Pruning Hydroponics Plants (Why and How)
It can be intimidating to try pruning hydroponics plants for the first time, but it is an essential part of caring for these plants. you would think that with more leaves and stalks, the plants would be healthier, grow more, and yield better harvests. But that could not be further from the truth!
Consistent pruning of hydroponic plants is vital for their health and accelerates the growth rate, resulting in increased production and larger yields of fruits and vegetables. Pruning also helps keep hydroponics plants from getting too big for the system they are in, helping you optimize your hydroponics plant’s growth.
Now that we know that pruning is necessary for hydroponics, let’s look into why and how to prune your plants.
Why Pruning Hydroponics Plant?
When growing plants hydroponically it can be easy to forget that pruning is an important part of the process. It’s only natural for plants to grow, and it can seem counterintuitive to cut them back, especially when you just started growing your hydroponics garden and you finally see some great results.
But pruning is a key part of hydroponics. When done correctly, it can help optimize the growth of your plants. Some of the key factors in pruning hydroponics plants include controlling the height, increasing airflow, and promoting new growth and overall health.
Height control is important because it helps maximize space in your system and prevent overcrowding. Pruning can help create a balanced, even canopy. Good air circulation is also important for healthy growth, and pruning helps to increase the airflow through your plants.
Finally, pruning encourages new growth by stimulating the plant’s growth hormones. By activating the hormones of plants, we can optimize their potential in two ways.
For nonfruiting plants: like herbs, using this technique will encourage thicker and fuller growth with more branches and leaves. This increases the yield and prevents blooming—allowing you to reap a larger harvest for longer!
For fruiting plants: like Cucumber and peppers, pruning will help encourage more flowers and stronger fruit. This can help you get heavier yields with bigger and “healthier” fruits.
When to Prune Hydroponic Plants
The best time to prune is when your plants are actively growing and not in a dormant state. For most hydroponic systems, this will be once every few weeks or months depending on the type of plants you are growing and the size of your system.
The time of day is also essential. Pruning is best done in the morning when it’s cooler and the plants are less stressed.
It is also important to note that hydroponic plants do not always need to be pruned. If the plants are growing well and not overcrowded, then you can probably skip pruning for a few weeks or months.
General Rules of Pruning
Now that we know why pruning is important and when to do it, let’s look into how you can do it.
In general, the method of pruning hydroponic plants is the same among all plants. But variety can happen depending on the type of plants you are growing and your specific goal for pruning.
Removing dead leaves and branches
The first step is to look for dead, dying, and diseased leaves, stems, flowers, or fruits. These should be removed immediately to prevent any further spread of the infection or infestation.
Remove fallen leaves
Leaves that have fallen off the plant are also best removed. These leaves can be an ideal place for pests, diseases, and even mold to hide, so it’s important to get them out of your hydroponics system as soon as possible.
Do not prune more than a 1/3 of the plant at one time
When pruning a healthy hydroponic plant, only remove about 1/3 of the plant at one time. This will help ensure that you don’t shock your plant or disrupt its growth too much.
Cut at the node
When pruning a plant, it’s important to make sure that you are cutting at the node—the point where the leaf and stem meet. This will help promote new growth from where you have cut.
Thin out in the canopy
When pruning fruiting plants, it is important to thin out the canopy. This means removing some of the branches and leaves from the top of the plant. This will help create more airflow in the hydroponics system which can increase yields.
Thin out in flowers
For fruiting plants, you can also thin out the flowers or fruits. This means removing some of the flowers or immature fruits from your plant. By doing this you will encourage more flowers to develop and help increase yields by creating bigger and healthier-looking fruits.
If you follow these general rules of pruning, you will be well on your way to optimizing the growth of your hydroponics plants. Make sure to do some research specific to the type of plant you are pruning for more detailed instructions and best practices.
If you are growing Basil, then have written this article about pruning your Basil plant for maximum growth. Check it out here
Root Pruning
In addition to pruning the top part of your plants, you can also prune the roots. But this should only be done when absolutely necessary. Pruning the roots can help reduce overcrowding and overgrowth, as well as encourage root health by removing old or damaged roots.
Root bound
if your plant has become root bound —when the roots have outgrown their container—it’s important to prune them. This will help encourage new, healthy root growth and reduce disease build-up in your roots.
Root rot
If your plants suffer from root rot, pruning the affected roots can help to reduce the spread of infection and encourage new, healthy root growth.
Is there root rot in your hydroponic system? Or are you not sure if it is root rot? Then I encourage you to read this article I have crafted, to assist you with identifying and treating root rot.
Conclusion
Pruning your hydroponic plants is important to maintaining a healthy and productive system. Whether it is removing dead or diseased parts, thinning out the canopy to increase yields, or pruning the roots to reduce overcrowding and encourage growth—pruning will help you get the most out of your hydroponics system.
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