Home Hydroponics: What Are The Factors To Consider?

So you’re very interested in setting up your own hydroponics system at home after you’ve seen news articles about hydroponics and got very interested about the technology. Or you’re concerned about the pesticides that are found on commercially grown vegetables and you don’t want your salads to come with a side of chemicals.

Image: flickr.com/photos/philandpam

Or, perhaps, you think that hydroponics is the best way to teach your kids about gardening and you believe that it’s the best way to encourage them to eat vegetables. Whatever your reason for getting started in hydroponics, you’ve taken the right decision to go ahead and start researching more about the topic.

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Hydroponic Techniques - Home Hydroponics

By Diana Johnson

Hydroponics was originally defined as “the cultivation of plants in water,” however, with the successful use of the technique for cultivating plants in air and other media besides water, the definition was changed to the more inclusive - “the cultivation of plants without soil.” Hydroponic techniques have proved effective for commercial cultivation and also in home gardening. Hydroponic techniques and systems have greatly benefited agriculture especially where, conventional soil cultivation is not possible due to unavailability of agricultural land, resources or other factors.




Hydroponic Systems & TechniquesThe science of hydroponics has evolved since its inception with the development of two main systems – the water based hydroponic systems and aggregate based hydroponic systems. Water based hydroponic systems use water around the plant roots for delivery of nutrients. In aggregate based systems, plant roots are supported in some kind of inert material such as rockwool, pebbles etc. Both Water Culture Hydroponic Systems and Aggregate based Hydroponic Systems may use one of several different techniques of nutrient delivery to plant roots depending on requirements particular to the system.
Water Culture SystemsWater culture systems use water for delivery of nutrients which can be delivered to plant roots in different ways. Several techniques can be used; some of the more common of these are -

Nutrient Film TechniqueIn nutrient film technique a plastic trough or tube is used as the container through which a thin film of nutrient solution is made to flow continuously. Plants are grown out of holes on the top of the tube with their roots in the trough. The thin film of nutrient flows constantly past the roots. The trough is positioned to slope gently in order to maintain the circulation of the nutrient solution through the nutrient reservoir, to the plant roots and back. This is a popular technique with the home gardener and comes in many variations.

Aeroponics makes use of a nutrient mist delivered to the roots by a vaporizer or some other means. An A shaped frame constructed out of Styrofoam boards forms the support-base for plants. The plants are placed in holes on the inclined sides of the frame with the roots reaching out through the holes. The nutrient mist sprayed inside the A frame which then settles on the roots from where it is absorbed by the plant. Excess nutrient runs down the frame, is collected and recycled.

The aeration method was one of the first hydroponic techniques to be developed. In this method plants are suspended 1 inch above a nutrient solution collected in a container. An aquarium air pump is used to bubble oxygen through the nutrient solution. The plants are carried in a 2-inch deep mesh tray that fits inside the container when the lip of the tray is placed over the container’s edge. Gravel, clay pebbles or vermiculite filled in the tray serves to hold the plants and at the same time allow the roots to grow down into the nutrient solution.




Aggregate SystemsAggregate systems use inert materials such as rockwool, clay pebbles, gravel, etc. to support plant roots. The inert media serves to support the plant and also allows good oxygen penetration to the roots in addition to retaining a thin film of nutrients and water.
The flood and drain method is the most commonly used aggregate system. In this system a container is filled with aggregate and plants which is then flooded with a nutrient solution. The solution is then drained back into the nutrient reservoir by opening a valve at the bottom of the container.

The roots should be submerged for not more than 20 -30 min. during each cycle.
Another widely used aggregate system is the trickle feed method. The nutrient solution is continuously pumped from a reservoir through a 1/2-inch irrigation tube. This tube branches into several 1/8-inch tubes that feed the solution to containers carrying the aggregate and plants. Solution that may be in excess gets collected at the base of each container and is then returned to the nutrient reservoir.

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A Birdseye View into the Different Types of Hydroponic Growing Systems

Hydroponic gardening is the way of the future for environmentally controlled agriculture. Hydroponic gardening eliminates soil borne pests and diseases and maximizes water and nutrient uptake by the plant. Incredible yields can be achieved in a relatively small space with hydroponic systems. There are many types of hydroponic systems available for home and commercial use. These systems include the Europonic Rockwood System, the Ebb and Flow System, Aeroponic Systems, Continuous Drip Systems, and Rockwool Based Systems. Hydroponic systems come in all shapes and sizes and can be adapted for nearly any budget.

Nutrient Film Technique, or NFT, is another popular system. The plants are held in troughs with nutrient solution constantly trickling over the roots. A reservoir with a pump that is submersible re-circulates the nutrient solution continually, pumping the solution to the top of the troughs to trickle back through the system. Larger Nutrient Film Technique systems are used commercially, both abroad and in the United States. When choosing a Nutrient Film Technique system, care must be taken to choose the correct trough size. Large commercial systems use wider troughs with greater flow capacity. Aeroponics is a system in which the plant’s roots are suspended in air. They are excellent for growing herbs and leafy vegetables. The plants are held in web pots with neoprene inserts to support the plant. Different hold configurations in the top cover provide the proper spacing. Aeroponic systems are also great propagators. The seedlings can be germinated in rockwool then transferred directly to the web pots. Aeroponic systems are also very popular at NASA research centers and other educational facilities around the world.

The Europonic System is modeled after commercial systems that are used in Europe. A basic system has three trays and holds eight plants each. The system may also be expanded to five trays if desired. A nutrient solution is pumped from a thirty-gallon reservoir to individual emitters at each plant. The solution trickles through the rockwool, over the roots, and back to the reservoir where it is re-circulated on a constant basis. Rockwool, or mineral wool, is the most popular and highly used hydroponic medium. It is made from spun material fibers and has a high water and air holding capacity. It can also be cut and formed into many shapes and sizes that allow many diverse growing applications. The Europonic System uses rockwool slabs with two slabs fitting into each tray. Rockwool is easily able to support a relatively extensive root system so the Europonic System is ideal for vine crops such as tomatoes, cucumber, and peppers, plus large flowering plants.

In a continuous drip system, a single pot is used with a two-gallon reservoir underneath. The system acts like a percolator as air is pumped down a vertical shaft, creating pressure, and nutrient solution is forced up another tube. A drip ring constantly irrigates the substrate, and the nutrient solution drains back into the reservoir. This type of system is easy to use, inexpensive, and great for individual experimentation. However, it is impractical for most commercial applications. Ebb and flow systems are also popular in hydroponics. They are good for crops such as lettuce, pepper plants, miniature tomatoes, and potted flowers. Ebb and flow systems can also be used as an herb garden to provide fresh basis, thyme, and oregano year round. Ebb and flow systems do have a few drawbacks, one including the possible buildup of fertilizer salts in the substrate. As the water evaporates between flooding, the salts are left behind as a residue and may rise to toxic levels. It is best to flush the system with pure water periodically to take away any toxic salt buildup.

To find out more about hydroponics see: home hydroponics

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