Hydroponic gardening offers many advantages. Plants are able to grow in a confined space and are rarely affected by insects or other pests. In addition, since the plants grow inside, outside weather conditions, including drought, frost and freezing weather do not affect the produce. Finally, since plants grow in an inert medium, the quality of soil in one's back yard does not affect crop yields.
While hydroponics is used successfully in large indoor greenhouses to produce crops commercially, it is also possible for an individual to transform an unused corner in the house or garage or an unused closet into a hydroponic garden. This allows the family to enjoy fresh organic produce all year long.
In many instances, the natural lighting available for the hydroponic garden is not sufficient to support growth inside the home. Grow lights can provide all the light needed for successful growth of the garden. LED lights are often the best choice. They can provide a full spectrum of light and less heat than incandescent or fluorescent lighting. They are also less expensive to operate.
Most of the time, plants are grown in a net pot filled with an inert material such as gravel or vermiculite to support the plant. In the simplest of gardens, the plants are suspended in the water solution. More effective gardens use pumps to circulate the water and nutrient solution through the roots.
The system to contain the pots is usually made of plastic. Such containers are available commercially; however, many choose to make their own hydroponic container. Plans are available online that make use of 5 gallon buckets and 18 gallon storage totes. Another popular method of hydroponic gardening uses 4-6 inch PVC pipe to support plants in a gravity system that allows the nutrient solution to flow through the plant roots.
Hydroponics can be used for many types of plants. It is ideal for herbs and vegetables of all types. The system can provide fresh cut flowers for use all year long. Some gardeners even use hydroponics for small fruit trees to provide organic fruit for the table in their home.
Fogponics is related to hydroponic gardening. However, with this method of gardening, the roots are suspended in a vapor of water and nutrients. An ultrasonic fogger is suspended in the growing media to create ultra-fine water droplets that cling to the roots to provide the moisture and nutrients needed for growth.
0 comments:
Post a Comment