28Dec/110
A Guide to The Secret World of Hydroponic Cultivation
So you're interested in hydroponics but aren't quite sure where to start? Here's a little guide to give you the basics, including the meaning of the word "hydroponics" so that you know what you're doing when you go online to order your first hydroponics kit. Essentially there are four main elements to hydroponics, which are water culture, aggregate culture, continuous flow systems and aeroponics. This article will give a quick overview of these elements and look at the main advantages to growing via a hydroponics system.
So what is hydroponics? Hydroponics is derived from the Latin words "hydro" and "geoponics" meaning water and study of agriculture respectively. Hydroponics as a method of cultivation follows a very radical approach in that it believes that soil is inessential for cultivation of crops, and all that is needed is water and a non-soil base for the plants to grow in, or in some cases just water in total. With this system plants can be grown by this method in arid areas and in large cities where there is very little land by using alternative mediums to provide the necessary nutrients and minerals to the plant.
The different types of hydroponics system of cultivation are as follows:
1. Water Culture or Aquaculture. In this system the roots of the plants are immersed in water, which has a mixture of various nutrients.
2. Aggregate Culture. In this system the plant is supported by some material like sand, marble or gravel and the required nutrients are supplied from time to time. It is important to remember here that unlike soil these materials do not absorb nutrients from the roots of the plants.
3. Continuous Flow Hydroponics System. This type of system is used in commercial cultivation. Here water and nutrients are continuously supplied to the plant with the help of a tray and also a timer that fixes the amount of time for which the required materials will be given to the plants.
4. Aeroponics. This is a very interesting method as here the roots of the plants are made to hang in the air and they are misted regularly with a solution that is composed of minerals and nutrients.
So what are the benefits of this method of cultivation? Many researches and studies have already established that the hydroponics system of cultivation is more effective and has many advantages. The first advantage is that plants grow much faster under this method as compared to the soil system. The yield of the plants from hydroponics is higher than other methods of cultivation. This method also uses much less water, and so in arid areas and wherever there is a shortage of water this method is a huge success. Further there are also fewer cases of insects and other pests damaging the crops in this method of cultivation. This is something covered in more detail at the website [http://www.gardenhydroponics.com].
But the greatest advantage of this system of cultivation, especially when done in greenhouses, is that there are no growing limitations caused by weather. Weather is the huge factor that determines the growth of a crop. But in the hydroponics system of cultivation weather has almost no role to play.
As you can see, the basics of hydroponics are not that complicated. With its ability to grow plants with little water supply and with practically no reliance on the weather, hydroponics is a great way to cultivate whatever crop you fancy. And the great thing is that a hydroponics kit is enough to get you started and these are readily available at many online retailers. As the process of hydroponics growing becomes more well-known, it seems certain that more people will turn to this radical method of cultivation.
By: Carl Formby
21Dec/110
Aeroponics Hydroponics Explained
Breaking down aeroponics hydroponics systems for the beginner
Aeroponics is the best form of hydroponic system you can get. Aeroponics hydroponics systems are unique in the fact that in these types of systems the roots are actually suspended in mid-air. These roots are then watered with a highly oxygenated nutrients spray for you. The size of the water droplet differs depending on the type of aeroponic hydroponics system you have. The two primary types that we will talk about in this article are the pump driven aeroponic hydroponics system and the ultrasonic fogging driven aeroponics hydroponics system.
We'll start talking about the pump driven aeroponics hydroponics first, because it is by far the most common. In this type of system your plants roots are hung suspended in midair. A submersible MAG drive pump such as a 250 gallons per hour pump can be used to power a series of 360? microjet misters. These ministers will break down the water droplets to about 25 microns which is very fine particle droplet creating a light nutrients mixed that will surround your plants roots. This type of light misting in your plants roots zone and will really help to accelerate your plants root growth. The pump can be powered by either turning it on and off in 15 minute increments essentially to allow your plants to dry and then moistened again. This type of wet and dry technique has shown to increase growth performance substantially in hydroponics use.
In the other type of aeroponic hydroponic configuration you would use an ultrasonic fogger, rather than a pump to create the nutrient particle. In the case of using an ultrasonic fogger in the hydroponic grow box application the fogger would actually create a fine micron misty fog rather than a 25 micron water droplet. This much finer particle will look much more like a heavy fog or floating mist. With this type of system hundreds of thousands of tiny hairs will actually develop on your plants roots. As if these tiny hairs were there to pick up each and every water droplet that surrounds it. Again the ultrasonic fogging aeroponic hydroponics system can be controlled with a timer 15 minutes on a 15 minutes off so you have both the wet and dry to keep your roots happy and growing fast.
