Hydroponic gardeningAll about hydroponic gardening information

Commercial Hydroponics

With the first successful application of hydroponics techniques in the 1930s the stage was set for a paradigm shift in crop production from conventional geoponics or cultivation in soil to hydroponics or soil less cultivation. The first crops to be commercially harvested with hydroponics included tomatoes and peppers, but the techniques were soon successfully extended to other crops such as lettuce, cucumbers and others. It was not long before hydroponics techniques were successfully adapted even to cut flowers production; in fact any plant can today be grown hyrdroponically.

Commercial Systems Overview

Commercial hydroponics systems can be classified into bare root systems comprising nutrient film technique (NFT), deep flow and aeroponics systems and substrate systems.

Bare root systems do not use media to anchor the plant roots; the roots are left bare while in substrate systems plant roots are anchored in media such as perlite, vermiculite, sawdust, peat etc. Hydroponics is basically all about growing plants in a controlled environment and this is best provided outdoors in greenhouses that can incorporate several means to monitor, regulate and control the environment inside them. For instance, the air entering the greenhouse can be filtered to exclude entry to pests and parasites that can harm plant growth. Such means help provide optimal conditions for plant growth both in and out of season. In fact, hydroponics allows cultivation throughout the year which makes for year round availability of hydroponically grown produce at all major supermarkets across North America. Valued at 2.4 billion dollars the hydroponic greenhouse vegetable industry has a growth rate of 10 percent per year and accounts for nearly 95 percent of the greenhouse vegetables produced in North America.

Hydroponics Advantages

The extension of the growing season is not the only advantage contributing to the growing popularity of hydroponics production with both growers and consumers. There are several additional advantages as well including nutritious, healthy and clean produce, improved and consistent vegetable quality and elimination of the use of pesticides and herbicides. Pesticides and other chemicals used in conventional agriculture have an adverse environmental impact; the run off from these chemicals contaminate groundwater supplies. Commercial hydroponics systems eliminate these toxic chemicals and contribute substantially to keeping the groundwater free from contamination.

Yields

Commercial hydroponics systems have proved more productive than conventional systems of agriculture not only in the laboratory but even in actual practice. Most commercial hydroponics greenhouse facilities are built large to take advantage of economies of scale; typically these cover areas more than 10 acres while smaller ones measure around two acres. In the research greenhouse, yields with hydroponics techniques have averaged around 20 to 25% higher than in conventional soil cultivation. In actual commercial practice, however, over a number of years, the yield of hydroponically grown tomatoes can be more than double that of soil based systems due to the reduced turnover time between crops, better nutrition and crop management. Additionally commercial hydroponics growing techniques are also less demanding of chemicals for root zone sterilization and control of pests, weeds etc.

The dramatic increase in yields with hydroponics is best illustrated if we consider the actual production figures of soil grown and hydroponically grown produce. Field grown tomatoes average yields ranging between 40,000 to 60, 000 pounds per acre; on the other hand top growing hydroponics facilities in the US and Canada report average yields of more than 650,000 pounds of tomatoes per acre. Additionally, given the fact that only 10 years ago top hydroponics producers were producing around 400,000 pounds per acre, the increase in yields with improvements in growing practices has been truly phenomenal. Similar production figures can be quoted for other agricultural produce like cucumbers with 10,000 pounds per acre for field production and 200,000 per acre for hydroponic greenhouse yields. Hydroponics lettuce and pepper yields too average around four times the corresponding yields of agricultural production.

Global Trends

Given the number of advantages of hydroponics it is not surprising that hydroponics techniques are increasingly finding favor for commercial food production in many countries all over the world. According to recent estimates countries having substantial commercial hydroponics production include Israel – 30,000 acres, Holland 10,000 acres, England 4,200 acres and Australia and New Zealand around 8,000 acres between them. The fastest growing area for commercial vegetable greenhouses is Mexico. There are several reasons for this including free trade and favorable winter conditions that attract vegetable growers in large numbers. Mexico has summers that are considered hot in the summer, but with greenhouses located at the right altitudes vegetables can be grown in the hot summers as well as the cold winters. Though much of the produce comes from low tech plastic houses, many of these greenhouses use hydroponics technology, which indicates the growing popularity of hydroponics in commercial food production.

