By now it’s known that having a hydroponic system allows us easy access to nutritious greens. What is often overlooked is how hydroponics also gives us the ability to grow fresh veggies for our pets. There are many vegetarian pets or pets that require veggies in their diet, like rabbits, guinea pigs, and some lizards. My girlfriend and I have 2 bearded dragons of our own and this is how we use hydroponics to feed them!
*Make sure to check out the video at the end!
Meet The Beardies
Before getting into how we use hydroponics to feed our beardies, let’s say hello to the main characters. I introduce to you Rogan and Lev!
Bearded dragons are super easy to take care of but like most pets, they have specific nutritional requirements. In addition to eating bugs like super worms, they also need to have a steady helping of greens in their diet.
Certain greens are more suitable for bearded dragons due to their nutrient content. Collard greens, mustard greens, and kale are among the top choices but they will eat almost any greens and some vegetables as well.
Basically, they love the hydroponic garden as much as we do.
The Hydroponic Set Up
Choosing the right hydroponic system is crucial for successful cultivation. Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) and ebb and flow (flood and drain) hydroponic systems are popular for growing greens because they are easy to maintain and can grow many plants
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I use a homemade ebb and flow hydroponic system to grow veggies for our bearded dragons. Having fresh greens on hand is convenient. When it comes time to feed the beardies, we harvest a little of the greens and make them a salad. No need to worry about remembering to pick some up from the grocery store or throwing out the slimy unused store store-bought lettuce we used to use.
What We Grow For The Beardies
Certain greens are more suitable for bearded dragons due to their nutrient content. Collard greens, mustard greens, and kale are among the top choices but they will eat almost any greens. We mainly grow kale, spring mix, and arugula for our bearded dragons. They also get lots of whatever we are growing for ourselves at the moment.
Many types of greens can be harvested using the cut-and-come-again method. With this method of harvesting the plant is harvested in a way that allows it to grow back instead of having to start a new plant from seed. When using the cut and come again you can get several harvests from each plant.
Start Your Hydroponic System!
Are you ready to start your hydroponic garden? Check out this article on how to start your hydroponic garden in 7 easy steps!
Bonus! Bearded Dragon Feeding- Harvest To Consumption
Check out this video of our bearded dragons finishing off the last of our butterhead lettuce!
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