EP4: A WINTER HARVEST FROM A PEST FREE GARDEN. INDOOR HYDROPONIC IDEAS

It's a long and cold season for us here in Zone 5b and that doesn't stop us from enjoying what we love the most, gardening. It keeps us busy throughout the cold season and feeds us nourishing food. Two years ago we bought a grow tent and made an investment. We knew we were going to use it for many years to come. The tent is set up in our garage which is cold but it turns out hydroponics works amazing with cold temperatures. We do run a small heater but only intermittently to keep Now there are challenges to growing indoors and that includes dealing with pests. This winter season we have managed pest issues by simply growing in hydroponics. Last year we grew in soil and dealt with gnats constantly. As an added precaution we stopped overwintering outdoor plants inside the tent. We also grow everything from seeds. Ever since we switched to hydroponics we haven't encountered any bugs. This has been the best way to deal with pest management when it comes to indoor gardening. Now if you're asking what is hydroponic gardening, it's basically growing food in water and liquid nutrients. When you're growing in soil there are microorganisms that break down fertilizer into a form that is usable by plant roots. Plants grown in hydroponics will require the same nutrients. The big difference is that they are already dissolved in water so plant roots directly absorb them. We have been growing in deep water also known as DWC hydroponic systems. The basic idea is to use deep containers and fill it with water and nutrients. The roots of the plants are suspended in the water providing those plants with an easily bioavailable form of nutrients. With the use of an aquarium air pump and air stone, plant roots will have access to oxygen. It's that simple and you can grow many leafy greens, herbs, flowering and fruiting plants like tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, zucchini, squash and more. And if you're thinking you need to have all these equipment to start an indoor garden, well you can do it with the most basic equipment. There's another hydroponic system that requires no electricity. It's called Kratky system. Similar to deep water hydroponic, Kratky system doesn't use air pump or air stones. As the water level drops it creates a space for oxygen between the roots and the top level of the water and you can use small or large containers and place it near a window that receives about six to eight hours of sunlight or you can do it outdoors if you're in the summer season. Because we are limited with what we can do outdoors in the garden during the winter season, this has been the best option for us. If you end up using a grow light, here's the cost breakdown. Depending on the quality of the light you choose, it will cost between 70 to 300 dollars. Now if you invest in a good quality grow light, it will last longer and will provide you with quality produce. A single light will cost you six to ten dollars monthly. If you utilize the space properly, you can grow up to 50 plants under a single light. In the long run, it will make up for the cost of your initial investment and you can continue to do this year after year after year. As for nutrients, you can either buy one that's pre-made or you can make your own. I'll drop the link in the description below so you can learn how to make your own natural liquid nutrients. Gardening can be a lot of fun and I highly suggest not to limit the way you grow food. Take a step outside the box and explore other methods to grow food. Experiment, have fun, and learn.