Indoor Gardening, Hydroponics Basics
Simply put, hydroponics is a method of growing plants without the use of soil. In today’s world, hydroponic gardening allows you to propagate all types of plants in your home, within a controlled environment, regardless of the time of year or outside weather. All it takes is a small amount of space, little imagination, some spare time, and the right materials.
Your custom indoor garden can produce an abundance of fresh herbs, vegetables, salad greens and more – just for the picking. And don’t forget all those wonderful flowers that thrive in a hydroponic environment.
It’s Easy To Find A Home For Hydroponics
Don’t think you need a large space for your indoor gardening set up. If you have room for a small bookcase, you have room for a Supreme-Hydroponics garden. A modest 15″ x 28″ footprint is all that’s required for a great harvest of fresh veggies or a colorful display of your favorite flowering plants. Depending on your home, you could set up shelving and lighting almost anywhere.
Here are some suggestions –
- A Corner of the Kitchen
- A Spare Closet
- The Utility Room
- The Basement
- The Seldom Used Dining Room
- A Spare Bedroom
- A Piece of your Home Office
- A Corner in the Den
Wherever you decide, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is. Get started today and enjoy the fruits (and veggies) of your labor.
Getting Started
There are many variations of indoor gardening, from a single potted plant to a full hydroponic system using no soil at all. What they all have in common, though, is their ability to recreate a natural environment that will fulfill all of a plant’s requirements for growth. The basic needs for a plant are support, nutrients (water) and light.
Support
All plants need some kind of support so that they can stay upright and grow. Plants grown hydroponically are grown in specially prepared solutions instead of soil. Support during growth is usually accomplished by using clay pellets, pea gravel, perlite/vermiculite or rockwool as a medium for root growth.
Helpful Information
The following information will be helpful when planning your own indoor hydroponic garden*.
*If you use components from other sources, refer to the Supreme-Hydroponics pump packaging to assure a compatible, integrated system.
1. Water – A gallon of water weighs 8.32 pounds. This should be taken into consideration when designing the sub-structure for holding trays. A small tray that contains only 10 gallons would weigh over 80 pounds. If you are considering making your own trays, keep in mind that one gallon of water will fill up 0.134 cubic feet of space (7.5 gallons = 1 cubic foot).
2. Pump Type – There are two pump-types that are recommended for hydroponic use: submersible or nonsubmersible. Submersible pumps are generally considered the better option.
Fractionating pumps, those that aerate the water while pumping, are new to hydroponic growers and effectively combine the functions of a water pump and an air pump all in one. The advantage to these pumps is that they deliver highly oxygenated water along with the nutrients. Oxygen is an important element needed for vibrant plant growth and health.
3. Pump Size – General guidance for choosing the correct pump for your new hydroponic system is available on all Supreme-Hydroponics’ pump boxes. Refer to the printed matrix or ask your retailer for assistance.
Nutrients
Plants normally get most of their nutrients from the soil in which they are grown. If you choose to grow in soil, simply watering with a water-soluble fertilizer will give them the nutrients they need. However, if you choose to use a Supreme-Hydroponics Ebb & Flow hydroponic system, you must provide the needed nutrients using specially prepared solutions. There are many commercially available nutrient formulations available for hydroponics.
They fall into three general categories: general plant health, plant growth, and blooming and rooting. These basic formulations contain varying percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK). Look for the standard 3-number designation on the front of the container to determine the percentage of each in a particular solution. (Example: 0-6-5 would indicate 0% nitrogen, 6% phosphorus, 5% potassium – a typical nutrient formulation designed to enhance plant bloom and rooting.) Once a particular nutrient has been chosen, it is important to follow the label’s directions for use to ensure the desired results.
Supreme-Hydroponics offers three carefully formulated nutrients for hydroponic systems: Micro, Grow and Bloom.
Supreme-Hydroponics “Micro”
When growing plants hydroponically the micronutrients that the plant would normally get from the soil are not present. Adding Supreme-Hydroponics nitrogen-rich (5-0-1) “Micro” is essential since it is specifically formulated to provide all of the basic micronutrients needed to thrive. In addition to a high percentage of nitrogen, “Micro” also contains calcium, cobalt, iron, manganese and molybdenum. For a fully rounded 3-part nutrient program, “Micro” needs to be used in conjunction with Supreme-Hydroponics “Grow” and “Bloom” formulations.
Supreme-Hydroponics “Grow”
This is a potassium-rich (2-1-6) formula specifically designed to encourage strong, lush vegetative growth of young, developing plants as well as continued growth of leafy greens like lettuce and herbs.
