Hydroponic Gardening » Hydroponic Gardening

Misconceptions about Hydroponic Gardening

admin — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:04:23 +0000

Hydroponic gardening (growing plants without soil) is a booming but highly misunderstood practice. Some see it with suspicion since they associate it with growing illegal substances; some see it as a deceptive science; some see it merely as a novel but expensive pastime. In reality, however, hydroponics is a system that several hobbyists, gardeners, farmers and even nations use to grow strong and healthy plants. Let us look at a few of the fallacies about hydroponics, and follow up with a clearer understanding.

Among the largest misconceptions is that hydroponic gardens are typically used to grow certain controlled substances in secret growing rooms. Internet sources don’t seem to help since they associate the concepts of hydroponics and illegal activity. This can be explained by the fact that those who are spreading those pieces of information know how to use the Internet and not because every hydroponic garden is illegal. In fact, illegal growing comprises a tiny percentage of hydroponic gardening in general. A lot of beneficial plants and vegetables flourish in a hydroponic environment and so, many farmers are resorting to this practice. In fact, countries such as Canada and Holland are using hydroponics to grow food on a large scale. To suggest that hydroponics is a bad thing because people utilize it to grow illegal substances is to suggest that soil is a bad thing for the same reason. Farming is farming; hydroponics is just an alternate method.

Second, a lot of people believe that hydroponic gardening is unnatural or artificial because it foregoes the use of soil. The truth is, there are no genetic or chemical alterations in hydroponics, and no natural processes are interrupted. The natural elements are given to the plants light, nutrients, water as is the case when they’re planted in soil. In hydroponics, on the other hand, soil is replaced by other root anchoring techniques and nutrients, light and water are provided in ways that would optimize health and growth. Interestingly enough, plants that grow in hydroponic gardens would typically turn out to be healthier and this is done without the use of additives. The process is more complicated, but the result is still the natural production of plants and food.

Others erroneously believe that hydroponic gardening is merely an expensive hobby a fad of sorts that has no real point. While hydroponics is indeed a fun pastime (and a growing business) for hobbyists, it can also be very useful. With hydroponics, growing plants and food in almost any setting becomes a possibility regardless if it’s winter, in the polar regions, in contaminated soils and even in space. More significantly, this alternative method in farming makes the yield and quality of food bearing plants better as a result, food is made readily available to third world countries and in places where famine is widespread.

So maybe, there is more to hydroponic gardening than meets the eye; there’s absolutely more to it than these common misconceptions might lead us to believe.

Homemade Hydroponics

admin — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 03:29:02 +0000

If you intend to build or purchase one of the many types of homemade hydroponics, you should consider very carefully what you really intend to grow because not many homemade hydroponics can be used effectively for any crop. If you are new in the agricultural business and don’t know how to start you can always look for homemade hydroponics in a local store but I must warn you that I haven’t seen a very cheap one yet. Let’s have a closer look at what you really need to do in order to have a successful business.

Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about the topic:

‘The two main types of hydroponics are solution culture and medium culture. Solution culture does not use a solid medium for the roots, just the nutrient solution. The three main types of solution culture are static solution culture, continuous flow solution culture and aeroponics. The medium culture method has a solid medium for the roots and is named for the type of medium, e.g. sand culture, gravel culture or rockwool culture. There are two main variations for each medium, subirrigation and top irrigation. For all techniques, most hydroponic reservoirs are now built of plastic but other materials have been used including concrete, glass, metal, vegetable solids and wood. The containers should exclude light to prevent algae growth in the nutrient solution.’

What do I need for homemade hydroponics?

First of all you will need one tote that will work as the nutrients and mineral reservoir; then a water pump will be used for oxygenating the nutrients all the time. An upper container will be used to hold several other smaller plant containers, in the container’s bottom two holes must be made and used in the following way: one hole will support the flood and drain, and the other one must placed for the overflow pipe.

