5 Easy Herbs to grow in your Hydroponics Garden 🌳 2023 Guide

Hydroponics garden is the new big thing in town, actually in your backyard. Hydroponics is a soilless mode of farming used for both indoor and outdoor gardening. It is generally considered more cost-effective and environmentally friendlier than our conventional modes of farming. But if you are reading this article, I can assume that you have already constructed your hydroponic garden and are now looking for the best plants and herbs to grow in it.

Generally, hydroponics is adaptable to a wide range of plants, but it is mostly used for leafy greens and herbs. If you have a large enough hydroponic set-up, chances are you would want to use the produce at home for everyday cooking. So, to help you find the best herbs to grow in your hydroponic garden, we have compiled a list of the top 5 best herbs for hydroponic gardens.

Best Herbs for Your Hydroponic Garden

Basil

Pros

• It can be grown indoors or outdoors
• Easy to grow
• Basil flowers have a great scent
• Highly versatile

Cons

• Not all varieties of basil can be grown in hydroponic settings

Basil is a woody herb used in almost every country around the world. Over the years, it has become a special condiment for a variety of recipes, especially because of its characteristic scent. Alongside other popular herbs such as thyme and oregano, basil belongs to the mint family. It has several varieties and is known to be more profitable than common leafy greens. In fact, basil is a major crop line for market growers.

Aside from its fantastic monetary value, which can be linked to its versatility, basil is mostly used as a condiment for various delicacies.

But there are important things to keep in mind while growing basil in a hydroponic environment. While basil is quite easy to grow as it requires minimal maintenance and feeding, you have to pay attention to its humidity levels. Basil leaves tend to catch water droplets and hold on to them, which could cause very high humidity levels for the herb. Additionally, ensure you have lighting supplements available, aside from direct sunlight. This is mostly because basil thrives well under a sufficient amount of light. If you use an automated hydroponic system, you can make use of the LED lighting system.

Basil seeds from Sow Right Seeds come with a safe seed pledge and are Non-GMO, which is a safe option for you and your family. Additionally, the packet contains information on growing tips and harvest instructions. Customers who buy in bulk can also avail of amazing deals on nutrient solutions for their plants.

Parsley

Pros

• Compatible with indoor kitchen gardening
• Suitable gardening gift
• Easy to grow
• Fair pest control
• Wide range of temperature tolerance

Cons

• Very sensitive to untoward pH

Parsley is one of the most recommended herbs to grow in your hydroponic garden because it is easy to grow and requires minimal maintenance. The herb is native to the Mediterranean region and is mostly used as a garnish on dishes worldwide. In recent times, there has been quite a bit of discussion on the wonderful health benefits of parsley. Although the herb has several varieties with widely contrasting characteristics, it is mostly known for its tender large-leaf variety that is used to add flavor in different recipes.

This herb has inherent qualities that make it suitable for both hydroponic and soil-based farming. But yes, it does thrive well in hydroponic systems because here the pH can be easily controlled. Parsley has a wide range of temperature tolerance and has an effective natural pest control system. Although you have to pay attention to the concentration of the nutrient solution and carry out regular trimming and grooming, parsley thrives fairly well without much fuss.

Parsley seeds from Sow Right Seeds come with a packet of instructions on how to grow and maintain the herb as well as for instructions on making the nutrient solution. These seeds are Non-GMO and extremely safe for your health.

Dill

Pros

• Compatible with both indoor and outdoor gardening
• Easy to grow
• Low maintenance
• High yield

Cons

• Dill does not transplant well

Dill is one of the best herbs to grow hydroponically. Although it is said that dill should be grown hydroponically and then transferred to a soil-based environment, we feel this might not give you optimal results because dill does not transplant well. Therefore, it is better to keep the herb in a hydroponic system throughout the entire cycle of growth.

This herb thrives in a moderately humid environment, that’s the reason dill is commonly planted immediately after the monsoon has passed. It is also adaptable to a range of temperature, a point to be noted for hydroponic enthusiasts who intend to produce dill on a large scale.

More importantly, if you intend to harvest dill all year-long, you will have to plant a new set of seeds every other month. This herb has a short growth cycle and has a high monetary value. To further enhance the effectiveness of the germination process, use rock wool or coco-coir as a support base in your hydroponic garden.

Dill seeds from Sow Right Seeds are Non-GMO and are relatively affordable compared to other brands that sell dill seeds. In addition to the purchase, customers are given an information packet, which includes everything about growing and harvesting dill.