By using an aeroponics hydroponics [http://www.homegrown-hydroponics.com] system either with the pump driven or ultrasonic fogger driven system you will grow your plants with a maximum possible efficiency. We recommend aeroponics hydroponics systems over all others types of hydroponic systems. For more free information on hydroponics check out the videos section of the homegrown hydroponics website. There is a lot of useful information on a DVD to teach everybody how to use hydroponics.
It should also be mentioned that other systems such as deep water culture or drip systems can actually give your plants too much water and therefore leads to root problems. The on / off action of aeroponic hydroponics system is the best route if you can afford and that type of system. The maintenance is actually quite low and easy to use.
By: Sonny I Griffith
9Dec/110
Hydroponics Gardening – An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (Part 1) Starting Out
The Basics of Hydroponics Gardening.
What is hydroponics gardening?
Derived from the Latin Hydro, meaning water and Geoponics, meaning the study of agriculture, hydroponics is the science of growing plants using a solution of suitable nutrients instead of soil. Most types of plant can be grown very successfully using hydroponics.
In conventional gardening the plants are grown in soil and take their nourishment from the chemical compounds contained within that soil. The hydroponic gardener replaces the soil with a balanced, nutrient rich, solution that the plant can absorb with ease. Because the plant does not have to work so hard to absorb the available nutrients it saves energy which can then be utilised for stronger growth.
Because of this energy saving, plants grown using hydroponic methods outperform conventionally produced plants in both growth and fruit production. Due to the consistent results and good profit margins, more and more commercial growers are turning to hydroponic production. Totally organic production is possible using specially designed organic nutrients, giving excellent, inexpensive, vegetables and herbs.
There are several different types of hydroponic system, but all share the same basic principle of supplying the plants with nutrients and water. The most common systems are:
Water Culture, Aquaculture, or Nutriculture.
This is a Hydroponics system in which the plant roots are immersed in water containing a complex mixture of dissolved nutrients. A simple example of water culture is the Hyacinth bulb growing in a wine goblet shaped glass, its roots growing down into the hollow goblet stem.
Aggregate Culture.
In this system a material such as sand, gravel, or marbles supports the plant roots. It is important to note that the support material, unlike soil, does not absorb nutrient. It merely traps it in the spaces between the grains or stones allowing the plant roots to freely take up the liquid.
Continuous Flow Hydroponics Systems.
In these types of system the nutrient solution flows constantly over the plant roots. This is the most commonly used system for commercial production.
Aeroponics.
This system is one in which the plant roots hang in the air and are misted regularly with a nutrient solution.
There are a number of pre-packaged hydroponics systems available for both the commercial grower and hobbyist. Individuals, who lack building skills, or are inexperienced plant growers, should consider one of these kits as an introduction to hydroponics, a fascinating and challenging hobby. Similar systems can be built at lower cost, however, by those of you who have the expertise.
The requirements for healthy, strong, disease-free plants are covered in my next article entitled - - What do your plants need?
Copyright (C) 2004, 2005, John R Haughton - All Rights Reserved
By: John R. Haughton
28Nov/110
Ebb and Flow Hydroponic Systems Make Indoor Soil-Free Gardening Possible
Hydroponics is a great method of gardening indoors that requires no soil whatsoever, yet produces fabulous yields of fruits, vegetables and flowers. There are many types of hydroponics systems that you can try, including static solution, continuous flow solution, aeroponics and deep water culture. Among the most popular methods of hydroponics is the ebb and flow system.
With an ebb and flow style of hydroponics, plants are grown in a flat containing some type of growing medium. It could be peat moss, rockwool, vermiculite, perelite or many other types of media available to gardeners today. Beneath the flat is a container of hydroponic nutrients, which are dissolved in water. At regular intervals, a pump causes the hydroponic nutrients to flow up into the flat, soaking the roots, after which the solution drains, or ebbs, back into the container. The action of the solution rising and then falling in the medium helps to bring both oxygen and food to the plant roots.
