Hydroponic planting media is a material or non-soil planting media used as a place to grow and develop plant roots. Planting media also serves as a support plant in order to stand upright and not easily collapsed. This type of planting media commonly used in dense urban areas and difficult to find land for farming.
By using hydroponic planting media will save planting space. He likes to have limited land can still be used to plant a variety of ornamental plants or vegetables. Differences how to plant hydroponics by planting it from the planting medium used. When the conventional way of planting requires planting the soil hydroponic ground using a non-soil planting medium.
Media Planting Hydroponics
Currently hydroponic planting media is on the rise in the general public. This is due to the consciousness of the community will benefit from planting their own plants around the house. Usually planted plants are ornamental plants and also green vegetables. There are several types of hydroponic planting media that you can use to grow a variety of plants. Here's an explanation of the types of hydroponic planting media:
Media Plant Hydroponics from Charcoal Chaff
Baked husk is one of the most widely used hydroponic planting media, not only for the cultivation of hydroponics plants but also the cultivation of plants in pots. One of the reasons why this planting medium is widely used is because the material is very easy to obtain and also the price is quite cheap.
Baked husks have excellent water-binding properties. In addition, this planting medium is also very environmentally friendly has a neutral pH so good for the development of plant roots. The use of this planting medium is usually mixed with cocopeat.
Media Planting Hydroponics Cocopeat
Cocopeat is one of the planting media made from coconut coir powder. Because it comes from organic material, this planting medium is very friendly with the environment. This planting medium has a high water absorption capacity, has a pH between 5.0 to 6.8 and is quite stable so it is good for root plant growth.
In use cocopeat is usually mixed with other planting media such as husk husk with a ratio of 50:50 mixture. The purpose of this mixing is to enlarge aeration on the growing medium. With increasing aeration on planting medium will facilitate plant roots to breathe properly.
Media Planting Hydroponics Rockwool
Rockwool is a growing medium widely used by hydroponic farmers in Indonesia. This planting medium is an inorganic planting medium that has a shape like foam and has fine fibers and has a very light weight. This material is formed from basalt rocks that are heated with high temperatures so melt then formed fine fibers.
Production of this material is usually a plate with a size large enough. The plate is then formed and cut in accordance with the needs and functions as a hydroponic planting medium. In developed countries like Europe, rackwool is traded in form and size. The use of rockwool for planting media is only at the time of seeding until harvest.
Media Hydroponics Hydroponics Planting
Hydroton may already be familiar to you who love to plant hydroponics, because the planting medium is widely used. Hydrons are made from a heated clay base material then formed spheres of varying size between 1 cm-2.5 cm. Inside this planting medium there are pores that can absorb the nutrients of water so it can maintain the nutritional needs of plants. Hydrons have a neutral and stable soil pH.
With a round shape, will reduce the damage of plant roots and spaces between spheres are also good for the absorption of oxygen by the roots. Hydroton can be used repeatedly, simply washed only from dirt / moss / alga if it will be used for subsequent cultivation.
Media Planting Hydroponics Perlite
Perlite is a type of planting medium made from high temperature heated silica rock material. This planting medium has a pretty good aeration, neutral pH and has a very light weight such as foam / stryrofoam. Planting media from perlite is very good for plant roots because it has a good absorption of water. In its use, it is usually mixed with other hydroponic cropping media such as cocopeat or vermiculite with a certain ratio.
Media Planting Hidroponik Vermiculite
This hydroponic planting medium has properties similar to perlite planting medium. The difference between the two growing media lies in the absorption of water and also its weight. Media vermiculte planting has a heavier weight than with a pertilet. In its use, it is usually mixed with a perlite with a certain ratio. The use of hydroponic planting media type should be adjusted with hydroponic plants to be planted.
Terms of Good Planting Media
- Have a good water and air holding ratio
- Has a stable pH of the range of 5.5 to 6.5
- Can be used repeatedly and not easily damaged
- Cheap and easy to come by
- Have a lightweight shape and load so it is not difficult in the transportation process
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