Hydroponics Truths

What exactly is hydroponics? Simply put, it involves growing plants in a liquid nutrient solution, rather than in soil. As a kid, I remember watching the Sci-fi series “Space 1999” and hearing mention of the “Hydroponics Lab”, and not really putting it together what that meant. In fact, I viewed this as science fiction gobbledygook. Of course it was not, as with many things in science fiction. Hydroponics exists.

How can you grow plants without soil?

For a plant to grow, you need several things. Light, water, soil (as a general rule) and some form of nutrients. These are just the basics, as there are other necessary elements to growing a healthy plant. Hydroponics manages to grow healthy plants without soil. There are two main types of hydroponics, solution, and medium.

Solution Culture

In solution culture, plants are grown in a container with a nutrient solution. The container used varies, but in larger operations, a tank system is used. You can grow plants this in a container as small as a Mason jar. Solution culture is broken down into three types, static solution culture, continuous flow solution culture and aeroponics

Static Solution Culture

In this form of solution culture, the roots are suspended in the solution, which is sometimes gently aerated. If the solution is not aerated, the solution must be low enough to expose a part of the roots in order for them to receive oxygenation.

Continuous Flow Solution Culture

The nutrient solution continuously flows past the roots in this type of hydroponics, as the name implies. One can automate this form easier than the static solution, and regulate the amount of nutrients being delivered to the root system.

Aeroponics

In aeroponics, the nutrient solution is delivered via a fine mist introduced to the roots which are suspended in an air chamber. The advantage here is the excellent aeration the plant gets by not having its roots suspended in the solution.

Medium Culture

In medium culture, the plants are grown in various medium rather than soil. This could be peat moss, to vermiculite, wool, or gravel.

It has been found that rock wool is one of the best mediums to be used for this type of hydroponics. The medium does quite well at holding water, and allowing drainage at the same time. It is made by melting rock, and spinning it down to a fiber matting.

Hydroponics systems are often found in a greenhouse environment, as a controlled situation is necessary to promote growth.

Some disadvantages to hydroponics are that the method lends itself to the growth of salmonella and other bacteria. However, the yield advantaged outweigh these problems, and a diligent hydroponics farmer is always on the lookout for this.