Overview
Kangkong, also referred to as Water spinach or swamp cabbage, is a leafy green vegetable widely cultivated and enjoyed in numerous Asian countries, including here in the Philippines. Its adaptability makes it a staple ingredient in various culinary preparations, such as stir-fries, steaming, boiling, and inclusion in soups and stews. Personally, whenever I dine at Chowking, I make sure to order my favorite dish of steamed kangkong paired with chili garlic oil.
Kangkong holds a special place in my kitchen, as it’s a key ingredient in my preferred Sinigang dish and can also be prepared as Adobong Kangkong. While attempting to grow kangkong in my soil-based garden, I encountered challenges and limited success. It dawned on me that kangkong thrives best in swampy environments, water, or highly moist soil conditions. This realization prompted me to explore hydroponics as an alternative method of cultivating my Kangkong. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll show you how I grow my kangkong in a bucket using hydroponics, providing step-by-step instructions and valuable tips for a successful harvest. But before anything else, let’s define first what hydroponics is.
What Is Hydroponics?
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, using a nutrient-rich water solution instead. In hydroponic systems, plants are typically placed in a growing medium such as perlite, clay pellets, or coconut coir, with their roots suspended in the nutrient solution. This method allows for precise control over the plant’s environment, including nutrient levels, pH, and water content, leading to faster growth rates and higher yields compared to traditional soil-based cultivation. Hydroponics is used in a variety of settings, including commercial agriculture, urban farming, and home gardening, and it offers several advantages such as water conservation, space efficiency, and the ability to grow plants in non-arable areas. The main component of the hydroponics is the nutrient solution that is mixed to the water to nourish the plants. While various nutrient solutions are available for hydroponic use, our focus will be on discussing the most widely adopted by hydroponic agriculturists across the Philippines: the SNAP Nutrient Solution.
What Is SNAP Nutrient Solution?
There are various techniques or approaches to hydroponics. Some methods are intricate, involving tasks such as pH testing and the use of an aeration system, such as an air pump and air stone, along with additional monitoring systems to guarantee optimal plant growth. This kind of sophisticated hydroponics will not be accessible to our local farmers and those involved in the agriculture. Therefore to simplify more the hydroponic system here in Philippines, Dr. Primitivo Santos and Dr. Eureka Ocampo, established SNAP in 2005. The term “SNAP” refers to Simple Nutrient Addition Program and from the name itself, it is a system which aims to use basic nutrients needed by plants to be dissolved in water to create a balanced nutrient solution that can be easily absorbed by plant roots in a hydroponic growing environment.
To make the usage of SNAP more effective, the program employs training and certifying participants in crafting a user-friendly and cost-effective hydroponics system by utilizing the Kratky method. This method is a passive hydroponic technique which simply requires suspending seedlings above a reservoir of nutrient-rich water without the use of any electrical actuator like air pumps which circulates the nutrient solution. This SNAP nutrient is comprise of two bottles containing a mineral nutrient solution. Its formulation was spearheaded by the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) in the Philippines.
The simplicity and consistency of the SNAP solution make it a popular choice among hydroponic growers, as it eliminates the need for complex nutrient mixing and ensures that plants receive the proper nutrients in the correct proportions. By following the recommended guidelines for mixing and application, growers can achieve healthy plant growth and maximize yields in their hydroponic systems using the SNAP solution.
Advantages Of Growing Kangkong Hydroponically
- Faster growth rates compared to traditional soil-based gardening.
- Greater control over nutrient levels, leading to healthier plants.
- Water conservation, as hydroponic systems use less water than conventional gardening methods.
- Space efficiency, making it ideal for urban and indoor gardening.
Materials Needed
To start your simple hydroponics system at home, here are the basic materials you will be needing:
- Plastic bucket or container (preferably opaque to prevent algae growth)
- Plastic Colander or Strainer (31.5*29*11cm) [I bought it here]
- Hydroponic nutrient solution (SNAP solution) [I bought it here]
- Kangkong seeds (RAMGO SEEDS) Available in Ace Hardware, SM Supermarket or any Agri-Vet store
- Growing medium (RAMGO: Coco peat)
Now let’s start assembling your hydronics
Steps To Grow Kangkong In A Bucket:
Step 1: Prepare The Bucket
First, fill your plastic bucket with tap water and make sure the water level rises above the bottom of the strainer once it’s placed on top, resembling the illustration provided below: This method ensures that the growing medium remains adequately moist, which is essential for seed growth. (The bucket below is poured with approximately 12L volume of water)
Step 2: SNAP Solution Measurement:
The right ratio of SNAP nutrients with the water is that for every 10L of water, we need to use 25mL of SNAP A and 25mL of SNAP B. And since I used 12L of water, I prepared 30ml of each nutrient. Normally when you buy the SNAP nutrients, it comes with a 25mL-measuring cup so you don’t have to use any measuring device such weighing scale I used below.
