Saturday, December 31, 2011

NFT Hydroponic Lettuce Unit Failure

My first time using my nft hydroponic unit didn't result in abundant lettuce like I hoped. Instead it produced wilting leaves, fungus gnats and other irritating pests. I'm going to try a more well rounded nutrient solution for the next go at it. I have more info on issues related to this setup on my blog: www.kodamafarm.com

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Saturday, December 10, 2011

Can Plants Grow Without Soil? Hydroponic Gardening is the Answer!

!±8± Can Plants Grow Without Soil? Hydroponic Gardening is the Answer!

Hydroponic Gardening is the system in which plants can be made to grow without soil. Using hydroponics to grow plants can be beneficial for many growers since it allows plants to be grown much faster and many times with less problems.

Plants are grown in a solution which consists of water and dissolved nutrients required for the particular plant. There are several hydroponics techniques and systems that are used in producing thriving plants

The different types of hydroponics systems and techniques include the nutrient film technique (or NFT), aeroponics, and the aeration technique.

With the aeroponics technique, plants are secured using rigid pipes, screens, or films. The nutrients are dissolved into the plants' water supply and the plants' roots are suspended within the water. The plant then obtains its food nutrients directly from the water or from an air mist which is sprayed directly onto the plant roots.

Hydroponic gardening also requires the use growing media. Different mediums can be used which have to retain the food rich moisture. They must also be able to physically support the plant roots. The following have been the most effective media so far: expanded clay, perlite, styrofoam, sand, rockwool, vermiculite, pea gravel.

Many types plants that can be grown in a hydroponics system. Some plants will grow better in hydroponics system than others, but some of the most popular are lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, watercress, and various other edible plants.

Tree seedlings and flowers can also be grown using hydroponics. Hydroponic greenhouses have been producing millions of plant seedlings every year. These are then transplanted and grown at other locations where they are later planted into soil.

If you are just a beginner at hydroponic gardening, you will no doubt be satisfied with the quality of your crops and the faster rate of growth. Hydroponically grown plants will grow and mature faster and yield an earlier harvest of vegetable crops.

There are many benefits to growing your own plants in a hydroponics system. Hydroponic gardening doesn't require a fertile farmland or a large water supply growing plants. Vegetable and plants can be grown year round. Hydroponic vegetables and plants in almost any small space, or a basement, or even an apartment balcony.

The hydroponic systems require less space because the plant roots don't have to spread and search for food and water. The smaller space requirement makes hydroponic gardening perfect for limited space home gardeners.

Hydroponic plants can also be grown in nurseries and greenhouses as well. The benefit of growing these plants without soil in a sterile medium includes not having to remove weeds or dealing with soil-borne pests and diseases. And since all the nutrients necessary for the plant are readily avaliable to it, the plant is noticeably healthier than the plants grown in soil.

The greatest benefit to hydroponic gardening is the ability to automate the hydroponics system with timers and remote monitoring equipment. This reduces the time it takes to maintain the plants and the growing environment. It also allows the grower to leave their system for long periods of time without worrying about watering plants.

Hydroponic growing without the use of soil is not simple, but with time it will become an easy routine. Hydroponics offers the advantage of many techniques that can be beneficial to your plants and produce a richer and healthier plant.


Can Plants Grow Without Soil? Hydroponic Gardening is the Answer!

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Sunday, December 4, 2011

3 Popular Homemade Hydroponic Systems

!±8± 3 Popular Homemade Hydroponic Systems

In recent years, hydroponic gardens have become increasingly popular among home gardeners. Homemade hydroponic systems are a different and fun way to grow fruits and vegetables at home without using soil. Below are a few of the most popular homemade hydroponic systems.

The Tank System

One of the easiest homemade hydroponic systems to assemble is the water culture raft system, which makes use of an old fish tank or aquarium. This system works well for vegetable gardens especially, and you can assemble one for around fifty dollars using materials you can get at your local hardware store. You may even have some of the materials just lying around the house.

To make this system, cut a 1" thick Styrofoam sheet to fit the top of an old fish tank or similar container. Then make holes in the Styrofoam for your plant roots. Make two small holes near the top of opposite sides of your fish tank for air tubing to go through. Attach this tubing near the bottom of the tank with air stones and attach the other end of the tubing to the air pump.

Cover the tank with foil so that light does not get in to the tank. Fill your tank with nutrient solution, then float the Styrofoam on top of it. Place your plants in the holes you cut for them in the Styrofoam in such a way that their roots dangle in the solution. You can hold the plants in place using filter floss.

The Bucket System

Another one of the most popular homemade hydroponic systems is the "ebb and flow" system. This system can be made with two large buckets. Simply drill a hole in both buckets about a half-inch from the bottom and connect them with tubing. You should have enough tubing to place one of the buckets on a platform while the other bucket, which will hold the nutrient solution, is left on the floor.

Place a couple inches of gravel in the bucket that your plants are to grow in, then cover it with a fine mesh plastic screen. The screen should fit tightly to the sides of the bucket. On top of the screen, place perlite, rockwool, coconut fiber, or whatever other growth medium you have chosen to use.

After you have planted your seeds in the growth medium, fill the second bucket with nutrient solution and cover it with a lid to keep out foreign debris and dust. Then lift the nutrient bucket so it is on the platform with your grow bucket. This will allow the nutrient solution to flood your plants.

After your plants have been well soaked, place the nutrient bucket back on the floor. This process of flooding and draining your grow bucket will need to be repeated several times a day.

The Wick System

A third easy-to-make hydroponic system is the wick system. It is built much like the bucket ebb and flow system except that the two buckets are connected with a highly absorbent wick rather than tubing. As the growth medium gets dry, more solution is pulled up the wick by capillary action, eliminating the need to continually lift and lower the nutrient bucket.

The wick method allows plants receive a steady flow of solution without being flooded and drained several times a day. It is best to use this system with water-loving leafy vegetables, since the grow medium always remains soaked.

These are just very brief descriptions of three simple homemade hydroponic systems. There are many variations of these systems for the beginning gardener. To learn more, you might want to consider buying a book on hydroponics, or browse YouTube for instructional videos on how to make your own hydroponic system.


3 Popular Homemade Hydroponic Systems

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