Generally, there are many sound hydroponic systems, but not all are suitable for strawberries.
The types best for strawberries depend on plant-related factors, including the lifespan of the strawberry plant, the leaf and root system, and fruit production behavior.
Unrelated to the plant characteristics, the best hydroponic for strawberries for you depends on your farming objectives (hobbyist vs. commercial purposes), the farming space you have, whether you want an outdoor or indoor strawberry hydroponic setup, and your budget.
Hydroponic systems best for strawberries are available in different forms. Some are simple to set up, like the Kratky system, and others are complex, like Nutrient Film Technology and Aeroponics.
One of the simplest ones for hobbyists is the highly-rated growing system from WANCHI
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However, the best hydroponic system for strawberries will vary from one person to another.
However, personal and plant-related considerations should be the key to successful hydroponic strawberry farming.
In this piece, we discuss, in some detail, what these considerations are.
We then outline some of the best systems based on suitability to hydroponic strawberry growing and the type of hydroponic systems best for strawberries.
For 5 minutes of your time, we promise weâll turn you into a hydroponics strawberry pro!
Fundamentals of hydroponic strawberry plants
Before purchasing a kit and growing hydroponic strawberries, here are a few facts about these plants that may affect the hydroponic system you buy.
Lifespan from seedling to reduced crop productivity
A strawberry plant grown hydroponically will produce fruits in 3-4 months after the seedlings are planted in the hydroponic kits. But, it has a productivity period of between 2-3 years and, with reasonable care, can last longer.
What does this mean?
Depending on your objectives, the hydroponic system you choose must be durable enough to handle the strawberry plants for this long. During the lifespan of the plants, the most suitable system should enable easy change of water and addition of nutrients with minimal to no plant disturbance.
Strawberries are runner crops
These plants shoot stems and are leafy, and itâs recommended to prune the emerging stocks. Thinning the runners increases plant health and fruit production.
Nonetheless, your system should enable easy leaf management and pruning. The setup should also allow the plants to freely dangle the leaves and fruits while optimizing light availability to all crop parts.
Root system
Strawberry roots are short, and these plants grow best in shallow systems. The best spacing for strawberries is 6-8 inches, and the best hydroponic kit for berries should enable meeting these spacing requirements.
With these facts in mind, letâs look at the best hydroponic systems for strawberries.
Which hydroponic systems can you choose for strawberries?
Ensuing from the above, and starting with the easiest to set up and manage, the best strawberry hydroponics are;
Kratky hydroponics method for strawberries
Kratky is the easiest method for indoor or outdoor hydroponically grown strawberries.
All the other systems discussed below need water or air pump, and neither of these pieces of equipment is required in the Kratky method.
The Kratky hydroponic reservoir contains the solution in pre-measured quantities sufficient for a limited growing season of the strawberry, and the solution is also oxygenated.
In other words, the Kratky solution contains all the plants need to grow.
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You can easily view the rootsâ growth by lifting the net pots from the Kratky bucket lid or the kitâs lid.
This method allows you to grow strawberries with little to no hydroponic technical know-how.
Some key disadvantages of this method include a lack of scalability.
The premixed solution is formulated to last a certain period, best-serving crops with short lifespans.
Once the potency is depleted, you must replace it.
Also, lack of oxygenation limits young strawberry plants from attaining optimal growth and optimal health.
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Ebb and Flow systemÂ
Another easy entry level if you want to grow hydroponics strawberries is the ebb and flow technique.
Itâs a much better hydroponic cultivation method for strawberry growers than the Kratky.
All you need are two open-top reservoirs or water trays.
The two trays are set up one above the other, the lower tray is a reservoir, and the top holds the strawberry plant pots.Â
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A top tray with a slanting surface is the best for a DIY kit for hydroponic purposes because the gradient aids water flow.
The top trays are modified by drilling and inserting pipes in the entry and exit holes.
The draining hole is fitted to the deeper end of the tray. The strawberry plant pots are placed in large buckets on the top tray.
Water is pumped from the bottom tray to the top (to create the ebb).Â
Water pumping is timed, enabled by a digital timer.
As the water drains from the top tray back to the reservoir and reaches a certain lowest point, the pumps start pumping water again.
When the water in the top tray is at its lowest, the plant roots get exposed to oxygen since, unlike DWC and NFT technologies discussed below, this system does not have an air pump.Â
This technique is less complex than the following three options.
