Hydroponics
Hydroponic Gardening Articles
With Hydroponics, Growing Plants is Low Maintenance
You should consider hydroponics; growing plants has never been easier than this. Growing with the hydroponics method is so simple that even children can find success with growing plants. Most terrestrial plants can be grown using the hydroponics growing method although some plants thrive better than others. You can have a controlled situation where you can reduce the occurrence of pests and weeds.
When using hydroponics, growing is an easy and efficient method for healthier plants and flowers. You use mineral nutrient solutions for the nutritional needs of your plants. You can start new plants by seed germination, cloning from getting a root system to grow from stem cuttings or from tissue culture which is cloning by cell division which is an advanced technique.
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Six Main Hydroponics Growing Methods
Aeroponics
Using this method, the plants must be misted frequently or else they dry out. The plants are suspended with air as the growing medium. A nutrient rich spray is applied through a timed nutrient pump system.
Drip System
The drip system is either recovery or non-recovery. Recovery or non-recovery refers to whether the nutrient solution is collected after a dripping for reuse or if it is allowed to run off. The nutrient solution is dripped onto the roots of the plants that are held in a tray. An air stone for pumping air into the system is used with this method.
Ebb and Flow
Also understood as flood and drain, this hydroponics growing method adds and drains a nutrient solution to and from the grow tray through a submerged pipe and timer system.
Nutrient Film Technique (N.F.T.)
This hydroponics growing method provides plants with a continuous application of the nutrient solution that is drained to the reservoir. This method uses an air stone for adding oxygen to the system.
Water Culture
In this hydroponics growing method, the plants are held by a medium that floats on the nutrient solution. Plants that need more water will thrive with this method although this method works best for lettuce. Teachers use this hydroponics growing method in the classroom because it can be done easily. An air stone is used with this type of growing system.
Wick System
Unlike the other hydroponics growing methods, the wick method, also known as a passive method, does not have moving water or air pumps. A wick draws the nutrient solution into the grow tray. Different growing mediums such as coconut fiber, perlite and vermiculite can be used.
| About The Author Percy Troughton runs his own Garden Center in California. Click on the following links for more info on Hydroponics Growing or more general Garden Resources articles and resources. This article may be reproduced as long as the author is kept intact including the hyperlinks. |