Maintenance and Problem Management
The probably biggest difference between classical gardens and your hydroponic system is the maintenance. As you will have to weed plant beds and make sure to provide a good soil at a garden, you will focus on other aspects at an hydroponic system. So let us see what to expect while growing your plants hydroponically first, before going to all problems you might face over time. This section provides you a short overview of the system maintenance in general and further on differentiates between plants' insufficiencies, diseases and pests as topics of problem management. Feel free to look into each subpage to find out more details, but be aware that the information provided just scratch the surface and will probably not be sufficient to help you out in case of emergency.
Cleaning/Maintenance
Cleaning:
- Makes sure to upkeep your system clean by removing organic matter and residues of the nutrient solution before every new growing cycle. Especially for larger systems: plan your system to be able to clean your tubing during growing cycles regularly, without jeopardizing your harvest.
Maintenance:
- Definitely make sure to meet the recommended ranges for the nutrient solution, light amounts and temperature. If possible, also provide all the time fresh air to your plants' leaves and roots.
The huge advantage of hydroponic systems compared to growing on soil is the limited living space for pests [46]. On the contrary, you also have less natural defense mechanisms against them, once they invaded your growing space. Hence, it should be your uppermost goal to upkeep a clean system. This makes it harder for pests infiltrating your system [1, 5], for which then you will often rely on extremer instruments and counteraction (see sections below). Therefore, you want to clean your hydroponic system including all reservoirs, growing pots, boxes and tubing regularly and especially before starting a new growing cycle [5, 9, 27, 46]. Additionally, parts of the plants that come off have to be removed as soon as possible, as pests and diseases are likely to enter your system through them [1].
Other than cleaning, you will also have to provide as good growing conditions as possible of course, including a suitable nutrient solution, temperatures, amounts of lights and fresh air for leaves and roots [31, 59]. See here, to get more details on plants' needs here.
Insufficiencies
Indications of insufficiencies:
- Brownish and/or stinking roots
- Pale looking leaves
- Different colored spots and/or parts on leaves, flowers or fruits
In case you do not provide the environmental parameter ranges your plants need, you may observe limited growth [31, 59], different colored (spots on) leaves, flowers, fruits or roots, or even parts dying off [1]. It is important to spot these changes as soon as possible, in order to take the right counter actions in time and to prevent larger damage. Nonetheless, not all characteristics mentioned are due to insufficiencies, as also diseases might cause different colored parts or spots [1]. Hence, you will get to know only some main characteristics of how to determine insufficiencies. More important may be the provided checklist to make sure you don't make avoidable mistakes.
Pest and Diseases
Indications of pests and diseases:
- Some brownish and/or stinking root parts
- Different colored spots and/or parts appearing to be rather on leave's or flowers' surface
- Bugs
- Small bulges all in the same color and located close to each other at certain spots
Counteractions:
- Keep your growing space as clean as possible
- Use intercropping (meaning to mix crops and to not put the same varieties next to each other) while keeping sufficient space between each plant
- Provide the best growing conditions possible
- Introduce predators fighting your pest or disease
- Apply mechanical destruction or separation
- Utilize biological or chemical substances
Like with humans not living healthy, diseases may also spread in plants by "living unhealthy". But of course, pests and diseases are also possible to infiltrate your system despite a perfectly managed system, even though it is less common than conventionally grown plants [46]. Still it is also for an hydroponic grower important to know some common pests and diseases. So first things first, what do we have to deal with:
Many diseases are visible at leaves, roots, flowers or fruits, which show likewise insufficiencies different colored or shrunk spots or parts [1]. While with some diseases your overall plants' health is not at danger, others might cause severe damage [1]. Hence, it is important to make sure to separate plants showing specific symptoms from the others, as long as you do not know what you are dealing with.
Also fungus, insects and others – a few are very welcome to even hydroponic systems, the others are not and hence called pests [1]. While bees may be helpful to pollinate your plants without causing any damage [43, 46], snails or aphids, e.g., feed on your plants part by part. There exist different countermeasures, against each pest you may be facing and it is your choice on which to use. Nonetheless it is always a good approach only to apply pesticides if necessary according to integrated pest management guidelines (IPM). And remember, that the best action is always prevention.
Link to References