How to Grow Hydroponic Lettuce

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Hydroponics or “working water” is a way of growing plants without soil. The grower provides through water instead all of the nutrients they would normally get from the soil. Hydroponics can easily be used by the home gardener as well as used on a mass production scale. A good place to start is hydroponic lettuce growing if you are new to hydroponics. The plants are easy to work with and forgiving to novice gardeners.

You will need to prepare for starting your hydroponics garden two weeks in advance of actually planting the lettuce. First, gather your equipment. You will need a 5-gallon container with a lid. Using a dark plastic container works the best as it helps prevent algae from growing. If all you can find is a clear plastic container then you will need to cover it with aluminum foil or betteryet dark plastic film. You will need a growing medium also. What works well for lettuce are root cubes, specifically Oasis root cubes. Root cubes are pre-formed growth medium, making them easy to handle. They should be designed for propagation and ahve a neutral ph. You will also need your lettuce seedlings, of course. In a dish of water place the seedlings that have been inserted into the growth cubes and this should be done two weeks prior to planting.

While your seedlings are in water, you can prepare the lid of your container for planting. Place the plastic planting cones on the lids and trace their outline. You can get on a 5-gallon lid four to six evenly spaced, but be careful not to get them too close to the edge of the lid. Once you have cut out circles you have traced with the plasctic planting cones you need to insert the cones into the holes.

Now you can create your water nutrient solution. Remember you must supply through water all the nutrients plants would normally get through the soil, this is the most crucial step in hydroponic growing. You can find many pre-mixed hydroponics solutions out there to use as the base for your solution. In a 5-gallon drum you take 2 tsp of pre-mixed hydroponic fertilizer or you can also use 8-15-36, 1 tsp of Epsom salt, and 2 tsp of calcium nitrate. In a cup of water dissolve each of these ingredients one at a time and then add the water to the drum. Fill the drum almost to the top with water after you have added your nutrients.

After your seedlings have been sitting in water for two weeks, they are ready to add to the planters. With duct tape secure the lid on the drum first. Then next thing is toplace the seedlings inside the root cubes and then into the plastic planting cones that you previously prepared and placed in your drum lid. Equal amounts of direct and indirect sunlight works best as hydroponic lettuce needs plenty of sunlight.

You will need to keep an eye on the plants for any insects or worms. If you do see insects, you should remove them by hand. Pesticides are not recommended for growth projects on such a small scale as this even though they are used in hydroponic gardening. Also, keep an eye on the water in the drum, make sure the plants are taking water, and make sure the water level is not getting too low.

Within 4 to 5 weeks, you should have fully grown lettuce plants, ready to pick. To pick all you have to do is simply remove the leaves. There are some hydroponic growth mediums that are recyclable, however root cubes are not and should only be used one time.