But how do you choose which to plant with so many varieties available? When grown outdoors, lettuce tastes best during the spring and fall. Start growing hydroponic lettuce indoors with the Kratky method. Standard grow lights include fluorescent, LED and HID lamps. "After the incident", I started to be more careful not to trip over things. Almost all vegetables grow significantly faster hydroponically than they do when planted out in the field. Check Price at Amazon . A laser temperature gun can help determine if the intensity is resulting in too much heat. Anything else lettuce might grow but it will be elongated and not form proper lettuce heads. You can buy transplants at a garden store but it is very easy to start a new crop from seed every few weeks. I planted a mixed pack of leaf lettuce so I have 3 or 4 different kinds. If you arent controlling the temperature that your lettuce is grown in, you need to work with the sun or accept the occasional bitter head of lettuce. Manufacturers of indoor lighting will try and target 555 nm because the photopic conversion (lumens/watt) is 683 lm/w at this wavelength, while light that plants need has a very small photopic conversion (430 nm is only 8 lm/w, 650 nm is 73 lm/w). Its an incredibly versatile leaf with plenty of uses, and a hydroponic environment is a perfect setting to ward off contaminants. On the other hand, they may become stressed or burnt if they receive too much light. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Hydroponic lettuce offers a variety of types and flavors, suitable for nearly any palette. Daily light integrals below 6.5 mol m 2 d 1 could greatly compromise growth and quality of pick-and-eat lettuce, potentially leading to an unsuccessful consumer experience. Leaf lettuce is probably best. Incidentally using a CFL light is a great way to start seeds. You dont need to make any modifications to your Kratky. Since its up to 95% water, it can have a hydrating effect, and its vitamin A is good for the eyes. Besides those blanched heads have very little nutritional value. But it has the advantage of being protected from the contaminants that so often lead to food recalls. At the same time, lettuce needs plenty of potassium for structure and to prevent wilting. Your lettuce plants prefer a stable pH level of 5.5 to 6.0, in most hydroponic growing systems. Examples include rice, eggplant, roses, and corn. It is also easy to grow. By mixing one part Tomato and Vegetable Formula, one part calcium nitrate, and one-half part Epsom salt with pure water, you get a hydroponic fertilizer concentrate that can be diluted and make an incredible nutrient solution. This is simply because the lettuce may have been handled by someone with unclean hands. The adequate light duration for lettuce is about 10 to 12 hours. Its not just about the time that the faucet is on, but how much water is coming out. If you want to think a little bit bigger for your hydroponic garden but don't want to start from scratch, check out The Farmstand, starting at $399 at Lettuce Grow or on Amazon. As lettuce is literally all leaves, out of all of the essential nutrients your hydroponic lettuce needs, potassium is required in the largest amounts by far. But I decided to hot rod it a bit by adding airstones. and these are converted to DLI Daily light integral (DLI) describes the number of photosynthetically active photons (individual particles of light in the 400-700 nm range) that are delivered to a specific area over a 24-hour period. Double check the pH level of your system approximately 15 to 30 minutes after adding nutrients. Mary has been a Master Gardener for 30+ years and a commercial and residential gardener for 50+ years. Grow lights can be energy-intensive. At the end of the day, it all comes down to what you put into the plant and your personal preference. What are the different types of bulbs for the system? Lettuce is a fast grower. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Hydroponic lettuce growing with indoor lighting. The reflector hood is a reflective casing around the bulb. Store your hydroponic lettuce in a refrigerator, or set it on the kitchen counter with the roots in water. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Does Counterspell prevent from any further spells being cast on a given turn? Because of this, it is grown by the masses which makes it more susceptible to recall and contamination. For most varieties, this means a daytime temperature of around 50F to 75F. Lettuce hydroponics is an excellent choice for your hydroponic greenhouse. You will see about 80-100k at around 6 inches from a T5. How Much Light Does Lettuce Need to Grow Indoors? "cool white" (more "blue") lights tend to be more beneficial for vegetative growth, while "warm white" (more "red") helps flowering growth, I believe, so if you get a shop light, get the cool white bulbs for this. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-leader-1','ezslot_14',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-leader-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-leader-1','ezslot_15',109,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-leader-1-0_1');.leader-1-multi-109{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Grow lights can be energy-intensive. The short-day cycle mimics natures environment for plants that flower in the spring. Make sure to provide the lettuce plants with about 10 to 14 hours of fluorescent lighting every day. This page might be helpful under the heading: How much light should plants receive? When your plant gets old and begins to taste bitter, its time to harvest and plant a new seedling in its place. An electric timer allows you to take care of this hassle-free and change it according to your needs as your garden evolves. The required pH for hydroponic lettuce ranges from 5.6 to 6.2. So lets look at some of the hydroponic lettuce light requirements.Advertisement.medrectangle-3{text-align:center;padding-top:20px!important;padding-bottom:20px!important;padding-left:0!important;padding-right:0!important;background-color:#eee!important;outline:1px solid #dfdfdf;min-height:335px!important}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',105,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-medrectangle-3-0');.medrectangle-3{text-align:center;padding-top:20px!important;padding-bottom:20px!important;padding-left:0!important;padding-right:0!important;background-color:#eee!important;outline:1px solid #dfdfdf;min-height:335px!important}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_4',105,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-medrectangle-3-0_1');.medrectangle-3-multi-105{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding-bottom:20px!important;padding-top:20px!important;text-align:center!important}. They don't grow fast as in summer, but they do grow. Boosting the nitrogen levels in your nutrient solution can fix the problem. This isn't really an answer, but have you considered running small-scale experiments? But when we talk about hydroponic light, about 15 hours is a perfect time. Getting the separate ingredients in bulk and measuring and mixing yourself will save you loads of money long-term and give you the most flexibility when it comes to plant nutrition. Good things to grow alongside lettuce are spinach, kale, basil, mint, swiss chard, endive, escarole, arugula, watercress, and more. When this happens, your lettuce plant will taste annoyingly bad. Here is everything you need to know about hydroponic lettuce. Once established, your hydroponic lettuce plants should get between 10 and 14 hours of light per day. There isnt anything tricky or fancy about growing lettuce, and you can get started with almost no experience and very little money. How much is this exactly? if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_12',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_13',114,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-large-leaderboard-2-0_1');.large-leaderboard-2-multi-114{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Stratification (also known as cold stratification) doesn't apply to all seeds, but it's the number-one reason some seeds take their sweet time germinating (or refuse to germinate at all). Fourteen to 16 hours of sunlight is ideal. Once established, your hydroponic lettuce plants should get between 10 and 14 hours of light per day. You will want to set your plants in the net pots and backfill around them with hydroton. In this case, the solution is to turn down the thermostat or give your plants some space by changing the height of your grow lights. Most lettuces thrive in cooler weather and typically grow outdoors in the cooler months of the spring or autumn. Lettuce Grow sends . Fletcher, I guess you meant 400 to 450nm wavelength for Lettuce? It is just the right grow light match for your lettuce plant.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_5',138,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'growertoday_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_6',138,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-growertoday_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-1-multi-138{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Approximately 80-100k will be adequate. The texture is crisp, and the flavor is slightly sweet. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. A great starting point for any type of lettuce is 12 or more hours per day. I decided to add airstones to mine. Put it in a warm place for a few days. They are worth the investment because one small mistake or simply forgetting to turn the lights on or off has the potential to dramatically affect your plants growth and production rates. Are you thinking about growing hydroponic lettuce indoors? However, its possible for seeds to be contaminated and carry the contamination through the growth cycle and end up on the final productbut this is unlikely. It is the perfect choice if you are just starting out with hydroponics. Place the pots or plugs in the container. Remote ballasts are much better for home systems. The leaves shouldn't be too much warmer than the ambient air. Romaine is one of the most common lettuce varieties used in the United States.