What Is Deep Water Culture Hydroponics

by Lettuce Be | Last Updated: 08/11/2021

Growing plants in deep water culture hydroponic systems require roots to be suspended in nutrient-rich water instead of planted in the sand. There are many benefits to hydroponics over traditional methods, including faster plant growth and excellent yields.

Each of these methods has pros and cons for hydroponic gardeners, based on the purpose of the system. The simplicity of this cultivation technique is that plants can be grown efficiently and with much less labor by using a well-oxygenated solution instead of soil.

Deep Water Culture Hydroponics: An Introduction

deep water culture hydroponicsA lot of people are growing their herbs, flowers, and plants at home. If you are interested in growing plants in something other than soil, hydroponics might be the best option for you. A DWC system is a great way to get started with hydroponics. If you gain experience, you can scale up the growing method to make it more complex or simpler.

Hobby hydroponic growers are not the only ones who can benefit from deep water culture hydroponics. A variety of fruits and vegetables crops are grown in deep culture systems by commercial growers as an efficient and sustainable production method.

Plants can be grown efficiently and sustainably using deep water culture hydroponics. You can use the produce as food in the kitchen or for commercial food production. This guide is great for those who are new to deep water culture hydroponics. You will learn what deep water culture hydroponics is all about, learn how it works, and learn how to create your system to grow plants at home.

Components Of Deep Water Culture Hydroponics

To ensure that plants get all they need for growth and nutrition, their solution needs to be enriched with certain components. The components can be summarized as follows:

Oxygen

Because plants are living organisms, they need oxygen to breathe. Soil particles contain gaps through which oxygen is provided to the roots of plants. Nevertheless, oxygen has to be pumped into a deep water culture system for root cells to access it.

Water

Water is essential to growth and well-being, which is abundant in a deep water culture system. To ensure plants are getting the oxygen and nutrients they require, there needs to be a careful balance between the large volume of water in the system and the availability of oxygen and hydro nutrients.

Nutrients

Plants require nutrients to grow well in hydro systems, which they would normally absorb through the soil. Plants thrive when well-nourished and can develop to their full potential with the correct amounts of nutrients added to the water.

Benefits Of Deep Water Culture Systems

It’s easy to start with hydroponics by deep water culture systems. Although it is more complex than wick systems, it is still simple enough to be accessible. Deep water culture systems offer several advantages.

Cons Of Deep Water Culture Systems

However, a deep water culture system can be set up and maintained carefully to overcome these drawbacks. You can quickly scale up your knowledge of the deep water culture hydroponics system once you master the basics of setting it up and monitoring it.

Common Concerns

Hydroponic Nutrients

Nutrient requirements for a deep water culture system will be similar to those for other forms of hydroponic methods. You will need to consider the type of plant you are growing and its stage of growth as the main determining factors. It is more practical to use a range of mixable hydroponic products for those who are more advanced in hydroponics or who operate on a larger scale.

Sterilization

Water solution sterilization is also a very common query. There are many benefits to keeping solutions sterile, and it prevents the spread of harmful bacteria and pathogens. But, the benefits of beneficial bacteria within a sterile system are also lost.

Temperature

A deep water culture system is highly dependent on the temperature of the water reservoir. Generally, your plants need a temperature between 60°F (16°C) and 68°F (20°C) to remain healthy and for optimal uptake of nutrients. The higher the temperature, the less dissolved oxygen is available in the water, causing plant roots to drown even if they are actively oxygenated. Plants are susceptible to seasonal changes when the temperature drops, negatively affecting their growth.

Oxygen Level

Because it is difficult to measure oxygen levels continuously, consistent water temperature plays a crucial role in preserving the oxygen content of the central reservoir. Oxygen meters purchased in the commercial market are very expensive, and there is no guarantee that they will work. Rather than measuring the exact oxygenation of the hydroponic nutrient solution, monitoring the temperature and airflow is a better way to maintain a sufficient oxygen supply.

pH And PPM/EC Adjustments

Ensure that various plants can grow to their full potential by regularly monitoring and adjusting pH, PPM, and electrical conductivity. If fluctuation outside the desired ranges occurs, deep water culture nutrients can be locked out, deficient or toxic, and the plant can be stressed or killed. You should strive to maintain a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 in a hydroponic solution. It is best to have the pH at the higher end of this range during the vegetative growth phase, whereas during flowering stages, it should be at the lower end of the range.

Root Depth

It is important to ensure the stems and foliage have ample air exposure and submerge the healthy roots in oxygen-rich water so that roots will not die. To ensure that the stem is sufficiently far from the solution, keeping at least 1 to 1.5″ of the roots exposed to the air is recommended. The exposed sections of the roots will eventually be reached by bubbles of nutrient water and will remain moist.

Plant Propagation

The simplest and most convenient way to propagate plants is using an aeroponic cloner. Aeroponic cloners produce seedlings with bare roots to be transplanted directly into a deep water culture system.

Best Plants To Grow

The best types of plants to grow in deep-water culture systems are those that do not grow flowers. Lettuce, spinach, collard greens, tomatoes, and peppers are excellent candidates because deep-water culture can significantly accelerate growth rates.

Conclusion

Hydroponic cultivation utilizing deep water cultures is a popular hydroponic growing method today. Getting these systems constructed correctly is easy and doesn’t require much maintenance. If you’re thinking about trying hydroponics for the first time, this is an excellent option. Starting with the right knowledge and guidance, you’d have a smooth sailing experience!