There is some maintenance that needs to occur with the hydroponic nutrients in order to ensure that the plants are not harmed. The solution of hydroponic nutrients needs to be kept warm enough so as not to inhibit activity in the roots of the plant, yet not warm enough for germs to grow in the solution. Ebb and flow takes the temperature issue into consideration; by not allowing the hydroponic nutrients in solution to remain around the plant roots, the temperature of the solution is rendered essentially a moot point.
Some equipment is required to make the ebb and flow system work. A pump attached to a tube allows the solution to be pumped up into the flat, and also brings the solution back down into the container. How many times the growing medium needs to be flooded depends on which is used. To keep things simple with an ebb and flow system, most gardeners put the pump on a timer, so all goes according to schedule without constant attention on your part.
There are several benefits to the ebb and flow style of hydroponic gardening. One is that because of the movement of the solution around the plant roots via the action of the pump, you will not need an air pump but will still achieve appropriate oxygenation of the plant roots. The ebb and flow gardening method also uses less power than other hydroponic styles, and it is a quiet system, making it perfect for use in a home or office.
By: Anne Harvester
28Nov/110
Common Mistakes When Using Beneficial Bacteria in Hydroponics
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
16Nov/110
Indoor Gardening Supplies Overcome Weather and Soil Conditions
Indoor gardening supplies make it possible to garden no matter the weather or soil in your locale!
Whether you garden indoors professionally or as a fun hobby,indoor gardening supplies such as grow light kits with the appropriate digital ballast and LED grow lights can be used with soil based or soil-less indoor gardening systems. Gardening without using soil is a practice known as hydroponics. Because typically no soil is involved, this style of indoor gardening with a controlled growing environment can be practiced virtually anywhere--in a high-rise apartment, in the cold North where temperatures dip well below freezing, in the desert with its accompanying sweltering heat, and it even has been tested by astronauts in outer space.
There are some basic indoor gardening supplies common to every style of indoor gardening, including hydroponic systems, that you might wish to pursue. All plants need light in order to survive, so you will want to provide your indoor plants with appropriate grow lights.
What indoor gardening supplies do I need to get started?
One major component of any hydroponics gardening system is the lighting you will use. The appropriate lighting depends on several factors, including the types of plants you are growing indoors and in which stage of their life cycle the plants are.
Young seedlings require light that falls within the blue color spectrum in order to grow and reach maturity. Mature plants, such as flowers or fruiting plants like tomatoes or strawberries, need a light spectrum in the red to orange range in order to get the plants to set fruit or flower. You can find grow lights that offer specific light spectrums, so that you can provide your plants with exactly the correct light that they need to respond in the way you want.
Grow lamps are also used in conjunction with a suitable digital ballast. The ballast is the device that controls the amount of electrical current flowing to the light bulb in order to get it to not only spark, but once lit, to keep a steady light emerging from the bulb. Each ballast is specifically designed to work with its own specialized grow lamp, so it is important to know whether your grow lamp is an LED (light-emitting diode),or is one of the HID (high-intensity discharge) lamps, which can include mercury vapor, low-pressure sodium, zenon short-arc, metal halide and high-pressure sodium.
There are a wide variety of indoor gardening supplies suitable for any type of indoor gardening you practice, whether a traditional greenhouse, hydroponics, or others.
By: Susan Slobac
27Sep/110
You Can Use Hydroponics As A Hobby
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without using soil. Recently, growing plants through hydroponics which means the roots of the growing plant are in a medium rather than soil has stimulated the mind's eye of many persons fascinated in plant growth and development. Farmers who plants for commercial use have embraced hydroponic methods to produce crops in conditions that would otherwise be discouraging. For those people who enjoy gardening or planting as their hobby, hydroponics provides an opportunity to discover more about plants growth and interactions with their environment. Gardeners may raise ornamental plants, flowers and vegetables by hydroponics. Imagine that you have your own out of season vegetables that were harvested in your own backyard.
The prevalent make use of hydroponics for business plant production is a somewhat fresh occurrence. In areas where soil is deficient or inapt for plant growth, hydroponics provides an option for production system. Nevertheless, it is not to be treated that hydroponics is magical. Similarly good crops can be yielded in a greenhouse in conventional process such as using soil or bench systems and most of the time these processes cost cheaper.
The term hydroponics is not limited to refer to a sole system of plant growing. Hydroponics is used to illustrate many diverse types of systems for growing plants without the necessity of soil. Among the most common are water culture, aggregate culture, aeroponics, and continuous flow systems.
Water culture also known as aquaculture is a hydroponics system in which the plant roots are submerged in water that contains dissolved nutrients.
