Last Updated on September 8, 2024 by Sara Rose
Who doesn’t love the taste of freshly picked strawberries? Read this article to find out everything you need to know about growing strawberries indoors hydroponically.
Setting up an indoor hydroponics system is a good idea for those who live in cold climates. When you grow indoors, you have more control over the exact conditions you create for your plants. Since there is limited natural light inside, you will need to use supplemental grow lights in order for this to be successful.
A common fruit grown in hydroponics systems are strawberries. In order to grow strawberries indoors hydroponically, you need to set up the right conditions. This article will tell you all you need to know if you want to get a system like this setup.
Keep reading to find out more information!
Table of Contents
All About Strawberries
Strawberries are a delicious fruit, and when grown correctly, it is a very high producer. In general, they are grown in a place with cooler weather. The optimal temperature range to grow strawberries is between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to the University of New Hampshire, strawberries prefer loamy soil with good drainage. In order to get the perfect soil mix, you may need to add a decent amount of sand.
Of course, in a hydroponics system, you are not going to be using any soil. The plants are supported to float above water. Roots sink down into the water to absorb nutrients and moisture.
Each type of plant requires certain PH levels in order for them to grow well. PH level affects the plant’s ability to process and store nutrients.
In a hydroponics system, the PH level will be provided by the PH of your water. Make sure to always measure your PH levels before pumping the water into your plants.
The optimum PH range for strawberries is between 5.8 – 6.2. As long as you keep it around this level, you shouldn’t have any major problems.
Strawberries need plenty of water, so make sure you have an adequate supply available. Since you are doing it with hydroponics, this should not be a problem.
There are many different varieties of strawberries, so be sure to know which ones you are working with when planting. We recommend using a few different varieties to increase your chances of success.
Best Methods For Growing Strawberries
One of the best ways to get your strawberries started is to use a small strawberry plant. You want to choose a strawberry that is big enough to handle a change in environment. Typically, you should look for something that has between 3 -4 existing leaves.
These starters can be purchased at your local gardening store or taken from someone’s garden. A strawberry produces offshoots that have tiny roots connected to a vine. This vine is where a new strawberry plant comes.
You can cut off this part of an existing plant to put into your hydroponics system. This is a much easier method compared to starting the strawberries from seed.
The next thing you will need to decide is your growing medium for your strawberries. Some people choose to do it without any growing medium, directly in the water. Other options are using clay stones, growstones, or hydroton.
If you choose to use a growing media like clay balls, you need to set up small nets in your hydroponics system to contain the material. Another option is to fill your hydroponics pipes completely with clay balls.
Then you can plant your strawberry starters directly into the clay. Make sure that the roots are very secure and the shoot is pointed upright. This will ensure that the strawberry grows in the correct direction.
When it comes to growing strawberries indoors hydroponically, you are responsible for creating the perfect conditions for your plants. Continue reading to learn more about the correct environment for strawberries to thrive!
Growing The Best Hydroponic Strawberries
As mentioned before, strawberries are like cooler climates. This is the first thing you need to pay attention to when designing your hydroponics system. Make sure you can control the temperature and keep it within a range of 60 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Some ways to control the temperature are making sure your room is properly insulated, adding fans, or in worst-case scenarios using an air condition unit. Using a/c is the least sustainable method.
Once you have your temperature-controlled you need to set up your lights. In nature, strawberries need 8-12 hours of sunlight per day. This means they are a full sun plant!
Make sure that you set your artificial light timers to follow this schedule. Keep this amount sun for the entire length of the strawberries’ life. There is no need to adjust this when they are flowering or fruiting.
As long as you pay attention to the water PH, light, and temperature, you will be successful. You can use a PH water meter to ensure that you are within the optimal PH range.
Learn more about The Amazing Ways How To Grow Rice Hydroponically
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, now you have a better idea about growing strawberries indoors hydroponically. It is a totally accomplishable goal if you set your mind to it!
Before you purchase any plants, map out and design your whole system. Once you have your growing beds set up properly, you will have an accurate idea of how many plants your system can handle.
Always keep in mind the growing patterns of the plant you would like to grow. Strawberries grow low to the ground and like to spread wide. Be sure to provide them with an adequate amount of space for them to do this.
Remember, there are many different strawberry varieties, and each one of them has slightly different growing requirements. Be sure to research your specific variety before getting started. This will make sure that you will be successful.
Growing strawberries indoors hydroponically is a very rewarding project. We highly recommend trying it at home! You will thank us when you eat the tasty strawberry at the end of your growing season.
Feel free to comment and ask questions below. We are here to help.
