Manage hydroponic systems

edited by GENERAL HYDROPONICS EUROPE

Dell'idroponia pioneer and leader in the soilless cultivation, General Hydroponics Europe produces specific fertilizers and hydroponic systems among the most popular and widespread in the world.
Here is a handy guide to their use, maintenance and perfect, from
from the moment you unpack your new purchase.

UNPACK AND ACCOMMODATION
Check the list of components and familiarize yourself with each of them.
An abundant light, good ventilation, adequate temperature and humidity are the essential conditions for your plants grow faster and produce better crops.
Positioned so the system in a light, warm and well ventilated. Wherever the sistemiate, choose a space that does not fear the inevitable water spills that may occur during maintenance.

THE NUTRIENT SOLUTION
You can pour the solution directly to the tank or other container. You can also prepare several liters of a solution (in a container away from light) and are Water plants as needed. For cuttings and small units, you can mix 30% of tap water with 70% water
demineralised or rainwater.
The two systems of fertilization, Flora-series and One Part, are adapted to our systems. These formulas complete, easy to use and updated regularly.
The labels on the package and your retailers reported the application of detailed tables.
To help you maximize the results, there are other products: supplements, additives, enhancers and pH adjusters.
Flora-series, for example, mulching system with 3 components, has been specifically designed to allow you to precisely control the growth of your plants at every stage of development.
Let's see in detail how a three-component nutrient use them and how.
The following formula is provided in a proportional way. Applies to the fast-growing annual plants.
It is simple and gives excellent results, here's the perfect relationship for a balanced nutrition: FloraGro FloraMicro FloraBloom, 1-1-1 cuttings, vegetative stage 3 2 1, flowering and fruiting 1-2-3.
Level of EC for hydroponic mixtures: cuttings: 0.4 - 0.8 EC. Vegetative stage: 1.2 - 1.8 EC. Flowering and fruiting: 1.8 - 2.0 EC.
In the ten days preceding the collection, just add water with pH adjusted or used a product of late flowering, which aids in the "flush" of nutrients residues, such as Ripen.
If the pH of the water that used is greater than 8.0 turn it down to bring it to the 7.0 before adding your fertilizers, to ensure a total absorption of trace elements content.
A simple measurement method: use the cap of the bottles of 0.5 liters or 1 liter (10 ml)
For 20 liters of water: 1 cap FGro + 2 + 3 caps FMicro caps FBloom = from + / - 1.00 to 1.50 EC, according to water quality.
It 's important to remember to shake before use, since the fertilizers are highly concentrated: it only takes a very moderate amount for a collection. To prevent the precipitation chemistry when you prepare the mixtures, rinse the unit of measurement between a component and the other.
These proportions are calculated for a common tap water.

THE NUTRIENT SOLUTION bioponic
The biponia is a revolutionary culture system that allows you to perform biological un'idroponia.
Use BioSevia and BM (Bioponic Mix) alone for the cultivation of a moist substrate like rockwool, coconut fiber, or perlite.
Add BioFiltre when grown bare rooted or with a substrate extremely filter, such as clay pebbles.
A detailed manual is provided along with product instructions BioSevia, and also a free consultancy service is available to all your questions.

CLAY MARBLES
There are different kinds of rocks.
The best are those neutral (which do not act on the pH of the solution).
Before the collection:

• Thoroughly wash the marbles to remove dust and debris.
• Check the pH: soak some marbles in a glass of water, neutralized to pH 7.0. Mix well
and set aside. Measure the pH.
If it is high (pH> 8.0), leave immersed for a night in an acidic solution (pH <4.0). Rinse thoroughly.

After the collection: If necessary, especially if the plants were affected by insects or diseases, it is recommended to disinfect properly.
Let the balls immersed in pH Down stronger overnight and rinse thoroughly.

VESSELS IN COCONUT AND NATURAL LATEX
(100% biodegradable)
You can use them with the substrate of your choice (clay pebbles, volcanic rock, perlite, vermiculite, coconut fiber, etc..) Or with a mixture of substrates. You can also remove any substrate and coating the substrate with a single disk in coconut.
After harvesting, the vessels withdrawn, eliminated all possible roots, rinse well, let dry and shake to remove remaining debris.
The range is used with CocoTek areo-hydroponic systems, drip systems and crops in the ground. The pots can be used to make the seeds sprout and grow the young plants. Systems can be installed directly in or on earth, no other operations or suffering for the plant.
Unlike wool, clay pots and Grorox CocoTek are not harmful to the environment and health. You can use multiple times in a row, are 100% recyclable and can be buried or fed to lighten the soil.

OPERATING SYSTEMS
-How to fill and drain systems?

