We want the roots to be able to properly submerge themselves into the water or else all of it will fail. Thus finding a way topriority. Even though hydroponics systems are most often used to grow foods, you could also plant a small indoor flower garden using this method. Especially, for a beginner, staring with lettuce would be a good way to get acquainted with the hydroponic process and to be able to yield good healthy results as lettuce is easy to grow and care for. Lettuce, herbs, and plants in the Brassica family, such as mustards and kale, grow well year-round in hydroponic systems. If there are windows, make sure to fit them with mesh and do the same with vents. Lettuce requires magnesium, potassium and calcium. “Traditionally in the United States almost all greenhouse lettuce produced in hydroponic systems was butterhead for fresh market sales. The lettuce raft method is the most straightforward method of hydroponics out there. However, rock wool is the most preferred among all because of its porous nature and its sterility. A common D.I.Y solution is a 14-gallon Roughtote storage bin. These hydroponic systems for edible indoor gardens take homegrown to a new level. But for growing lettuce, it is best to pick the water culture system. Our research group has experimented with many forms of hydroponics but have found this floating system to be the most robust and forgiving of the available systems. But what’s the difference among them? It is important to look out for mildew that can be caused by water. Reviewing this process, you’ll have made the decision for yourselves: hydroponic lettuce is easy to grow and all it requires is a little effort and a little investment. The stone must be hooked up to a small single outlet air pump, which is connected to the stone via air tubing and sits directly outside of the reservoir. This reservoir will hold the necessary water and nutrients that your plants will require. But whatever you do, make sure to see that there is good ventilation. There are many systems like ebb – flow system, drip system, aeroponic system, NFT system and so on. X Research source Water culture systems, in which plants float directly on top of water while their roots grow down and absorb nutrients, are the most effective and simplistic. There are many systems like ebb – flow system, drip system, aeroponic system, NFT system and so on. pH control is also important for hydroponic lettuce production. Make sure to fairly pick leaves from all plants so that production is stable. Required fields are marked *. And don’t worry if you think this is a mountainous task, because even if it is, we’re here to make it easier for you. To grow a hydroponic plant, you have to have the plant placed in a net pot. But depending upon the variety of lettuce that you are growing, the nutrients may also defer. You want to avoid heavy plants or those that need extra support in this type of set up. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. It is best to maintain the pH between 5.5 and 6.5 for best results. Signup for our weekly newsletter to get the latest news, updates and amazing offers delivered directly in your inbox. You will also need to purchase the proper nutrients and equipment for monitoring the pH level of the water. “Hydroponics was always about growing single heads for the fresh market,” he said. There are a wide range of mediums that can be used like coco fibre, pine shavings, sand, rockwool, vermiculite, river rock and others of such kind that can work. If you’ve read our previous articles about hydroponic systems then you will know that it is important to have an air pump in a hydroponic system. Make sure to provide the lettuce plants with about 10 to 14 hours of fluorescent lighting every day. The roots need to be long enough to reach the water immediately after they are planted, or they will not survive. Lettuce hydroponics is a different way to grow that just might change how you think about gardening. All components are specially designed or selected to create an ideal, complete NFT system for leaf/bib lettuce, herbs and more. And fluorescent light works best as it is of a reasonable cost, especially if you are a beginner and are only trying out. Outdoor setups with plenty of space means you will be able to double or triple your yield as hydroponics systems are flexible and can accommodate multiple layers of growing trays at a time. But a hobby that is even more self – satisfying that growing lettuce conventionally, is growing it hydroponically. You can’t directly start growing your hydroponic plants in the set – up. Not all of my starts took off. Air circulation is very important, especially for hydroponic plants. Hydroponic lettuce greenhouse factory -- Automated - YouTube Some other lightweight options include endives, watercress, cabbage, hot peppers, and bok choy. To test the PH is easy with any pool PH testing kit. This is included in the growing media in order to enable the lettuce seedling sprout and to offer basic support to the roots as the plant grows. Hydroponic Performers With the unique conditions of growing in hydroponic systems come equally distinct challenges and opportunities. PH adjusters can help with levelling the pH in the reservoir. Ebb and Flow Systems of Hydroponic Gardens, How to Pair up Plants to Save Garden Space, Nutrient Film Technique in Hydroponic Gardens, 10 Best Vegetables That Grow in Containers, Vegetable Container Gardening for Beginners. It is often the case in hydroponic crops that conditions are so favorable for fast growth that the leaves of the plant grow too fast and Calcium transport just cannot keep up ( 5 , 6 ). have trouble with tipburn and bolting when growing lettuce in greenhouse hydroponic systems in the Southeastern U.S. Greenhouse lettuce now plays an essential role on worldwide lettuce production. So, hydroponically, you would be growing lettuce. Make sure to fill in as many holes as possible to be able to fit in as many net pots as possible. