Hydroponic cultivation at home
The editor introduces you to some knowledge of hydroponic flowers, common problems and answers in hydroponic cultivation of flowers at home. The following is a comprehensive introduction.
First, what are the difficulties of hydroponic flowers in summer?
Hydroponic flowers are cultivated ornamental plants using non-solid media (water or water supplemented with an appropriate amount of plant nutrient solution). At present, most hydroponic flowers at home are cultivated in static water, with dissolved oxygen below 1mg/L, and flowers maintain their lives barely in containers with hypoxia. With the rise of summer temperatures, the physiological metabolism of plants becomes vigorous, a large number of microorganisms are raised, the oxygen consumption increases significantly, the dissolved oxygen continues to decrease, the water quality deteriorates, and many adverse factors are formed for the growth of hydroponic flowers, which may cause root rot, withered leaves, and even the premature death of the plant. Therefore, preventing severe heat and high temperatures in summer and increasing the oxygen content of the nutrient solution is the key to ensuring the safe summering of hydroponic flowers.
Second, how to increase the dissolved oxygen content in the nutrient solution?
There are many methods to increase dissolved oxygen, which can be summarized into two categories: chemical and physical methods. The following introduces several easy-to-operate and effective methods.
1. Increase the frequency of changing the nutrient solution. Changing the nutrient solution is the simplest method to increase dissolved oxygen. Measurements show that the dissolved oxygen content of fresh nutrient solution is 70%-90% higher than that of the original solution, which can promptly improve the physiological hypoxia of flowers. For flowers with water roots, it is advisable to change the nutrient solution once every 3-5 days and no more than 7 days. When changing the nutrient solution, note that the temperature difference between the new solution and the original solution should not be too large, as excessive temperature difference may cause physiological disorders of the flower roots. When changing the solution, rinse the roots with clean water patiently, remove withered and rotting roots, and trim the aging roots to promote new root growth. If the nutrient solution suddenly becomes cloudy or has mosquito eggs, it should be replaced with a new nutrient solution immediately.
2. Vibrational oxygenation. For small potted hydroponic flowers with clear and undamaged roots and transparent nutrient solution, vibrational oxygenation can be used. The operation method is to hold the flower with one hand and the container with the other hand, gently shake for more than 10 times, and the dissolved oxygen content in the nutrient solution after shaking can increase by over 30%. This method is not suitable for hydroponic flowers with cloudy nutrient solution or poor root development, and the nutrient solution must be completely replaced.
3. Aerating the container. If there is an ornamental fish tank nearby while caring for hydroponic flowers, the oxygen bar of the fish tank can be used to aerate the container.
Third, what is the suitable position for hydroponic flowers in summer?
Most of the materials selected for hydroponic flowers are shade-tolerant ornamental leafy flowers and flowers that are both ornamental and leafy, such as Syngonium, Spathiphyllum, Arum, Anthurium, and Bromeliad. These flowers prefer a warm and humid environment, slightly shade-tolerant, and dislike high temperatures and dryness. "Hydroponics" only changes the cultivation form and cannot change the growth habits and environmental factors required. In summer, it is best to place hydroponic flowers in a bright, slightly humid, cool, and well-ventilated environment. Avoid direct sunlight, but do not keep them too shaded to prevent the flowers from photosynthesizing, weaken their growth, lengthen the internodes, and thin the leaves, causing the leaves with colored patterns to lose their luster.
Fourth, can hydroponic flowers be placed in an air-conditioned room?
Yes. However, hydroponic flowers should not be placed in front of the air conditioner outlet, as excessive wind speed can damage the branches and leaves, causing leaf curling or even leaf edge browning. It is also necessary to consider the temperature requirements of flowers, which are higher during the day than at night. If the air conditioner is turned off at night and the environmental temperature is higher than that during the day when the air conditioner is on, it is disadvantageous for the growth of hydroponic flowers. When the air conditioner is on, place a basin of water next to the flowers or spray the leaves with water to increase the humidity, and place the flowers far from the air conditioner outlet to avoid significant day-night temperature differences.
Fifth, what should be done if the roots of hydroponic flowers rot?
With the continuous rise of temperature, the water temperature will also rise, the microorganisms will multiply faster, the dissolved oxygen will decrease, and the water quality will deteriorate. Improper addition of nutrient solution, resulting in excessive dissolved concentration, may cause root rot in hydroponic flowers, especially in the lily family such as Dracaena, Rhapis, and Dracaena fragrans. The following methods can be used to restore the growth of flowers with rotting roots: a) Remove all rotting roots and cut off the infected part of the stem with a sharp knife. b) Soak the pruned flowers in a 0.5% potassium permanganate solution for 10-20 minutes to sterilize. c) Rinse the soaked flowers in running water. d) Place the cleaned flowers back in the original container and cultivate them with clean water (the container should be cleaned). e) Change the water every 1-2 days, only replacing clean water without nutrient solution. If the water is clear, the frequency of water change can be reduced. After 10-15 days of care, new roots can sprout. f) Continue to cultivate new roots in clean water, and when the temperature stabilizes between 18-25 degrees, cultivate with nutrient solution.
