Hydroponic Herbs & Vegetables

Home » Hydroponics » Light Requirement s for Hydroponic Lettuce: LEDs vs Natural Sunlight Last Updated: August 07, 2026 | Reviewed for accuracy, clarity, and safety Quick Answer: Managing nutrient concentration via Electrical Conductivity (EC) and Parts Per Million (PPM) goes hand in hand with light management. Daily Light Integral (DLI) measures the total volume of light photons delivered to a square meter of plant canopy over 24 hours. For indoor head lettuce, the sweet spot sits between 14.0 and 16.5 mol/m²/day. If DLI drops below 12.0 mol/m²/day, leaves become thin, leggy, and pale due to carbohydrate starvation. ⏱️ Time: 30 Minutes 💪 Difficulty: Beginner 💰 Est. Cost: $50 –…

Home » Hydroponics » Hydroponic Lettuce Nutrient Guide : Optimal EC, PPM, pH & Fertilizer Ratios Last Updated: August 07, 2026 | Reviewed for accuracy, clarity, and safety Quick Answer: During the initial germination and seedling stage, young roots are highly sensitive to salt accumulation. Limit nutrient strength to an EC of 0.6 to 0.8 mS/cm (300 to 400 PPM on the 500 scale) as soon as the first true leaves emerge. This dilute solution prevents osmotic shock while providing the nitrogen and phosphorus needed for early root system architecture. ⏱️ Time: 30 Minutes 💪 Difficulty: Beginner 💰 Est. Cost: $50 – $150 💡 Key Term Hydroponic lettuce refers to…

Home » Hydroponics » Hydroponic Lettuce Yield Guide: How Many Heads Per Square Foot ? Last Updated: August 07, 2026 | Reviewed for accuracy, clarity, and safety Quick Answer: Hydroponic lettuce yield averages between 1.0 and 1.8 pounds (450g to 800g) per square foot annually in a well-managed indoor operation, translating to roughly 4 to 6 harvest cycles per year depending on variety and system mechanics. To calculate expected harvests for your specific setup, use ourhydroponic yield calculatorto project monthly output based on canopy dimensions. ⏱️ Time: 30 Minutes 💪 Difficulty: Beginner 💰 Est. Cost: $50 – $150 💡 Key Term Hydroponic Lettuce Yield per Square Foot is the total…

Home » Hydroponics » Best Hydroponic Systems for Lettuce: NFT vs DWC vs Kratky Last Updated: August 08, 2026 | Reviewed for accuracy, clarity, and safety Quick Answer: The choice between active recirculating systems and passive tanks involves trade-offs between labor efficiency and risk management. NFT systems allow automated commercial channel flushing and dense gutter spacing, maximizing plants per square foot. However, because roots reside in a shallow 1–2 mm water film, pump failures cause complete crop desiccation within 2 hours. DWC systems hold hundreds of gallons of nutrient water, protecting crops against power outages for days. ⏱️ Time: 30 Minutes 💪 Difficulty: Beginner 💰 Est. Cost: $50 – $150…

Home » Hydroponics » Kratky Method for Hydroponic Lettuce (No Pump, No Electricity) Last Updated: August 08, 2026 | Reviewed for accuracy, clarity, and safety Quick Answer: In traditional active hydroponic systems (like DWC or NFT), water pumps or air stones continuously dissolve oxygen into the water. In the Kratky method, oxygen transfer occurs passively within the enclosed air gap. Relative humidity inside the sealed reservoir remains above 95%, preventing air roots from drying out while maintaining an aerobic environment that suppresses anaerobic pathogen proliferation. ⏱️ Time: 30 Minutes 💪 Difficulty: Beginner 💰 Est. Cost: $50 – $150 💡 Key Term The Kratky method for hydroponic lettuce is a non-electric…

Home > Hydroponic > Hydroponic Weed Secrets: Achieve Unstoppable Growth and Maximum Yields 🌿 Last Updated: August 16, 2026 | Reviewed by Faisal Habib, Hydroponic Systems Specialist Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced | Full Cycle: 10–14 Weeks | Target EC: 1.2–2.8 mS/cm | pH Range: 5.5–6.2 | Optimal Water Temp: 65–68°F ⚡ Fast Summary: Hydroponic Cannabis Parameters & Yield Drivers Hydroponic cannabis grows 30 to 50% faster than soil with stage-specific EC targets of 1.2 to 1.8 mS/cm in veg and 2.0 to 2.8 mS/cm in peak flower, pH maintained at 5.5 to 6.2, PPFD of 600 to 900 micromoles during bloom, reservoir temperature at 65°F to 68°F, and VPD between…

Home » Hydroponics » Hydroponic Root Microbiome: How to Build, Manage, and Protect It Last Updated: August 15, 2026 | Reviewed for accuracy, clarity, and safety Time: 30 Min Setup Difficulty: Intermediate Est. Cost: $20-$60 Quick Answer: A healthy hydroponic root microbiome built with Bacillus, Trichoderma, and mycorrhizal fungi boosts root surface area by up to 700%, suppresses pathogens, and improves nutrient uptake. Inoculate at transplant, maintain DO above 6 mg/L, and keep reservoir temperature at 18-22°C. 📚 Definition The hydroponic root microbiome is the community of bacteria, fungi, and microorganisms that colonize plant root surfaces in soilless systems. Unlike soil microbiomes, hydroponic root communities rely on root exudates —…

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