To many people, hydroponic gardening conjures up images of white coated researchers poking and prodding their genetically manipulated plants, or of future space travelers harvesting zero gravity salad greens from sealed growth chambers. In reality, hydroponic technology is not as daunting as those images suggest. Growers are beginning to recognize the advantages of hydroponic gardening and the advancement of technology has been amazing.

Indoors, hydroponic gardening allows for the maximum use of space with a minimum of the mess and bother associated with dirt gardening. A properly designed and operated hydroponic system allows gardeners to grow wholesome, pesticide-free produce when others are forced to subsist on store-bought veggies and entertain themselves with the latest seed company catalogs.

Outdoors, hydroponics permits gardening in areas with poor soil, or no soil at all, such as patios and rooftops. Recirculating systems conserve precious water and expensive fertilizers. Hydroponics comes from the Greek words hydro, meaning “water,” and ponos, meaning “labor.” Hydroponics is the science of growing plants without soil, most often in a soilless medium. Unlike the soil grower, the hydroponic gardener can control two essential processes: nutrient intake and oxygen intake via the roots.

In hydroponics, the inert soilless medium that provides support for the plants’ root systems contains no nutrients of its own. Nutrition is supplied by the nutrient solution, a mixture of pure water and dissolved nutrients. With most hydroponic systems, the solution passes over the roots or floods around them at regular intervals.

Oxygen is essential to the health of roots. It is incorporated in the nutrient solution, drawn into the root area when the system is drained (in flood and drain systems), or misted on the roots (in aeroponics). Even the best soil rarely holds as much oxygen as a soilless hydroponic medium. The oxygen around the roots speeds the plants’ uptake of nutrients. Plants grow faster hydroponically because they are able to assimilate nutrients rapidly and completely. Roots are able to take in food nearly as fast as the plant is able to use it.

Hydroponic gardening is more precise than soil gardening. Soil works as a buffer for nutrients and holds them longer than the inert hydroponic medium. Hydroponically grown plants tend to grow faster with a little more lush foliage than plants grown in soil. When roots are restricted and growth slows in containerized plants, hydroponic plants are still getting the maximum amount of nutrients and growing strong.

(Above introduction taken from, The Best of the Growing Edge from New Moon Publishing and Hydroponics for the Rest of Us) b

Frequently Asked Questions    What is hydroponics? Hydroponics is the science of growing plants without soil. The plants thrive on the nutrient-water solution alone.  The growing medium merely acts as a support for the plants and their root systems while the solution passes freely. The growing medium, if any, is totally inert.   What are the advantages of hydroponics versus soil grown plants? You can grow more plants per square foot in a hydroponic garden because roots are directly fed ~ therefore, there is no competition for root space. As a result, you can get higher yields per square foot, per unit of time. Your plants will grow faster because they will be getting all the nutrients they need and in the proper proportions. Their root systems stay smaller, so the plant can concentrate it’s grown energy on producing plant mass, rather than roots.   Isn’t hydroponic gardening complicated? NO! If you follow directions, you can garden hydroponically. A few simple steps must be followed on a regular basis to insure that your plants thrive. Once you get used to the routine ~ it’s a snap.   Can plants be grown organically, hydroponically? Organic and hydroponic growers have typically regarded each other somewhat suspiciously and the two growing methods were not thought to be compatible. There is common ground, however, and more people are finding that with a little experimentation, they can grow a successful organic, hydroponic garden.  Products used for hydroponic gardening include bat guanos, liquefied seaweed products, fish based fertilizers, and an extensive line of organic nutrients., such as Bio Bizz. Ask us for more information on organic, hydroponic gardening.   What types of plants can be grown hydroponically? Anything can be grown hydroponically, but some plants prove to be more space efficient. Some plants we suggest are tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot chilies, lettuce, spinach, squash, cucumbers, broccoli, beans, snow peas, herbs and flowers of all types.   Do you REALLY get better yields in less time? Absolutely. The plants, receiving everything they need, tend to be healthier, faster growing and generally more productive. Expect 30% faster growth with many crops.   What about taste? Will the flavor compare to my outdoor grown, organic produce? You bet ~ perhaps even better! This is simply due to the fact that the hydroponically grown plants are getting everything they need, when they need it. Don’t be fooled by “hot house” produce grown commercially. The grower’s primary concern is shipability and storage, not flavor. When you grow your own vegetables at home, you can expect nothing less than excellent results. Plus, hydroponically grown produce has the added benefit of a longer shelf life.   Will I be using any pesticides? If so, what kind? Generally, indoor environments demand less pesticides for obvious reasons. Hydroponic growing eliminates soil borne pests, as well. However, if pests do become a problem, one can choose to use insecticide soaps, natural pyrethrums and, in some cases, beneficial insects. These controls will be completely safe to use on edible crops and are also environmentally safe.   What is the best growing medium? There is no clear cut answer to this question. Like everything else, this comes down to preferance. Different mediums work better for different situations and different crops. • Rockwool will allow the grower an easy set up, since it is pre-formed and modular. It holds a tremendous amount of water and offers a buffer against drying in the case of electrical outages or pump failures. As Rockwool is disposable, it lends itself to quick end of crop clean-up. Also good for starting seedlings and cuttings. • Coconut Fiber is recently becoming more popular. Coconut fiber is the first “organic” medium to offer high performance in modern hydroponic applications. It can also be added into soil mixtures to increase water retention. Coconut fiber holds more oxygen than rockwool and is pH neutral. • Grow Rocks (Called Hydroton or Diatatomite) are a super-fired type of baked clay formed to create a porous, reusable hydroponic media. Due to their sturdy nature, Grow rocks provide secure support for the plants’ root zone. This non-degradable, sterile growing medium provides the delicate balance between moisture retention and aeration and holds a neutral pH . Easy to use.   TIP: Stick with dwarf or compact plant varieties when gardening indoors. They will perform better under lights and are lower maintenance. Try hand pollinating tomatoes, peppers and other veggies for best results!

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