Hydroponic Gardening

Growing and caring for orchids is a very pleasurable experience for any enthusiast. There is however an alternative to growing orchids the traditional way and that is with hydroponics. Hydroponics allows you to grow crops and plants without soil or compost as the roots of the plants are placed in a mineral nutrient solution.

The Babylonians and Aztecs cultures grew plants without soil so technically they were using a form of hydroponics. Our technology and scientific knowledge has improved dramatically since the times of the Babylonians and Aztecs as well as our understanding of the benefits

In their natural environment, plants absorb mineral nutrients from soil when these nutrients dissolve in water. The level of our understanding of the required nutrients has enabled us to artificially introduce them into the plants water supply and as a result the soil is no longer required.

Please be aware that there is a difference between hydroponics and a soilless culture. Hydroponics is a type of soilless culture but other soilless cultures include sand and gravel.

There are many advantages using hydroponics which can be applied to the care of orchids.

No soil It should be obvious that you dont need to purchase any soil. No soil means that soil borne diseases are no longer an issue which reduces the need for pesticides.

No weeding required

Watering It is very difficult to under water an orchid but over watering is a very common problem. Hydroponics removes this headache and at the same time saves water.

Space Less space is required with hydroponics.

Light More of the plant is exposed to sunlight. Also, as more of the plant is exposed it is possible to see the roots so identification on any problems is easier.

Its easy The system is very easy to set up and once set up it requires very little maintenance.

Growth The orchid is given the correct nutrients in the correct quantities which means more beautiful and healthy orchids can be grown.

There are obviously many advantages which hydroponics provides. It wont however solve all the problems faced by the orchid enthusiast. Greater flower yield isnt always guaranteed and the costs can sometimes be higher than when grown in soil.

Orchid enthusiasts should make an effort to at grow at least a few orchids using this method. They will be surprised at the ease of using hydroponics and it will only increase their knowledge and experience in the care of orchids.

Related Posts:

• Foliar Fertilization In Hydroponics
• The Ideal Hydroponics System
• Hydroponics Nutrients – Part 1
• Texas Hydroponics Products Such As Hydrohut Kindergarden Offer A Professional Solution
• General Hydroponics Flora Blend-Vegan Compost Tea 0.5-1-1, 1 Quart Hydroponics Nutrients & Additives

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.

Related Posts:

• A Quick and Easy Guide to the Different Types of Hydroponic Gardening
• Hydroponics Systems Overview
• A Brief Introduction to Methods of Hydroponic Production
• Indoor Hydroponics Systems
• Hydroponics – Cultivation of Plants in Water

Hydroponics is used to grow plants without the nutrients available from soil. A method of supporting the plant and root structure is devised, and the roots are kept moist with a nutrient solution. Below are some of the more common hydroponic systems.

Ebb and Flow

In a hydroponic ebb and flow system, plants are supported by an inert growing medium in a container placed above the nutrient solution. A pump is used at preset intervals to pump solution into the container with the plants, thus flooding the container. An overflow tube is used to prevent the level of solution getting too high, with the excess draining back into the nutrient container. After a few minutes, the pump is switched off, and the nutrient solution drains back through the pump into the lower container.

Water Culture

In a hydroponic water culture system the plants are placed above the nutrient solution, with their roots immersed in the nutrient solution. Typically, a net pot is used to hold the plant, placed in a hole cut into a styrofoam sheet, which floats upon the nutrient solution. Air is pumped into the solution, typically using an aquarium air pump and air stone. The air keeps the roots from rotting.

Wick Systems

In a hydroponic wick system, the plant is supported by an inert growing medium such as perlite or vermiculite. A wick passes through the growing medium, with the ends of the wick placed in the nutrient solution. The wick draws the nutrient solution into the growing medium via capillary action, which contiues drawing the nutrient through the growing medium to the plant roots.

