Hydroponics Questions – Answers, And Hydroponics Quiz

Commonly Asked Questions and about Hydroponics System

Hydroponics system is a method of growing plants in a nutrient-rich water solution rather than soil. Plants grown in a Hydroponic system has a greater yield and much faster growth rates than other types of gardening methods. Hydroponically growing flowers, fruits herbs, and vegetables are planted in inert growing media and supplied with nutrient-rich solutions, oxygen, and water. This system fosters rapid growth, stronger yields, and superior quality compared to soil-grown plants. In a Hydroponics system, the energy expended by the roots is energy better spent on vegetative growth and flower and fruit production.

Hydroponics at home would be a very different system than a Commercial System. Different types of Hydroponic systems are Aeroponics, Aquaponics, Deep Water Culture, Drip System, Ebb & Flow, NFT, and Wick. The main 3 things all Hydroponic systems have in common are the plant roots need for water, oxygen, and nutrients.

The following Hydroponic Questionnaire would be useful for Hydroponic Gardening at Home, Hydroponic Test, Hydroponic Exam Questions, Hydroponics Quiz, Survey Questions on Hydroponics system, and Multiple Choice Questions on Hydroponics topic.

Below are the Commonly Asked Questions about Hydroponics System

What is Hydroponics system?                                                           

The hydroponics system is the growing of plants without using soil. Hydroponic plants are grown by using soilless media such as gravel, peat, vermiculite Perlite, rock wool, and expanded clay aggregates. The essential minerals that the plant needs are dissolved into the water which is then watered directly to the plants. Thus, in short instead of the plants searching throughout the soil for their minerals, they draw them directly from the water that they are being fed.

Hydroponic is the process of growing plants by a mineral-rich water solution, whereby the plants continuously draw on nutrients supplied by the water. The Hydroponic system remains a safe alternative to growing crops in soil, as growing food indoors reduces the need for pesticides. Also, soil-borne diseases do not present a problem because the systems do not utilize soil.

What EC should maintain in Hydroponics?

Well, this is one of the most commonly asked questions being asked in many exams, quiz and hydroponics gardening.

In Hydroponics, EC (Electrical conductivity) requirements change as the plant grows from a seedling into a mature plant. When your plants are young they require less food, so it makes sense that the plant grows to increase the amount of food to fulfill the plant’s needs.

Growth/Vegetative requirements – 0.6 – 0.8 EC.

Bloom/Flowering requirements – 1.6 – 2.4 EC.

How does Hydroponics work?

This is one of the most commonly asked questions about the Hydroponics system. Hydroponics system eliminates the use of soil and utilizes a Hydroponic growing media to growing fast growth in flowers, houseplants, fruits, and vegetables.

What kind of plants can be grown using Hydroponics?

Almost any type of plant can be grown using a Hydroponics system, for example, vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Generally, if you can produce ideal environmental conditions the Hydroponic plants will be fast-growing compared to plants grown in soil. Some of the plants grown in Hydroponics are Tomatoes, Lettuce, Cucumber, Kale, Spinach, Beans (Green beans, Pole Beans, Etc.), Strawberries, Peppers, White Radish, Ginger, Peppermint, Chives, Basil, Oregano, Sage, Stevia, Lemon Balm, Rosemary, and Bok Choy.

Is Water Quality Important In Hydroponics?

Water quality is important in a Hydroponics system to make sure you get the most out of the plants. Hard water and well water have a high amount of minerals that can build up and damage the plants. Reverse Osmosis or de-chlorinating filters are useful for cleaning impurities out of water.

What pH should maintain in Hydroponics?

The consensus for pH level in a Hydroponic system and coco coir is that it should be kept between 5.5 – 6.5 throughout the cycle. Ideally in the growth/vegetative phase pH level should be maintained at 5.8-6.2. If the pH level fluctuates too much the plant will be unable to uptake specific “slow” moving nutrients, so having all the necessary equipment like pH pens will save a lot of guesswork.

The pH level of a nutrient solution influences the availability of nutrients, so it should be maintained in the optimum range. Nutrient solutions used for Hydroponics have a pH between 5 to 6 (usually 5.5), so the pH level in the root environment is maintained between 6 to 6.5.

What is the ideal temperature in Hydroponics system?

The ideal Hydroponic temperature range is between 18°C and 20°C for truly optimal plant growth. The ideal grows room temperature changes depending on what types of plants you are growing. Tropical plants such as orchids and plants like succulents do well at 26°C and up. Plants like kale and broccoli do best at cooler temperatures in the 15- 18°C range. Tomatoes do well in the 20-23°C range. The temperature level is important for more reasons than plant growth. When the temperature surpasses 26°C, insects can multiply much faster than at cooler temperature levels.

