Q&A for How to Grow Hydroponic Tomatoes

Return to Full Article

Coming soon

Add New Question

Question

Are pesticides necessary for growing hydroponic tomatoes?

Andrew Carberry, MPH
Food Systems Expert
Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.

Andrew Carberry, MPH

Food Systems Expert

Expert Answer

Because they are in a more controlled (indoors) environment, there is less need for pesticides with hydroponic tomatoes.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 13
Question

How does this work? Why doesn't the plant drown?

Community Answer

The plant doesn't drown because the water is allowed to drain from the plants and medium in the main container into the reservoir below. This allows the plants to receive water and nutrients, but also ample amounts of air. For example, most rockwool mediums are comprised of more than 80 percent air after the nutrient water is allowed to drain. This is because of the many microfibers that make up the rockwool being perfect for retaining water, but allowing it to drain quickly and pull air into the medium as water flows out of the fibers.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 24
Question

Does the outflow tube need to reach down to the bottom of the tube so that it can fully drain the tub?

Community Answer

Yes. The overflow tube needs to be long enough to go down to the bottom of the tray. That way, when the tray is full, it will automatically make a "siphon" and empty the tray totally, thus avoiding drowning the roots.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 7 Helpful 17
Question

Can you add too much water to tomatoes when growing?

Community Answer

As long as the plants are allowed to thoroughly drain it is difficult to overwater plants in a hydroponic system. That being said, you can run into problems if the plants are watered too often or if the plants are left soaking in the water instead of being properly drained.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 10 Helpful 13
Question

How do I get the tomatoes to flower? And what can I do about little red bugs?

Community Answer

A local nursery can help with a pollen kit if you can't salvage with a Q-tip or paintbrush. With regard to the red bugs, get ladybugs, which you'll also find at a local nursery.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 6
Question

I hand pollinate my tomatoes but the flowers dry up and fall off. What's wrong?

Community Answer

Does the temperature get below 70 degrees at night? If it's too hot, the blossoms will not set.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 7
Question

How do I monitor and control the water temperature?

Community Answer

I use a water temperature thermometer; Amazon carries them.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 3
Question

I just built a greenhouse for determinate and indeterminate hydroponic cherry tomatoes, and I need to know if it will be OK to place them in double rows with two plants 20 inches apart in the same row?

Community Answer

It should work. My personal rule is 2 square feet per tomato; it's never fun having the canopy of one plant blocking the canopy of another.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 2
Question

Do tomatoes have to be indoors or outdoors?

Shalom Jophress

Community Answer

Preferably indoors since it limits the need for the pestcides as mentioned in the above article, making the whole process more economic.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 0
Question

Can I germinate dwarf tomatoes in my hydroponic system with a temperature of 68°?

Greenhouse Anderson

Top Answerer

Maybe. Tomatoes generally germinate better at temperatures around 75°. Tomatoes are a warm-temperature crop.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

Is it possible to go hydroponic without a water pump?

Greenhouse Anderson

Top Answerer

Yes, but not with this system. Investigate passive hydroponic systems, especially the wicking systems.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

Do you test and adjust pH before or after adding nutrients?

Greenhouse Anderson

Top Answerer

After adding nutrients. Depending on the fertilizer used, these chemical nutrients will change the pH. Check shortly after adding nutrients, make changes; check again in a few hours. More changes may be necessary.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0