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Tom Thumb is preferable if you’re looking for small space consumption. Make sure to choose a good air pump and install it in the reservoir. One among the many house garden plants is lettuce. Hydroponic lettuce is cultivated in a soil-free or hydroponic system. There are many different kinds of hydroponic systems that you can grow plants in, including drip systems, NFT systems, ebb-flow systems, aeroponic systems, and many more. It is best to maintain the temperature at around 55 F, at night and at around 75 F, at daytime. Most of the time, plants are grown with their roots submerged in the nutritious liquid or supported by perlite or gravel. Upstart University Website. This is: With lettuce there’s a small range of variety that you have to pick from. Start hydroponic growing the easy way with a FarmTek Hydroponic Lettuce System. Use a shade over your plants to avoid such a scenario. Some examples of plants to avoid are melons, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, or sweet peppers. So it is better to pick only the outer leaves and leave the inner leaves to help growth. Make sure to water them regularly and to place them in a place that has good circulation and is well – lit. Look for seed companies with varieties identified as doing well in hydroponic systems. Having a good hydroponic system allows you to grow herbs, vegetables, and flowers almost anywhere and anytime. Any 2% bleach concoction will get the work done. Overheating of the lettuce will cause flowering or bolting which will result in a bitter taste. Lettuce especially would require an air pump to keep the water in the reservoir fresh. This is because you’re constantly giving fresh water, instead of recirculating systems. And this net pot will sit in a surface above the water so the only the roots can easily be able to submerge themselves. Now, we finally have to set up the reservoir. With the above information, here are the recommended crops to grow in raft systems. Hydroponic System for Lettuce Hydroponics uses a mixture of water and fertilizer to grow plants (often called a “nutrient solution”). Keep mixing it. The net pots are filled about 3/4 full with a growing medium such as Coconut Coir, Perlite, or LECA (clay balls, also called Hydroton), and the seedlings are planted directly in the growing medium. In most hydroponic cases this is actually not related at all with a lack of calcium in the nutrient solution, but with the transport of the Calcium from the solution to the leaves. Growing your own vegetables is a process that is not only satisfying but is also a job that requires the utmost care and responsibility. Your email address will not be published. Yield and commercial hydroponic lettuce We are getting 5.6 pounds of lettuce per ZipGrow Tower on a 3.6 week crop cycle. Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants without soil, allowing their roots to come into contact with nutrient-dense water and oxygen to stimulate growth. This hydroponic greenhouse production system was designed for small operations to provide local production of head lettuce as well as employment to the proprieters. And this can prove detrimental to your plants. But you still have to preserve its freshness for later consumption. Take a polystyrene plank and drill it with holes. The first step is to properly take care of the seeds you had planted in your small nursery to get them started. Then you can pick its leaves for consumption. The Read our. No matter which one you choose, your plants will grow fast and big provided you care for them properly. Utilizing an industrial hydroponics system has a … The nutrient-laden water is moved by an electric pump through tubes to the top surface of the growing medium. The easiest and most common choice is an air stone, which can be bought at any hydroponics or aquarium supply store. Originally cultivated from its wild parent thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt, lettuce consumption had spread by the late 1900s to be enjoyed the world over. If you are interested in putting together your own hydroponic garden at home and want to start with a simple, foolproof method, a “lettuce raft” (also known as "deep water culture") system might be perfect for you. Does has seen a market shift in the way lettuce is being grown in hydroponic production systems. In picking out the container, it is recommended to leave out any and every metal option. Don’t take too many leaves from the same plant at a time. Lettuce takes about 5 to 6 weeks to fully grow. It is really up to your requirement as to which one you choose, because all of them are very easily suitable to grow lettuce successfully. The concept behind this setup is simple: plants are grown on a “raft” made of rigid Styrofoam floating in a pool of nutrient-rich water. Your email address will not be published. Lettuce might be one of the easiest things to grow hydroponically. Based on the name, you might think that lettuce is the only thing you can grow in a lettuce raft. The production of plants in artificial soil or soilless mixes commonly used in greenhouse or nursery production, including the tobacco float Ebb and flow benches used for seedling propagation . You have to be very careful with hydroponic set – ups because they can easily facilitate algae growth if they are under direct sunlight. Hydroponically, lettuce is the easiest plant that you can grow. Good news is that with a drain to waste system, testing the PH often, is not as necessary. If you’re Make sure to look into nitrogen because some varieties of lettuce may be sensitive to it. Why is my hydroponic lettuce bitter? How Hydroponic Systems Work There are six main types of hydroponic systems out