A short tube pipe must be taken from the water pump to the drain fitting, and the water pump must be connected to a clock. This is the basics of an effective homemade hydroponics. The pump must work four times a day about half an hour each time.

If you succeeded in putting together a functional homemade hydroponics then your job is half done, because the other essential part is to learn how to feed your plants, according to the type of crop you are growing certain nutrients and minerals are to be used to achieve a satisfying result.

One of the best ways to prevent failure is to acquire a Ph meter and an EC meter that will both help you in monitoring the amount of nutrients and minerals your system has. As it can be seen homemade hydroponics are not something very easily made, but with determination and a little effort, results will show.

The things you will need for homemade hydroponics

Building homemade hydroponics is neither impossible nor too expensive, you will just need two 32 liter plastic totes, an aquarium water and an air pump. You also need to buy some flood and drain fittings and finally some plastic tubings and a timer. Hydroponics has become quite a hobby for many researchers and the fact is that its importance is recognized even by NASA that use this technique in providing fresh vegetable and recycle air on the orbital space station. Good luck!

Common Issues with Hydroponic Systems

admin — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 22:55:07 +0000

So you have decided to try hydroponic growing? Congratulations! Now before going forward, guns blazing and rushing out to buy equipment, take a moment to review some common issues with Hydroponic Systems.

Hydroponic Systems can promote conditions (presence of fertilizer and high humidity) which can result in an environment that promotes salmonella growth. Pathogens attacks, such as damp off due to Verticillium wilt, can be caused by the high moisture levels associated with hydroponics and over watering. High humidity in your growing environment can lead to foliar fungus problems/mold. Proper aeration or the supply of air or oxygen to the plants’ roots can be an issue depending on the type of hydroponic system used. Feeding frequency the simpler the system, the more often you will have to be around to add and monitor the nutrient solution. Timing how often to pour nutrient over the aggregate/growing medium. Volume –how much nutrient solution to be poured over the aggregate when using a light proof container system. Another common problem is stock water that is too cold when using stock tank systems.

Sounds intimidating? Fortunately most hydroponic systems are not nearly as difficult when done on a small scale. Just remember that your system may be as complicated or as simple as your abilities and needs dictate. You are the one in charge.

Cleanliness matters. Always cut off dead leaves and remove them from your grow room. Decaying organic matter attracts fungus gnats plain and simple. Remove diseased plants immediately to prevent any infections spreading. Clean the plant box well using a 10% bleach solution before putting it back to use. Rinse/scrub with fresh water – lots of it. When changing water in your stock tank, wash the tank well using a 10% bleach solution. Should you use big trays for blocks and slabs, strongly consider washing these too. Flush irrigation lines with a hydrogen peroxide solution. Make sure your humidity is less than 60% during dark cycles when humidity can be the highest. Air circulation is an essential – a fan takes care of that. Increasing plant resistance to mold problems by adjusting potassium levels higher is an effective preventative measure. Look at your plant spacing and make sure that the plants do not touch the walls of your growing space.

Spending an extra couple of dollars and getting a timer will help with the feeding cycles your hydroponic systems use. Avoid salt built up by top watering your plants once a week if you use the Ebb& Flood method. Look at putting a heating element in a tank to 21oC (70oF). Try allowing a greater difference between night and day temperatures to promote the setting of flowers/fruit. Should you be in mid crop, try using garden sulfur in a foliar spray. Ready made sprays are available and always follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully. The most effective solution to any problems is prevention and experience. Common sense really. So get growing!

Growing Hydroponic Herbs

admin — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 02:22:21 +0000

Growing herbs with a hydroponic system is a very good option. Herbs respond well to growing hydroponically for a number of different reasons. Because of the nature of hydroponics, you can choose to grow your herbs indoors or outdoors. If you are growing during the fall or winter months, it is recommended you plant indoors. No matter what, you are sure to enjoy strong, healthy plants if you follow the right advice for growing herbs with the use of hydroponic methods.