Sixth, what should be done if algae thrive in the nutrient solution?
The proliferation of algae in the nutrient solution is a common phenomenon in the cultivation process of hydroponic flowers. Especially in summer, with high temperatures, good transparency of containers, and a bright environment, or if the nutrient solution is not changed for a long time, it can trigger the massive growth of algae. Algae compete with flowers for oxygen, and their secretions contaminate the solution, lowering the quality of the nutrient solution. Algae attached to the flower roots hinder root respiration and interfere with the normal physiological activities of the flowers, causing significant harm. Once algae proliferate in the nutrient solution, the contaminated solution should be discarded, the algae brushed off the roots of the flowers, and the nutrient solution replaced.
Seventh, what kind of fertilizer should be used for hydroponic flowers? How to fertilize in summer?
Hydroponic flowers are a special cultivation form, a method of soilless cultivation, where the roots of the flowers are anchored in water (or special plant nutrient solution), also known as nutrient solution cultivation.
Hydroponic flowers should be cultivated with a matching plant nutrient solution. However, different flowers require different nutrients at different growth stages. If you are cultivating five, six, or even a dozen hydroponic flowers of different varieties, it is not realistic to buy a matching nutrient solution for each flower. For simplicity, a general-purpose plant nutrient solution can be chosen.
General-purpose plant nutrient solutions usually contain all the essential nutrients for plant growth (including macronutrients and micronutrients), with a balanced ratio of various elements, inorganic salts in ionic form, a wide range of applications, and suitable for the nutrient needs of different flower varieties at different growth stages. They are non-toxic, non-harmful, with a pH value and ion concentration conducive to nutrient absorption. There are many types of plant nutrient solutions on the market (C-S), and it is best to choose products from reputable manufacturers at hydroponic flower specialty stores.
There are different opinions on whether to use nutrient solution cultivation or only water cultivation in summer. According to personal experience, nutrient solution cultivation is suitable for flowers that can tolerate high temperatures and have strong growth, while only water cultivation is suitable for flowers with fine roots and half-dormant or dormant state at temperatures around 30°C, such as Arum, Epipremnum, Mini Monstera, Ruby, and Philodendron. Using nutrient solution cultivation helps maintain growth advantage and enhance ornamental value. For flowers like Coleus, crabapple, and Bromeliad, a bottle of clean water is enough to safely survive the summer.
When preparing the nutrient solution, strictly follow the proportions indicated in the instructions and do not arbitrarily increase the concentration. Because the root tissue structure of flowers in hydroponic conditions has changed, it is looser, cells are larger, cell walls are thinner, and the roots absorb water, nutrients, and oxygen directly from the nutrient solution, making them highly sensitive to the concentration of the nutrient solution, which can be harmful to the flowers if too high. As long as the concentration of macronutrients is not lower than 1 micromole per liter, a lower concentration is beneficial for the growth of flowers. It is advisable to change the nutrient solution every 5 days in summer.
Eighth, can soil-cultivated flowers be changed to hydroponic flowers in summer?
Changing soil-cultivated flowers to hydroponic flowers is most suitable in spring and autumn when the temperature is around 15-25°C, which is suitable for flower growth and easy to adapt to the changed cultivation environment. To change the cultivation form of flowers in summer, the following factors should be considered:
① Choose varieties that are closely related to hydrophytic flowers.
② Flowers that still grow normally and develop healthily at temperatures around 30°C.
Experiments have shown that Syngonium, Mini Monstera, Ruby Philodendron, Green Giant, Epipremnum, and some Bromeliad flowers have a high survival rate when changed from soil to hydroponic cultivation in summer. They adapt quickly to the hydroponic environment, rarely rot roots, and after 15-20 days of cultivation, not only do the old roots grow lateral roots, but the root ends can also germinate water roots. When changing from soil to hydroponic cultivation, the soil around the flower roots must be removed. Wash repeatedly to protect the roots from or minimize damage, use a larger container for cultivation, change the water daily, and after five days, change the water every 2-3 days. When the water roots grow to 5 cm long, cultivate with a low-concentration plant nutrient solution.
The above sharing of comprehensive methods for answering common problems in hydroponic cultivation of flowers at home, I hope it can serve as a brick to attract jade and solve your green plant problems.