Hydroponic gardening is a great advance toward sustainable agricultural practices for the future.
It is a form of gardening which neatly side-steps the problem of soil pests and infestions, and plant nutrient uptake can be easily optimised. Incredible yields can be achieved in a relatively small space with hydroponic systems. For commercial and home use the method can be done in a number of ways.
These systems include the Europonic Rockwood System, the Ebb and Flow System, Aeroponic Systems, Continuous Drip Systems, and Rockwool Based Systems. As a hydroponic guide; systems come in all shapes and sizes and can be adapted for nearly any budget.
An alternative in-vogue system is the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT). Almost continual feeding is possible within these systems while the plants sit within the water, with fertilised water constantly running over their roots.
A reservoir with a pump that is submersible re-circulates the nutrient solution continually, pumping the solution to the top of the troughs to trickle back through the system.
Larger Nutrient Film Technique systems are used commercially, both abroad and in the United States. Care must be taken to choose the correct trough size especially when using the Nutrient Film Technique system.
Large systems used by commercial companies use wider troughs with greater flow capacity.
Aeroponics is a system in which the plant’s roots are suspended in air They are excellent for growing herbs and leafy vegetables. Plant support is provided to the growing vegetables and flowers by neoprene inserts.
The necessary spacing of the top configurations produce the proper spacing.
These so called aeroponic hydroponics are also great seedling producers.. Once the seeds germinate and the tiny plants grow large enough to prick out and pot-on they are removed from the rockwool germination medium.
Another growing system called aeroponic is popular with space scientists looking for methods to grow plants for space probe residents.
The Europonic System is modeled after commercial systems that are used in Europe. The system starts with an entry level system offering three trays each holding eight plants. The system is designed flexibly for enlarging initially to 5 trays.
A 30 Gallon tank acts as a nutrient water reservoir feeding by pumping the water emitters at all the plant bases. Continuously the nutrient solution can be seen to flow to the roots and over them and back to the storage tank.
Rockwool, or mineral wool, is the most popular and highly used hydroponic container gardening medium. It is made from spun material fibers and has a high water and air holding capacity. It is also fabled for its legendary ability to be remodeled into new shapes to suit almost all plans and rooting requirements.
A system going under the name Europonic is based upon rockwool slabs with two fitting into each tray. Rockwool is easily able to support a relatively extensive root system so the Europonic System is ideal for vine crops such as tomatoes, cucumber, and peppers, plus large flowering plants.
Continuous drip type systems have a single pot system and with each pot having its own reservoir below it. Sadly, for commercial growing this is not really viable.
Hydroponics users also like ebb and flow systems.
Ebb and flow is good for peppers, small tomatoes,lettuce and flowers when potted. Ebb and flow systems can also be utilized as a type of herb garden which provides thyme, basil, rocket, and oregano to name just a few, all year round. Ebb and flow systems are not perfect and a concern with them can be the builing up of crystal fertizing salts in the growth medium.
As the water evaporates between flooding, the salts are left behind as a residue and may rise to toxic levels. It is best to flush the system with pure water periodically to take away any toxic salt buildup.