Ebb and flow is a straightforward DIY approach to set up in hydroponic strawberry production when you have all the right components.
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Deepwater hydroponic culture (DWC)Â
In this system, you need a reservoir, a tank that holds the water. The roots of the net potted strawberry plants need to be submerged in the hydroponic solution.
Like all general hydroponics, water is aerated.
In DWC, similar to NFT, oxygen is supplied using an air pump and an air stone. But unlike NFT, you must regularly change the water with the nutrient solution by manually draining the reservoir.
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DWC works best for strawberries because itâs a long-term method.
Once the system is set up, very little maintenance is required other than replenishing the hydroponic nutrients for strawberries and changing or watching the water levels.
When you grow your strawberries, DWC is better than Kratky or Ebb and flow, and itâs also simpler to set up and run than NFT and aeroponics.
In its simplest form, a DWC kit is simply a 5-gallon bucket complete with an air pump system.
Some DWC disadvantages include monitoring the acidity-alkalinity levels in the growing medium, i.e., water, and this objective is harder to meet in all small types of hydroponics.
Power outages are bad for DWC systems because when the air pumps stop working, itâs a risk to the strawberry plants, and roots can get damaged.
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Nutrient film technique (NFT)Â Â Â
NFT is one of the best hydroponics for strawberry farming, especially for large-scale purposes.
Itâs easy to expand and add new channels as the strawberries develop.
An NFT hydroponic growing system has a reservoir, anything that can hold water, a deep tube, or even a bucket. An oxygenator and water pump are the other components.
Conventionally, the oxygenator comprises an air pump, air tubes, and an air stone. A water pump pushes water into the channels or tubes constantly.
Most NFT hydroponic gardens have a timer to regulate nutrient administration.
The strawberries are planted in the channels using net pots or PVC pipes.
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The channels should have a slight gradient to allow water to flow from the channels back to the main reservoir.
NFT is not recommended for beginners because itâs complex to build and manage unless you buy one off the shelf.
A big concern about DIY NFTs is getting the gradient and the flow correct during setup.
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Aeroponics or tower farmÂ
All the conventional hydroponics discussed above nourish the crops via the water in the hydroponic tanks.
The water in the tanks is mixed with nutrients and constantly aerated to prevent root rot.
Aeroponics take soilless farming a notch higher.
Vertical towers emulate the usual hydroponic channels and tanks.
But here, the roots of the strawberries or other crops hang in the air in the hollow tubes.
Nutrient-rich water is pumped to the top of the tower and flows back to the bottom of the tube in the form of a shower.
As droplets of water rain back to the tower bottom, the roots of the strawberry, wet from the drizzles, take in nutrients.
Aeroponics has many advantages.
Air and water are efficiently fed to the strawberries. The vertical growing towers are ideal for a running crop like strawberries, and this setup enables the growth of optimal plants per square of available space.
Vertical hydroponic is ideal and versatile for outdoor or indoor growing.
Strawberries growing indoors need LED lighting to flourish.
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Two significant drawbacks of aeroponics are the skills level required and the cost factor.
These systems, like NFTs, are not for beginners.
With technical know-how, you can make a DIY tower farm for a few hundred bucks, but fully customized aeroponic systems will set you back several thousand dollars.
Aeroponics is the best hydroponic technique for growing strawberries based on the characteristics of the plant, and itâs also the best method for large-scale or commercial strawberry production.
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Growing your own hydroponic strawberries must-knows
The first thing to know if youâre growing strawberries hydroponically is that these plants are long-term types and remain productive for over two years.
You need a long-lasting hydroponic system for these crops to survive over two years.
Even though there are many hydroponic systems, not all are suitable for growing strawberries.
The recommended ones are the Kratky Kit, Deep Water Hydroponic Culture, Net Film Technique, Ebb, and flow and aeroponics.
The Kratky method is the easiest for beginner hydroponic strawberry growers, followed by an ebb and flow system.
The Kratky method is a plug-and-play hydroponic system.
Aeroponics and NFTs are the best hydroponics for strawberry growing. They offer many advantages in water and space usage and overall strawberry productivity. However, theyâre the most complex and are costlier than the others.
When used for commercial purposes, they pay for themselves over time.
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