Melbourne gardener Leo Doolan prefers using hydroponics to conventional methods of gardening. When asked about his hobby, he gets very excited about the system and the results.
“Hydroponics is not difficult, but it will amaze you,” says Leo. “The benefits include no weeding or digging, plus wholesome produce.” Leo swapped traditional soil-growing for hydroponics 20 years ago. He started with a single potato in a garbage bin that he filled with sand.
When the spud sent out a shoot, he fed it with nutrients and topped it up with more sand. “It was almost magic when I tipped up the bin to find 15 potatoes had grown,” he recalls.
Leo then moved from potatoes to strawberries, putting these plants in a 7cm-diameter pipe with holes, which he hung on a wall. After having more success with this, he set up a glasshouse once he had retired from full-time work.
What is hydroponics?
Hydroponics is simply a soil-less method of growing plants. Any plant – whether it is a flower, herb or vegetable – can be grown this way. The plants are supported in an inert, growing medium, such as gravel, scoria, vermiculite, sand, perlite or rockwool (a fibrous material made from rock and sand).
Nutrients are dissolved in water and then fed to the plants, so the plants don’t have to develop root systems looking for them. It’s a compact way of growing your own veggies and can even be done indoors if you have the necessary equipment.
Plants grown by hydroponics need the same things that soil-grown plants need, including sunlight or artificial light. Leo says what you need to get started depends on how many plants you want to grow. “You can have a small glasshouse fitted out, or a couple of well-drained containers outdoors, or even a plastic pipe attached to a wall,” he explains. “A simple way to start is with a basic container such as a window box filled with vermiculite or perlite.”
A more complex system can be set up to recycle the water and nutrients, using electric pumps or an automated system that doesn’t require electricity but which releases nutrients at pre-set intervals.
It is possible to transfer plants growing in garden beds or pots to a hydroponic system. Select a healthy disease-free plant and gently wash off all the soil or potting mix from around its roots. Immediately place the plant or seedling into perlite or whichever medium you’re using. Don’t let the plant dry out. If you are planting from seed, sow the seeds directly into perlite, vermiculite or rockwool cubes.
Plants grow fast with this method, so it is important to ensure that you regularly harvest and remove any old plants that are past their prime. You also need to replace the nutrient solution every four weeks. Read and follow the instructions carefully for nutrient requirements. Although plants are grown in water, hydroponics use less water than usual growing methods, as the water can be collected and pumped back for re-use.
In manual systems, Leo recommends checking and topping up water regularly, especially on hot or windy days when evaporation occurs. Leo stores rainwater in tanks to use on his plants. You’ll also need to keep your hydroponic system clean by flushing it out once a year.
Plants that are grown hydroponically are free from attack from many pests and diseases that proliferate in soil mediums. But keep an eye out for pests or diseases appearing on leaves or fruit and apply a registered control when needed.
- Asian greens
- Basil
- Beans
- Beetroot
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Capsicum
- Chives
- Coriander
- Lettuce
- Mint
- Parsley
- Silverbeet
- Spinach
- Tomato
Text: Now To Love