Growing Hydroponic Roses? Read This First
Hydroponic gardens have been around for decades, but most people hesitate to try them out, especially roses. The method allows people with less land to grow crops for domestic and commercial uses. Hydroponic gardens produce high-quality fruits, vegetables, and flowers. In addition, the plants have higher yields, affected by pests and diseases.
Use this system to that help grow your roses five times faster than planting in traditional soil. The hydroponic rose is continuously in contact with the nutrient solution to encourage faster growth. Always check the roots of the rose plant to avoid rotting and, finally, death of the plant.
You can also grow hydroponic roses with excellent quality and flower production results. In this guide, you’ll learn the step-by-step process to get started growing roses hydroponically, build up the garden and maintain it until the flower’s maturity.
How Do You Grow Roses In Hydroponics?
Step 1
Find the perfect spot for you to set up and grow your hydroponic roses. It should be well lit, sealed from outside interference, and have enough water sources to keep the project running. You can decide if you want natural sunlight, grow in a basement or balcony, and invest in artificial lights. Then, depending on the number of flowers you want to grow, you can build your hydroponic to support the system from seedling to maturity.
Step 2
Choose the type of hydroponic roses you want to grow. Several kinds of roses include the long-stemmed rose, climbing roses that require a trellis system and rose bush. You get to choose the flower color and size at this stage before you get the plants.
Step 3
The best hydroponic systems for your roses are the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT). The system consists of small trays with plastic humidity covers that allow you to grow your roses and supply adequate nutrient solutions using a timed water pump. The pump helps circulate water to the plants’ roots carrying nutrients and air. Add some rubber mats to place them on the table surface to absorb the excess water that may overflow when pumping water and cause any kind of dampness.
You can also buy grow lights to hang over the trays for your hydroponic roses to enjoy a maximum of 12 hours daily. If your plants have access to natural sunlight, you can add artificial lights for extra light during cloudy days or winter. The required sunlight hours for roses is six to eight hours.
How To Plant Hydroponic Rose Gardens
You can choose to grow your hydroponic roses from seeds or through propagation. However, growing the rose seeds takes longer than cutting stems from the mother plant. Therefore, before cutting rose stems, you must ensure the branches are healthy with no diseases or parasites to avoid transferring them to your hydroponic rose garden. Also, ensure you provide the optimal environmental conditions for the plant to flourish.
The best time to cut the plant’s stem for propagation is during the summer. This is because, during the hot seasons, plants grow at a higher rate than in any other season. Let’s first discuss the steps to propagate your rose stems the right way:
- Pick out the parent plant that is free of pests and diseases.
- Use a clean knife or sharp pruners to cut the stem at about 10 to 15 cm (4-6inches) long.
- Cut below the node or point where the leaf is attached to the branch.
- Take off the lower leaves, flowers, and buds but let the top three leaves intact.
- Place the rose cutting in clean water for three to five days.
- Make sure no leaves touch the water to avoid rotting.
- Transfer the rose stems when you see little roots forming into the NFT.
- Avoid direct or intense light when using natural sunlight during the starting stages. Instead, move the hydroponic system to a bright spot with indirect sunlight.
Tips For Pruning The Hydroponic Roses
Once your roses start blooming, it’s time to prune the roses. Pruning helps cut off the weak flowers and gives the stronger ones a better chance. You need to cut the tips of the canes that are rotting, drying, or weathering. Remember to wear sturdy gloves to avoid being pricked by the little rose thorns. You should start pruning before the leaf buds to reduce crowding when the roses bloom into full energy. In addition, you should use sharp pruners to make your work easier and leave clean cuts.
Precautions in Growing a Hydroponic Rose Garden
To protect your hydroponic rose garden, you must confirm the parent plant is free from pests and diseases. If pests and diseases affect the stems, you can purchase pesticides to get rid of the problem quickly. Also, keep checking the progress of your roses, change the water frequently, and add nutrient solutions for your plants to grow faster.
Final Thoughts: Can You Grow Flowers In Hydroponics?
Yes, you can definitely plant flowers in hydroponics. Flowers can make any room bright and airy. You can use hydroponic systems if you love gardening but have limited space. You get fresh flowers all year round without the expense of buying them.
Hydroponic plants grow faster, and you can have different types of flowers depending on your preferences. In addition, setting up a simple system is cheap and takes less effort to care for your new flowers.
The hydroponic system offers enough nutrients, water, and air. This allows the flowers to grow healthier, faster, and produce more blooming flowers. You also get to save on water and space. This is because hydroponic systems take less space compared to traditional farming. Furthermore, small hydroponic systems are cost-effective and easier to maintain.
You can also grow your hydroponic flowers all year round without the weather affecting your plants. Apart from hydroponic roses, you can also grow Lavenders, Orchids, Amaryllis, Daffodils, Iris, Freesia, Chrysanthemums, Carnations, Gerbera, Hyacinths, and Peace Lilies.
