How to Grow Berries With Hydroponics

Overview

Growing berries can be easily done by using hydroponics (the science of growing pants in soil-less material), which will provide you with berries year-round. It will also protect it from birds and other animals. Growing berries with hydroponics can be tricky, but also can be adapted to almost any growing environment since you can use artificial lighting and protection from weather elements.

Step 1

Decide what variety of berries you want to grow. You can choose from types such as blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, etc. The best type of plants for hydroponic growing are called the "day neutral" plants.

Step 2

Secure the bottom of a hydroponic mesh bin with a sterile growing liner such as clay pellets or crushed shale. Ask the hydroponics store clerk about what type of liner you should get depending on the environment you are going to grow the berries in. Soak the liner for about 30 minutes in pH-balanced water.

Step 3

Set the berry plant into the growing bin, with the roots spread out over the liner. Pour the growing medium you chose into the bin, making sure the berries are above the surface so it has enough fresh air and light to grow. If it is submerged in water, the plant might rot.

Step 4

Provide the berry plants with nutrient formulas fit for the type of plant it is. Make sure the pH ratio is sufficient for the type of berry plant you are wanting to grow.

Step 5

Keep your hyrdoponic berry plants in a sunny location like a windowsill, greenhouse or glassed in porch. Keep in mind they will need about seven hours of full sun per day. You can also use fluorescent lighting to substitute for natural sun.

Step 6

Keep the berry plants in a temperature that does not exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit, but that doesn't go below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 7

Pollinate the berry plants yourself once the blooms begin to open. Do this by using a soft paintbrush to gently sweep across each bloom in order to transfer the pollen.

Step 8

Trim the runners from the plants if they appear; this is most common with strawberries. The runners are the small vines that grow away from the main stem of the berry plant. These suck nutrients and energy from the main vine, but do not do much for the plant.