How to Grow Basil With Hydroponics

Germinate the basil seed in rock-wool or purchase transplants from a garden center. Basil is easiest to grow successfully by home hydroponics users if the roots are already established. In the rock-wool, plant seeds a quarter inch deep, moisten the rock-wool unit per the instructions on the packaging and keep in a brightly lit area until germination.

Remove garden center transplants from their containers and rinse the soil gently from the roots, working the soil away lightly with your fingers. Transplant the young basil into the soilless medium of your hydroponics system (usually perlite) so the crown remains just above the surface. Basil crowns are sensitive to excess moisture and may get a fungal infection if they stay wet, according to the book "Hydroponics: Questions and Answers for Sucessful Growing."

Place the rock-wool-bound transplants directly into the planting medium (if any) when the roots are developed enough to grow out of the bottom. Basil seedlings germinated in rock-wool need not be removed from the rock-wool. Some hydroponics systems spray roots with nutrient solution or run nutrient solution by the roots at timed intervals, negating the need for additional planting medium besides the rock-wool.

Ensure your hydroponics system is in an area that receives at least four hours of direct sunlight or install grow lamps over the transplants. Follow the manufacturer's directions for the distance the lamps need to maintain from the top of the basil transplants.

Use nutrient solution recommended for vegetative crops that prefer neutral pH (7.0). Basil can tolerate a wide range of pH (from about 5.0 to 8.0) but will stress if pH changes rapidly. Check basil frequently for signs of mites and aphids, especially if it is grown indoors with little circulation. The fast growth rate of basil in a hydroponics system often leaves it vulnerable to insect pests. Ensure good ventilation with fans to help reduce pests and minimize fungus disease.