In the past few years, sustainable living has undergone a reputation transformation.
For a long time, it was misunderstood as a fad or trendy lifestyle. Now sustainability is a guiding principle for how most of us live our lives.
And it has never been easier to do.
The Internet has made it is possible for all of us — whether we live in an urban city or a more rural area — to practice a sustainable lifestyle.
Hydroponics, in particular, has become more popular, and possible, to implement in any space.
There is a wide variety of equipment available online, so it is important to understand what will work best for you.
This will depend on what you want to grow, what space you have to work with, etc.
Complete Guide to Lettuce Hydroponics and What to Buy.
Below, we’re reviewing some of the best equipment choices so you can incorporate hydroponics into your daily life.
Get Started with a Best Hydroponics Equipment Kit
If you’re new to hydroponics, purchasing a complete system kit is a great way to get started.
This LU Holes Hydroponic Kit includes everything you need to begin soilless growing.
The package includes a growing box, buoy deck, buoy, sponge pieces, air pump, blasted stone, tweezer and 24 colonization baskets so you can start growing a variety of seeds of your choosing.
It also includes detailed instructions on how to use the product to successfully grow different plants and vegetables.
The materials are durable, biodegradable and corrosion resistant, and since it takes up very little space it is perfect for indoor use.
While there are lots of ways to DIY a hydroponic system, purchasing a kit is an economical way to get comfortable with the process when you are just starting out.
Go For a Complete Outdoor Setup Hydroponics Kit
If you have outdoor space to dedicate to hydroponic growing, you might be ready to make a bigger investment in your equipment.
The Viagrow Complete Ebb & Flow System is a great choice because it’s easy to put together and, once it’s set up, you can take a mostly hands-off approaching to your growing.
The system is designed to deliver the right amount of water, nutrients, and oxygen to up to fourteen plants at one time.
Its nursery pots are made from strong plastic intended to be reused growing season after growing season.
In addition, the grow rocks included provide high oxygen levels around the root of the plants.
This system will also allow you to see results quickly, which could encourage you if you’re just beginning.
The way it’s designed lends to increased growth rates and nutritional value so you’ll see high yields early on.
Purchase Complete Nutrients to Simplify Growing
Just like with soil gardening, the nutrients you give your plants will have a big impact in how they grow.
Hydroponics requires a whole different kind of nutrients though, and it can be confusing and expensive to try to buy them all separately.
Buying complete nutrition packets is the most efficient and simplest way to ensure that you’re giving your plants everything they need for successful growing.
For example, this two-part hydroponic nutrition packet contains all 5 macronutrients and all 6 micronutrients needed for growing tomatoes.
Since different kinds of plants need different nutrients, trying to buy it all separately or attempting to mix-and-match could result in little or no growth.
Complete nutrient packages are easy to use so you are setting yourself up for success.
You should always look for a producer that discloses all the information about what ingredients are used in their products and follow all instructions for how to mix the nutrients together.
LED Lights Boost Plant Growth
Whenever you’re growing plants indoors, the lack of exposure to light has the potential to be the most limiting factor to their growth.
If you are putting together your hydroponic system indoors, you should consider adding a grow light to your setup to combat this limitation.
Any added light will help you get the best growth from your plants, but LEDs have the additional benefit of being the most environmentally friendly option.
They use less electricity than other types of light bulbs and last much longer.
When used correctly, LED grow lights can also provide a light spectrum that is uniquely suited to help plant growth.
This makes them a popular choice among hydroponic growers.
Depending on your hydroponic setup, you can choose to purchase a single bulb that emits light on this spectrum, or a more sophisticated tray of bulbs that balances blue, red, UV and IR LEDS.
Providing your plants with this extra light will encourage better growth and stronger production.
Learn Everything You Can About Hydroponic Gardening
Choosing to include hydroponic gardening as part of a sustainable practice can be a big lifestyle change.
There is a lot that goes into the work.
The equipment you purchase should all come with detailed instructions, but the more information you have, the more confident you’ll feel about your setup.
Purchasing an in-depth beginners guide is a great way to learn everything there is to know about hydroponic gardening and how you can be successful at it.
You’ll get ideas on the best setup for you, the best plants to grow, and helpful tips to use along the way.
At home, hydroponics is still new, so it’s only natural that you would have a lot of questions about the process and the best way to get started.
Having a reference on-hand whenever you’re unsure will help you stick with it until you start to see your success.
Interested in Other Sustainable Practices?
There are lots of different ways to incorporate sustainable practices into your life, no matter where you live or what resources you have available to you.
Having the equipment you need and the knowledge to be confident in the process are great ways to get started.
The more success you have, the more projects you may be inspired to complete and the more sustainable you can make your life.
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