Hydroponic Gardening

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.

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Hydroponics literally means water working however, in practical use, it means growing plants in a nutrient solution without soil. The hydroponic science had proved that soil isnt required for plant growth but the elements, minerals and nutrients that soil contains are. Soil is a place where the plant roots traditionally live and a base of support for the plant structure. Soil is simply the holder of the nutrients. By eliminating the soil, you eliminate soil borne disease and weeds and gain precise control over the plants nutritional diet. In a hydroponic solution, you provide the exact nutrients your plants need in precisely the correct ratios so they can develop stress-free mature faster and, at harvest, are the highest quality possible.

In commercial production, the two primary growing methods are NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) and drip (also known as substrate). There are a number of variations of these methods and also several others including the float system, ebb and flow system, Aeroponics and passive. The biggest difference between the NFT systems and drip systems is the use of a growing medium. In an NFT system, the plant roots are in a channel where a thin film of nutrient solution passes, keeping them moist but not water-logged. In a drip system, the plant roots are in a growing medium such as Perlite or Rockwool and the nutrient solution is dripped onto the medium to keep it moist.

NFT (Nutrient Film Technique)

With the NFT (also known Nutrient Film Technique) technique, the plants are grown in channels (also called gullies) in which the nutrient solution is pumped through. The plant roots are kept moist by the thin film of nutrient solution as it passes by. Ideally, the bottom of the roots is exposed to the nutrient solution while the top are kept moist but not water-logged.

With the development of on-demand dosing equipment, a nutrient reservoir can automatically be adjusted and, with proper aeration and pH adjustment, the system can effortlessly be kept fresh for weeks at a time. Most NFT channels are fed continuously at a rate of approximately 1 liter per minute. Since the plant roots are not in a growing medium, it is crucial that they are kept moist at all times. In most NFT systems, the nutrient solution is mixed in a primary reservoir, cycled through the channels and back to the reservoir.

NFT is ideal for short term crops like lettuce, leafy crops and herbs. In many locations around the world, Larger NFTchannels are used for long term crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers. One great benefit of NFT, especially for leafy crops, is that no washing is necessary since there no growing medium and no soil, and hence the crop is clean. Growers, chefs, grocers and consumers all appreciate this.

Most growers have found flat bottomed channels or gullies provide greater surface area for root development and oxygen uptake, resulting in better, faster plant development. NFT channels are usually set up on waist-high stands that slope slightly to allow the nutrient solution to drain to one end.

Aeroponics

Though Aeroponics is a unique way of growing; it is not a common means of commercial production. Aeroponics is the method of growing where the plant roots are constantly misted with a nutrient solution. Designs include an A-frame with boards on each side, plant plugs set in each side and a mister between the boards spraying the roots. A round, large diameter PVC pipe set vertically with plant plugs all they way around and a mister mounted inside is another way to set up an Aeroponic system.

Ebb and Flow

The Ebb and Flow method of hydroponics simply floods a growing area for 5 or 10 minutes and then the nutrient solution drains away. The nutrient solution is stored in a reservoir that can be located under the grow table. In an Ebb and Flow, the plant roots are usually grown in a medium of Perlite, Rockwool or expanded clay pebbles. Ebb and Flow is common in hobby systems but not often found in commercial production. This is also know as flood and drain.

Float

The float system can be an economical means of hydroponic crop production in areas where raw materials are limited and manufactured hydroponic systems and components are not availableFloat systems take advantage the surface of the nutrient solution. Most float systems are long, rectangular reservoirs built out of cement or wood and lined with a durable, poly liner. Holes are cut in a foam board which floats on the surface of the water and plants in net pots are set in the holes. The plant roots dangle in heavily aerated nutrient solution.

Passive

A passive system does not use timers or pumps to flood the root zone. The roots usually draw what they need by dangling into the nutrient solution. Being a slow growing system, passive system is not as productive as the other methods discussed. Passive hydroponic systems are sometimes used by hobbyists.

Drip (Substrate)

Long term crops like tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are grown using the Drip system. In this system, the nutrient solution is delivered to the plants through drip emitters on a timed system. Depending on the stage of development of the plant and the amount of available light, the emitters are usually scheduled to run for approximately 10 minutes/hour. The drip cycle provides the plants with fresh nutrients, water and oxygen, thus flushes the growing medium.

Commercially, in a drip system, Perlite or Rockwool are the most common mediums for the plant growth. The biggest variables in a drip system are in the growing medium and the container that holds that medium. Perlite is often bagged in thin, plastic sleeves. Holes are cut in the bag and plants, usually 3-4, are set in with the roots growing down into the Perlite. Recently, a bucket system has been developed to contain Perlite for drip systems. Each bucket holds loose Perliteand one or two plants. In either of these methods, a slot or hole is cut in the container to allow excess nutrient solution to run out. A drain line below the bag or bucket collects the excess.

The Perlitetray is the another method of a drip system that is becoming popular for lettuce and herb production. Usually it is about 24 inches wide by 1014 feet long. An aluminum tray, coated with a non-toxic material, is filled with Perlite and set on a gentle slope of 1-inch to 10-feet. The nutrientsolution is continuously dripped in at the higher end of the tray and allows trickling through the Perlite to the other end. Basically, this system is a combination of drip and NFT techniques.

