In hydroponic gardening, plants are grown in nutrient rich solutions instead of soil. Anchored by an inert growing medium, such as rockwool, the roots of the seedling then grow within a system that delivers the solution directly to the roots. To use the seedlings available at garden centers in your hydroponic system, remove the soil mix from the roots.
Gather the Supplies for Soil Removal
Fill a clean, five-gallon bucket or container with water the night before and allow the water to sit outside. This brings the water to the ambient temperature, reducing the risk of shock to the plant roots. Fill a watering can with water and let it sit as well. You also need another bucket of approximately the same size, an empty pot and a small bottle of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide.
Remove the Soil from the Plant Roots
Pour approximately two gallons of water from the full bucket into the empty bucket.
Slide the seedling out of its container. Massage the root ball to loosen the potting mix, holding it over the empty pot and allowing the mix to fall into the pot. Continue loosening the mix until a good portion of it is removed from the root ball.
Hold the seedling by the stem and immerse the root ball into the bucket holding two gallons of water. With your other hand, massage the roots while they are in the water, easing the soil mix off of the roots.
When the water is thick with soil, pour it out and add fresh water from the other bucket. Continue the process until most of the soil mix is removed from the roots.
Pour water from the watering can over the roots to further clean them. Lay the seedling down on a clean surface and allow it to rest while you make up a solution of 1 tsp. of hydrogen peroxide to 1 cup of room temperature water.
Place the Seedling in the Hydroponic System
Fill a small net pot halfway with clay pellets. Pour 1/3 of the hydrogen peroxide solution over the pellets to clean them.
Hold the seedling by the stem close to the roots and gently pour the remainder of the solution over the roots. This removes unwanted microbes and possible contaminants from the roots.
Place the seedling into the net pot and fill it with clay pellets to anchor the seedling. The seedling is now ready for your hydroponic system.
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Shelly McRae - Shelly McRae has a background in technical writing and design. As a writer she covers several topics including home improvement, gardening ...
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