Hydroponics Lets get growing Hydroponics Growing plants without

Hydroponics Let’s get growing

Hydroponics • Growing plants without soil

History • Began 70 years ago • Used to grow vegetables and flowers • In 1939, American Army installed hydroponic units on their military bases

Hydroponic: It’s easy • Have complete control of crop – – Water quality Air Nutrients Light

Hydroponics: Advantages • Does not harm environment • Great quality of crop = more money for your crop • Little water use • No weeds • Less space • Can be done anywhere • Can be done anytime • Automated

Aggregate culture • Using inert material to support and surround plants

Water Culture • Growing plants in water containing dissolved nutrients

Aeroponics • Growing of plants where the roots are suspended in a nutrient mist

Continuous-flow system • Nutrient solution flows constantly over plant roots, most commonly used for commercial production

Nutrient Solution • A solution of all essential nutrients needed for plant growth

Coconut Coir • Coconut husks ground up and compressed into a brick, used for a growing media

Rock Wool • Thin strand-like fibers made from rocks and formed into a brick, used for a growing media

Hydroton • Made of clay, shaped into pellets and used for a growing media

Vermiculite • Pieces of volcanic rock that expands and holds water, used as a growing media

Light • Sodium, Halogen, Fluorescent forms that supplement natural sunlight

Temperature • Indoor temperature must simulate natural temperatures of plant’s native habitat

Aeration • Providing oxygen to nutrient solution, can be done with aquarium pump

Crops • Typically grown: lettuce, tomatoes, herbs, peppers, cucumbers, and strawberries

p. H • A measurement that illustrates the acidity or alkalinity of a substance (plants need 5. 5 -7 for good growth)

Nutrient Film Technique • A plastic trough or tube supports plants and thin film of nutrient solution flows over roots

Aeration Method • Uses an air pump to bubble oxygen to the roots of plants immersed in the nutrient solution

Tube Culture • Plastic tube or bag is filled with lightweight aggregate, holes are made for plants and tube is hung vertically

Flood and Drain (Ebb and Flow) • Water-holdng container is filled with aggregate and plants, flooded periodically with the nutrient solution

Trickle Feed • Nutrient solution continuously pumped from the reservoir into smaller tubes and returned to reservoir

Garden Waves • Raleigh’s Hydroponics Store on Hillsborough St. near NCSU

Hydroponics: Disadvantages • Plant support is required • Water quality is important • Diseases spread through water • More moisture and humidity in air = more diseases • Expensive

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