| As with soil-based gardens, hydroponic plants require | | | | lower population. |
| good pest and disease maintenance controls. Failure | | | | For more serious infestations, many commercial |
| to do so creates the same results as with 'ordinary' | | | | pesticides continue to work well. |
| gardens i.e. spindly or dead plants. Since the majority | | | | White flies, aphids, mites and other pests can be a |
| of hydroponic plants are fruits and vegetables, that | | | | problem in hydroponic settings, just as in soil-based |
| means the plants are not worth eating. | | | | gardens. Powdery mildew is common. In fact, |
| However, managing the hydroponic garden is even | | | | because of the continual moisture bugs and pests |
| trickier, since disease and pests have it much easier in | | | | have a 'friendly' environment. Making it 'unfriendly' is |
| this setting. Plants are continuously kept wet, either | | | | straightforward enough, using fungicides and |
| immersed in water ('true' hydroponics) or continually | | | | organicides. Sulfur-based compounds can help control |
| sprayed (aeroponics) or reside in a permanently wet | | | | white flies, mealy bugs, thrips and more. |
| medium such as perlite or sand. Fortunately, as with | | | | Pyrethrum continues to be a safe and effective |
| soil-based gardens, there is an large array of available | | | | means of control. Though it sounds man made it is |
| methods to manage the problem. | | | | actually derived from flowers. This class of natural |
| Using beneficial life forms is one popular way to | | | | compounds released by plants are extracted and |
| control unwanted pests, including certain types of | | | | used in many commercial insecticides. Dosage is low, |
| bacteria and fungi. These can help to control spider | | | | so the compound is very safe when used correctly |
| mites and other invaders by crowding them out, | | | | (always read the label). Azatrol is a broad spectrum |
| eating them or releasing compounds toxic to the | | | | insecticide that provides another easy control method |
| pest. They're known as beneficial organisms because | | | | over most common pests. |
| they do all that without damaging the plants | | | | Hydroponic gardeners have to exercise additional |
| themselves. | | | | care when using any disease or pest control method, |
| Different types of pesticides are available, too. | | | | though. Since no soil is present to hold on to the |
| Pesticidal soaps have been in use for centuries and | | | | roots, it's easier to damage a plant when manipulating |
| still provide effective and non-toxic ways to keep | | | | the leaves and stems. That means that if you pick |
| the pests down. One category called botanicals are | | | | off mites by hand - an effective method for |
| compounds released by plants themselves that have | | | | low-number infestations - it's important to exercise |
| been combined into an easy-to-use pest control | | | | extra care. |
| method. Botanicals break down naturally from | | | | Since moisture is present, mildew and other fungi are |
| exposure to air and water and are brilliant because | | | | more common in hydroponic gardens. Keeping leaves |
| they leave no harmful chemicals behind. | | | | dry and just the roots wet will help. Any insecticide |
| Neem oil can control over 400 different types of | | | | sprayed on to your plants or vegetable should be |
| pest that commonly invade gardens, including | | | | allowed to dry under the grow lights. For |
| hydroponic ones. A simple spray to the leaves can | | | | aeroponically grown plants, for example, that may |
| often eliminate common pests. The bugs absorb the | | | | require a temporary relocation of the indoor garden. |
| oil, which limits their ability to reproduce, leading to a | | | | |