Elements of the hydroculture system

Hydroculture uses a system of integrated elements for the purpose of supplying the plant an ideal environment for its growth. Let's look together at what these elements are and how does each single element work:

1. The plants
2. Hydrovase ( or the inside culture vase)
3. Clay pebbles substrate ( or substrate or element of support)
4. Water level indicator
5. Vase carrier (or outside vase or planter)
6. The nutritive substances (micro-granuales or ionic exchange resins)

To begin with , it is important to know the majority of the plants that are used in hydroculture are "green"plants, originally tropical, or a mixture of these (the most common being: the Ficus, the Dieffembachia, Potos, Chamaedorea, Philodendri, Schefflere, Yucca, Syngonium podophyllum, Beucarnee, etc. ).
These are plants that usually do not have flowers that wither quickly.
Some of the plants that do flower and are made for hydroculture are: the Kalanchoe, l'Hibiscus, the Spathiphyllum, l'Anthurium, l'Euphorbia milii, the Saintpaulia ecc…
This does not mean that you cannot use other types of plants or flowers that could be fertilized, when possible, with the correct given plant fertilizer.

You can either buy the plants at a plant shop already cultivated through hydroculture and ,therefore, they are immediately ready to be used, or you can prepare yourself the plants for hydroculture cultivation.

• By buying the plants by horticulture already ready at the plant shop you are sure to get a high quality plant that will surely not have problems adapting to this kind of cultivation and therefore guaranteeing a perfect result either with smaller plants or larger ones.
• You can also prepare by yourself the plants for cultivation by hydroculture, but, if you do not have a certain amount of experience, it is probably best to begin with younger plants.

  How to prepare a plant in soil for hydroponic cultivation:
  
  The best time to move a plant in soil to hydroculture cultivation and in order for it to return to its natural vegetative state, usually takes place during spring.
  - Remove the plant from its vase and romve as much soil as possible from its roots, being careful to not ruin them.
  - Place the rooted area of the plant in luke warm water, until the roots are completely clean and free of dirt, changing the water several times if necessary.
  - Eliminate any rotten or ugly roots from the plant, keeping an eye out for those younger roots that are especially good for hydroculture cultivation.
  - Place the plant in the inside vase, trying to distribute as best as possible the roots.
  - Fill the inside vase with the clay pebbles substrate previously washed and kept soaking, trying to distribute it evenly between the roots and the plant itself.
  - Insert the inside vase with the water level indicator, to the inside of the related outside vase (vase carrier or planter for hydroculture), and pour the water at room temperature until the maximun water indicator line.
  - During the following weeks the plant will go through an adjustment period and acclimatization, during which water will be given to the plant in the case that the water had been completely obsorbed until the middle (=optimum) water indicator line ( do not put the indicator to the max. level).
  - Later it will be necessary the giving of the nutritive substances that will be in the shape of micro-granuals (resin and ionic exchange) or other fertilizers for hydroculture that will last a few months.

Light positioning 1000 - 2000 Lux
Beaucarnea recurvata, Phoenix, Euphorbie (Succulente), Aralia elegantissima, Hibiscus, Croton, Aphelandra, Ananas, Saxifragra sarmentosa, Kalanchoe, Cactus, Peperomia, Yucca, Evonymus e altre.

Medium light positioning 800 - 1000 Lux
Varietà di Ficus, varietà di Dracaene a fogliame chiaro, Cordyline, Anthurium, Acorus, Felci, Saintpaulia ionantha, Bromelie e altre.
In this position you can put together even the plants from the other groups.

Small amount of light positioning 600 - 800 Lux
Chamaedorea, Areka, varietà di Philodendron, varietà di Dracaene a fogliame scuro, Anglaonema, Dieffenbachia a fogliame scuro, Spathiphyllum, Maranta, Cissus, Fittonia, Syngonium, Asplenium nidus, Scindapsus, Chlorophytum, Aeschynanthus e altre.
With less than 600 Lux it is advised to always supply an additional source of artificial light.