So You Want to Grow Hydroponic Lettuce

Hydroponics is the growth of plants without using soil and the name means. Through water the grower provides all of the nutrients they would usually get from the soil for the plant. Hydroponics can easily be used by the home gardener as well as used on a mass production scale. Growing hydroponic lettuce is a good place to start if you are new to hydroponics. The plants are easy to work with for novice farmers and they are also forgiving.

You will need to prepare for starting your hydroponics garden two weeks in advance of actually planting the lettuce. The first thing you do is gather your equipment. Get a 5-gallon container and lid to use. Darkness helps keep algae from growing so it is best to use dark plastic containers. You can cover a clear plastic container with dark plastic film or use aluminum foil if that is all you can find. You will need a growing medium also. What works well for lettuce are root cubes, specifically Oasis root cubes. Root cubes are a growth medium that is pre-formed and easy to handle. They should have a neutral pH and be designed for propagation. Of course, you will also need your lettuce seedlings. Two weeks prior to planting you must insert the seedlings in the growth cube and then place them in a dish of water.

While your seedlings are in water, you can prepare the lid of your container for planting. Trace the outline of the plastic planting cones on the lids. Try not to get too close to the edge but four to six should fit on a 5-gallon lid evenly spaced. Cut out the circles you have traced with the plastic planting cones, and insert the cones into the holes.

Now you can create your water nutrient solution. This is the most crucial step in hydroponic growing; remember you must supply via water all the nutrients plants would normally get through the soil. The base for your solution is easy to find because there are many pre-mixed hydroponics solutions on the market. 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, place the seedlings, inside the root cubes, into the plastic planting cones, which should already by in the holes you made in your drum lid. Plenty of sunlight is necessary to grow hydroponic lettuce and equal amounts of indirect as well as direct sunlight works well.

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 used in hydroponic gardening, but they are not recommended for growth projects on such a small scale as this. 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. It is simple to pick just remove the leaves. Root cubes should not be used more than once though some kinds of hydroponic growth mediums can be recycled.