Soilfree hydroponic mediums
In most hydroponic gardens, soilfree mediums are used primarily for starting seeds and when rooting cuttings. The less medium a system requires, the easier and less expensive it is to operate. This is a major consideration for those who wish to make a profit from their hydroponic gardens. Modern day soilfree mediums have come a long way since the use of river gravel and sand. A perfect medium is one that is able to hold a nearly equal concentration of air and water. As you have leaned, your...
CO and you
CO2 is known as the greenhouse gas which traps the sun's heat in Earth's atmosphere. It is responsible for global warming and a host of environmental changes that include altered weather patterns and rising tides. CO2 causes these problems by insulating the Earth from heat loss and reflecting some of the suns heating rays back onto the earth. Many of you already know that plants require CO2 to manufacture food within their leaves. Many of you have also heard that adding CO2 to the growing...
Foreword
How To Hydroponics was written to provide you with a basic education in the science of hydroponics while giving you the hands on experience that makes learning fun and effective. It covers all the information you should need to gain a basic understanding of the science and develop a working knowledge of the technology. You will learn, step-by-step, to build the hydroponic system of your choice from the plans included within. Whether you grow for food, fun or profit, we'll show you how to start...
Manifold construction
The final step in completing your system is to assemble the manifold. The 4 and 6 systems differ here as the injection manifold for the larger system is located at the same end as the drains whereby the smaller manifold is located at the opposite end. Shown at right is the 4 system's manifold which is assembled from the parts on page 19. It is a good idea to dry fit these parts together before you cement them with PVC glue. Many people opt to modify these parts slightly to accommodate differing...
The spare closet garden
If you live in an area where space outdoors is tough to come by, here are some ideas for creating a closet garden. In the example shown below, the six inch PVC system is custom fit inside this available space. You will find that this configuration works well for maintaining a steady supply of salad greens, herbs and flowers by virtue of the two-level arrangement. On the lower level, a fluorescent light of 40Watts is used to start seedlings and root cuttings hat are kept inside the 10x20...
Theory of operation Ytr
The rapid cropping systems that have evolved from simple PVC piping are truly unique and exceptional hydroponic gardens. Extremely cost effective and durable, they are the leading means of high yield rapid cropping using hydroponics. The systems operate by circulating a deep flow of nutrient solution within the PVC pipes whereby the plants are suspended in baskets which protrude into the PVC pipes at specific spacing depending upon crop type and the roots grow down into the circulating nutrient...
Making clones of your favorite plant
A second method of starting and restocking your garden is cloning. In this procedure, a small growing tip is taken from a mature healthy plant and made to grow its own roots. This method is independent of the plants reproductive system and thus eliminates the possibility that future generations will continue to evolve, as cloning results in plants which are exactly alike in all aspects. Cloning is very popular with indoor growers - and sheep gt - that wish to preserve the characteristics of a...
Stocking your hydroponic garden
Once your seedlings or clones have established a root system and hardened off, they can be transplanted into your system. If you used rockwool as a starting medium, this process involves nothing more than placing them into your system and turning it on. If you used a loose starting medium like perlite or cocopeat, you will need to gently remove the medium from the young roots by either rinsing or soaking them in a pail of warm water OR use a porous open-weave mesh to keep the cocopeat from...
GroDan Rockwool
Rockwool is made from molten rock which is spun into long, glass-like fibers. These fibers are available compressed into bricks and cubes or as loose material called flock. Rockwool has a good water to air capacity and is widely used as a starting medium for seeds and a rooting medium for cuttings. Some of the world's largest hydroponic greenhouses use rockwool slabs to raise all sorts of fully mature plants. The mixed green seedlings at right were planted in cocopeat in easy to handle flats....
Reservoir construction
These diagrams detail the layout of the reservoir for use with an external pump. Many larger submersible pumps can be used externally by removing the detachable intake grates - beneath which you will usually find a threaded intake fitting. If you are building the 4 system or plan to use a submersible pump, you will not need 6 system. The only difference would be that you no longer need to drill the hole for the thru-hull fitting as you will no longer be using it. In this case, you may elect to...
