the birds and the bees of hydroponics
“ Luckily , pollination of most hydroponic crops generally doesn ’ t involve precise , eyestraining work with a paint brush .”
Strawberry flowers under protected cropping may be pollinated with portable bee hives or wind blowers .
However , many crops benefit from a well-timed helping hand as large amounts of pollen transfer , which helps ensure improved fruit size , shape , and uniformity .
HOW TO POLLINATE
The requirements , and method used , for pollination are highly speciesdependant , so it pays to know what to do and when to do it . Most fruit-bearing species require some form of pollination , with the exception being many of the commercial hydroponic cucumber types , which are seedless and exhibit parthenocarpic fruit set ( that is , without pollination ). Tomatoes , melons , strawberries , capsicum , and eggplant all benefit from pollination assistance and the correct growing conditions for pollen viability and transfer . Luckily , pollination of most hydroponic crops generally doesn ’ t involve precise , eye-straining work with a paint brush ( although this is still a requirement for some exotic ornamental species ). Commercial tools and devices for greenhouse pollination work just as well in an indoor garden , but even these are not necessary for small-scale crops .
THE ARTIFICIAL BEE
In greenhouse production , crops such as tomatoes , melons , and capsicum may be pollinated by bees , which are introduced to the crop from small , portable hives . Bees are highly efficient ; not only do they transfer pollen , which is carried on their hairy bodies and legs from plant to plant , but they also assist with self-pollination by releasing a large amount of pollen as they buzz around the flower . Using bumble bees as pollinators has been shown to significantly increase fruit weight , fruit width , fruit volume , seed weight , and fruit shape , as well as reducing the number of days from fruit set to harvest . In an indoor garden , a viable alternative is the artificial bee : a small battery-powered , hand-held device that is held against the plant stem behind the flower . When triggered , the artificial bee delivers vibrations at a frequency similar to that of a bee inside a flower , causing large amounts of pollen to be released . Artificial bees , or ‘ truss vibrators ’, are most commonly used for tomato crops grown in areas where bee hives are not available or not economic for small-scale systems .
136 Maximum Yield USA | February 2017