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Hydroponics

Discover the world of hydroponics, an innovative method of growing plants in nutrient-rich solutions instead of soil. This guide covers essential facts about different hydroponic systems, requirements for home-growing, and commercial scalability. Learn about substrates, nutrient needs, and the optimal conditions for plant growth. Explore various media types and watering techniques tailored for hydroponics. Ideal for hobbyists and aspiring commercial growers, this resource provides insights into achieving successful plant cultivation without the limitations of soil.

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Hydroponics

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  1. Hydroponics

  2. Hydroponics • The growing of plants in a solution of nutrients necessary for plant growth, rather than directly in soil.

  3. Substrate • the substance in which something takes root

  4. General Facts: • any plant can be grown in a hydroponics system • almost any system will produce acceptable growth

  5. General Facts; • small scale is entirely different from the culture of several thousand plants • has contributed much to understanding plant growth

  6. General Facts: • Very few commercial producers • Most facilities are experimental, studying plant nutrition

  7. Different Names: • nutriculture • solution culture • slop culture • gravel culture

  8. Requirements for home hydroponics • best possible light • humidity 50% or more • day temp 75 degrees • night temp 65 degrees

  9. Requirements for home hydroponics • no need for special drainage system • small scale, outstanding plants such as tomatoes, radishes, lettuce, carnations, roses, cabbage etc. produced

  10. Requirements for home hydroponics • return is not sufficient for a hobbyist to earn a living.

  11. Facts about hydroponic growing • plants don’t do well unless all essential nutrients are available in reasonable amounts

  12. Facts about hydroponic growing • 25 gallon container, minimum size for proper proportion of nutrients

  13. Facts about hydroponic growing • the larger the particles in the substrate, the more often it must be watered.

  14. Commercial use • very familiar with plants • observation can determine temps and nutrient deficiency

  15. Commercial use • to earn a reasonable living you must grow thousands of plants

  16. Commercial use • minimum of 100,000 square feet is needed to break even financially

  17. Growers must know about plants • most plants are very adaptive • plants can take a lot of abuse

  18. Growers must know about plants • plants require a minimum amount of water, food, vitamins, sleep and proper temps.

  19. Growers must know about plants • each species has its own requirements for maximum growth

  20. Media • almost any inert material may be used as a substrate • substrate must not decompose or be too fine

  21. Media • River washed gravel is competitive in price with soil mixtures • aeration of roots is necessary

  22. Various Media Types • rock • volcanic ash • vermiculite - heated mica • perlite - exploded volcanic rock 1800 degrees F.

  23. Various Media Types • peat moss • granite or sand • idealite - concrete aggregate • water

  24. Watering • frequency depends upon media • each time a hydroponics system is replanted, roots will be left, this increases water holding capacity

  25. Conventional Irrigation • flooding • flood tray until water appears at surface • perforated tube is used to fill and drain media as needed

  26. Flooding • nutrient solution is pumped back and tray is flooded again

  27. Disadv. Of Flooding • nutrient solution can become unbalanced • bacteria and disease can be spread

  28. Peripheral Gates • nutrient solution applied and allowed to drain away • non recirculating system • no storage tank

  29. Peripheral Gates • bacteria and diseases are drained away • solution is sprayed on

  30. Disadv. Of Peripheral • more expensive, solution is not reused • spraying can cause spread of disease by splashing

  31. Ooze Tube System • drip holes in double tube • no splashes • Disadvantages: most expensive

  32. Facts about nutrients • all plants require certain basic elements • if nutrients are missing poor growth may result

  33. Facts about nutrients • plants need more of the major elements • any deficiency is rapidly apparent

  34. Facts about nutrients • trace minerals are often present in tap water in sufficient amounts.

  35. Major Elements in a basic solution • Ca - Calcium • K - Potassium • N - Nitrogen • P - Phosphorous • Mg - Magnesium

  36. Minor Elements • Mn - Manganese • S - Sulfur • Cu - Copper • B - boron

  37. Minor Elements • Fe - Iron • Zn - Zinc • Mo - Molybdenum

  38. Recommendations • If less than 25 gallons of nutrient solution is needed, purchase a commercial preparation • Get a scale that can weigh to less than 0.01 oz.

  39. Diatomaceous Earth • Skeletons of diatoms • dried and used as a filter

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