Hydroponics...the Basics Advantages
Since Hydroponics can be used in conjunction with artificial sunlight, the growing season may be extended to include the winter months. Also many vegetables yield more per square foot. and in a shorter time than with soil. Nutrients are re-circulated resulting in much less pollution.
THE ENVIRONMENT LOVES HYDROPONICS as there is no need for harmful pesticides and weed killers!
Anchorage (media)...
‘Growing mediums’ are used to anchor the roots and give support to the plant. Since all nutrition necessary to grow plants are supplied by the nutrient solution, mediums are used primarily for anchorage. The two most popular growing mediums in Hydroponics are ‘Heydite’ which are small pieces of shale rock that can be re-used indefinitely making it environmentally-friendly. ‘Rockwool’ is also made of rock but has been melted, spun like cotton candy and molded into growing blocks and slabs. Smaller amounts of rockwool are used to support the plant and it may be added to compost after use.
Nutrient (plant food)
The plant food in a hydroponic garden is supplied to the plants by dissolving natural fertilizer ‘salts’ in water to make a ‘nutrient solution’. It is important to feed the plants the proper amounts of each nutrient. Use a commercially prepared Hydroponic Nutrient, such as
Oxygen
Oxygen is an important nutrient used by the plants’ roots. In fact without ample oxygen to the roots the plant will drown. Hydroponics is very generous to plant root systems allowing for easy exchange of oxygen and other vital gases.
pH (potential hydrogen)
The pH level refers to the ‘Acid’ or ‘Alkaline’ level of the nutrient solution. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 with anything below seven considered ‘Acidic’. Most plants prefer a pH level of between 5.5 and 6.5. A pH level that is too high or too low can affect the plants ability to use the nutrients.
To check and adjust pH using indicator solution simply remove 2 ml of nutrient solution from the reservoir to the test tube and add a drop of indicator. Check the colour chart on the bottle to determine pH level. One would try to achieve a yellow test colour, green colour indicates that the pH level is too high and a red colour too low. Adjust down with a couple of drops of pH Down and adjust up with straight tap water.
Seed Starting/Stem Cuttings
Simply insert a seed into a prepared 1" rockwool cube, cover with perlite or a piece of the rockwool cube. To make a stem cutting, cut two nodes below a growing tip with a sharp knife, dip in a rooting hormone and place immediately in a prepared 1" rockwool cube. A standard two-part nursery tray with a humidity dome is a great environment for seedlings and cuttings. Supply sixteen to eighteen hours of light per day. They will be ready to transplant into their permanent home when roots show through the bottom of the cube. Remember, rockwool needs an air space underneath to allow free drainage. Remove the humidity dome daily to allow new air exchange.
Transplanting
It is very easy to take plants that are already growing in soil and transplant them into a hydroponic system. Gently rinse the plants roots of soil in cold water. Spread the roots around the bottom of the hydroponic pot and fill with growing media.
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