Drip

In a hydroponic drip system, plants are supported by an inert growing medium. Nutrient solution is pumped at preset intervals through a drip system, delivering nutrient solution to each plant. The system may be designed to recover excess solution, which is reused. In a non-recovery system, the pump timing must be carefully controlled in order to reduce waste and control costs.

Nutrient Film Technique

In this method, plants are supported within tubes or channels, typically within a plastic pot. The plants roots are irrigated by a shallow flow of nutrient solution, which is continually pumped in. The tubes (or channels) are placed at a slight angle to keep the nutrient solution moving.

Aeroponic

In an aeroponic system, the plant is suspended with its roots dangling in the air. Nutrient solution is sprayed onto the roots via a misting system, typically every few minutes.

Related Posts:

• An Introduction to Hydroponics and Hydroponic Systems
• Hydroponic Plant Systems… What, No Dirt?
• A Brief Introduction to Methods of Hydroponic Production
• Hydroponic System – Part 1
• Hydroponic Plant Systems… What, No Dirt? – Part 1

Hydroponics is a fantastic way to grow your own plants any time of the year but it can also be costly, especially if you want to operate a decent sized garden. Getting started in the world of hydroponics does not always have to break the bank though. Following these simple tips can save a lot of money on hydroponics equipment and operating costs.

Calculate Your Costs Over Time – Just because a piece of equipment appears cheap, that does not mean that it will actually save you money in the long run. For example, it can be tempting to purchase used equipment off craigslist or eBay, but used equipment is more prone to breakdowns and other problems, which will result in additional expenses in the form of repair or complete replacement. Newer equipment can be pricier, but will actually save you money over the course of several growing seasons, not to mention a lot of headaches and hassles.

Your lighting is another area where up front costs can be deceptive. Fluorescent lights might be appealing for their cost and low energy requirements, but when you factor how little use that they actually offer to the average hydroponic grower and how often you have to replace them, the cost can add up over time. Try to learn what the cost per hour is of each grow light you are interested in purchasing, how often you will have to replace them, and factor that into your considered costs.

Assess Your Needs – You certainly don’t want to purchase a very large hanging lamp if all you want to grow is a couple tomato plants. And you don’t want to purchase a weak bulb if you want to plant rows and rows of roses. Try to assess what kind of hydroponics equipment best matches your specific circumstances, and buy no more and no less.

Comparison Shop – The internet allows you quickly comparison shop hydroponics equipment without ever leaving your home, and the costs are often cheaper than what you might find at brick and mortar retailers, even when you factor in shipping. But just to make sure you are looking at the broadest swath of prices, call around to your local hydroponics retailers and see what prices they offer on comparable equipment.

Build Your Own System – Hydroponics retailers often offer complete, all-in-one systems that do not require you to buy anything else to start growing. These companies often charge a premium because they have essentially done all the work for you. Typically, it can be a lot more cost efficient to simply buy the hydroponics equipment you will need for your system individually and buy it yourself. Beginners should not be intimidated by the prospect

Invest in Quality Digital Ballasts – One of the biggest costs over time is the energy you will need to keep your lights on through the majority of the day. A high end electronic ballast for you lights can regulate how much energy goes to your lights, cutting down on lighting costs and keeping your grow room a little cooler.

Related Posts:

• How to Get the Most Benefit From Your Hydroponic Newsletter
• Is Hydroponics For You – It Should Be!
• Invaluable Safety Tips for Your Hydroponic Grow Lights
• Best Ways to Use Hydroponic Grow Lights
• Indoor Hydroponics Systems

In hydroponics the most widely use method of plant fertilization involves application of a nutrient. solution to the plant root. This is an effective method in most cases, but under certain conditions it may be quite ineffective. Though plant root systems can efficiently absorb the nutrients in normal circumstances, under conditions of root damage, nutrition deficiency or propagation from cuttings alternative strategies may need to be adopted. Foliar feeding, a technique of providing nutrients through the foliage of plants is often resorted to under such circumstances. Foliar feeding enables plants to absorb nutrients through the leaves. The minerals within the nutrients can then be translocated by plant within its tissues.