there, and while they all work in different ways, they do have some basic similarities too. After you’re done picking the variety of lettuce that you want to grow, the next thing to do is to pick the type of hydroponic system that you want to use. The six major types of hydroponic systems, how they work, and the ups and downs of each one. The truth is you can grow almost any lightweight crop in this system. The Pro NFT Deep Systems utilize channels that create an exceptional space for growing larger crops. Hydroponic lettuce is commonly produced using either the nutrient film technique (NFT) or the floating raft method, both as closed systems. Americans eat 30 pounds annually […] A closed system is one in which the surplus nutrient solution is recovered after use and then recycled through the system. It is best to acquire both down and up pH adjusters. In such a case, there is a solid growing medium that comes in form of substrate. It is important to remember to plant seedlings, not seeds, in a water culture garden. Hydroponic lettuce, much like other leafy greens, grows very well in all types of vertical systems. In hydroponic lettuce growing in systems such as NFT or DWC (see below), the solid growing medium (in the form of a substrate) is there only to enable seedlings to sprout, and for basic root support as the plants continue to grow. Keeping the plant’s pH level in check is very important for its nutrient intake. It’ll teach you how to mix the nutrient solution, check the pH balance, and grow lettuce using hydroponics, all skills necessary for other hydroponics systems. So is Romaine lettuce, but it takes a longer while to grow as compared to others. Lettuce can be grown from seed to harvest in 40-60 days, depending on light levels, location, fertigation schedule, and crop management. You’ve put in the work, and now your lettuce is ready to harvest. So add to it the required amount of water, and then mix in it the hydroponic nutrients that are required. Production systems of Hydroponic Lettuce: Hydroponic Lettuce Production System. They do well in cooler temperatures. After you’re done picking the variety of lettuce that you want to grow, the next thing to do is to pick the type of hydroponic system that you want to use. It is important to keep all insects away. Keep taking care of them in the nursery until they reach a height of 2 inches and have grown up to 4 leaves. These holes are what will accommodate the net pots that will hold the plants above the water. Drip systems are highly dependable and are a popular form of hydroponic systems. This unique hydroponic garden is ideal for a sunny indoor patio, covered porch, or even your backyard deck. If we dedicate half of the farm to lettuce, we will be using 96 ZipGrow Towers for lettuce production. We’ve got them in order of price range – lowest to highest. Because they grow in high levels of moisture, if air around them is not circulated properly, then it may lead to the growth of mildew or bacteria. In order to do this, move the plants to colder temperature places which will help preserve their freshness up to one month. Lettuce This is one of the most popular crops for any hydroponic system around the globe. Other leafy greens such as amaranth and swiss chard can also work well. What Is Square Foot Gardening—and Is It Right for You? Nearly freezing conditions are much recommended. But, you have to take care to not saturate it too much as it can cause root/ stem rot and suffocation of the root. To have a good air circulation you can install exhaust fans or floor fans or ceiling fans, or even keep a window open. Producing lettuce hydroponically, in a controlled environment, produces a clean, uniform and superior quality crop throughout the year. HydroCycle NFT Lettuce systems come in numerous sizes that can satisfiy anybody from the commercial grower to the hobby grower. There is Tom Thumb lettuce, Bibb lettuce and Romaine lettuce. Damp conditions often lead to the growth of algae. The water then slowly drips around the roots, then drains down to the bottom of the container. Article Sources. However, lettuce leaves can regenerate themselves in a short amount of time. And it is also beneficial to your plants in the way that is requires low power to run on and produces low heat. A place with a temperature between 65 F and 80 F would be well – suited. If you’re new to this method, lettuce hydroponics is a great place to start. It is simple and inexpensive to set up, easy to maintain, and leaves plenty of room for experimentation. The Best Crops for Raft Systems. Lettuce, a member of the sunflower family Asteraceae, follows only potatoes as the most widely grown fresh vegetable in the United States today. It is simple and inexpensive to set up, easy to maintain, and leaves plenty of room for experimentation. Bibb lettuce, among three, is the easiest one to grow. The lettuce raft system is often called a “living salad.” They will continue growing almost indefinitely. And really, when you grow groceries yourself, they somehow taste even better. The surface area of the container that will serve as your reservoir can be whatever you require but make sure the depth is a minimum of 8 inches. But trust us, the end product will leave you wanting more. You usually can purchase these nutrients that are already mixed and sold for easy use. The first step to setting up your system is to set up your water reservoir. Although it might get boring growing this all the time, it Hydroponic lettuce can be grown either in the Deep water culture system, or the Nutrient Film Technique. In this system, the plants float on top of the water, and the roots grow into the water, absorbing all the required nutrients. All you need is a mason jar (or similar-sized jar), a newspaper or other paper wrapping, a growing medium, a net pot, nutrient solution, and lettuce seed. It can