Disease and Pest Control in Hydroponics

As with many soil-based gardens, hydroponic plants need good pest and disease control habits. The alternative option is the same as with ordinary gardens: spindly or dead plants. Since many hydroponic plants are either fruits or vegetables, this means: the plants are not worth eating.

When it comes to hydroponics, it is even trickier because disease and pests have it a lot easier in this kind of setting. Plants are always kept wet, whether they are immersed in water (true hydroponics) or continuously sprayed (aeroponics) or reside in an always wet medium like sand or perlite. With soil-based gardens, there are many techniques to manage the problem.

One of the most popular ways to control unwanted pests, including bacteria and fungi, is to use beneficial organisms. These organisms are able to help control things such as spiders, mites, and many other types of invaders by crowding them out. These organisms can also eat the pests or release harmful substances that prove to be toxic to the pest. These are known as beneficial organisms because they control unwanted pests without causing any type of harm to the plants.

There are also many types of pesticides that are available for you to use.

Pesticidal soaps have been used ever since the 18th century and today they still prove to be very effective as well as non-toxic. One sub-category of these soaps is botanicals. These are compounds that the plants release that are managed and packaged into an easy-to-use pest control method. Bontanicals are able to naturally break down because of air and water exposure, which means that they leave no harmful chemicals once they are gone.

Neem oil has also been known to be able to ward off over 400 different kinds of bugs that normally invade gardens, including hydroponic ones. To use this, all that is required is a simple spray to the leaves of the plants. The present bugs are able to absorb the oil which interferes with the ability to reproduce. This means fewer bugs in your garden.

If you are dealing with a more serious infestation, you should try a commercial pesticide.

Aphids, mites, white flies, and many other pests are usually a problem in hydroponic settings as well as in soil-based gardens. Powdery mildew is also a very common problem. Because of the continual moisture in the garden, they provide a friendly environment for many types of mold. However, it can become very unfriendly when using fungicides and organicides. Sulfur-based compounds are able to help control thrips, mealy bugs, and white flies, as well as many other kinds of pests.

Pyrethrum is and always has been a safe and effective way to control. Though it is made of a scary chemical formula and has a very unnatural sounding name, it is actually derived from flowers. These types of natural compounds are released by plants and are often extracted and used in many commercial insecticides. The dosage is low, so when used correctly, the compound is harmless. One of the most broad spectrum insecticides that is able to provide easy control over most of the commonly found pests is Azatrol.

Hydroponic gardeners have to be able to use a lot of care when using any type of disease or pest control method.

Because this environment provides no kind of soil to secure the roots, it is much easier to damage the plant when the leaves and stems are manipulated. If you pick off mites by hand, it can prove to be much more effective, especially if you are looking for a reduced numbers of infestations. It is always important to exercise extra care with these gardens.

Since moisture is always present, mildew and other types of fungi are common. It is important to keep the leaves dry and to keep the roots wet. This is sure to help. Any type of insecticide that is sprayed should be dried using lights. For aeroponically grown plants, some sort of relocation for a few days might be necessary.

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