There are many people who become interested in hydroponic systems because they enable individuals to grow their plants indoors in a controlled environment year round. There are many different types of plants that can be grown by using this method, from fruits and vegetables to flowers and other plants. The basic idea behind a hydroponic system is that the plants do not have to be in soil to grow adequately, instead, they just need to have the nutrients and water that they need in order to grow healthy and strong. There are many different types of hydroponic systems on the market, from types that a person can buy pre-made to those that the individual can build from easy to find materials. In addition, the hydroponic growth system has to be modified slightly depending on the types of plants that are to be grown in it.

Concepts

There are several primary types of nutrients that plants need to grow. There are three main elements that are needed and these are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. If the plants have these nutrients in the proper balance then they are best enabled to grow. There are also some secondary elements that are needed for the plants to grow healthy and strong and these contain primarily calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc and sodium. There are other secondary ingredients that will have to be monitored during the growth cycle of the plants, but these are the main elements that are needed. If these elements are not kept in the proper balance, then the water that the plant is growing in will become toxic to it and it will die. The individual who has a hydroponic system will need to constantly monitor his tanks so that the pH balance stays constant for them.

In addition to the pH balance in the water, there also has to be a lighting system that is put in place for the plants to grow properly. There are different types of lighting that can be used and each has different effects on the plants that are grown. What is interesting is that plants naturally use different types of lighting during their growth cycle to get what they need. For instance, when they are on a high growth cycle, plants will use the blue light, so using this type of light in the hydroponic system during this stage is ideal. When the plants are in the flowering stage, they will use the red or orange light of the color spectrum, so using that type of light in the hydroponic system during that stage is ideal.