Thyme

Pros

• Easy to grow
• Requires minimum fertilizing
• Propagates well with common methods
• A fair temperature tolerance range

Cons

• Susceptible to whitefly and soldier mites

Thyme is one of the herbs that any cook would love to experiment with. It is highly versatile and is used in different cuisines around the world. Due to this, this herb has a high monetary value when grown for commercial purposes.

Thyme is an aromatic plant and is used in alternative medicine as well to make medicinal potions. It is also used in aromatherapy because of its healing qualities. Hydroponically, thyme is very easy to grow as it requires minimum fertilization. It is also adaptable to common methods of propagation like stem cutting. Although this herb is susceptible to whiteflies and soldier mites and does not grow well under dim lighting, it requires less maintenance but enough attention to ensure a consistent harvest.

Thyme seeds from Sow Right Seed is a variant of Thymus vulgaris, a variety of the herb known for its flavor aroma and potent medicinal qualities. Get this seed if you are looking at growing thyme for the first time.

Coriander/ Cilantro

Pros

• It can be grown indoors or outdoors
• Easy to grow
• High medicinal value
• Highly versatile

Cons

• Low space efficiency

Coriander/cilantro is a herb native to the Mediterranean region but has since gained traction around the world. Cilantro and its seed, coriander is used for medicinal purposes more than as a condiment. Although coriander and cilantro do not have the same taste. In fact, the herb is known for its polarized taste as some people love it, while some absolutely abhor it. Inspite of this the herb is known for its high monetary value.

The herb grows very easily, although you have to pay adequate attention to the pH of nutrient solution, humidity, and the temperature of the hydroponic system. This herb shares some qualities with parsley, thyme, and oregano. Frankly, cilantro is an easy crop to grow in soil-based systems since it is low maintenance. That said, cilantro can dry out very quickly under harsh temperature conditions, causing bolting. If this happens, you can trim the bolted knots from the plant. Also, it is important to look for the best storage method for this herb.

Coriander seeds from Sow Right Seeds are treated with fertilizers and chemicals that prevent, or more appropriately, reduces the risk of pest attack. Also, the prepackaged seeds are Non-GMO and safe for you.

What To Look For When Buying Herbs For Your Hydroponics System

There is a wide category from which you can select herbs and plants to grow in your hydroponic garden. That said, you need to pay attention to some vital qualities of the plants that you intend to grow, which will determine the success of your hydroponic system.

Evidence from research attests to the fact that herbs and vegetables grown in the hydroponic garden have a better flavor and taste than those grown in soil-based systems. Nonetheless, look out for the following qualities when buying herbs for your hydroponic system.

Light Needed

Hydroponics systems are designed with light specifications. Some of the newer models compatible with technology provide energy-efficient LED lighting as a support for direct sunlight, which might not be sufficient for adequate plant growth. Therefore, before you decide to grow a particular herb, be sure that the amount of light required by it is supported by the hydroponic design that you have.

Some herbs require about 18 hours of daylight for optimum growth. This can be achieved using a hydroponic garden, which is why there is evidence that there is better produce in plants grown in a hydroponic environment as compared to those on the field.

Temperature

Some plants do better under specific temperatures, while some may not grow as much as they should under certain conditions. Generally, herbs are most compatible with mild to average temperature ranges. Furthermore, most herbs and leafy greens are seasonal and susceptible to changing temperatures and climates.

Before buying herbs to grow in your hydroponic garden, research the right amount of temperature required for optimum growth. With this information in hand, you can utilize the automated functions of your hydroponic system or engineer newer functions in your DIY models.

Versatility/ Frequency of Use

Gardening for a lot of people might be a hobby, but it is more rewarding when you get quality produce that can be either used to cook a delish meal or for medicinal purposes. And hydroponic systems work based on a circle of planting and harvesting. So when buying herbs for your hydroponic garden, look out for versatile herbs that double as both edibles and medicinal products.

Humidity

One of the major concerns of the hydroponic garden is the circulation system. Due to the absence of a soil base, water-logging and absolute dryness is a common factor. While you might need to pay attention to your hydroponic garden’s circulation system, you must verify the level of humidity required for optimum growth of your preferred herb and leafy greens.

Additionally, check the root system of the herbs you intend to buy and adjust your design to suit the needs of the herbs. Some herbs have a shallow root system, while others are deep. For those who use drilled hoses as a circulation medium in their hydroponic garden, the roots must be able to take up enough water and nutrient solution.

Summary

While there are varieties of herbs that you can start growing in your hydroponic garden, the above 5 are the top and best options when you are starting out. These herbs are easy to grow, low on maintenance, and can be your guiding stone for growing more herbs in the future. So, go ahead and shop for the best herb seeds and start your hydroponic herb garden today.