10 Beautiful Flowers That Thrive in Hydroponic Grow Systems!

Introduction

Hydroponic gardening offers many benefits, including higher yields, less maintenance, and the ability to grow plants in restricted spaces. Many beautiful flowers thrive when grown hydroponically, including poppies, marigolds, petunias, zinnias, gerbera daisies, calendulas, begonias, dahlias, and impatiens.

These flowers offer a variety of colors, sizes, and bloom times, providing beauty and color throughout the growing season. With the right hydroponic system and care, many cut flowers can be successfully grown without soil to produce an abundant harvest of blossoms.

Hydroponic Flowers Comparison Sheet

Navigation

1. Introduction
2. Hydroponic Flowers Comparison Sheet
3. Poppies
4. Marigolds
5. Petunias
6. Zinnias
7. Gerbera Daisies
8. Calendulas
9. Begonias
10. Dahlias
11. Impatiens
12. Conclusion

Poppies

Poppies are one of the easiest flowers to grow hydroponically. They come in red, white, and yellow varieties with crinkled or frilly petals. For hydroponics, select Flanders poppies (Papaver rhoeas) with simple growing requirements. Maintain nutrient solution pH between 6.0 and 6.5 and provide adequate light.

Poppies thrive in perforated pots, wick systems, or rafts. Place a layer of expanded clay pebbles or perlite on the raft to support the roots. Prune back stems as they grow long to promote bushier plants and larger blooms. In hydroponics, poppies bloom non-stop all summer.

Marigolds

Marigolds are another easy hydroponically grown flower. Dwarf and tall varieties are available in shades of yellow, gold, and orange. Marigolds provide continuous color all summer long when grown hydroponically. Use deep water culture, nutrient film technique, or ebb and flow systems for marigolds. Maintain a pH between 5.5 and 6.5 and a nutrient solution temperature around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Marigolds benefit from plenty of sunshine and pruning to encourage bushiness. Fertilize weekly at half-strength to provide adequate nutrients for continuous blooming. Marigolds are prolific hydroponic bloomers, producing dozens of flowers on compact, sturdy plants.

Petunias

Petunias are excellent choices for hanging baskets and containers when grown hydroponically. Hybrids like Big Bang and Surfina produce large colorful blooms in shades of purple, pink, red, and white.

For hydroponics, use varieties specifically labeled for growing in baskets. Maintain a pH of 5.5 to 6.0 and fertilize weekly. Check nutrient solution levels daily and replace water that has evaporated. Rotate hanging baskets occasionally to ensure even growth. The most common issues with hydroponic petunias are mold, nutrient deficiencies, and uneven moisture leading to flower drops. To avoid these, provide good air circulation, monitor nutrient levels closely, and make sure all parts of the root system have access to moisture. With proper care, hydroponic petunias will bloom non-stop.

Zinnias

Zinnias are often overlooked as easy, colorful hydroponic flowers. They come in various shapes, from semi-double to cactus, and colors, including orange, yellow, pink, and purple. Zinnias grow quickly from seed and produce abundant blooms when grown hydroponically. Use a wick system or floating raft for zinnias, providing plenty of light and good airflow. Maintain pH between 6.0 and 6.5 and fertilize weekly.

Zinnias have high requirements for phosphorous and potassium, so choose a fertilizer that is high in these nutrients. Prune stems regularly to promote bushy growth and larger flowers. As they dry, zinnia blooms remain on the plant for extended color. Zinnias are perfect for hydroponic gardens looking to add long-lasting color.

Gerbera Daisies

Gerbera daisies are an excellent choice for hydroponic cut flower production. Their compact, low-growing habit makes them ideal for containers. Gerbera daisies produce colorful, double flowers in shades of red, orange, pink, and yellow. They thrive in deep water culture systems with high light and cool root temperatures between 60 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Suspend the nutrient reservoir bucket above the plants to continuously flow fresh, oxygen-rich nutrient solution to the roots.