The first thing you need to decide when using hydroponics is whether you are planting indoors or outdoors. Other than the season you are planting in, the considerations you need to make have to do with the amount of rain and moisture that will be in the air. Hydroponic growing environments provide all the water and moisture the plants will need in order to survive. If they are in environments where there is too much moisture in the air, you might over saturate the plant and cause it to die.

The next thing you need to decide is which plants you will be growing in your hydroponic system. It is possible to set up different systems in the same area. Keep in mind most plants will grow better with different nutrient compositions. Growing herbs with a low nutrient content will allow your plants to grow best. If you use a high nutrient content, your plants will not be able to grow correctly. Many of the herbs will require special nutrients in order to grow their best. Basil needs magnesium levels to be at 80 parts per million. Check with the nursery in order to get the right nutrient content for your soil.

If growing indoors, make sure your plants are getting all the light they need. Plants like Basil will need to get at least 8 hours of direct light a day. The recommended amount of light to give your plants will depend on the individual plant. When planting indoors, you can use artificial sunlights in order to control the exact amount of light they get every day. If planting outdoors, make sure the only plants which are exposed to direct sunlight are those which will respond well to it. You can use sunscreens in order to provide shade for those plants that respond better to indirect light.

When growing outdoors, using a greenhouse system is a great way to extend the season for growing. You will not be able to extend the days for the plants that require a lot of light, but being able to retain heat will allow the plants to grow well into the first frost. Greenhouse systems can be as small or as large as you want for them to be. You can easily construct a greenhouse, which is nothing more than glass mounted in wood. When it gets too cold, you can either move plants inside, or harvest and use cuttings in order to replant next year.

Growing herbs with a hydroponic system is a great way to be able to grow without having to worry about soil conditions or pests being able to lay eggs in the soil bed. After your first hydroponic harvest, you may not want to go back to a regular method of growing again. Taste the difference in your herbs in order to decide if you like the results and then decide for future plantings.

Hydroponic Plant Root System

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:00:55 +0000

As we all know, hydroponics is a system of growing plants in the absence of soil or dirt. A hydroponic plant is typically grown in a nutrient solution of water and fertilizer. In a hydroponic system, plants are provided with mechanical support such as sand, gravel, vermiculite or sawdust to keep the plant’s roots intact.

A hydroponic plant is started from seedlings in a soil-less mixture such as peat moss or rock wool blocks. Once the seedling emerges or germinates, the peat moss or rock wool blocks will be transferred to larger growing cubes. As the root system of a hydroponic plant develops, the growing cubes may be placed inside larger growing cubes in a pot in pot system. Also the roots of the plants are never confined and never allowed to touch one another because if the roots touch at all, the plant is considered to be overcrowded.

In cases when plants become leggy from being overcrowded, their growing blocks may be transplanted in a specific process. The process involves the turning of the growing blocks upside down where in the plant’s stem is made to bend into a U shape. This way, the plant will grow new roots from the parts of the stem that are underneath the peat while the plant becomes stronger and healthier. This process is commonly used in hydroponic plant such as tomato vines since it works well with it.

Hydroponic plant just like soil grown plant needs nutrients for them to grow and develop. Nutrients such as carbon and nitrogen are absorbed by the roots. The roots are simple axial organs that produce lateral roots, and sometimes buds, but bear neither leaves nor flowers. Elongation usually occurs in the root tip. For soil grown plants, their roots may be very long because roots eventually elongates or extends to where nutrients are highly available. But in the case of hydroponic plant where nutrients are already made available in significant quantity, there is no need for their roots to grow very long. The roots of a hydroponic plant are usually short and compact, because unlike soil grown plants, where their roots are the ones moving towards the nutrients, with hydroponic system it is the nutrients that are made to move towards the roots.

The spacing of hydroponic plants may be much denser than in soil. A space of two square feet is ideal for the root system of plants in order to avoid overcrowding. There is also a significant effect of sunlight to hydroponic plant spacing. The more sunlight a plant receives the more compact the root system will be. So there is a tendency for plants that are grown in low lighting conditions of having their root system spread out further thus causing overcrowding.