By: Richa Parera

There is a long list of benefits from utilizing the Hydroponics System, most of which are the primary reasons why this system is widely accepted around the globe for production of food. Some of them are listed below:

? You don’t need to use soil in hydroponic gardening.
? There is efficient water conservation since water remains back in the processing system and can be recycled.
? There is a high capability of controlling the level of nutrition of the entire process therefore you spend less in nutrition costs.
? Pollution of the nutrition need not be released to the free environment since system is generally controlled.
? Hydroponics achieves high yield and high stability.
? The insects and its related diseases can be easily eliminated from the soil since the container is mobile.

The progress is so fast and the end result has achieved very well-defined advantages compared to most conventional techniques in horticulture. In so many countries, hydroponics has been proven to be generally a practical application. There are two main benefits of the gardening of plants without soil. First, yielding capacity of crops is higher. Secondly, hydroponics might be applied in locations where there is the impossibility of gardening or agriculture on the ground itself.

Aside from being profitable, hydroponics systems have been proven for their great beneficial contribution to people, such as city-dwellers who live on crowded urban streets and find it impossible to have gardens. They can cultivate fruits and fresh vegetables placed on the rooftops. With the application of hydroponics, places like such can still achieve high yield and an ample stock of fresh vegetables. Even in rocky, stony and desert locations in mountainous areas, or even in sterile and arid lands, hydroponics can be applied at a considerably lower cost.

Faster growth of plants and immunity, stability in crops, and the high quality and excellence of the produce are also some of the great advantages. Growing area is also considerably reduced so very little space is actually needed. Weeds practically could not exist, while the old methods and the automatic operations provide lesser cost and less labour.

There are also some disadvantages with the use of hydroponic system.

Hydroponic conditions, with high humidity and application of fertilizer can make a condition that could generate salmonella growth. The other disadvantage is of pathogen attacks which include damping-off because of the Verticillium wilt produced due to high level of moisture as a result to overwatering and hydroponics of plants grown in soil.

Though hydroponics system requires low cost maintenance, setting up a new hydroponic system demands a considerable capital. Many family farm supporters are quick to judge that the hydroponics’ technological approach is precisely the variety of venture designed to draw investment. An investment like this will continually dominate American agriculture by the centralization of ownership and capital. Some of the giant corporations like the Control Data, General Mills, and General Electric are doing experiments with fully mechanized hydroponic factories. Some of these ventures often lead to controlled levels of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere. This technique is called “controlled-environment growing” with respect to this type of technology.

By: Melissa Murdoch

Everyone has heard the saying that if you give a man a fish you will feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish you will feed him for a lifetime. This saying has been around forever and shows that hunger has been around as long as people have. It also demonstrates that there are ways to end peoples hunger by giving them long-term solutions instead of short-term satisfaction. But, not everyone is able to fish to provide for themselves. So, is there another way to help end world hunger that can be used almost anywhere in the world regardless of whether or not there are fish available? There is another way to save the world.

Hydroponics

That’s right. Hydroponics grow systems can be used throughout the world to provide food in places that traditionally can not make food. Hydroponic plants can be grown in the desert, in the arctic, and any environment in between, if certain conditions are maintained. Hydroponic plants are easy to produce and the process is simple to learn. These systems also work very well for other indoor gardening endeavors and can provide large amounts of plants that can be used for food, ornamental, or medicinal purposes.

Traditionally, hydroponics grow systems are thought to have been used exclusively to grow marijuana. That simply is not the case. While there are people who use hydroponic grow boxes to grow marijuana, hydroponic systems can grow almost any type of plant and can produce viable plants throughout the year.

In order for people throughout the world to begin hydroponics, they must first have an area to grow their plants. Convenient hydroponics grow systems include pre-manufactured grow boxes that are designed for hydroponic production. These can be purchased on the internet and shipped to people who need food. A grow box can be as simple or as complex as the grower desires.

Imagine a world where there are no starving children crying in the streets. Imagine a world where everyone has enough food to eat. This is an ideal world and it can be achieved in our lifetime, if everyone in the world uses hydroponics to grow their own food. Why rely on fish alone?

