Taking Hydroponics to the Next Level
Hydroponics is a growing area of food and plant production that has a myriad of benefits — from water conservation and the ability to grow year-round to enhanced yields and less environmental pressures.
The innovation in hydroponics is growing almost as quickly as its popularity with growers. If you’re currently using hydroponics, or are considering adding it to your operation, now is a great time to evaluate the newest solutions designed to maximize the productivity of these systems.
It all starts with setting the right foundation.
Using the right growing media creates the foundation for success in hydroponics.
When evaluating growing media, start by looking at the crops you’re growing and their needs in terms of water, air and nutrients. For example, if you’re growing vine crops, such as tomatoes or cucumbers, we know these plants like more moisture within the soil for peak production. If you’re growing berries, you might need a growing media with better drainage.
For years, hydroponics growers have relied on Rockwool as their preferred growing media. But now, new options are delivering more economical and environmentally friendly alternatives to Rockwool and other hydroponic growing systems.
Recently, Profile Growing Solutions introduced two new engineered media solutions designed specifically for the hydroponic growing market: HydraFiber® Hydroponic Substrate + ProfileCoir® slabs and 100% ProfileCoir slabs.
These new hydroponic slabs utilize premium substrates that have been proven to enhance growth and maximize yield for a variety of food crops, including strawberries, peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Both also come highly compressed to reduce shipping and storage costs.
Examining the benefits of hydroponic slabs.
The HydraFiber + Coir slabs combine two, proven and premium substrates — HydraFiber engineered fiber and premium ProfileCoir — to optimize growing conditions for food production. Key benefits include:
- More airspace for better rooting, easier water uptake and a drier surface to reduce algae and fungus gnats.
- More effective moisture management — resulting in 10% to 36.6% more water to every plant.
- Greater availability of oxygen in the root zone and increased porosity while maintaining water retention.
- Less buffering: electrical conductivity (EC) is about half of conventional coir, while potassium and sodium levels are 65% lower.
Another great option is ProfileCoir slabs, which are made from 100% premium coconut coir, processed in a state-of-the-art facility using a more eco-friendly process. The highest quality coir is washed multiple times to remove unwanted salts for low EC and a stable pH of 5.5-6.0, creating a balance of proper air space and water holding for better growing.
Additionally, both HydraFiber + Coir and ProfileCoir slabs can be recycled or repurposed for other uses, so growers reduce the overall environmental impact of their operations.
Have more questions about hydroponic growing? Contact Tim Knauer tknauer@profileproducts.com for more information.