How to have a garden with limited land or soil?

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:03:09 +0000

Hydroponics gardening is a great idea for anyone who wants a garden but doesn’t have enough land or soil. Hydroponics gardening is, essentially, a way to cultivate plants using a nutrient solution instead of soil. With hydroponics gardening, it’s easy to grow lovely flowers and succulent vegetables virtually anywhere you want!

It’s true that hydroponics gardening needs much less time than an ordinary garden. In fact, you might spend only five minutes a day maintaining your hydroponics garden.Once a month the nutrient solution will have to be changed but this will only take a few minutes. Big fruiting vegetables like peppers and tomatoes may not be able to thrive but most other vegetables and flowers will do great.

Tips for the newbie to hydroponics gardening.

While hydroponics gardening can be a little confusing sometimes when starting out, you’ll soon get the jest of it. The same as you need gardening supplies for a ordinary garden, you’ll need hydroponics supplies for your hydroponics garden. The most popular system is the passive system. This is where the plants sit directly in the nutrient solution. All passive air systems use an aquarium air bubbler otherwise the solution can become deoxygenated and could rot the plants. If you can find the right system for you, hydroponics gardening could produce you with all the flowers and vegetables you could possibly want.

How to clone plant for hydroponic gardening

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:55:20 +0000

Learn the step by step process of how to clone any plant from a cutting. Cloning plant is essential in hydroponic gardening and from this video you will find that plant propagation is very simple and can save you a lot of money in the long run.

This video will show you step by step how to clone a plant for hydroponic gardening:

Building Ebb and Flow Hydroponic Systems

admin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:09:31 +0000

Ebb and flow hydroponic system is also known as flood and drain system. It is one the most popular hydroponic systems for the fact that it is simple and easy to use. You can easily build an Ebb and Flow system yourself under the budget of US$100. Ebb and flow hydroponic system is most ideal for growing plants smaller than 24 inches tall.

Concept of Ebb and Flow Hydroponic System

A reservoir filled with hydroponic nutrients and water is placed under a growing tray. The growing tray holds the plants pots, which are filled with growing mediums like rockwool, perlite, clay pebbles, or coconut fiber. The plants are flooded with hydroponic nutrients and water on the timed schedule by using a pump and a timer. When the timer is off, the nutrient solution is slowly drained back to the reservoir providing oxygen to the root system of the plant. To prevent overflow of hydroponic nutrients, an overflow drain is usually installed to adjust the maximum height for filling the nutrients.

Things you need to build an Ebb and Flow hydroponic system

1. Hydroponic tray
Plastic tray is more preferable as it is lighter and more durable to hold up the plants, growing mediums and nutrient solution. Take note that light should not shine through the tray in order to protect the roots system. The tray must be able to drain thoroughly to prevent root rot and mold problems due to standing water pools.

2. Growing medium
You can basically use any growing medium in an Ebb and Flow system. Though grow rocks or clay pebbles are more effective as this type growing mediums does not hold lots of water.

3. Support system
You will need a support system to hold the growing tray above the reservoir. The support system used must be strong and sturdy to bear the weight of your plants, growing mediums, and nutrient solution. You can use table, sawhorses, or milk crate as the support system in your Ebb and flow hydroponic system.

4. Plant pots
You can use almost any plastic pot as long as it has a hole at the bottom to allow the fill and drain of hydroponic nutrients.

5. Reservoir
Large plastic container works best as reservoir as it does not rust over time. Make sure the container is light proof to prevent algae growth problem.

6. Water pump
For a small scale setup, using an aquarium pump is adequate.

7. Drains
Basically there are 2 types of drain required in an Ebb and flow system. One for the filling and draining of the water from reservoir. Another drain is for controlling the overflow where you can adjust the maximum water level for your hydroponic system.

