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.

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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!

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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.

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In a Recovery Drip System, overflow of the nutrients will be collected back into the reservoir for reuse. The Non-Recovery Drip System does not collect the excess of nutrient solution. Therefore it is crucial to use a more precise timer to control the watering cycles to minimize the waste of runoff while nourish the plants with adequate hydroponic nutrients.

Though nutrient solution is utilized more efficiently in the Recovery Drip System, more maintenance tasks are required. When nutrient solution is recycled back into the reservoir, it will have significant change in pH and the strength. Therefore, constant checking and adjusting of the nutrient solution is essential.

Since Non-Recovery Drip system does not collect the excess of nutrients, it basically requires little to no maintenance. After you have set up the system with pH-adjusted nutrients, you can basically leave it to operate by itself until the time to refill with more nutrient solution.

Common growing medium used for Drip systems are rockwool, clay pellets and lava chips. Growing medium plays an important role in Drip system to determine the type of emitters used for dripping purpose. Generally, a fast draining medium (such as clay pellets) will require faster dripping emitters. On the other hand, slower dripping emitters are best used alongside with slow draining medium like rockwool.

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Usually pieces of porous material with high absorbent power like nylon ropes are used as wicks. One end of the wick is placed at the bottom of the growing container, and the other end is left hanging down the nutrient solution. The wick draws the water and nutrients from the reservoir up into the growing medium in the container.

While you can basically use any types of growing medium in the Wick hydroponic system, it is recommended to use growing mediums that can retain more water and nutrients for example, perlite, vermiculite, and / or coconut fiber. A mixture of perlite / vermiculite in the ratio of 1:1 works great in the Wick system, though the combination of perlite and coconut fiber is common too.

As the Wick system does not have proper aeration for the roots, it is usually wise to install an external air pump to supply oxygen into the nutrient reservoir. Run an airline from the air pump into the reservoir with the other end attached to an air stone. This will slowly oxygenate the nutrient solution in the reservoir. When nutrient solution is supplied to the root zone, it allows the roots to breathe.

There are few issues you need to consider when using the Wick system:

1. It is hard to achieve the correct moisture level for the plants as the wick used might not be able to pull sufficient water and nutrients to nourish the roots. You need to constantly experiment with different types of wick and growing medium in order to get the right growing environment.

2. The plants may use up the nutrient solution faster than the wicks can provide if the plants are big or if they take up large quantity of water.

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