Aggregate culture is also a common hydroponics in which a material such as sand, gravel or marbles is being utilized as a medium to supports the plant roots.
Aeroponics is one of the most famous hydroponics in which the plant roots suspend in the air and are misted on a regular basis with a nutrient solution.
Continuous flow systems, on the other hand, is a well known hydroponics in which the nutrient solution flows continuously over the roots of the growing plant. This method is the one most commonly used for production of plants commercially.
Noticeably, the common thing in all the systems in hydroponics is the technique by which the plants obtain their nourishment and water. When plants are cultivated in the system of hydroponics, their roots are either soaked in or coated by a cautiously controlled nutrient solution. This nutrient solution is the lone source or supplier of the nutrients and water necessary for the plant growth, not by the medium used to support the roots.
Even though commercial hydroponics systems are intended for a greenhouse, hobbyists may set up a small hydroponics system in the yard, or on a patio, or even on a rooftop. There are lots of packaged hydroponics systems that are readily available in the market today for the commercial grower and hobbyist. Those interested to start hydroponics as their hobby but do not have building skills or plant-growing experience may consider these kits as an introduction to a challenging diversion.
By: Robert Fogarty
14Sep/110
Indoor Grow Closet
Do you live somewhere that it rains more often than not? Do you love fresh fruits and vegetables? Why not consider an indoor grow box or closet. Why pay all the high prices at the local grocery store when you can grow your own amazing veggies at home. Most people think that hydroponics is a relatively new concept, but in fact the concept has been around since 1627. It was published in a book by Francis Bacon called "Sylva Sylvarum". It wasn't until 1842 that researchers figured out a list of nine essential nutrients that plants needed to grow without soil. With research and design, the indoor grow closet has evolved into something truly worth while.
So what is a indoor grow closet? It is a device used for growing plants indoors and they are usually designed to be self-contained and small enough to fit in a closet or in a small corner of the basement. They are automated systems that keep a flow of water constantly supplying the roots of the plants with a nutrient rich solution. Generally they have a couple of vents, one fresh air vent to bring in air and an exhaust vent to remove stale hot air. Some really high end systems may even have air conditioning to keep running temperatures down as well as help put more CO2 back into the system to boost the plants growth rate.
These types of grow boxes are usually used by people who don't have enough room for an outdoor garden or they live in a small condo and still want to grow their own fresh veggies. Indoor grow closets can be used year around no matter what the weather decides to do, even in the dead of winter you can still grow some sweet fresh tomatoes. A good closet grow box should include a sturdy cabinet type of box, high intensity lighting, ventilation, a hydroponics system, CO2 generator, odor eliminator, and a temperature monitor. These are the essential components needed for your indoor grow cabinet to really work well.
Indoor grow closets can also help you save water, on average they will use 1/20th the water you would use on a regular soil garden. Outdoor gardens are beautiful and fun to nurture, but they can have an negative effect on the water quality of your local water supply, run off form your garden may contain harmful pesticides and chemicals that could damage the local eco-system.
Another fundamental component of an indoor hydroponic grow closets are the lights. the best lights for growth are Metal Halide for the growth stages and High Pressure Sodium for the growth and flowering stage. The one main drawback to these types of lights is the cost to run them, they draw a lot of power which means higher electricity bills. Some high end indoor grow closets may contain lights mounted on a track with a motor to move the lights back and forth so the plants get the maximum exposure to the lights for greatest growth results.
For any and all information, visit SuperCloset, Inc. the worlds #1 leader in grow closets for over 8 years, stop by and be sure to check out all the fantastic products available, they carry several sizes and styles, specially designed to suit whatever your indoor growing needs are, just plug it in and add water.
By: Robert M. Davidson
7Sep/110
How to Grow Hydro – Using Hydroponics Systems to Grow Plants
For a gardener, growing plants in a controlled setting is a blessing because it would mean better results and may be even the best harvest ever! If you want to grow plants in your home but have no space for a bigger garden or just can't garden at all because of the weather, why don't you try hydroponics?
From the Greek words, "hydro", meaning water, and "ponos", meaning labor, hydroponics is the method of growing plants without using soil. So, it is lesser hassle than actually doing the gardening outside and digging under the sun and rain. Let me give you the basics in creating your own hydroponics system at home.
There are few things to consider in using hydroponics systems to grow your plants. Here are some of the important things you need to know in building one for your own use.