Step 3: Mixing of SNAP Solution:
Pour SNAP A into the water and mix them together. Next, add SNAP B to the water and thoroughly mix the solution.
Caution: Avoid combining SNAP A and SNAP B before adding them to water. Mixing SNAP A and SNAP B prematurely will lead to a reaction between the two components, rendering the solution ineffective.
Step 4: Adding Coco Peat:
Place your Coco Peat into the strainer ensuring it’s evenly distributed and covers the bottom around 2.5cm thick (1 inch). The growing medium will provide support for the Kangkong roots and allow them to access the nutrient solution. Then place your strainer on top of the bucket.
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Step 5: Planting Kangkong Seeds
Using Kangkong seeds, plant them directly into the growing medium, ensuring consistent spacing between each seed. Be cautious to prevent the seeds from being submerged in water, as this could lead to rot. Regarding the number of seeds I planted, I just divided the RAMGO Kangkong seeds sachet into two portions, allowing me to sow them into two separate sets of hydroponic buckets..
Step 6: Covering And Watering
Once you’ve covered the Kangkong seeds with an additional layer of Coco Peat, spray the entire growing medium with water until it’s thoroughly moistened. Then, place the bucket in a well-lit area, making sure it’s protected from rainfall. Monitor the moisture level of the medium daily. If it starts to dry out, continue spraying it with water. Alternatively, you can use a lid with aeration holes to retain moisture while allowing air to circulate and escape.
Step 7: After Two (2) Weeks
One week later, the seeds begin to germinate, and by the following week, the Kangkong has sprouted even larger. If the coco peat has dried out, spray it again with water to maintain moisture and facilitate the germination of other seeds.
Step 8: After More than Six (6) Weeks
After a period exceeding six (6) weeks, my Kangkong plants are thriving with tender green leaves. The stems have matured, indicating they are now ready for harvesting.
Step 9: The Harvest
Kangkong can be harvested when the leaves reach the desired size, typically within 4-6 weeks after planting. Use clean scissors or pruning shears to cut the desired amount, leaving some leaves and stems to continue growing. Regular harvesting will encourage new growth and prolong the harvest period. And voila! I can now prepare my own breakfast of steamed kangkong with chili garlic and Toyomansi.
Step 10: Maintain & Monitor
Place your bucket in a sunny location to provide adequate light for plant growth. Regularly monitor the water level and nutrient solution concentration, topping up with water or fresh nutrient solution as needed. Anticipate a decrease in the working solution level as the plants mature. This decline will occur more rapidly as the plants continue to grow. Likewise, always inspect the roots and leaves for any signs of rot, disease or insect larva and take appropriate measures to maintain plant health.
Refill the working solution once it reaches a low level, ensuring it never completely dries out. When replenishing the solution, be careful not to let it reach the bottom of the colander or strainer, submerging all the roots. The upper half of the plant roots should always remain exposed to air and not submerged in water. Adhere to this practice whenever refilling the contents of the bucket.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
What Else Can I Grow In Hydroponics?
You can grow a wide variety of plants using hydroponics. Some popular options include leafy greens like lettuce, kale, and spinach, as well as herbs such as basil, parsley, and cilantro. Other options include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, and even certain flowering plants like roses and orchids. The possibilities are vast, and many plants thrive in hydroponic systems, making it a versatile method of cultivation.
Do SNAP Nutrients Expire?
As long as they are tightly capped and stored in a cool and dry place they last indefinitely.
Final Thought
Cultivating kangkong in a bucket using hydroponics provides an effective and space-efficient approach to growing this nutritious leafy green. By following the instructions provided in this guide and ensuring proper care and maintenance, you can yield a plentiful harvest of fresh kangkong directly from your hydroponic garden.
Establishing your own hydroponic system in your garden, as demonstrated here, offers more than just personal consumption; it can also serve as the foundation for a small-scale business venture. In my situation, I’ve implemented two kangkong hydroponic systems not solely for personal use, but also to provide sustenance for my rabbits.
Salamat mga Ka-Butingting! If you find this post helpful, please share it with those who also might benefit from it. And don’t hesitate to share it too to your social media networks. God Bless!
