5 Tips For Growing Hydroponically In The Summer

When it comes to growing hydroponically there are changes that you need to be aware of. More than ever, the summer will present a difference when it comes to getting your crops and plants ready to hit their growing phase. At MEGAPot we are specialists in hydroponic growing and the methods behind it. In our latest article we look at 5 tips for growing hydroponically during the summer.

What Difference Does Summer Make?

Various times of the year the temperature will change in the UK. If you are growing indoors this can be easier to control, however outside this can present issues. In the summer, even with a temperamental season in the UK, the temperature tends to rise. Rising temperatures can have an affect on how plants and crops take in nutrients as well as pH levels. Therefore corrective measures are needed. In this article we will look at 5 tips for growing hydroponically in the summer.

What Are Our Tips?

When it comes to the summer it is worth being aware of the points we have made above how higher temperatures can affect your plants. Below you will see some of the basic things you can do in which to help limit the affects the hot weather has on your plants and crops. These include:-

Ensure Correct Temperature 

An incorrect temperature can have an effect on the plant’s growth as well as the way in which it takes in key nutrients for growth. Therefore in the summer it is vital that you are running the correct temperature throughout the day and night. Most hydroponic plants run at 20’-25’ however can survive up to 32’. Anything above these temperatures can begin to cause issues with growth and intake of nutrient solutions.

Choice Of Light 

With longer periods of light as well as more heat, changing your lighting may be a way in which you can ensure maximum growth. Having light such as a HPS light which allows you to control lights on a dimmer switch can also be very beneficial. However, you can stick with an LED light solution to best support the plants all year round. 

All lights give off heat. So reverting back to the first point about corrective temperatures, it is vital to ensure your lights are not adding to this. If they are looking for a lower watt bulb could be a good option.

Keep Close Eye On pH 

It is a standard process to look at the pH levels of your plants regularly to ensure that they are at the right level. In the summer this is even more important. It is known that some nutrients placed in with the plants can affect the pH when the temperature around them is increased. Ideally during the height of the summer you want to make sure you are checking it at least twice per day. Especially after putting in nutrients if you are carrying on doing this in the day time.

Nutrient Chilling 

Nutrient chilling is a great way to ensure your plants and crops are able to withstand higher outside temperatures. The nutrients that are chilled using a reservoir are useful to be pumped around the system and also applied directly to the plant. Both ways help the plant to cope better in hotter climates. Understand however, that you will need to keep an eye on the pH as sometimes frozen nutrients can change the levels of this. 

Run At Night 

If you are one of those people that like to take care of their plants and run the nutrients in the day time, look to change that up to the evenings in the summer. The heat, as explained above can have an adverse effect on the nutrients you use and also the pH levels. During the evening the temperature tends to drop which would be a better and more useful time in which to conduct your processes.

To Conclude

Our 5 tips for growing hydroponically in the summer should give you a good understanding of how best to protect your plants and crops. All the ways above are relatively cost effective and can be easily applied to your current system. At MEGAPot, we are experts in hydroponics, so are always giving our advice to our customers. To find out more about our products then please do Contact Us.