By: Albert Farajian

Though plants have been traditionally grown outdoors in soil, with the use of hydroponics techniques, it is possible to grow plants indoors, in fact in any place.
Hydroponics techniques have been successfully used to cultivate a wide variety of plants even in places with climates that do not support plant growth like deserts and Polar Regions.

Controlled Environment

Growing plants indoors with hydroponics is basically all about simulating the natural growth environment indoors, usually in specially designed grow rooms or grow chambers. The plants can then be supplied with the essential growth inputs in a controlled manner to stimulate and regulate growth. Hydroponics often gives results far superior to conventional cultivation due the fact that it offers a measure of control over factors like nutrition, lighting etc.

Unlike conventional cultivation, hydroponics cultivation does not use soil, instead it uses other grow media to serve the same purpose. The material may be water, gravel, sand or vermiculite; even bran and coconut fiber can be used. The medium serves to hold the plant and also facilitates the supply of nutrients in the form of a solution. The solution is then added to the grow media; the plant roots are thus bathed in a solution which is rich in nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium and trace minerals. Additionally, since the medium is highly porous, it is ideally suited to ensure the supply of oxygen to the roots.

Energy Requirements

Plants make their own food and for this they need energy, which they get from the sun’s radiation. Instead of sunlight, indoor hydroponics systems make use of the radiation from grow lights that are artificial light sources. These can be incorporated in the grow chamber and controlled with suitable control systems to provide the type and pattern of lighting in line with the plant’s requirements. The energy requirements of plants are not constant; they differ at different points of the plant growth cycle. Artificial lighting and control systems offer optimal usage of energy which enhances growth to the plant’s full potential.

Hydroponics Techniques

Plants also need air and carbon dioxide and these are supplied in various ways using oscillating, fans, pumps, cylinders etc. With the basic systems in place the indoor grow room provides all the essential growth factors needed to support plant growth. There are several systems that are all essentially based on the same basic considerations but differ in some respects of detail. In some systems, the plant roots are constantly in contact with the nutrient solution while in other systems the solution is supplied and drained at intervals. In some systems the roots are not bathed in solution, but are held exposed to air and the nutrient solution is misted around them. In some systems growing trays are used to support plants while in others the plants are supported in tubes.

Four Season Crops

Hydroponics systems can be built using commercially available components or they can be built using available material; they can also be obtained as kits from the market. With several options now available to him, the gardening enthusiast can put his ingenuity and imagination to good use for growing plants all the year round rain, hail or snow.

By: Richa Parera

To make a nutrient solution and root zone enjoy as many of the benefits of soil, without suffering the disadvantages of soil, many hydroponic growers choose to supplement their garden with beneficial bacteria. These helpful microbes can make a whole host of improvements to both your hydroponic system and your plants by correcting atmospheric nitrogen, increasing nutrient uptake, and decreasing the instances of disease. It is a shame that a significant portion of these growers do not enjoy the full spectrum of benefits that can be gained from beneficial bacteria because they make small, but important, errors during application. To make sure your investment in beneficial bacteria for your hydroponics system does not go to waste, learn to identify and avoid these common errors.

Forgetting to Use Bacteria for Clones and Seeds – It is strange, but even growers who know and understand the benefits of using beneficial bacteria will often only use them for their primary hydroponics system or systems and will not use them when propagating through seeds or cuttings. This is a huge mistake because at these delicate young stages are when your plants need the most help. This absolutely pertinent when cloning where the difference between poorly fed young roots and adequately feed young roots can spell the difference between success and failure, using beneficial microbes is crucial. These microbes will help your cuttings and seeds make the most possible efficient use out of your nutrient solution, thus helping ensure greater odds off success. Many hydroponic manufacturers even recommend that products that contain these bacteria should be used at two three times the normal concentrations when used for propagating plants.

Simultaneously Using Hydrogen Peroxide – One of the cheapest and easiest ways to oxygenate your nutrient solution is to use hydrogen peroxide. This can particularly be helpful if your solution is lacking in oxygen or your roots are suffering form root rot. However, this compound is also a very potent bacteria killer and it will completely rid your reservoir of bacteria, both the good and bad kind, if you use it inappropriately. While hydrogen peroxide certainly has its uses, it is generally better to use an air pump in your reservoir for oxygenation while using beneficial bacteria.

