Hydroponics Systems

Virtually any plant can be grown by using this method. But to understand what exactly a hydroponic system is. We have to first look as what do plants require to grow. First they need a base that is soil in which the roots derive the required nourishment. Secondly they require light. Hydroponic system is still in the experimental stage and researchers are looking for the best fit solutions. Most hydroponic growing is being done on a hobbyist scale and rarely on a commercial scale. The reason is simple that it is not commercially viable as yet.

A hydroponic system means growing plants without soil. As the roots require some support medium which is called substrate in which the roots can grow. The substrate should be such that it retains water which would contain the nutrient that is required for plant growth, secondly the substrate should provide proper aeration for the roots and support to the plants. In hydroponic systems as there is no soil used so the chances of pests invading the roots are minimized. Almost any plant can be grown using this method and almost every plant will show some type of growth. One has to remember that plants are very hardy and adapt to the conditions in which they are cultivated. Most hydroponic systems are experimental and people are growing vegetables like tomatoes to flowers like roses using this method. Researchers have learnt a lot about plant growth by using this method.

Hydroponic systems are also referred to as nutriculture, slop, and gravel and solution culture. The basic requirement for a home hydroponic system is best possible lighting, humidity at 50% or more and the maximum temperature should be in the range of 750 Fahrenheit maximum and a minimum of 650 Fahrenheit also one should remember that no special drainage is required. One must remember that a hobbyist cannot earn a living by growing plants using hydroponics.

There are different methods of providing the nutrients to the plants roots and as plants are very adaptive and can take a lot of abuse it is the responsibility of the grower to provide the right proportion of nutrients to the plants. The substrate should not be to fine and should be inert and should not decompose. There is a variety of material that is used as substrate from river gravel to volcanic ash.

One method of providing the nutrients to the plants is called the flooding method; in this the nutrient solution is pumped into the tank and is then pumped out and re-introduced There is a disadvantage to this method and that is the likely hood of the nutrient mixture getting unbalanced. And the other possibility is of pests invading the plants as the nutrient solution is reused.

The second method is using gates. The nutrient solution is pumped in and then it is drained, in this the fear of pest attack is minimized as the solution is not reused. However the downside to this method is that the solution is only used once and is then wasted.

Each variety of plant requires its own set of nutrients and a lack of nutrients becomes apparent in a very short time.

One can easily make their own hydroponic system if one wants to experiment. A large tank is required which should be painted black so that light does not reach the roots as they are susceptible to light. Only a thin strip should be left exposed so that one can check the water level inside the tank. Secondly a pump or pumps that pump air and water and nutrient solution would be required. This would be something like an air pump that one gets for fish tanks. The other pump would pump in the solution and drain it and lastly the growing platform that would hold the growing pots could be of Styrofoam or wood that would float on the solution. And of course a book of instructions would always be handy to guide the novice.