best. pH testing kit helps it to maintain the pH of the water as required.In other words, it helping in maintaining the health of microgreens
You can read in my article Ph water for microgreens to see in details what i recommend
5. A Spray Bottle
Buy a brand new spray bottle that has never contained chemicals or been used for any other purpose. Purchase a new spray bottle that never contained synthetic compounds as well as never been utilized for some other reason.
6. Lights
Light is essential for growing microgreens faster and healthy.
Some Essential Steps For Harvesting
As we collected all the necessary products, let’s start to grow microgreens in the hydroponic system.
1. GrowingMedium
Firstly, you need to have a growing medium which can be of coconut coir or hemp growing mats. There are many other options but remember these both are best choices you’re your to Now have it for growing your microgreens fast. Most importantly, they both give almost the same output.
2. Growing Tray
Secondly, Prepare your growing tray with coconut coir or hemp growing mat. After that, Pour pH balanced water. Distribute the water evenly to all channels from the bottom of the tray.
3. Prepare Water
After that, the Test pH level of your water, and if it’s 4, add baking soda or lemon, which increases the pH level of water and helps in growing microgreens
4. Seeding
At this point, sow your seeds and watering the seeds tray for 4-5 days. Mist & Cove After seeding the microgreens on the pad, Spray the seeds with spray mister. In other words, cover every seed should be mist and wet. Therefor gives 10 to 12 sprays to your seeds.
5. Arrange Proper Light
Remember, at this time; put your tray in a dark and warm place. As a result, microgreens force themselves to get light. Eventually, your crops grow faster, and they will be strong. And the time you uncovered them to make sure that your plants get proper light.
For best result use LED, grow lights which not only give adequate light to your plant but also help them to grow fast.
6. Soak and Dry Method
After 3-5 days stop direct water but to complete the requirement of water use the soak and dry method will be used for watering
7. Harvest
After 10-14 your most of the microgreens are properly grown. In other words, your microgreens are ready to harvest.
If you harvest your greens when it’s hot, your greens will go limp quickly. In other words, try to harvest your crops when it’s not hot means at late night or early morning. As a result, you will get crispy and fresh microgreens.
Can You Reuse Hydroponic Water
A common question you may have is whether you can reuse hydroponic water. Then the answer is certainly! You can use it. It not only saves money on water use in your hydroponic system. It is ideal for recycling and using the water with the goal that you can work an increasingly productive.
Utilizing a hydroponic system is gainful because it permits you to recycle and reuse water. In this manner, you will decrease water utilization; as a result, it helps the environment and makes maintaining the hydroponic system cost-efficient.
These can be a shift from one harvest to the next. Most importantly, it is essential that you clean and sterilizes the water before you reuse it. It will minimize any risk of infection and damage to your cannabis plants. Reusing water in a hydroponic system can be challenging as the used water may carry different bacteria, viruses, and any diseases. These can damage the harvest. That is why it is necessary to sterilize the water.
Cleaning and purifying the water can minimize the infection risk. In addition, below are some main ways through which you can reuse hydroponic water
1. The Heating Process- Pasteurizing
To utilize the Heating Process, you need to quickly heat the water with heat exchangers therefore it swap the temperature among two fluids. The heat exchanger cools or heats the water that you need to in your hydroponic system. With the Pasteurizing process, you can add minerals in the water. But remember for consistent efficiency, you need to check that it’s clean.
2. The Ozone Sterilizing Process
When you infuse water using ozone, it means that you will be able to recycle water efficiently and effectively in your hydroponic system. It comes naturally from the sun, yet it can also be artificially created and used in the recycling and sterilization of hydroponic water.
3. The UV Process
UV disinfection is another compelling procedure for reusing and utilizing water in your hydroponic system. Chemicals should not add in it; thus, it is an appealing and natural strategy for disinfection that cannabis cultivators use.
In conclusion, let’s tell you that you can recycle and reuse the hydroponic water which is not only cost-efficient by saving water, but on the other hand it gives nutrient to the microgreens.
Which Microgreens Can Be Grown Hydroponically
As you’ve built your first hydroponic system and now you’re in the process of growing microgreens in the hydroponic system. But the central issue that comes up is what to grow in a hydroponic system. In short! Our advice is to go easy with the experiment. Firstly grow test crops. On the other hands, the time you get the experience, you can expand your hydroponic microgreens system.
These are some plants that considered being fast-growing and sustainable plants. While they don’t have a ton of water to grow, however, they harvest within 10 days. Though, some of the microgreens can consume within 5 days. Is it amazing? These all factors favour a grower to grow microgreens without hesitation and tension.
Wheatgrass
Kal
Kohlrabi
Micro Mint
Radish
Spinach
These are few examples of microgreens which grow easily in the hydroponic system as well as it produce better yields than in soil. Let’s talk about the value of each microgreen that can be grown hydroponically
1. Wheatgrass
You can call it ‘shot of health’. Wheatgrass is rich in iron magnesium, and calcium. In addition, It contains 8 amino acids, as well as It, is full of vitamins, e.g. A, C and vitamin E.
2. Kale
Kale is an exceptionally nutritious and delightful enhanced plant for home as well as in café dishes. It is an incredible microgreen for an individual with healthy benefits. As we are growing Kale hydroponically, it gives you more nutrient and fresh kale every time you consumed it.
3. Kohlrabi
Full of antioxidants, for example, Vitamin C, glucosinolates anthocyanins, and isothiocyanates. Above all, Kohlrabi is high in antioxidants reduce the risk of diabetes, metabolic issues, and unexpected death
4. Micro Mint
Mints have been grown broadly whether in soils and hydroponics. Due to its aromatic power, it is used as a flavour for food. Mint roots spread so quickly, making it ideal for growing with hydroponics.
5. Radish
Radish microgreens can grow in quickest and easiest. The seeds are anything they develop rapidly. They give a ton of flavour moreover a perfect crunch to the food. Radish support digestion helps to fight fungus as well as it helps in preventing diabetes.
6. Spinach
The most loved microgreen that can be eaten raw or cooked in your dinner. It grows in water-based condition. It doesn’t require a lot of light. Spinach is full of magnesium, iron and vitamins A, C and K. spinach is good for eye health as well as it reduces the level of blood pressure.
Note: To a certain extent, the microgreens growth depends on the grower growing setup, the soil media, container, and light intensity. These easy to grow microgreens are not only easy to plant and grow, but also they don’t retain husk of the seeds.