Using the Same Amount for Vegetative Flowering Stages of Growth – As each plant has different needs, each plant also has these special needs at all of its different stages of life. Most manufacturers recommend that you use higher amounts during that vegetative state of growth and slightly less during the flowering stage of development. The vegetative stage is when rapid growth means that it needs the most nutrients to grow to its potential. During the flowering stage, growth has slowed significantly and it therefore is more prone to suffering nutrient excesses.

Not Adding Beneficial Bacteria to Your Foliar Spray – Your reservoir is not the only place that can benefit from beneficial microbes. You can also add it to your foliar spray so that the stomata of your leaves absorb the most possible amount of nutrients. When using as a foliar spray, most choose to also add humic acid to help the spray stick to foliage.

By: Michael Straumietis

How to build hydroponics gardening systems is one of those questions that boggles the mind, often leaving the person asking the question wishing he or she hadn’t even mentioned it.

You know the kind. You ask a simple question, expecting a simple answer. But, instead of getting a quick, concise, straightforward answer, you get one that seems to ramble on forever. But (there’s one now), the question of building hydroponics gardening systems is one with no easy answer. That’s because no two gardeners are alike and the garden systems they envision are not like any other, either.

How to build hydroponics gardening systems depends upon the size of the space available for the garden. Whether the system will be located indoors or out. The skill level of the gardener. The types of plants to be grown. Lots of things come into play when designing and building such a system.

Perhaps the most important consideration when pondering building hydroponics systems is to have a clear plan in mind for the end result. Don’t just throw a system together and expect to grow something. There’s more precision required.

When considering hydroponics gardening systems that produce the most satisfying results, consider the plants first. Decide what you want to plant and then learn about the native habitat of each different type of plant you want to include.

You can include as many types of plants as your interest, time, skills, and space allow but building hydroponics systems that work best requires creating an environment that closely mimics that of each plant’s native environment.

How to build hydroponics gardening systems successfully, especially when there are plants requiring different growing conditions, involves clustering similar plants together. Put those that thrive in dry, warm environments in a different area from those that require lots of water and humidity to flourish.

Perhaps the best answer to the question of building hydroponics gardening systems is to study the plants first. Rely on them to guide you to creating the very best hydroponics system possible. After all, they’re what it’s all about.

By: Tracy Ballisager

Hydroponics is one of those subjects that few know muchm if anything about; is rife with misinformation and a minefield of useless products.

Water temperature – Your nutrient solution should feel COLD at 21oC NOT WARM. 21 degrees centigrade is the ideal temperature, it’s warm enough to stimulate good growth while cold enough to be able to carry the maximum amount of oxygen (O2) for our purposes. As the water rises above this temperature the water can carry less and less oxygen.

Timers on NFT systems – Once the roots are out of your 3″ cubes or baskets, you should run your nutrient pump 24 hours a day, certainly never have it off for more than 15 minutes at a time, even during lights off. Cell damage on the plants roots can be identified by it brown colour and is often caused by the evaporation of moisture from the roots. By running the solution constantly, it can be used to moderate the temperature around the roots.

CO2 and Carbon in your nutrient solution – The vegetative leafy part of the plant above the surface feeds on Carbon dioxide. The roots feed on and in association with Oxygen. There is no benefit to putting carbon or carbon dioxide into the nutrient solution on it’s own. However some of the additives do contain some carbon based compounds in association with other ingredients.

Nutrient meter reading – Because everybody has tap water with a different start cF and the fact that plant needs vary from room to room, it’s hard to just give people optimum readings to aim for. cF meters are more useful for maintaining the correct strength on a day to day basis in re-circulating hydroponics systems once the optimum has already been determined. The meter can then be use to fine tune an make small adjustments to the intensity in order to find the optimal strength.

Feed strength – Not all plants feed the same amount, not even close relatives of the same varieties so don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise! Feeding can also be affected by the environment – for example, the more light that is present, the more food you will require. As a general guide use 1/4 to 1/2 strength hydroponics nutrient solution for young plants, and ? to ? strength for larger plants. Most manufacturers full strength is equivalent to about 1200ppm or cF17 (with water cF 0), this is good for most species and varieties of plants. Some tomatoes may need a bit more, and lettuces would require a chunk less but you realy need to experiment with the specific variety of plant you are using to determine the optimum feed strength.

