1. Overview of hydroponic flowers

　　1. Hydroponic flowers are a type of flowers cultivated using nutrient solution. The cultivation technology of hydroponic flowers is quite mature. At present, there are two main types of hydroponic flowers on the market. One is water-grown hydroponic flowers, which are mainly for viewing flowers, leaves and roots; the other is combined cultivation and planting hydroponic flowers, that is, fish are raised while hydroponic flowers are cultivated, so that you can view flowers, leaves, roots and fish, thus achieving the effect of harmonious coexistence of animals and plants.

　　2. Characteristics of hydroponic flowers

　　(1) Clean, tidy, environmentally friendly, and pollution-free. Hydroponic flowers use nutrient solution instead of soil, which is cleaner and tidier than traditional potted flowers. At the same time, adding nutrient solution instead of traditional potted flower fertilization avoids the odor caused by the volatilization of fertilizers in traditional fertilization technology, making the air in the entire space fresher.

　　(2) High ornamental value. Traditional potted flowers can only appreciate the above-ground parts of the flowers, i.e. stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, etc., while hydroponic flowers can be appreciated not only for their above-ground parts, but also for their underground parts, i.e. roots. If the hydroponic flowers are cultivated and planted together, you can also enjoy watching fish, which is a special kind of fun.

　　(3) Cultivation and management are simple and easy, saving time and labor. Hydroponic flowers free people from the tedious cultivation and management of traditional flower cultivation, making fertilizer and water management simpler. If fertilizer and water change are required, just add or replace a certain amount of nutrient solution.

　　(4) Elegant, beautiful, and highly decorative. As people's living standards improve, their requirements for interior decoration are also getting higher and higher. Hydroponic flowers have changed the opacity of traditional potted flower pots, allowing people to freely choose transparent flower pots of various models and shapes, such as glass vases, making the flowers more decorative as a whole.

　　2. Types of flowers suitable for hydroponics

　　At present, the types of flowers suitable for hydroponics are mainly perennial flowers, including three categories: ① Woody flowers: Pachira aquatica, Brazilian wood, Osmanthus fragrans, Araucaria, etc.; ② Herbaceous flowers: Clivia, pineapple, African daisy, etc.; ③ Bulbous flowers: tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, cyclamen, etc.

　　3. Hydroponic flower cultivation process

　　This article takes the example of hydroponic flowers that combine cultivation and planting to introduce the process of hydroponic flower cultivation. Hydroponic flowers that combine cultivation and planting are based on traditional potted flower cultivation and are cultivated through processes such as soil removal, root washing with clean water, disinfection, and domestication liquid treatment. The steps are as follows:

　　1. For traditional soil-cultured potted flowers, choose soil-cultured flowers with strong growth, developed root system and high ornamental value as materials for hydroponic flowers.

　　2. Manual soil removal: Take the soil-grown flowers out of the pots and remove the soil attached to the flower roots. When manually removing the soil, be sure to shake it gently, especially for flowers with weak roots or poor root regeneration ability, to avoid damaging the roots. If the pot soil is too dry, water it thoroughly once 1 to 2 days before manual soil removal.

　　3. Wash the roots with clean water. Put the flower roots after artificial soil removal into clean water for washing. If there is still a small amount of soil attached to the roots, it is advisable to use a soft brush such as a brush to clean them until the roots are clean.

　　4. Disinfection: After washing the roots of the flowers, use sterilized scissors to trim the roots. After cutting off the diseased and dead roots, place them in 0.05% to 0.3% potassium permanganate solution for disinfection for 10 minutes.

　　5. Domestication: Place the disinfected flower roots in NAA domestication solution for 20 minutes to change the root physiological functions and adapt them to the hydroponic environment.

　　4. Maintenance and management

　　The maintenance and management of hydroponic flowers mainly includes the regulation and management of temperature, humidity, light, ventilation, pH value, etc.

　　1. Temperature management Generally speaking, the suitable growth temperature for most hydroponic flowers is 10-30℃.

　　2. Ventilation is very important for hydroponic flowers grown in facilities. There are two types of ventilation: natural ventilation and forced ventilation. Natural ventilation is the air circulation formed by the natural movement of air. Forced ventilation is the use of mechanical forces, such as exhaust fans and fans, to replace indoor and outdoor air. The ventilation method to be used should be determined according to the specific cultivation environment and conditions.

　　3. Humidity: The relative humidity of the air for hydroponic flowers should generally be maintained at 70% to 80%. Too high or too low humidity is not conducive to the growth of hydroponic flowers, and is also prone to cause diseases and pests.

　　4. Lighting conditions should be determined according to the habits of hydroponic flowers. Shade-loving hydroponic flowers, such as Clivia and Araucaria, should be shaded by shade nets; sun-loving hydroponic flowers, such as Croton and Narcissus, should be guaranteed light.

　　5. pH value and nutrient solution concentration The optimal pH value of hydroponic nutrient solution is 5.5-6.5. The pH value of the nutrient solution should be tested regularly to ensure that it is appropriate. If it is not appropriate, it should be adjusted. The total salt concentration should be controlled below 4.5‰ to ensure the survival requirements of fish.

　　6. Change the water once every 5 to 7 days in summer. If the water is pure and clean, and the plants and fish grow well, the water can be changed once every 20 days or so.

　　7. Fish feeding Under hydroponic environment conditions, fish should be fed reasonably according to their habits. Generally speaking, fish should be fed once every 2 to 4 days, and the amount of food each time should not be too much, otherwise it will easily cause the fish's belly to swell, reduce its ornamental value or even cause death.

　　8. Shaping and pruning: Home hydroponic flowers are cultivated under anoxic conditions. Compared with soil-grown flowers, the plants develop slowly and grow weakly. In order to maintain the beautiful shape of the plants, generally only overcrowded branches and leaves, long branches, etc. are pruned, or their growth is controlled by pinching, bud stripping, and bud removal techniques to meet people's viewing requirements. New roots should not be pruned. Flowers with sparse and strong root systems, such as Paphiopedilum and pineapple, should not have their roots pruned.

　　9. Pest and disease control Although hydroponic flowers are free from soil pests and diseases, fungi, bacteria, and viruses in the air and nutrient solution can still infect flowers and fish. Therefore, pest and disease control is still an important management measure. For hydroponic flower pests and diseases, we should adhere to the principle of "prevention first, comprehensive prevention and control", with emphasis on prevention. In daily maintenance and management, pay attention to adjusting environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and light to avoid the occurrence of pests and diseases. Once pests and diseases occur, due to the particularity of the environment in which hydroponic flowers are placed, it is generally not appropriate to use chemical pesticides. It is advisable to use artificial insect catching, spraying biological pesticides and other methods for prevention and control to avoid the toxicity of chemical pesticides to the human oral cavity, respiratory tract, etc.

　　To sum up, hydroponic flowers have enriched the traditional flower market. With the improvement of people's living standards, hydroponic flowers will surely achieve rapid development with advantages that traditional flowers cannot match.