Planning your PVC pipe system
The beauty of a system based upon PVC pipe is that it can easily be customized for your particular application. You may choose to utilize either four or six inch diameter PVC pipe for the growth chambers. If you are planning to grow indoors, four inch PVC is generally the way to go as most of the plants grown indoors are of the smaller variety and do not form large root systems. Outdoors is another story since you can grow just about anything - including tomatoes and peppers that can eventually...
Color Photosynthetic spectrum
Photosynthesis is most pronounced in the red 600-680nm and blue 380-480nm wavelengths of light. Horticultural lighting, also know as High Intensity Discharge HID lighting is designed to cover these specific wavelengths. There are two types of HID lamps which emit different color spectrums. Metal Halide lamps emit a white blue spectrum. MH lamps are best used as a primary light source if no or little natural sunlight is available . This type of lamp promotes compact vegetative growth. There are...
Environmental control and automation
When gardening indoors or in a greenhouse, you will certainly want to take advantage of the benefits a controlled environment can deliver. By maintaining your crops favorite growing conditions, you will realize larger harvests, faster growth and ultimately, better quality produce whether it be tomatoes, flowers or herbs and spices. Assuming that you have either natural sunlight in a greenhouse or HID light available indoors, the remaining considerations are temperature, humidity and air...
If you plan to grow indoors
Invest in an HID light Metal Halide for leafy plants - HPS for flowering amp fruiting plants . I use a 400 watt metal halide lamp with reflective hood to light nearly four gardens simultaneously and with excellent results. Since HID lights aren't exactly cheap, you may choose to substitute high output fluorescents instead, but in the long run, you'll get more light output and certainly more yield with an HID lamp. Either way you grow, try to get at least 20 watts per square foot of garden for...
The nutrient film technique
Work on the Nutrient Film Technique, or NFT for short, was pioneered by Allen Cooper at the Glasshouse Crops Research Institute in Littlehampton, England. Plants are placed atop an inverted 'V' shaped channel, sealed on all sides, through which a thin film of nutrient solution passes along the bottom. Roots grow down along the channel, receiving oxygen directly from the inside of the trough, while receiving water and nutrients from the thin film of nutrient below. The enclosed chamber maintains...
Perfect Startstm soil free starting sponges
The latest breakthrough in hydroponic mediums are these molded starter sponges made from organic compost and a flexible, biodegradable binder. Available in many shapes and sizes, they solve the problem growers face when wanting to use an organic medium in a hydroponic system. Namely, they do not fall apart as does rockwool and vermiculite when used to start seeds. The starting sponges exhibit perfect air to water holding capacity and when used in conjunction with their high density foam...
Theory of operation
This is a simple hydroponic garden that allows your plants to grow directly in the nutrient solution by providing physical support with GroRox and oxygenation to the roots with a common aquarium air pump and air curtain. The diagram at right details how the roots grow down through the GroRox into the nutrient solution which is aerated by the release of bubbles from the slowly leaking supply line aquarium air curtain . To get started building this garden, you'll need only the most basic parts...
Getting started with seeds
Most plants primary means for reproduction is the seed. The seed is formed inside the female flower after pollination by the male plant. All seeds begin as an egg within the carpel of a female flower. After male pollen is introduced to the female flower by wind or insect, the egg becomes an embryo and forms a hard coating around itself. When development finally stops, the seed is released and carried by wind, rain, bird or bug to its final resting place and if all conditions are right, it will...
Measuring nutrient concentration and pH
In order to measure the amount of nutrients in solution, a measurement of PPM or TDS Parts Per Million and Total Dissolved Solids is performed. This measurement is also commonly referred to as the EC or 'Electrical Conductivity' of a solution as that is actually what you are measuring. There are a number of methods of measuring PPM, my favorite is the digital PPM gauge which is simply submerged in the nutrient solution for a reading to be taken. Digital PPM meters are calibrated with a solution...
Vertical Gardening
This is another interesting application of aeroponics. It is manufactured by Vertigro and represents a great way of saving greenhouse space. The system functions much in the same fashion as the system above except it shares a drain pipe with as many units as required. See the black hoses below growing cylinders. Vertigro is located in Florida near Epcot Center where these photos were taken. As you can see, hydroponic system design represents equal opportunity for a challenge and progress. If...
