So what is hydroponic gardening all about?

Hydroponic gardening is a method of growing plants without the use of soil. Instead of soil. Akarina uses liquid fertiliser to feed the plants and combines this with specially developed L.E.D lamps built into the unit, that provide ideal light wavelengths for promoting plant growth. This makes it possible to grow plants and flowers indoors without the need for natural sunlight.
Picture
Akarina uses specially designed L.E.D. lamps. The wavelength of this L.E.D. is  suitable for growing plants.

Akarina uses a nylon sponge to cultivate plants from a seed. The sponge pulls nutrient solution out  of the reservoir, up to the plant.  


The Akarina system has many benefits:
  • You can enjoy growing a variety of seasonal plants all year round
  • You can grow plants anywhere in your home, even in dark or heavily shaded areas
  • Because Akarina uses no soil there is less mess than with typical pot plants
  • Potential for damage by insects such as fruit flies is reduced

Follow these 4 simple steps and you'll be harvesting your first crop in just 40 days!

Examples above and below shown for OMA05 and OMA06 Akarina Models. The process is the same for other models and is shown on individual model pages.

Seed types and where to buy

A huge variety of seeds are widely available in the U.K. from your local Garden Centre or Hydroponic equipment retailer. Packaged seeds like those shown below are widely available and very inexpensive to buy. Some Garden Centres will sell 'Quick Grow' or 'Speedy Veg' seed types that will give a first harvest in 3 weeks or so. These are great to get you started! You can of course grow pretty much any herb you wish in the Akarina system however, we find that Leaf Salad, Basil, Chive, Mint and Cress tend to be quicker to first harvest whereas herbs like Parsley can take longer. Click on the thumbnail pictures to enlarge.
Akarina is perfect for growing a large variety of different types such as the examples shown below. Why not experiment with lots of exciting new types?

Liquid Nutrient types and Where to buy

To get the best out of your Akarina Grow-light we recommend using the specially formulated House Plant Focus available from our in webstore in 100ml and 30ml sizes. This formulation has been extensively tested in our grow-labs and has consistently outperformed all other brands/variants. Click here to go to the product page at the store. As Akarina only uses a small amount of liquid nutrient for each growth cycle, a single bottle is likely to last a long time.

About Houseplant Focus Balanced Liquid Concentrated Fertiliser

Houseplant Focus is a premium quality, balanced liquid concentrated fertiliser and a complete plant feeding programme. It is manufactured in the UK to the highest standards from pure minerals salts and rich organic nutrients.
In the U.K. you can also purchase a variety of suitable liquid nutrients from your local Garden Centre or Hydroponic equipment retailer, and some supermarkets will also carry stocks. There are many different brands available on the market and some are are more specialised than other e.g. tailored for hard or soft water areas (your local Hydroponic equipment retailer is a good source of information to advise you on the best specialist product for you).