8. Timer
You can use any timer that allows the adjustment for an interval of 15 minutes or 30 minutes.

9. Flexible Tubing
Flexible tubing is required to connect the pump to your growing tray. Make sure you use non-transparent type of tubing to prevent algae growth.

Watch this video to learn how to build Hydroponic Ebb and Flow System easily.

Make Hydroponic Nutrients | DIY Hydroponic Nutrients

admin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:22:50 +0000

Benefits of DIY / Homemade Hydroponic Nutrients

1. Organic hydroponic nutrients
By making your own hydroponic nutrients, you able to ensure that they are purely organic by using only organic materials. As opposed to store bought hydroponic nutrients, you may not be sure about the ingredients that are going into your plants.

2. Customized hydroponic nutrients
Making your own hydroponic nutrients is the only way for you to customize the specific nutrient needs for your plant. You can grow your plants the way you want them to by using DIY hydroponic nutrients.

Make Hydroponic Nutrients

On top of the fundamental 3 key elements: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; you need at least 10 other trace elements when making hydroponic nutrients. Each of these trace elements has its specific role in nourishing your plants. These elements include sulphur, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, chlorine, boron and molybdenum.

Nutrients requirement of a plant changes under different conditions, weather and timing. Therefore, the nutrient solution must be in balanced ratio that contains all of the important elements in order to satisfy the requirements of the plant at any one time.

Formula to Make Hydroponic Nutrients

Combine the following ingredients in a container and set aside for later use.

- 15 oz superphosphate
- 10 oz potassium sulphate
- 10 oz sodium nitrate
- 10 oz calcium nitrate
- 5 oz magnesium sulphate

These are the trace elements to be added into our hydroponic nutrients in order to provide balance nutrients for proper plant growth.

- 1 oz iron sulphate
- 1 teaspoon boric acid powder
- 1 teaspoon manganese sulphate
- 1/2 teaspoon copper sulphate
- 1/2 teaspoon zinc sulphate

Combine the above trace elements in a different container. Mix them well before crushing them into fine powder. When they are completely mixed and in powdery form, add them to the formula prepared above and stirs well.

You can either
1. Use the ratio of 1/2 teaspoon to 100 gallons of water, or
2. Mix 1 teaspoon into one quart of water and use one liquid ounce to 3 gallons of nutrient solution.

Keep in mind that the remaining mix shall be discarded as it becomes bad after a day.

Tips for Making Hydroponic Nutrients

1. Use a large and clean bowl for mixing the trace elements.
2. Use a mortar and pestle to crush pebbly elements.
3. Add powdered trace elements in the last step and mix everything together gently.

Organic hydroponic gardening

admin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:51:09 +0000

Many believe that hydroponic gardening is non-organic for the fact that it does not use soil.Organic growers suppose organic gardening is unachievable without the use of rich soil.

However, organic hydroponic gardening is proven possible with the following tips.

Basically in hydroponic gardening, plants rely on water to provide necessary nutrients. Growing medium is used to anchor the roots system and to hold the hydroponic nutrient solution.

In order to comply with organic gardening rules, the growing medium used must be of organic material such as coconut fiber, straw, cotton, and coco peat. Same applies to the nutrient solution used to feed the plants. These must be organic as well. Usually compost tea is used to supply the much-needed nutrients for plants grown with organic hydroponic gardening. Compost tea is a nutrient rich solution made by steeping compost in water. Other organic options for hydroponic nutrient are manure tea, seaweed and fish emulsion.

Now you understand that hydroponic gardening can be organic too, as long as the growing medium and the nutrient solution used are organic. Organic hydroponic gardening is a good option for growing crops in soil-depleted places. For urbanites that lack of growing space, organic hydroponic gardening makes rooftop garden and / or indoor garden possible. I believe the most exciting part of organic hydroponic gardening is the fact that anyone can easily grow their healthy and fresher organic food within their hydroponic garden.

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