Nutrient Uptake in Hydroponics
Nutrient uptake, in hydroponics is a complex process that may be adversely affected by factors such as nutrient interactions, nutrient depletion, element unavailability due to the element being bound etc. Even environmental conditions like temperature can affect nutrient uptake through the roots. Plant pathogens such as fusarium pythium and phytophthora can also affect the normal functioning of the root zone severely restricting nutrient uptake. Other plant stress conditions such as anaerobic conditions in the root zone where oxygen is deficient, can limit nutrient uptake. Many other conditions can cause stress to plants such as humidity, lack of light, high radiation levels, etc. and directly or indirectly affect nutrient uptake. Under such situations foliar feeding has been found to be most effective in ensuring reliable nutrient uptake for healthy plant growth.

Foliar fertilization can thus help protect crop yields and quality against the vagaries of a wide variety of agents that can cause crop damage including climate, pests etc.

Foliar absorption
Absorption of nutrients in foliar feeding takes place through stomata on the leaves. These are located on the underside or on both sides of the leaf. The stomata normally function to enable gas exchange for photosynthesis and releasing water vapor in stomatal transpiration. But the leaf can also work as an organ for absorption and excretion of water and substances dissolved in it. Foliar feeding takes advantage of this to supply vital nutrients through the stomata. However, it is not possible for plants to be fed solely via the leaves; therefore the scope of foliar fertilization is limited. It is however, extremely effective as method of supplying micro nutrients.

There are several aspects of foliar fertilization that are not yet fully understood. There are several known and unknown factors that influence the effectiveness of foliar fertilization. It is known however, that the rate at which the nutrients supplied by the nutrient sprays are absorbed by the leaves and translocated within the plant is of critical importance. Also, practical experience provides several pointers for utilization of the technique for optimal benefit.

Application Considerations
The use of a good quality, non ionic wetting or sticking agents, such as Coco Wet, is vital to enable droplets to adhere to leaves. They also assist in the absorption of the fertilizer solution into the plant tissue. The foliar fertilizer solution is best applied as a fine mist until ‘run off’ so that the entire leaf surface is wetted. The effectiveness is also dependent on the timing of the application during the day. Early morning and evening are best suited as the conditions during these times of the day are ideal to allow the leaf to dry rather than stay wet for a long time. Foliar solutions are best applied while there is light but when temperatures are still cool; they should not be applied in hot, sunny conditions. In hot, sunny conditions the stomata are likely to be closed making the feeding ineffective. For the same reasons feeding is ineffective when the plants are wilting or under osmotic stress.

For the best results foliar feeding should be carried out on a regular, weekly basis. It is also found to be particular beneficial when limited to times of high nutrient demand. It is during stages of active growth such as during fruiting that foliar feeding is known to yield optimal results as during these stages leaves are particular efficient in absorbing nutrients.

Application in Hydroponics Cultivation
Even when hydroponic crops may appear to be well supplied with the necessary nutrients, it has been shown that they can still benefit from application of foliar fertilizers. Foliar fertilization was found in a number of studies involving hydroponically grown crops such as capsicum and potato, to dramatically increase yields. A weekly foliar feed applied to tomato crops grown in rockwool, also produced substantial improvements in both quality and quantitiy of the yields. It is believed that similar results can be obtained with a number of hydroponic crops with similar nutrient requirements. According to experts in the field, the process of foliar fertilization, is likely to emerge as a growth enhancing cultivation technique in the near future rather than just a ‘quick fix’ solution for mineral deficiency symptoms.

Related Posts:

• Hydroponic Plant Systems… What, No Dirt? – Part 1
• Texas Hydroponics Products Such As Hydrohut Kindergarden Offer A Professional Solution
• General Hydroponics PowerGrower Eco
• Guidelines Regarding Your Choice Of Hydroponics Or Soil
• Hydroponics and Orchids