Choosing the system
You can choose to use one from the six basic types of hydroponics systems: the Drip, Wick, Ebb and Flow, Aeroponics, Water Culture, and Nutrient Film Technique (N.F.T.). Aeroponics is the most complicated, technically and technology-wise. This is the one with the plants hanging in mid air and the system misting the roots periodically with the nutrient solution. The simplest is the Wick system, with the nutrient solution being pulled into the growing platform via a wick. The Drip system is the most commonly used. It works with a pump that delivers the nutrient solution directly to each plant via a tube with drip points in it.
Starter Cubes
Another thing that is important to know about are starter cubes. Starter cubes are where you plant the seeds in and allow them to sprout before you move them to the hydroponics system. Some of the most commonly used are peat pots, Organo-Cubes, Rockwool, and Oasis Cubes. You start by making a hole in the top, put the seed in, and cover the hole with surrounding starter cube materials. Your starter cubes should remain moist, but should never sit in water, or your seedlings might drown.
A nutrient solution is basically composed of fertilizer and water. During the first two weeks, your nutrient solution should be mixed at a 1/4 to 1/2 fertilizer-water ratio. After that, you can move onto the full strength.
Lighting
Plants need a good lighting sources to grow. This is a must, whether you plant in soil or in a system. There are three basic light types you can use indoors: fluorescent, incandescent, and high intensity discharge. Although, it gives off much lower heat than high intensity discharges, fluorescent is still the lighting of choice for small gardeners because they are inexpensive. High intensity discharge lights are more effective and also more expensive.
At last, the seeds! Actually, you can grow whatever you want - tomatoes, lettuces and spinach. These do well under fluorescent lights because they do not need direct sunlight. You can also grow African Violets. There are guides you can buy online and at grow shops near you that may be able to help you in choosing plants to grow in you're your garden. But, of course, read the labels of your seed packages. Most include information about growing them and help if you're still learning.
Building your own hydroponics system is not difficult. It's actually a lot of fun! You can use this to introduce gardening to your kids and even develop it as a hobby in which you can share and enjoy together as a family. Not to mention the benefits of having a great garden at home.
By: Jack Stinton
4Sep/110
A Quick and Easy Guide to the Different Types of Hydroponic Gardening
The terms hydroponics gardening refers to growing plants without the traditional use of soil. Instead it employs another form of growing medium, often times more successful with higher yields produced. With the hydroponics system, any gardener would be hard pressed to find a reason to go back to traditional gardening.
Finding the right hydroponics systems for your needs is a difficult decision. To help you out, here are three of the most common types of gardening using hydroponics:
o Ebb and flow system - The ebb and flow system is one of the more favored ways of hydroponics gardening. It is known as an active system as well as being a recovery type. The plant is contained in a reservoir filled with a nutrient solution. The nutrients are pumped in to the plant. Once the water reaches a preset level, it is drained in to a river while oxygen is sucked in by the roots.
o Aeroponics system - Although not technically a hydroponics system, aeroponics uses much of the same basic principles in water-based, soil-less plant growth. However, aeroponics implements the use of air vapors instead. The plants are hung on top of a reservoir in an aeroponic system and the container is sealed tightly. A device creates vapors out of the nutrient solution which is then sprayed in the reservoir, engulfing the dangling plant roots. The roots soak up the nutrients quicker and allow for great oxygenation capabilities, causing the plants to grow more heavily.
In an aeroponics setup the roots are separated from the tops of the plants and misted with a water/nutrient solution. These systems possess advantages such as helping to fully aerate the roots of the plant, stimulating growth. Aeroponics is also a cost saver for larger needs since it uses less growing medium.
Areoponics cloning also revolutionized the culturing of plants. Aeroponics cloning permitted the entire culturing process to be carried out in a single unit. Numerous plants can now be replicated simply from a single stem cutting. This was a major advantage to green houses attempting to propagate plants normally propagated by seed.
o Deep Water Culture Hydroponic Systems - The deep water culture was actually the first type of system invented for hydroponics. It is basically a straightforward growing system. There is a reservoir filled with nutrient solution, atop of which the gardener sets a floating platform which contains several planters. The roots of the plant are drowned in the nutrient solution, with the rest of the plant being held by the planters. Deep water culture systems, even for how simple, can yield the highest producing harvest of all considering the other systems inability to maximize nutrient and oxygen levels.
By: Anne Harvester