The Best Hydroponic Vegetable Gardening Indoors

Nutrient Solution

Have you ever wished you could produce home grown vegetables, fruits and flowers year round? Well you can, by using hydroponic vegetable gardening indoors techniques.

The secret to successful hydroponic vegetable gardening indoors is in finding the right well-balanced nutrient solution. It is imperative that the solution that you use to circulate around the roots of your plants is of the correct composition in order to produce healthy plants. Generally the beginning hydroponic gardener should use a commercially prepared nutrient solution rather than trying to mix their own. The key to successful hydroponic vegetable gardening indoors is the pH level of the plant as the primary determinant for the type of solution needed.

Also, to produce optimum absorption of the solution, it is necessary to make sure proper air circulation is occurring at the roots of the plant. This is usually accomplished with the use of an air pump, hose and air stone.

The basic elements making up hydroponic nutrient solution are; potassium phosphate, potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate. These must be fully dissolved in the mixture before flowing through the vegetable plants' root systems.

Other elements such as boric acid, zinc sulfate, manganese chloride, copper sulfate and iron sulfate are often used in the nutrient solution also. The nutrient solution can be used for a maximum of 14 days when plants are small. Once plants have matured the nutrient solution should be replaced every 7 days.

Hydroponic Vegetable Gardening Indoors - Location, Temperature and Humidity

With hydroponic vegetable gardening indoors you can locate your plants in any high traffic area of your home, a wide hall way or much used family room is ideal. High traffic will ensure plenty of carbon dioxide in the air to nourish the plants.

Hydroponic plants may be grown in a greenhouse. The correct mixture of carbon dioxide in the air is necessary in order for these plants to flourish. This can be done a number of ways that includes:

burning hydrocarbon fuels

decomposition of organic matter

compressed bottled carbon dioxide

Maintaining a proper temperature in the environment is important for the plants to thrive. An average temperature of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, the normal temperature range within the home should be appropriate for the plants.

In addition, normal household humidity levels should promote healthy plants. Too high or too low humidity would not be healthy for the plants.

Hydroponic Vegetable Gardening Indoors - Lighting

Grow lights are normally used with a timer for hydroponic vegetable gardening indoors. The proper amount of light will create an environment the plants can thrive in. Experimentation may be necessary, but it is good to start out with the grow light being set on 8 hours daily to start.