For systems AquaFarms, Water and AeroFarms Farms just fill the tank and pump. Will then be emptied in a container or directly in the garden, by means of the tube of blue level.
Systems for Dutch Pots "Hydro" and "Aero", first fill the tank and, when filled, the pump used to fill the rest of the system. Once completed, fi nite filling the tank. To empty, start from the tank to continue with the remaining vessels, draining the system completely.
The AeroFlos provide your plants with a water level sufficient, in spite of the rather small but light tank. It is therefore important to take certain precautions to fill and empty:
Initially filled the tank, then operate the pump to fill the rooms.

When the rooms are full, keep filling the tank up to 2/3 and beyond: in case of power failure or use of a switch, it is necessary that the tank can collect the surplus water without spilling.
To empty: drained the tank first.
So, after picking up the level tubes, empty out one after the other rooms in the tank continues to empty it gently.

- Level and change of solution and watering cycles:
Avoid the use of nutrient solution is too strong or aggressive and prefer to feed from a rather light to normal.
Verified the transformation of the nutrient solution by regular monitoring of the levels of water, of CIs and pH level. Add water and fertilizer and adjust the pH as needed. Plants can:

1. absorb nutrients and water in a balanced way: Complete with a normal nutrient solution;
2. absorb more water than nutrients: add water with pH adjusted nutrient solution or a very light;
3. absorb more nutrients than water: add fertilizers.

Please note:
Until you are satisfied with the development of your plants, you do not need to frequently change the solution would be a needless waste. On average every two weeks, according to water quality and / or plant health, let the solution level reaches the lower limit (before the pump starts to rake in air), then fill with fresh water, add fertilizer and adjust the pH.

Only if the water quality is poor or polluted (as sometimes happens to the water in the city), and / or if the plants grow bad, you must renew the solution (every 10 days). Do not throw it. You can use it (adding clean water with pH adjusted) to water the plants in soil that will become more beautiful.

Whatever your culture system, make sure the roots are still very wet. Do not ever let them dry out.
If you work with a AeroFlo, wait until it is developed enough to soak in the solution, then lower the level tubes to expose the upper portion of the roots to air.
If you use a substrate different from the beads of clay, adjust the cycle of watering: some substrates, such as the coconut fiber or rock wool, retain too much moisture, which can cause numerous diseases.
They should then be irrigated intermittently. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
As a general rule, keep the tank relatively full: the solution will be more stable. And never let the pump run dry (above water) would significantly harm.
Cover the points left empty with vases, to protect the nutrient solution from light and from the residues.
- The Controller (Controller) or central reserve:
Acts as a central reserve for 4/8 ball jars lined up or arranged in a circle. Are equipped with a valve that maintains levels gradually that fall. It 's enough to fill the Controller of nutrient solution, as with other systems.

CLEANING SYSTEM
To prevent diseases and fillings, and to obtain the best technical performance, you should always keep clean the area of ​​cultivation.
Between a collection and the other must perform a thorough cleaning before the beginning of a new cycle.
Stop the pump. Empty the system, take it apart and wash each component properly. Pick up the marbles, put them in a bucket and clean them before reuse.
Dismantle the pump, rinse and wash the filter, if used.
If you must, in case of illness or infestation, fill the system with a very acidic solution (pH <4.0) and left running for an hour to disinfect. Then rinse thoroughly. You can also use the bleach, rinse and let sit for 24 hours to let the chlorine evaporate.
If you use a AeroFlo: If necessary, the caps on the bottom of the culture chambers can be removed easily.
They are secured with silicone plumbing. You can lock it again using the same material (sold in health food stores for the home).

HOW TO PRODUCE THE CUTTINGS?
GHE offers two systems for the production of stem cuttings CuttingBoards and rainforests. The CuttingBoards are small units dedicated to beginners.
RainForest is a very powerful machine, which allows almost always a successful at 100%.
Always use good quality of cuttings. Be careful not to choose plants diseased or weakened. Plants with stem wheat are the easiest to reproduce by cuttings. Those with a woody stem takes more time. Make sure the plants are in a suitable environment, because different plants
have different needs. If placed more cuttings per pot, be sure to plant them before the roots become entangled.