Leaf colour loss and associated rusty spots – These two things, particularly when associated together are usually caused by some environmental factor and NOT a nutrient deficiency. Unless you are seriously underfeeding or overfeeding, the feed strength you use will generally not be the cause. It is more likely to be the light too close, nutrient too warm, not enough air exchange, too cold nights, wind burn, grow room too dry or another environmental factor. Don’t always believe the worst and assume that your feed strength is wrong.

Stretching – Plants can stretch or elongate. They may do this if there is not enough light, they may also do this if they have too much light or heat because the light is too close. Or it may be just genetics. There is no single reason that can be pinpointed as the cause of your plants stretching – don’t believe anyone who tells you there is!

Input Air – As a hobby grower, for the best results, ideally use indoor air as input air for your grow room and expel to the outside. Outdoor fresh air inputted into the grow room can cause temperature, humidity and bug problems. Indoor air from a house has a better temperature and higher CO2 content, the extracted air should then ideally leave the building or be extracted to another room or area. Don’t assume that input air from outside will be “cleaner” or better for your plants – it’s simply not the case!

Air Cooled Shades – In line fans attached cool shades/ Jetstreams/ air cooled lights must blow through the shade. Sucking air through the shade will NOT work as well at cooling your lamp.

pH Adjustment in re-circulating systems – in re-circulating hydroponics systems including gro-tanks and particularly when using systems with rockwool slabs and hard water, the pH will often rise on a daily basis. Don’t adjust it right down every day or you may end up with nutrient lock out from excess phosphoric acid. Instead don’t be afraid to let it drift up for a day or two, this may be the lesser of the two evils. The plants are fragile and as such will be damaged if you attempt to adjust them. Disturb them as little as possible!

Cold – Too cold a nutrient solution or air temperature at night (lights Off) can seriously affect your yield. Your yield will benefit by keeping the temperature at stable 21 C.

By: Katie Brown

First off, let me give you a definition of hydroponics: Hydroponics is the science of growing plants without soil, most often in a soil-less mix.

That is a pretty general explanation of what hydroponics is, but that does truly cover the basis for what makes it hydroponics. When growing in soil as humans have for years and years, the plants are actually getting a portion of their nutrients from the soil itself. The difference with hydroponics is that the plant is not getting any nutrients from the growing medium, but instead the nutrients are fed to the plant through a nutrient solution that is fed into the hydroponic medium. By growing using hydroponics, this then gives the grower the ability to control the nutrient intake and oxygen intake of the plants.

Hydroponics works so well because the plant is able to take in food as fast as it can be used. It is also able to get a high amount of oxygen, especially compared to soil growing where oxygen to the roots is limited.

If you are interested in using hydroponics to make your gardening job easier, think again. Contrary to popular belief, hydroponic gardening, such as ebb and flow hydroponics, does usually take a little bit more maintenance and time. You will need to spend more time in the garden because your plants will grow faster, there are more things to check, and more can go wrong.

Don’t think hydro isn’t worth it though, people all over the world wouldn’t be using these hydroponic systems if they weren’t worth it! Plants will grow less leafy foliage and more dense flower buds, and plants are actually ready for harvest a few days earlier than growing in soil.

Besides ebb and flow hydroponics systems, there are also the following systems: air tables, deep water culture (dwc), top feed systems, nutrient film technique (nft), and aeroponics.

By: Max R Jackson

How does extending your growing system from a few months to all year round sound? Wouldn’t it be nice to have fresh tomatoes in the middle of winter. If you answered yes to both of these questions then one of the many hydroponics growing systems could be just the thing for you.

There are hundreds of different types of hydroponic systems on the market today, and there are the same amount that you can put together yourself from parts found at your local home supply or hardware store. The hardest thing is deciding what kind of system you will start with.

There are four questions that you should ask yourself to determine which one of the many hydroponics growing systems is right for you.

What kind of plants will you be growingHow much time do you have to dedicate to this projectHow much space do you haveWhat is your budget

After you have decided how much of a commitment that you can make, it is easy to match which type of hydroponics growing systems will be the one for you. I always recommend that beginners start out with either an bubble bucket or ebb and flow system. Both of these systems are not costly or complicated.

