How to grow parsley hydroponically and how much it grows

With the advent of hydroponics, it became possible to grow greens without the use of soil. The method was invented more than a century ago, but only recently it has been appreciated. Its peculiarity lies in the cultivation of crops with the help of water and fertilizers. Therefore, plants grown in this way have a powerful root system. Consider how to grow parsley in hydroponics.

Features of hydroponics

Hydroponics allows you to grow parsley at home on your windowsill. Since the soil is not involved in this, there will be no dirt in the house. Plant roots are in an organic or artificial substrate. The container with the substrate is immersed in a special solution, from where the greens draw nutrients.To grow parsley in this way, you need 2 elements:

1. Hydroponic installation. Includes containers where greens are planted and a system for supplying nutrients. You can buy ready-made equipment, or you can assemble it yourself.
2. Substrate and solution. The substrate is placed in green containers, it is needed to feed the root system. The solution is a ready-made liquid containing the necessary trace elements for the growth of greenery.

To grow parsley, you should not only get a hydroponic plant, but also provide conditions for the growth of greens: optimal temperature and sufficient lighting.

Seed preparation

Before planting parsley, pre-sowing preparation should be carried out.Since the seeds of the crop germinate over a long period, gardeners resort to methods to accelerate growth. To do this, bubbling is used - oxygen treatment of seeds. To do this, they are placed in prepared water and stirred occasionally.

It is important that oxygen is evenly distributed throughout the thickness of the seed.

Before sowing, parsley seeds are dried in the open air. The main thing is that the sun's rays do not fall on them.

Preparation of mortar

When the plant is ready, the plant container is filled with the substrate. This is a sterile substance that does not contain any components in its composition. The substrate must not be affected by moisture and other substances. It serves as support for the green root system.

You can prepare a solution for hydroponics yourself. At the same time, it is important that the water that will be used for its preparation does not contain any foreign substances.For the preparation of solutions, water-soluble fertilizers are used, which contain the necessary trace elements for the development of greenery. The concentration of s alts in them should not exceed 3 g per 1 liter of water, otherwise the plants will die as a result of dehydration. As a rule, gardeners buy a ready-made solution in specialized stores.

Planting greenery

Parsley seeds are sown in the prepared substrate with the calculation of 1 g per 1 sq. m. After planting, the site is watered abundantly to provide the necessary amount of moisture for germination. In the water used for irrigation, it is recommended to dissolve special fertilizers of the BioSevia series, or products similar in composition. After watering, containers with planted seeds are covered with a film, this will create a greenhouse effect. When parsley is cycled, the next sowing is done in 2 weeks.

If parsley is grown in a greenhouse, drip irrigation is used after a friendly shoot of sprouts.That is, they provide water supply to each individual plant. A drip irrigation system delivers water to the root system through drippers and pipes. This method of irrigation is quite beneficial for gardeners, as it reduces the cost of stimulants and fertilizers, and also reduces labor costs.

Pay attention! During the growth of parsley, neither drying nor excessive moisture should be allowed. Irrigation is done every week. Otherwise, the leaves and roots of plants will not be able to absorb the required amount of nutrients, which will lead to various diseases.

Humidity and temperature modes

Optimal humidity mode:

• 90-100% - in the first days of sowing;
• 60-80% - 2 weeks after landing.

The film will help to keep the high humidity in the early days.

The optimum temperature for growing parsley should not be less than 14 degrees, the temperature of the substrate should not be lower than 3 degrees.

Deviations in temperature and humidity from the appropriate norms prevent the normal growth of plants and increase the risk of disease.

Pests and diseases

Most often, parsley is exposed to powdery mildew. The main signs of this disease are the formation of a white coating on the leaves and a slowdown in the growth of greenery. Such bushes should immediately be uprooted and thrown as far away from the plants as possible. After the plants have 2 leaves, they can be treated with fungicides.

Aphids cause great damage to the crop, regardless of the stage of green development. The pests feed on plant sap, causing the leaves to curl and dry out.

Harvesting

How long does parsley grow in hydroponics? Greens are harvested after 5 weeks. The upper part of the leaves is simply cut off. The shoots remain to continue growth. If the seeds were bubbling before planting, the collection time will be significantly accelerated.

Cleaning equipment

After harvesting the parsley, the equipment must be disinfected. After removing the solution, the system is thoroughly cleaned of plant residues. To wash the equipment, an irrigation system is used, using hydrogen peroxide. During the cleaning process, the water is changed at least 2 times. The substrate (especially coconut) is recommended to be washed with boiling water, this will destroy all bacteria and fungi. Then it is air dried.

Thus, growing parsley hydroponically has a number of advantages. This method does not need soil, which allows you to grow greens on the windowsill in the apartment without any hassle.

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