Why is pH important in Hydroponics?

Growing plants Hydroponically requires a specific pH range for optimal growth and nutrient absorption.  If the pH level of your nutrient solution is outside the required range your plants won’t get the necessary nutrients they need to grow.

How do you choose the right Hydroponic system?

To be successful, you first have to select the right Hydroponic system that fits your situation. Before setting up the Hydroponic system, it is necessary to consider the below factors to ensure you make an informed decision.

• Space availability
• Lighting
• Available finance
• Time availability
• Type of crop to be grown
• Future expansion

It is advisable to start with a passive system rather than an active system because passive systems are affordable, simple to build for smaller plants.

You have to choose whether the system will be a media-based system or a water culture system. Media-based Hydroponics systems like ebb and flow (flood-and-drain) rely on growing medium to offer support to the plants. Although the media system is costly and the media requires regular replacement, it holds nutrients solution for the plants. There is a need to protect the entire system from power blackouts so that the nutrients and pumping of water to the plants are not affected. The media-based Hydroponic system is efficient because of its ability to recycle nutrients. Contrary to this, water culture systems function without media and it is simple. The system is good, particularly for the water-loving plants.

What are the benefits of growing with Hydroponics?

There are numerous benefits of Hydroponics gardening. Hydroponic systems use less water than traditional systems. They are also cleaner since you are not bringing soil into the home. Hydroponic systems are less likely to host destructive insects, and you can grow plants indoors year-round.

The biggest advantage of the Hydroponics system over traditional gardening is significantly larger yields in less time. Plants with access to ample oxygenated water absorb nutrients faster, resulting in growth that is 30 to 50% faster. Also, topsoil erosion is eliminated, meanwhile, there are fewer cases of plant decay and wilting, particularly those associated with soil-borne diseases and very little use of pesticides. The use of recirculated nutrient-rich water through this system and reservoir allows plants to draw on the correct amount of nutrients when it is needed.

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Do plants grown using Hydroponics system taste better than plants grown in soil?

Hydroponic plants have a better taste because the plants grown utilizing Hydroponics have all the essential nutrients readily available to the plant. In soil, the important micronutrients are locked away in the soil where the plants cannot take full advantage of these minerals. That is why Hydroponics is superior because the grower has control over what minerals the plants are feeding.

What causes plants to die in Hydroponics?

There can be several reasons for plants to die in Hydroponics. Primarily, eliminate the obvious things like lack of water, high temperature, or a broken stem.

Bad pH Level – Having the right pH level for Hydroponic plants is crucial. The pH level in Hydroponics should not be too high or too low. The right pH level for the Hydroponic system should be between 5.5 and 6.5.

Poor Lighting – Many startup indoor Hydroponic growers make the mistake of buying cheap and unreliable grow lights. Since most Hydroponic grow rooms are indoors, you need to ensure that plants receive sufficient lighting throughout their growing season.

Wrong Fertilizer – Not all fertilizers that you find on the market and good for a Hydroponic garden. For instance, you should not use traditional fertilizer from your store in a Hydroponic system. This is because the fertilizer may fail to dissolve completely in a Hydroponic system. Also, using less or excess fertilizer can be dangerous to your Hydroponic plants.

Deficiencies & Root Diseases – Deficiencies and diseases are other causes of Hydroponic plant death. These can be hard to detect, and that’s why you will be required to monitor your entire system closely. For instance, if the plant roots turn to brown, then there is an issue. Some of the things that cause deficiencies are the wrong pH level, nutrient solution concentration, and temperature, etc.

What are the differences between Hydroponics versus growing in soil?

This is a very commonly asked question of the Hydroponics system. The Hydroponic system differs from soil-based gardens as the plants are using only the nutrients they need from the recirculated water, whereas watering plants growing in soil capture fewer nutrients due to evaporation. Gowers can save on space growing vertically, eliminate weeding, and use fewer pesticides.

What causes leaves to turn yellow in Hydroponics?

This can be caused by several factors;

• Nutrient deficiency
• The pH is too high/low.
• Overwatering can turn leaves yellow.
• The solution is too hot/cold.
• Too much salt in the water.

There are numerous reasons why your plant leaves may be yellowing. This is caused mainly by nitrogen deficiency. There is not enough nitrogen available for fast-growing plants, causing them to take nitrogen from the older leaves and send it to the new shoots. This can be corrected by adding some more nitrogen to your feeding schedule.

