The Indoor Grow Methods and Techniques

There are different methods of growing food indoors. Which will you choose? Let’s see what methods are possible while growing indoors.

As I mentioned in my article “Indoor Grow Media,” there are numerous types of options for what you grow in. Well, that is true, but specific grow medium paired with a particular grow method will reduce your options quickly. These methods and techniques below will help you in choosing what is best for your grow.

Methods

Potting mix or Coco mix growth is significant because it is a proven method and it works for many growers. If you have an open attic or basement, this may be a great for you as you can build shelves and pots for your leafy greens, micro greens and tuber or root-based crops like turnips and radishes. Many indoor farmers also have success with growing long-term indoor plants like dwarf trees or ginger. Potting mix grows are pretty easy to get going due to access to materials and familiarity from outdoor grows. Potting mix also has a great ability to retain nutrients. It’s also very cost-effective to get started with a potting mix.

Well, why not just grow in a potting mix?

• Some may not like potting mixes for their grows due to the type of maintenance associated with a soil-like product. (Nutrient management, watering, cleaning, drainage)
• Some want a subtle level of control over the nutrient levels.
• Some have overwatered plants due to the ability for the soil to retain water and plants die.
• Some want more automation and less day-to-day operation.
• Some want a more cost-effective method in the long run.
• Some want to use less water over time.
• Some don’t have the space to grow horizontally on shelves and want more space flexibility.

While these are general reasons to try something else, some are debatable, but in my experience, this is pretty much right on. Some folks also think that potting mix/soil taste better than other methods, but this is also controversial and not worth expanding on.

“Restriction breeds resourcefulness” -The guy with no space

Enter Hydroponics

Hydroponics is a method of growing plants with water without the use of potting mix or soil. There are many ways to do this, but the big take away here is that soil or potting mix isn’t needed for the plants to grow throughout their life cycle. Dissolvable nutrients are added to the water to give the plants everything they need to flourish. How that water gets to the plants is a matter of choice based on your goals as a grower. Hydroponics produces faster , bigger yields than most soil based grows. But the coolest thing about hydroponics, in my opinion, is the ability to grow vertically with the use of water pumps and good old gravity. Water can be pumped to the top of a tower and flow down to be recycled, thus taking up less space horizontal space to grow your produce.

Aeroponic

A growing high-tech technique with automation controls. The roots hang in the air within their environment and are misted with a nutrient solution on a timer. The misting pumps are turned on in minute intervals. The roots are exposed in an enclosed environment and will likely dry out if the water cycles are interrupted. Overall, it’s a very efficient use of water when re-circulated. Great for leafy greens, herbs, and micro-greens.

I’ve recently seen growers grow aeroponic potatoes at the International Potato Center. This is an amazing article that shows the potential of aeroponic methods of growth. It can be used in remote areas of the world, like frigid Antartica, or in arid areas like Las Vegas, Nevada.

NFT

Nutrient Film Technique is a specific way of growing through a nutrient-rich water solution like other hydroponic methods. NFT uses that shallow stream of nutrient water for plant growth and is re-circulated past the bare roots of plants in watertight gutters, also known as channels. This method can be used without a grow medium as well. Great for leafy greens, herbs, and micro-greens.

Ebb and flow

This method works by periodically flooding the grow container with the nutrient solution and then draining the solution back into the reservoir. The water is pumped in on a timer action for just long enough to keep the roots and grow media moist. Many variables within the environment and type of plant will alter the timing of the flooding and drainage of the container. Great for leafy greens, herbs, micro-greens and root system plants.

Water Culture

A Water culture is a system where the platform that holds the plants is usually made of a light material like styrofoam and floats on the nutrient solution. Oxygen is supplied to the roots by an aeration stone. Leafy greens and herbs are pretty much the primary choices in this hydroponic technique. I would not advise trying anything else due to the weight restrictions of this method.

Aquaponics

Aquaponics is a combination of raising fish and hydroponic farming. The fish waste is used to create nutrients for the plants, and both maintained through a careful natural balance between the two, to produce healthy plants. You could choose a few different media here for your plant support. Fish waste is converted to plant food through beneficial bacteria and the plants clean the water for the fish. Many plants excel from this method of growing, and farmers love the natural ecosystem. It will cost more to scale this method due to the maintenance involved, but many find this method to be a refreshing choice for their home or project farm. If you are into raising fish and don’t mind this maintenance, then this may be the way to go for you.

What will you choose
Many companies produce products that lend to one of these methods of growing. I will dedicate an article to that for you guys. Whatever you decide to use in your project will affect your techniques in farming and that, in turn, will determine the medium you need. If you are growing lettuce for salads, then there are many methods of indoor agriculture, but that dwarf lemon tree may need a bit more to get going. So, do your research online and within the community to see what techniques and best practices will get you to your end goal.