Q&A for How to Grow Hydroponic Strawberries

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What's the advantage of adding perlite to a totally hydroponic system?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

The perlite is necessary because your strawberry plant will need a growing medium to hold it in place steadily. This makes absorbing nutrients more effective and keeps the crown of the plant out of the water.

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I'm growing my strawberries using the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), and they're very small. Otherwise, the plants look healthy, their Electrical Conductivity (EC) is 1.8, their pH is 6.2, and they get 6-8 hours of sunlight each day. What am I doing wrong?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

The strawberry plant variety you are using may have a naturally smaller fruit. If not, consider increasing the amount of sun exposure your plants receive each day. This may help your strawberries grow bigger.

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In step 9, do you immerse the whole plant or only the roots?

Community Answer

Only the roots. You don't want excess moisture on the leaves, as it can cause disease.

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Question

I can't buy nutrients at my location. Can I make own nutrients for hydroponics?

Community Answer

You can make your own Miracle Gro at home. Most recipes online require Epsom salts, ammonia and baking soda along with a few other ingredients.

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Do I need to use a bubbler to put oxygen in the water?

Community Answer

No, but doing so will have a big effect on rate of growth. Roots need oxygen as much as they do water.

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What nutrients do I need to grow strawberries?

Community Answer

Purchasing a nutrient solution at a hydroponics shop is the best way to ensure you will have all the right nutrients for your plant. According to Garden Culture Magazine, for a fruiting nutrient you will need: 8.00 gr Calcium Nitrate – Ca(NO3)2 2.80 gr Potassium Nitrate – KNO3 1.70 gr Sulfate of Potash – K2SO4 1.39 gr Monopotassium Phophate – KH2PO4 2.40 gr Magnesium Sulfate – MgSO4 * 7H2O 0.40 gr 7% Fe Chelated Trace Elements

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Question

Can I grow them in a grow tent?

Community Answer

Yes.

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How many strawberries will grow on average per plant?

Community Answer

This depends on the variety. The average is one quart of strawberries per plant per year, but growing conditions can alter how much fruit your plant produces.

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How do I increase the yield with controlled LED lighting? Can I set my timer to specific times to be on and off to speed up the growth process?

Community Answer

Most plants are on an 18hrs on/6hrs off cycle for the vegetative state and 12hrs on/12hrs off for the flowering state. Either of these light cycles should be OK for strawberries.

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What is the point of the air stone when you use wicks? I fail to see how micro-sized oxygen bubbles are going to go up the wicks to the roots.

Daniel Afonso

Community Answer

The air in the reservoir is to prevent anaerobic bacteria from taking hold. In practice, if you are replacing the solution and rinsing the reservoir regularly, it can be omitted. If you are like most people and remember to do that maybe monthly, the air stone is a good investment.

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Is each plant grown in a 5-gallon bucket?

Community Answer

You can grow quite a few strawberry plants in one 5-gallon bucket. If you don't want that many, opt for a 3-gallon container.

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What is vermiculite?

Community Answer

A yellow or brown mineral found as an alteration product of mica and other minerals, used for insulation or as a moisture-retentive medium for growing plants.

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Question

What is the best temperature for growing strawberries indoors?

Community Answer

Air temp: 20 - 27 degrees C (68 - 80 degrees F) during the day, 15 C (60 F) at night. Hydroponics grow medium: 18 degrees C (65 F) during the day, and 12 - 15 C (55 - 60 F) at night.

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Do I need to pollinate the strawberry flowers or are they self-pollinating?

Community Answer

The flowers of most commercially available strawberry bushes have both male and female reproductive organs.

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