How To Plant A Hydroculture Plant

Step 1: Check the height of the grow pot.

12cm or 19cm? Hydroculture grow pots have standard heights. Smaller plants are planted in 12cm high pots and larger plants are in 19cm high pots. There are some larger pots but these are rare and used for extremely large plants.

Step 2: Insert the water meter.

Grow pots have a channel on the side and a small hole in the rim for the water meter to be inserted. The water meter measures the depth of water at the bottom of the pot, so you can easily see when it is time to water.

Step 3: Leave it in the grow pot.

Hydroculture plants are never removed from their grow pots. Always put the grow pot and plant into the decorative pot or planter you are using. Use a liner if the decorative pot is not waterproof or too deep for the grow pot. The water meter needs to sit on the base of the liner for an accurate reading of the water level in the pot.

Step 4: Reduce the decorative pot depth

Hydroculture grow pots have standard heights of 12cm or 19cm. So you may need to build up the base of your decorative pot with void fill to get the plant to look right. For example if you have a 12cm grow pot you'll want to build up the base to leave about 14cm depth or 21cm depth if you have a 19cm grow pot. You can use any solid material such as polystyrene, surplus hydrogranules or gravel.

Step 5: Insert the liner and grow pot.

Place the liner inside the decorative pot and the grow pot inside the liner. Remember the water meter must sit on the base of the liner.

Step 6: Trim the liner to fit.

If required liners can be trimmed to fit the decorative plant pot. Ideally the liner should fit flush to the walls of the decorative pot and towards the rim. If you do trim make sure there is still enough depth for the grow pot. If there is a gap between the liner and the internal wall of the decorative pot, this can be filled with hydrogranules, just remember to water towards the centre of the plant to avoid water running outside of the liner.

Step 7: Fill up with hydrogranules

Add hydrogranules around the grow pot in the liner and outside if there is a gap. Create a level finish at the top. You can also add a layer of decorative stones to the top if desired.

Step 8: Add some water

Water the plant and check the water meter. Try and stay in the optimum range. Only water again when on minimum and allow the plant to stand for 2-3 days on minimum before watering to avoid overwatering. Turn the red numbered dial on the top of the water meter to remind you when to put feed in the water, for example every other watering.

Step 9: Use hydroculture food

Feed the plant every 2-3 months in the growing season with a liquid plant food, specifically formulated for use with hydrogranules. Our liquid hydroculture foods make micro and macro nutrients available for uptake by hydroculture plants without the need for the development of "smelly" organic microbial communities required by soil fertilisers.

The Finished Look

The Hydroculture Advantage

Moisture Levels

Hydroculture: Hydrogranules create optimum moisture levels around the roots of the plant by gently drawing water up from the reservoir through capillary action. We only use the highest quality RHP certified hydrogranules for horticulture made from purified and homogenised baked clay.

Soil: Moisture levels are gauged (guessed at) by looking at the plant condition, feeling the soil or using a moisture probe for spot readings around the plant.

Watering:

Hydroculture: A water meter is supplied to indicate the amount of water left in the reservoir. When it reaches the minimum level simply top it back up to the optimum level. The plant will pull water from the hydrogranules according to it's needs so there is no risk of over or under watering. Watering is less frequent, typically every 4 weeks.

Soil: Watering requirements are judged by looking at the plant condition and feeling the soil. Overwatering is the most common cause of plant failure as roots rot whilst sitting in excess water that cannot drain away.

Root Health:

Hydroculture: The open structure of our pH neutral hydrogranules allows air to circulate around the roots keeping them healthy. Hydrogranules do not compact over time so there is no need to top up the planter. Hydroculture plants are adapted to these conditions and develop a smaller more fleshy root system making the plant more hardy and suitable for a wider range of planter styles. The requirement to repot as the plant grows is also significantly reduced.

Soil: Acidification of the soil and suffocation of the plant roots can occur as the soil compacts over time resulting in plant failure. Soil will need topping up in the planter as it compacts. The need for repotting or swapping out the plant will be more frequent as the roots grow or the plant fails due to poor root aeration.

Pest Control:

Hydroculture: Hydrogranules are an inert medium that is less susceptible to pests, fungi and bacteria which means healthier plants with less risk of disease. Because hydrogranules are the carrier for water and nutrients feeding is optimised by adding a small amount of liquid feed to the water when topping up the reservoir.

Soil: Soil is a live substrate. Good quality indoor potting soils will be sterilised to reduce bacterial growth however there is greater potential for harmful organisms to populate and thrive in a soil environment and an increased risk of plant failure.

Get In Touch

Need More Information?

If you have further questions about our hydroculture planters, feel free to send us a message.

Or

If you have a larger project in mind, we can supply a wide selection of different planters, custom colours and hydroculture plants to suit all types of interior green designs and budgets.

Customer Service Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) – 9am until 5pm

Alternative Contact Details

Email us at:
info@hortology.co.uk

Write to us at:
Hortology Ltd
Unit 1D Marconi Road
Burgh Road Industrial Estate
Carlisle
CA2 7NA
United Kingdom