How often to feed Hydroponic plants?

This is one of the basic questions of hydroponics gardening system.

Feeding of the Hydroponic plants depends on factors such as;

• Age of the plant
• Prevailing temperature
• Humidity
• Type of crop grown
• Nature of medium
• Younger plants require small amounts of nutrients hence their feeding period is shorter.

Hydroponic plants at the flowering and fruiting stages need feeding for a prolonged time. Thus, the frequency of feeding the medium must be increased as the plants continue growing.

Below is an example of a feeding schedule for different growing mediums;

Perlite – feed once every 2 to 3 hours during the day. At night, use lower feeding frequency.

Expanded clay – feed once every 1 to 2 hours during the day. At night lower the feeding frequency.

Rockwool/coconut fibre/soil – feed 3 to 6 times per day. The feeding must be spread equally during the day. Do not feed at night to avoid waterlogging.

Are Hydroponic plants organic?

This is one of the quiz questions asked in hydroponics. In Hydroponics, feed the plants directly with an available mineral-rich solution. In organic gardening, the fertilizer components require beneficial organisms (bacteria, protozoa, and fungi) to convert them into usable forms that the plant can uptake as food. These methods of growing are fundamentally different because of the way that you supply nutrition to the plant.

How do you get rid of pests in Hydroponics?

You can use various methods to control pests in Hydroponics. Some products are organic or natural some are not. This can determine which route you take for control. Weekly preventative sprays of neem oil are recommended. If the pest problem in plants is severe a more toxic stronger pesticide may have to be used.

What are the different types of Hydroponic growing systems exist?

This is an important and one of the frequently asked questions about the hydroponics system. There are several different Hydroponic growing systems, but there are six consistent types used throughout the Hydroponic system – Aeroponics, Deep Water Culture, Ebb & Flow, Wick System, Drip Irrigation, and Nutrient Film Technique.

What are the reasons for leaves of the plant are curling down in Hydroponics?

If your leaves are curling down it can be a sign that your nutrient solution is too strong.

If your plant is lit with a top light this can be an indication that not enough light is reaching the lower levels of your plant.  This is quite normal and you shouldn’t be alarmed as the top leaves capture enough light for your plant to continue to thrive. If you’d like you can provide supplemental light from the side to ensure your bottom plant leaves are getting enough light as well.

You should not miss this: Organic Aquaponics Growing Practices For Beginners.

What is the best thing to clean the Hydroponic system?

This is one of the basic questions of the hydroponics system. The best option for cleaning a Hydroponics system is to use Hydrogen Peroxide, hot water, soap, and also use a salt leaching solution. Rinse thoroughly to wash off any residue that can be left behind by cleaning products. For this reason, bleach is not recommended as it can be harmful to Hydroponic plants.

Why is Hydroponics expensive?

The cost of installing the Hydroponic system is one of its main disadvantages. Both the starting and the operational costs are high in Hydroponics compared to conventional gardening. The materials and equipment used in Hydroponics system are costly, and you must have them to operate the system well.

What are the growing mediums for Hydroponics?

This is one of the basic questions of the hydroponics system. The most common growing mediums used in Hydroponics include rock wool and perlite; however, other popular mediums consist of bark chips, fibres, sand, and rock.

What are the advantages of a wick system?

This is one of the basic questions of the hydroponics system. A wick system can be set-up by anyone and it is easy to care. The wicks in this system will constantly supply your plants with water, so there is no risk of them drying out. Also, plants like lettuce will flourish in a wick system, providing a great return on your hands-free investment

How should empty and replace the reservoir and nutrient solution in Hydroponics?

Reservoirs must be emptied and the nutrient solution replaced at least every 5-7 days. People use their EC/TDS meters to measure nutrient levels and top up their nutrient solution when levels get low. EC/TDS meters measure overall salt levels, not the levels of specific nutrients. This means nutrients not completely used by plants will begin to build up to potentially toxic levels. First, emptying the reservoir and then replacing nutrient solution with a quality fertilizer is the only process to ensure nutrient levels are consistently in the ideal range for plant growth.

Does Hydroponics use a lot of electricity?

Pumps and other types of machines used in Hydroponic gardening consume relatively little electricity when compared to lighting costs. Still, even the least-used devices will add to electricity utility bills. Finally, the consumer inherits the high electricity costs of Hydroponic gardening.

In case if you are interested in this: Hydroponic Mushroom Farming.