The successful growth of your plants depends on two vital processes: water and nutrient uptake. The term ‘uptake’ refers to the movement of the water and nutrients throughout the plant’s vascular system from the roots all the way to the shoots. It is a necessary process to ensure the manufacturer of crucial sugars and successful photosynthesis. A successful hydroponic grow system meets the crucial needs of the plant for water and nutrients far more efficiently than soil.
Hydroponics Grow Systems for Areas of Drought
With much of the globe facing water shortages and unprecedented heat waves, meeting the irrigation needs of food crops has become difficult in many regions. A stressed plant will simply not produce a bountiful harvest because it wastes its energy on other processes.
A hydroponic system provides ample water and nutrients to your plants so they can flourish even under stressful conditions such as low humidity or excessive temperatures.
Much of a plant’s water uptake is lost through the plant’s stomata in a process called transpiration. Ultimately, only about five percent of the plant’s water absorption reaches the plant’s tissues.
A large mature plant that has a high evaporative rate will need at least a gallon of water per day in hot conditions. Water in the plant’s foliage is a necessary component for photosynthesis, growth, and cell rejuvenation. The plant also relies on transpiration to cool itself for better CO2 absorption.
In areas of drought, hydroponic gardening has become a valued solution. It’s a way to maintain adequate water and nutrients for vigorous growth and crop production. When maximizing water and nutrient uptake in plants, be sure to focus on the plant’s root system.
Pick a suitable hydroponic growing substrate that will hold ample moisture but provide enough porosity to meet the plant’s oxygenation needs. This is especially important in areas of increased temperature because it causes less oxygen to be readily available for root uptake.
Hydroponic Greenhouse Consideration for Air Flow and Humidity Control
In the hydroponic greenhouse, try to ensure adequate airflow around the leaf surface of the plants to drive transpiration so the plants can more easily stay hydrated and continue to actively grow. You can use horizontal air flow (HAF) fans for air flow or turn to an actual ventilation system.
Humidity control is also important for transpiration. You do not want your plants to suffer from evaporative water loss or the plant will not effectively transport nutrients and water through its vascular system for optimum growth.
Benefits of Hydroponics
Hydroponic grow systems are enabling gardeners all over the world to produce food crops year-round in controlled environments, whether within a home or commercial grow operation. In areas of drought, a hydroponic system requires very little water for the plants to flourish. By controlling the water and nutrient uptake with hydroponics, you can effectively combat heat and drought with very little difficulty.
At Humboldt Secret Supplies our Base Nutrient System Grow & Bloom Base A and B meets your crop’s hydroponic nutrient needs.
Contact us to learn more about all our nutrient formulas.