Supreme-Hydroponics “Bloom”
This phosphorus- and potassium-rich (0.6.5) nutrient is specifically designed to promote the production and development of buds and blooms. Use Supreme-Hydroponic “Bloom” after plants are well established to trigger them into developing numerous buds and blooms. This formula is perfect for fruiting plants such as tomatoes and peppers as well as for flowering plants like African violets, orchids, etc.
Hydroponic Systems
There are several methods of supplying nutrient solutions to the plants roots. The Ebb & Flow system (also known as Flood & Drain) is considered the best and easiest for those who want to grow plants or vegetables in meaningful quantities. It is easy to maintain, simple to build and very efficient. All it needs is a couple of reservoirs (one for the plants, one nutrients), a submersible pump, a timer, light fixture(s) with T-5 full spectrum fluorescent grow lights and a couple of simple plumbing fixtures for the fill and overflow. Shelving to hold the entire system can be as basic as a strong table for the plant growing reservoir, and a couple of 2X4’s to go over the reservoir to hold the nutrient reservoir. Alternatively, a simple, inexpensive wire rack shelf system would be stronger and more convenient.
In the Ebb & Flow system plants are placed in a plastic tray or pot using any one or combination of planting media such as clay pellets, rockwool, perlite, or pea gravel. The nutrient solution is pumped into the plant growing reservoir for a short period of time to cover the roots of the plant and then the solution drains back down to the nutrient reservoir. This procedure is repeated on a regular, timed basis in order to keep the plants supplied with enough water and nutrients to keep them hydrated and fed but not so long as to deprive the roots of oxygen. In an ideal Ebb & Flow system the nutrient reservoir would have a fractionating utility pump operating to keep the solution from becoming stagnant and to keep it adequately aerated, thus providing increased oxygen to aid in healthy growth.
Here is a complete listing of Supreme-Hydroponics components recommended for construction of a basic Ebb & Flow system*.
*If you use components from other sources, refer to the Supreme-Hydroponics pump packaging to assure a compatible, integrated system.
- Plant Growing Reservoir
- Nutrient Reservoir
- Water Pump*
- Air Pump*
- Grow Media (Clay Pellets, RockWool, Perlite, or Pea Gravel)
- T5 Grow Light Lamp Fixture with Grow Lamp(s)
- Fill/Drain Fittings
- ½” x 3′ or Longer and ¾” x 3′ Tubing
- Nutrients (1 Micro, 1 Bloom, 1 Grow)
- Seeds
*Optional Supreme-Hydroponics fractionating pump instead of separate air and water pumps
Also Recommended:
- Small Wire Shelving (At Least 28″ W x 12″ Deep x 60″ H)
- 2 Timers
- 1 Measuring Cup
Light
Lighting is the last requirement needed to replicate the natural environment to ensure success with indoor gardening. The light that plants need to grow is different than the light that our eyes see. Plants respond mainly to the blue and red portion of the spectrum of light that is measured in PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation). The human eye, on the other hand, responds best to light in the yellow-green portion of the spectrum and is measured in lumens. Chlorophyll in plants is much more efficient in using the blue and red portions to carry out photosynthesis. Plants have poor absorption of the green portion. They actually reflect this which is why plants appear green. The blue portion is used by the plant for growing vegetatively. This is the portion of the spectrum that is most prevalent in the late spring and summer sun. The red/orange portion, most prevalent in the late summer and fall sun, is used by plants to produce flowers and fruit.
There are several types of artificial lighting that are available for hydroponics/indoor growing that best replicate natural light, the most popular and economical is the T-5 full spectrum fluorescent grow light. (The “T” stands for tubular, the shape of the bulb, and the number is for the diameter of the bulb in eighths of an inch.) The most common lengths of these bulbs are 24″ and 48″. Although there are many
fixtures available, the most common have 2-, 4- and 8-bulbs. The T5 bulbs offer full spectrum for plant growth but are not as strong as other lights that are available and are really best for plants requiring low light, for seed starting and cloning. The T5 bulbs offer full spectrum light for plant growth and flowering and are best used less than 12″ from the plants leaf surface.
All About Danner
Danner Manufacturing, Inc. is a nationally known and recognized supplier of pumps, filters and accessories currently used in hydroponics, water gardens, ponds, statuary and aquariums.
For over three generations, we have been designing, manufacturing and distributing a wide array of waterhandling products for all of these various applications. Our dedication to improving their efficiency and durability has earned us the continuing respect and loyalty of professionals and hobbyists alike. We hope that your involvement in hydroponic gardening will be a pleasant and rewarding experience and we look forward to supplying you with the best the industry has to offer.