Fertilize weekly at half-strength and maintain a pH of around 6.0. Pinch off side shoots to direct energy to flower production. Regular pruning also helps promote bushiness. With proper hydroponic conditions, gerbera daisies will bloom non-stop for months.

Calendulas

Calendulas are easy and low-maintenance flowers to grow hydroponically. They produce numerous orange, yellow, or gold blooms and thrive with minimum care. Grow calendulas in ebb and flow or nutrient film technique systems. Maintain a nutrient solution pH between 6.0 and 6.5 and provide ample sunshine.

Calendulas have fairly low nutrient requirements, so dilute the fertilizer to half or quarter strength when first using on these plants. Fertilize every other week once plants are established. Snip individual blooms as they fade to encourage additional flower production. Calendulas grown hydroponically tend to be compact with numerous side shoots, making them ideal for containers. Hydroponically grown calendulas bloom profusely and require almost no special care.

Begonias

Begonias are a favorite houseplant and make excellent hydroponically grown cut flowers. Wax begonias produce clusters of colorful flowers, while tuberous begonias have large, showy blooms. For hydroponics, choose varieties specifically bred for flower production. Grow begonias in deep water culture systems with the water line just below the basket level.

Maintain a nutrient solution temperature of 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and a pH of 5.5 to 6.0. Provide high light and fertilize weekly. Pinch developing side shoots to direct energy into flower production. Check the water level daily and replace any that have evaporated. To produce the most blooms, begonia plants must be kept actively growing. Allow the nutrient solution to become somewhat deficient between fertilizing to increase flowering. With these hydroponic growing techniques, begonias will produce an abundance of beautiful cut flowers.

Dahlias

Dahlias produce large, colorful flowers in an array of shapes and colors, making them a favorite for hydroponic gardens. They have a short bloom period of summer into early fall. For hydroponics, grow dahlias in nutrient film technique systems or ebb and flow trays.

Provide ample sunlight and keep roots slightly cooler with an air temperature of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintain a pH of 6.0 to 6.5 and fertilize weekly at half-strength. Pinch back developing side shoots to promote bigger blooms. Dahlias grown hydroponically require more iron and phosphorous, so choose a fertilizer high in these nutrients. Rotating the tubers every few weeks also helps promote healthier plants and larger blooms. Though they require some specialized care, dahlias grown with the nutrient film technique often produce huge, stunning blooms perfect for cut flower bouquets.

Impatiens

Impatiens are a favorite for hydroponic hanging baskets and containers due to their continuous blooming habit. They produce colorful flowers in shades of purple, pink, orange, red, and white. For hydroponics, select varieties specifically bred for baskets.

Maintain a pH between 5.5 and 6.0 and fertilize weekly. Keep the nutrient solution temperature between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal growth. Mist foliage daily to keep leaves clean and hydrated. Rotate hanging baskets weekly to ensure uniform growth. To prevent foliar diseases, provide good airflow and spacing between plants. Monitor moisture levels closely and replace any evaporated solution. Impatiens grown hydroponically tend to be more compact and produce more flowers than soil-grown plants. With proper care, hydroponic impatiens will bloom non-stop all season.

Conclusion

In conclusion, hydroponically growing cut flowers offers many benefits, including higher yields, less maintenance, and the ability to grow plants in restricted spaces. A variety of easy-to-grow flowers thrive when grown hydroponically, producing abundant, beautiful blossoms throughout the season.

More guides here: Hydroponic Grow System: How to Grow Flowers at Home? (2023)

For long-term success, provide the right conditions for each type of flower, including proper temperature, light, pH, and nutrients. Monitor moisture levels closely to maintain vigorous plant growth needed for maximum flowering. Pruning and pinching back stems at the right times can also promote bushier plants and larger blooms. With some effort up front to optimize your hydroponic system for each flower, common issues like mold, nutrient deficiencies, and flower drops can typically be avoided for a bountiful harvest of colorful, radiant-cut flowers.

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