be grown both indoors and outdoors. Perfect for hobby and commercial growers alike, these systems produce large yields of lush, healthy lettuce each year! So get as many net pots as you can. It’s okay if the plant if fully grown but you don’t want to pick them just yet. In South Africa the gravel flow technique (GFT) is the most widely used system for its cultivation. The NFT system is used to grow small leafy greens, with the most common crops being bibb lettuce, romaine lettuce, and basil. So what is the process to grow hydroponic lettuce? They first need to be grown in a small nursery of sorts to provide them with the right kind of environment, to make them stable at first. Now, just for recollection, Hydroponics is where you grow plants without the aid of soil, by only growing them in nutrient water or moist air. This can be avoided if you religiously sterilise and thoroughly clean all your equipment that comes in contact with water. But the nutrients that you mix depend upon the plant that you are growing. The Lettuce Grow Farmstand is a … It needs to be at least 1-foot deep to accommodate root growth, opaque to prevent algae growth, and sturdy. Hydroponics offers amazing flexibility, so even if you’re experiencing some troubles, you should have no problem correcting them and getting your plants back on track. But … It can also be cleaned and reused if you’re hydroponically growing on a small scale, but can prove to be tiring if it’s on a larger scale. Another popular option is grow rock. Lettuce seedlings can … Instead of the traditional gardening pots and containers, hydroponic systems typically use net pots and cups. This pump will make sure that there is dissolved oxygen being circulated in the water and will also make sure to keep the circulating water fresh so as to avoid suffocation. They can produce a wide variety of crops and can help operations of any size reduce labor and maximize profits. The lettuce raft method is the most straightforward method of hydroponics out there. Fluorescent lighting for lettuce is well – suited. Before planting anything in the hydroponic system, I had started some beans, lettuce, tomatoes, green onions and peas indoors in a growth medium that I could easily transfer to the net pots. Keep checking its pH level frequently with a paper strip test and make sure that it is acidic. A metal container will oxidize or corrode and this can prove to be harmful to your plants as it will meddle with their nutrients. Set up your net pots into the polystyrene plank with the drilled holes. The roots need to be long enough to reach the water immediately after they are planted, or they will not survive. For this you can sue egg cartons or plugs and fill them up with your chosen medium and then begin germinating your hydroponic seeds. They can be found online or at any grow shop. The holes must be a minimum of 12 inches apart from each other so that there is enough space for them to grow without competing for space. Best Hydroponic Systems: Comparison Table All of our picks for the best hydroponic systems are in one easy to browse place in this comparison table. The plants don’t take up much space, so you can … It is important to manage the right temperature for your lettuce. Lay fly traps around the area to avoid any flying insects. That is why it’s important to select seed varieties demonstrated to perform in the hydroponic setting. Lettuce has a shallow root system, and lends itself to nutrient film production systems. It is them important that you pick your medium through which your lettuce will hydroponically grow. An aerator is needed to aerate the water and make sure that the nutrients in the water do not become stagnant. This method allows you to grow an abundance of small, lightweight crops such as lettuce, spinach, endives, or herbs such as basil, parsley, and cilantro. Christina D'Anna is a hydroponic gardener and freelance writer who contributed content to The Spruce in 2013. What Is Hydroponic Lettuce? Lettuce is the type of plants that don’t require much light as other plants would. The raft consists of a rigid styrofoam platform cut to fit the size of the reservoir and fitted with “net pots.” Net pots are simply plastic containers with perforated bottoms that you put your growing medium and seedlings in. A lettuce raft consists of three major parts: The reservoir is simply a large container used to hold the water. Now, it may seem like a process that is time – consuming and complex but if you know the right things to do then growing hydroponic lettuce is very much enjoyable. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. GardeningHeavn.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It is capable of holding moisture well and has a great natural pH. Carefully take the plants from the nursery and place them into the net pots without much tugging. However, if you have either a nutrient-rich solution, a growing environment which is too hot, or your lighting setup isn Rather than using soil to grow plants, hydroponic systems are designed so that the roots of your plants come into direct contact with a nutrient solution , while also having access to enough oxygen. Commercial hydroponic systems are for serious growers looking to take their operation to the next level. Unlike soil with is dependent on soil composition, weather, and other factors, hydroponics allows the grower to give plants exactly what they want when they want it. You can also build your own reservoir (a wood box lined with plastic works fine) or purchase one at your local grow shop or online. That too requires a careful but simple process. Lettuce and other leafy greens are the easiest and most straightforward, and their short growing time makes them ideal for a beginner project. Herbs are also an excellent choice; parsley, dill, chives, and basil grow easily in a lettuce raft system.