Hydroponics Growing Systems are versatile and can be adapted for just about any type of environment. The advantage of hydroponics is that they let you start out with a small system and slowly add to it as your time and budget allows.

Some categories of systems that you should consider are as follows:

Passive Systems – A hands off system that uses wicks to deliver nutrient solution to the plants roots.Active Systems – A system that delivers nutrient solution to your plants roots using pumps.

It is recommended that you start off small scale and uncomplicated with your first attempt into hydroponics growing systems. A Ebb and Flow system is perfect for this and you can successfully grow tomatoes, lettuce or herbs. The main suggestion is to start off with baby steps and gradually get deeper into the hobby of hydroponic gardening.

By: M. T. Varnado

If you’ve just set up or are now running a hydroponics garden, you will eventually have a problem and need to do some trouble shooting hydroponics system work. Usually, though, it’s not as large a problem as it might seem. If you’re using a pre-made kit, though, it can seem difficult since you didn’t built it yourself, so you might not be as familiar with the parts as you would otherwise be.

That is still not a big deal, though. All hydroponics systems work in the same basic way and nearly all of their components are the same, when you boil it down. When you realize that fact and learn what those systems are and how they function, trouble shooting and fixing aren’t a real worry.

With all of that in mind, let’s go through the basics of a hydroponics system and then look at some common problems and solutions for one that’s malfunctioning.

First, a typical hydroponics garden will consist of five basic parts: the trays (or “beds”), a circulation system for the nutrient solution, a grow light (or lights), and a suspension system or medium for the plants’ support. The fifth part is the plants themselves, of course.

Common problems with hydroponic gardens usually revolve around the nutrient solution or the circulation system. So in most cases, trouble shooting hydroponics system problems center around these two elements.

Plants Sickly or Withering

If your plants are becoming sickly, beginning to wither, or aren’t doing well otherwise, then your problem is likely in one of two places: the nutrient solution and its circulation or the light being provided.

Obviously, if it’s the latter, you’ll need to either increase, decrease, or move the lighting. “Burned” or “singed” plants mean the light is too close (it should be at least six to eight inches away from the leaves, according to the light manufacturer’s recommendations).

Otherwise, your problems are in the nutrient solution. Make sure that it’s circulating properly. See that it’s going into the medium (or solution tray) and moving through to the drain without obstruction. Sometimes, the media will “clump” or have plant parts or other blockades disturbing the flow of nutrient solution. If you’re using expanded clay or coir, be sure it’s not clogged with leftover roots from previous plantings-a common problem with these mediums.

The solution itself should be checked for pH level using a testing dipper or simple test strips. Sometimes, especially as the plants go through their fastest growth periods (shortly before maturity), they will give off more wastes than otherwise. This can mean the solution is over-saturated with wastes, leading to higher acidity levels. This is remedied with a simple dilution of water or replacement of the nutrient solution altogether (best).

Nutrient Solution Not Circulating

The answer to this problem is likely the obvious one: is the pump working? Otherwise, the above checks for clear flow will probably find the problem.

Algae or Parasite Infestation

This is also a common problem, especially for deep water cultures. Algae often begins to grow on the sides of tanks or in the hoses connecting the solution circulation reservoir, pump, etc. The easy fix for most algae problems is to restrict its access to sunlight. Tanks, trays, and so forth should be dark (store-purchased kits are often deep green or black) to block sunlight infiltration. If they aren’t, black garbage backs can be used to line them inside or out to block the light and do the job.

Parasites are another problem that can happen when the sterility of the system is compromised. Outdoor/greenhouse systems often have a problem with this. The usual parasite killers for gardening will work, either chemical or physical. A natural or organic method like diatomaceous earth or vinegar solution is most recommended, of course.

General Maintenance to Prevent Problems

Many problems with hydroponic systems come from older equipment failing and from improper maintenance. Be sure to maintain your system to keep this from happening. It’s not very difficult, especially if you make a habit of it. The most often ignored duty is thorough cleaning of the entire setup between crops.

When the beds are empty and the solution has been dumped, use a thorough cleaning method to flush our the tubes, trays, medium, etc. Believe it or not, this flushing is similar to the way you clean out a drip coffee maker. A 1:5 vinegar-water solution run through a couple of times will do the job. Easy!

By: Travis Johnson