To produce the cuttings:
1. Cut each cutting "slant", a + / - 2 cm below a node.
Scrape gently the base of the stem to facilitate the liberation of the root. Leave 2 to 3 young leaves per plant and lift up all the others.
2. Place the cuttings in pots and covered with a lid or with Grorox croc of your choice. Arrange.
3. Put systems in a hot environment. The temperature of cuttings is generally of 24 ° C -25 ° C, with a moisture content of 80% - 95%.
4. Expose plants to light is that of indirect sun to solar simulated by special lamps.
Fluorescent lamps are the best. If you use the metal halide or high pressure sodium, careful not to push them up against too much not to burn the plants.
5. Once the roots have sprouted - and before tangling with each other - the cuttings transplanted into another hydroponic system or in a substrate of your choice.
The cuttings produced with our systems are very hardy and grow very well in the new environment.
Important Note:
1. In a CuttingBoard: in the phase of growth of the roots, and up to when these are not sufficiently developed to be immersed in the solution, maintain very high the level of liquid in the tank.
2. The engine of RainForest is equipped with a thermocouple that detaches the current in case of overheating. One
call a function after an appropriate cooling time. If the problem persists, do not tamper with the engine but to return it.

HOW TO TRANSPLANTATION?
To be transplanted, especially in a hydroponic system with new and different living conditions, the plants should be resistant.
As long as you can, put bedding of young plants (2 pairs of leaves at least): they will recover quickly, unlike the older plants that would not like the change.
1. Fill the water tank of a nutrient solution fresh and operated the pump to obtain a solution well oxygenated when sistemerete the new seedlings.
2. If the sprouts are grown in soil or in a different substrate, before transplanting them you need to clean the roots and gently rinse them in clean water as gently as possible. To avoid these operations, you can also play back the plants or cuttings in a RainForest CuttingBoard vessels and transfer from one system to another, simply.
Whichever method you choose, when decanted very careful not to damage the root system, including small lateral roots.
3. After cleaning the roots:
- If you work with a system like 'Aero': keep the roots suspended in the center of the jar and filled with clay pebbles to ensure support of the stem.
- If you work with a system of type "Hydro": make a hole in the center of the substrate, place the plant and cover the earth as you would.
Important notes:
- In summer, when the lamps used in confined spaces, and to avoid extreme temperatures, the system operated during the night to take advantage of the cooler air.
Choose the hottest days to stop the development of the garden, clean and wait for more propitious days ....
- The culture area should be well ventilated. A continuous ventilation to eliminate excess moisture and adds CO2 to the plants.
- If plants do not grow well and are not sure of the quality of water:
Request an analysis to the local water authority.
Collect rainwater or try distilled or purified water.
Use a reverse osmosis system.
I am a bit 'expensive but very effective.
- If the solution circulates badly:
Make sure that the pump is in operation and that there is a quantity of solution enough in the tank.
Check the chain of distribution. Wash and rinse well. Clean and well sturate pipes and injectors.
An excess of obstruction may mean that water is too hard or that the solution is too strong.
- Adopt a policy to prevent programmed: it is the most effective.
Always start with the production of healthy, vigorous plants and seed quality.

From time to time, check the roots, hydroponics offers a rare opportunity to access radicario apparatus and then to act in time, well before the disease sets up, especially when working on "bare rooted" in the versions "Aero".
But do not do it too often to not disturb the plants and go as gently as possible to avoid damaging the roots during surgery.

Use of BioProtect, Mineral Magic or BioFiltre with BioMagix to protect and strengthen the roots of plants.
Plants, like all living organisms, can be attacked by numerous diseases.
To keep healthy we must give them a complete and balanced nutrition, maintain good clean condition, and climatic factors correct and suitable for the crop.

For best results:
Use the formula of fertilizer best suited to your water (soft or hard). For this, a water analysis done at the appropriate local authority.
Clean perfectly the system to each collection.
Always keep the water temperature at below 24 ° C (the ideal is 18 ° C-20 ° C) and a rate of
humidity of 60% - 65%.
Ensure your plants good lighting and good ventilation.
Do not forget to tailor the space to their needs, because different plants require different climatic environments.
For questions regarding the quality or the growth of plants, please contact us. We guarantee a response and technical advice free of charge to all our customers.
Good crops.

General Hydroponics Europe - www.eurohydro.com

Related Articles:

  1. Hydroponic Tomatoes in the classroom
  2. System Comparison
  3. The coir as a substitute for land
  4. Electrical conductivity and oxygenation
  5. Serra aeroponics. How does it work?

Tags: , ,

One Response to "Managing hydroponic systems"

  1. Walter Ibrahim Says:

    hi there and thanks for your information - I've definitely found interesting things from here. Nonetheless I Discovered A Few technical issues browsing this website. I was thinking about if your hosting is fine? Not that I am filing a complaint, instances However sluggish loading times might influence your position Likely bing and might ruin your good quality articles on this site. Well I will be putting your feed to my reader and will look forward to much more of your helpful content ..

Leave a Reply

Slider by webdesign