Hydroponic Planter Parts List
1 Plastic deck planter with a sealed bottom. We used a Dynamic Designs 27 x 12 x 10 deck planter with a sealed bottom. You can use a round or square design too - you'll just have to improvise the plans but the theory is the same. Use a container that is free from holes and made of a rugged, opaque plastic. Connects the pump outlet to the air curtain. 1 2500cc minimum Aquarium Air Pump We used a single output air pump with a T fitting to split the air line into two feeds. You can use a dual...
UltraPeattm aka Coco Peat Coco Coir
Our favorite loose growing medium is Coconut Fiber or Cocopeat. It represents a major step forward in organic soilfree potting mediums. It has the water retention of vermiculite and the air retention of perlite, however, it is a completely organic medium made from ground up coconut husks Why coconut husks The coconut husk serves its seed two purposes 1. Protection from the sun and salt while floating around the oceans and 2. A hormone rich, fungus free medium to solicit germination and rooting...
Indoor lighting for horticulture
Nothing beats the Sun when it comes to growing, however, new types of High Intensity Discharge lighting have made growing indoors a viable alternative. Many of you are familiar with fluorescent grow lights designed to grow plants indoors. These products are fine for low-light plants where limited results are expected. But what if you want to achieve the ultimate growth potential of your favorite plants indoors or supplement sunlight in your greenhouse Your answer is to use Horticultural High...
Types of hydroponic systems
A hydroponic system should be designed to fulfill the specific requirements of plants with the most reliable and efficient method s of nutrient delivery. The three major plant-requirements that a hydroponic system must satisfy are 1 Provide roots with a fresh supply of water and nutrients while avoiding stagnation. 2 Maintain aeration to the root zone to refresh the supply of oxygen and remove built-up CO2. 3 Prevent dehydration of the roots by maintaining close to 100 relative humidity....
The PVC Pipe Gardens
These designs were inspired by the many commercially available hydroponic gardens that utilize PVC pipe as a main design component. PVC pipe is relatively inexpensive, easy to work with and extremely durable. These designs allow easy expansion owing to their popularity among commercial growers and family farmers. Perfect for producing large harvests of rapidly growing crops such as salad greens, culinary and medicinal herbs and decorative flowers. This garden requires a bit more skill and some...
Hydroponic nutrient recipes
1.00 gallon s of VEGETATIVE NUTRIENT Use 6.00 grams of Calcium NitrateCa NO3 2 2.09 grams of Potassium Nitrate KNO3 0.46 grams of Sulfate of Potash K2SO4 1.39 grams of Monopotassium Phosphate KH2PO4 2.42 grams of Magnesium Sulfate MgSO4 7H2O 0.40 grams of 7 Fe Chelated Trace Elements See Trace Box 1.00 gallon s of FRUITING NUTRIENT8.2 - 5.9 - 13.6 Use 8.00 grams of Calcium NitrateCa NO3 2 2.80 grams of Potassium Nitrate KNO3 1.70 grams of Sulfate of Potash K2SO4 1.39 grams of Monopotassium...
Aeroponics
The most recent technology to be developed in agriculture is Aeroponics, a method in which a plant's roots are grown suspended mid-air. The plants are generally suspended from baskets similar to those in which strawberries are packaged at the top of a closed trough or cylinder. With the plants suspended in this manner, all essential nourishment can be provided to the roots by spraying them with a nutrient solution. Since the roots are suspended in mid-air, they receive the maximum amount of...
Ein Gedi system
First developed in Ein Gedi Israel, hence the name, the Ein Gedi System EGS introduced a revolutionary new method to hydroponics. The system is comprised of fully enclosed rectangular growth chambers, inside of which, nutrient solution is circulated 1-6 inches below evenly spaced mesh baskets that contain the plants. The air gap between the baskets and solution is misted by sprayers residing along the upper inside of the chamber. Roots growing into the mist zone are subjected to intense...
Investigate your local market
The most important thing you can do before planting any herbs to sell is to visit your local markets and determine what they sell and where the opportunity exists. Take a look at the fresh herb fridge and see what they have and how fresh it is. Nine times out of ten you will be amazed at how ragged their fresh herbs really are Have a look at the prices and jot them down. Also, take notes of the quantities being sold in each package. Usually fresh herbs are sold by the bunch which in most cases...