How do-it-yourself hydroponics for cucumbers is done

Hydroponics is a system that allows you to grow crops using specially selected solutions with all the necessary minerals without soil. Each crop has its own set of components.

In recent years hydroponics began to develop at a very fast pace. In the course of years of research, scientists have found many ways to grow for different crops. By increasing the demand for hydroponic systems, their costs are reduced.

Hydroponic techniques

For each crop, select their own hydroponic method. There are two types:

1. Periodic flooding method.
2. Wick. It is used for growing ornamental plants.
3. Floating platform method. It is used for small plants that consume a lot of water.
4. Nutrient layer method. It is the cheapest and quietest.
5. Aeroponics. The principle of aeroponics is that plants hang in the air and feed on nutrients from water vapor. It is the most high-tech and fastest method.
6. Drip irrigation method. It is the most popular hydroponic method today.

The most suitable method for growing cucumbers in hydroponics is the periodic flooding method. It involves fixing the system in a porous material, to which a mineral solution is periodically added at a certain interval.

There are a lot of hydroponic system designs. Below is the easiest and most convenient way to grow cucumbers.

Required components

It is very convenient to take expanded clay with crushed stone for a porous material. Expanded clay very well absorbs moisture, and, if necessary, gives it to the plant.

To plant about three cucumbers you will need:

1. Pipes with holes.
2. Expanded clay.
3. Crushed stone. Better to take more or less large.
4. Pump.
5. Fertilizers.
6. Water.
7. Compost.

To create such a design, you can take old plastic sewer pipes and fold them parallel to each other in the shape of a snake.

Holes are made in them for cups, in which expanded clay and crushed stone are put as a replacement for soil. Cucumber seedlings will subsequently be thrust into them.

Mineral solution is best bought in a specialized store, but you can prepare it yourself. To create a mineral solution, you need to mix hot water (it is best to take water without various impurities, for example distilled water) and compost in a 1: 2 ratio and leave overnight. In the morning, you can add any fertilizer that is used on ordinary soil for planting plants in the house.

Humate will appear in the solution, which will need to be drained and the missing volume of the bucket filled with water.

The most suitable scheme for growing cucumbers in hydroponics is as follows: in 15 minutes, the pump pumps the solution into a bucket, while part of it is poured through the tube. And when the solution completely covers the bucket, then it begins to drain through the overflow. The pump does not work for the next 15 minutes. Water with mineral components will flow sequentially to each row.

When transplanting plants from soil, you need to follow the following algorithm:

1. After removing it from the soil, soak the root system of the plant in water at room temperature.
2. Using a small jet of water, gently clean the root system from dirt.
3. After spreading the roots of the plant, place it in cups. You need to water a little with plain water and let the plant settle for about a week.

Advantages and disadvantages

Hydroponically grown cucumbers are easy and quick to grow, and this growing method has many advantages.

Plants do not need to be watered much. Water will be consumed much less than when grown on the ground in the garden. Despite this, with the correct selection of minerals and components, plants will not dry out or rot. It does this by getting enough oxygen.

The big plus is that this method allows you to protect plants from a variety of diseases and pests. The plants themselves will not absorb harmful substances from the soil.

Growing cucumbers hydroponically is a fairly clean method that is convenient to use in an apartment and at home. It eliminates digging in dirt and earth odor.

But, despite the fact that the method itself has quite a lot of advantages, for its implementation you will need to read a lot of theoretical information and spend money.

The disadvantage may be that expanded clay shifts acidity to an alkaline environment.

The result of growing cucumbers

As a result, growing cucumbers hydroponically is an excellent alternative to growing cucumbers. This is very effective, which is important for people who have problems with housing space.

With the help of theoretical advice, you can easily assemble the structure of the hydroponic system yourself.

Plants grown in hydroponics are in no way inferior to soil ones. And when using the correct composition of mineral components, the taste and aroma will not differ in any way.