How to Start Terrace Hydroponic Farming: Key Rules, Tips, and Benefits

The unpredictable weather patterns caused by climate change are leading many gardeners to look for easy and effective ways to grow crops throughout the year. Hydroponic farming allows the growing of fruits, herbs, and vegetables throughout the year. As long as you learn the proper way to start hydroponic farming, some DIY hydroponic solutions may seem complex to set up initially, but they are easy to maintain.

Terrace farming has slowly been catching up in Indian cities as cities are shrinking and health-conscious consumers demand chemical-free fruits and vegetables. Farming hydroponically on terraces is more profitable than conventional farming with soil. Each plant is housed in a plastic container hovering above a tank, its stringy roots dangling into a circulating pool of nutrient-infused water. Soil is removed from the equation in this method.

How to Start Terrace Hydroponic Farming

Benefits of Terrace Hydroponic Farming

Due to its more sustainable approach to resource usage than usual growing methods, hydroponic gardening has quickly become a popular choice for many growers worldwide. The following are a few of its many benefits:

In hydroponics, plants grow 50% faster than in soil because they receive constant and readily available nutrition. Fresh produce can also be harvested year-round from a hydroponic garden.
Hydroponic systems are also more efficient and can produce crops more quickly than traditional planting methods. Without accounting for unpredictable weather, they are designed to use resources efficiently.
Compared to soil gardening, hydroponic gardening eliminates herbicides and pesticides, which is great for the environment and the product.
In hydroponic gardening, any water used stays in the system and can be reused, reducing the constant need for fresh water.
The availability of arable land is often limited, and gardening space is decreasing. Hydroponics is a great option when you don’t have enough yard space or a small balcony.

Key Considerations for Hydroponic Farming

It is possible to grow almost anything hydroponically, but some vegetables do better in hydroponic systems than others. Cucumbers, tomatoes, capsicum, strawberry, lettuce, and leafy greens are plants that don’t mind moisture and don’t get too big for their setup. Additionally, one must decide whether to use only a solution culture or some growth medium when setting up a hydroponic garden depending on the plant’s size, sturdiness, root development, and the system’s structure.

Leafy greens and other plants with shallow roots do well in solution cultures. Plants with deep roots, such as beets, and heavy vegetables like cucumbers, foam, coconut husk, sponges, and peat moss are better growth mediums. Leafy greens grow well even under inexpensive fluorescent lights placed above them, while flowering and fruiting plants need sunlight.

In case you missed it: How to Start a Small Fish Farm on Your Terrace: A Step-By-Step Guide

How to Start Terrace Hydroponic Farming at Home

It does not need to be expensive or take up a lot of space to build a hydroponic setup for farming vegetables. A few pieces of augmented PVC pipe and a water pump can be used to create an easy-to-maintain hydroponic vegetable garden. As far as materials are concerned, you will need UPVC or unplasticized polyvinyl chloride lengths and caps. You will be able to cradle all your possible plants in these pipes. Pipes of any size can be used for a DIY system like this as long as they are consistent and interconnected.

Due to the constant water flow through the system, there must be no leaks. You’ll want to drill equidistant holes into the pipes along the top end so you can plant seedlings and allow them to grow. Several mounting brackets and screws can mount the pipes on a wall. Water is necessary for the system to work. It is fine to start with tap water, but you will need to add nutrients and other compounds to make it viable for growing. Several retailers, online shops, and hydroponic specialty stores sell plant nutrient solutions to add to tap water.

Different crops will respond to different mixtures because plants are different. If you are unsure which to use, you can put yourself on the right path with a little research. You will likely need to adjust the pH of the solution depending on the plants, so be sure to get some pH solutions as well. It’s important to understand that hydroponic farming isn’t as hands-off as outdoor farming. Water flow, volume, pH, and the number of nutrients in the water must be monitored. It may take some time to adjust, but it should be relatively straightforward once the first sprouts appear.

Tips to Start Terrace Hydroponic Farming

To prevent extra sunlight and rain from falling on your terrace, you need to cover your terrace with a green shade net or poly paper to protect it from the sun and rain.
As a home gardener, you should also ensure that humidity and temperature are kept in a terrace garden using foggers and fans to foster the healthy growth of your plants.
The tools that you use for gardening at home can be used to create a terrace garden on an urban terrace
The first thing that must be done to grow vine-type crops on your balcony is to dig a trench where you can hang the plants.
During monsoons or on a day when there is a low level of sunlight, artificial lights must be managed

Advantages of Terrace Hydroponic Systems

As compared to soli farming, hydroponic plants require less water. Recirculation and evapotranspiration of water conserve water and reduce water usage.
Hydroponic systems allow you to grow high-quality, fresh food while also allowing fast growth. Hydroponics allows crops to reach maturity faster.
Because hydroponics doesn’t depend on external factors such as weather and sunlight, yields and growth phases are almost predictable.
Regardless of the season, you can grow any crop on your terrace. You only need to provide the right care.
The greenhouse allows farming to take place all year round. With hydroponics, you shouldn’t trill, weed, pesticide, or do any other intensive farm work.

In case you missed it: How to Build a Pergola on Terrace: DIY, In Simple Steps for Vine Plants

Conclusion

In today’s urban environment, finding a place to set up a garden is difficult due to a lack of space. The traditional gardening method requires fertile soil and is influenced by climatic factors. Thanks to Hydroponic techniques, it is now possible to set up rooftop gardens or even kitchen gardens without much chaos.

How to Start Terrace Hydroponic Farming: Key Rules, Tips, and Benefits