In this case, there is no need for a large nutrientreservoir tank or the periodic dumping of used nutrient. Injectors are used, in most drip systems, to add nutrient concentrates to water when the feed cycle starts.

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Though hydroponics has many advantages over traditional soil growing, plants grown hydroponically are still subject to the same kind of diseases of soil-based plants. One of the biggest factors that determine your success in general hydroponics growing may very well be what steps you take to make sure your plants stay uninfected. If you take the following measures, your odds of having to deal with an epidemic in your grow room will decrease dramatically.

Keep Your Grow Room Clean – Old trimmings that are lying on the floor or in the cracks of your growing medium can be an invitation to disease. Make sure you follow up every pruning session by clearing away all the removed foliage. You should also make sure to thoroughly clean out or completely replace your growing medium after every growing season.

Isopropyl alcohol should be a regular presence in your gardening closet. Regularly wipe down your tools, tubing, and containers. This will kill off any nasty bacterial or viral diseases before they get chance to ruin your plants.

Handle Plants With Care – Much like open wounds on a person can become easily infected because of the easier access that bacteria have to the body, cuts and scrapes on your plants can also make your plants more easily fall ill. Even very clean, intentional cuts that are conducted in general hydroponics growing can make your plants more prone to disease. Regularly examine your plants for cuts and cover them up with a pruning cleanup substance.

Contain small problems before they become large problems – If you notice one of your plants developing the symptoms of a bacterial or viral disease, quickly quarantine that plant. It may seem like a pain to have to go through the steps necessary to transfer that plant to a new grow area, but it will probably save you a lot of hassle if you can prevent the infection of the entire crop.

Keep all Soil Out – General hydroponics growing is typically more disease free than traditional growing, because many of the worst plant diseases lurk in the soil. But soil can sometimes still find its way into your grow trays, so make sure you take steps to eliminate all dirt. When transferring a plant from a soil garden to your hydroponic system, rinse the roots thoroughly. You should also perhaps use a bit of organic fungicide on all outside plants before introducing them to your garden to reduce the chances of fungal infection.

Keep an Eye on Bugs – Bugs don’t just wreck your system by feeding off of your plants, they can also be carriers of nasty diseases. Learn to identify the signs of a bug infestation early, and handle it before it gets out of control.

Stick to the Basics – The things that you do to increase the size of you buds, improve the flavor of your vegetables, and increase your yields are the exact same thing that will help prevent disease. Keeping your nutrient solution’s pH well regulated, making sure your plant receives optimal nutrients, and keeping an eye on the heat and humidity will not just be a boon come harvest time, they will also boost the collective immune system of your crop.

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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 suns 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 plants 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 plants 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.

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One of the advantages with organic hydroponics is that nobody can say that the plants aren’t ecological. Many people claim that even if the plants aren’t treated with chemicals they are given artificial nutriments and minerals and these substitutes can’t do good. So organic hydroponics is the solution that very few dislike.

Organic hydroponics has many advantages but some problems either, it depends primary on how you see the problem. Mention should be made that in some places hydroponics vegetables are considered organic in some others they are not.

What are the main characteristics that describe organic hydroponics?

One problem regarding organic hydroponics is that after some time the mixture of natural nutriments and minerals will be attacked by microorganisms that can transform the solution into something harmful to the plants. On the other hand the synthetic solution doesn’t have this problem but suffers from another. If you place the wrong amount of chemicals in your mixture, there is nothing you can do afterwards, and the crops are lost.

Organic hydroponics on the other hand works gently and even if you make some mistakes nothing irreparable will happen. Growing plants with organic hydroponics is actually easier and healthier, most of the hydroponics growing are associated with pH and ppm problems, once you remove the source of the problem (the chemicals) you won’t have to worry too much about your plants.

When using organic hydroponics you combine the benefits from classical soil methods and from hydroponics agriculture as well; thus you will eliminate the annoying aspect of having a perfect mixture of chemicals or else risk losing your crops. If you make an objective analysis you realize that organic hydroponics is the closest you will get to traditional crops.

The only real problem is that in places like Antarctica or other extreme areas where hydroponics is fantastic, organic hydroponics is not always a valid option, because organic nutriments aren’t so easy to preserve when compared to their chemical competitors.

This method applies best in regions that have a good soil providing natural nutriments as supply for an organic hydroponics farm but the crops won’t compete against similar soil plants that grow in the region. They are rather aimed against import products that come at a higher price.

Why is organic hydroponics preferred by most ecologists?

We can compare organic hydroponics to raising a child using just synthetic food, synthetic minerals and nutrients or any other similar mixture and never give him or her fresh fruit and vegetables. How would that be like? The same thing stands true for the plants that grow only with chemicals, they can’t possibly be compared to soil-grown or organic hydroponics similar products. This is in fact the main objection ecologists have against “traditional” hydroponics, and it continues to be reinforced regularly.

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