Hydroponic Gardening

1. Hydroponic Gardening
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Gardening can be a lot of fun and getting your hands dirty is part and parcel of working outdoors.
However conventional gardening can be hard work – raking, tilling, hoeing and weeding are just
some of the strenuous jobs that come with being a gardener. There are also the pests such as
cutworms and soil borne diseases and pesticides needed to combat them. However there is an
alternative and it is called hydroponics.
How Does Hydroponics Work?
Hydroponic gardening involves growing plants in a nutrient solution rather than soil. The advantage
of hydroponics is that you can avoid many of the problems that affect soil grown plants such as
cutworms and soil-borne diseases that can ruin your crop. This means herbicides and pesticides can
be avoided. Also you have more control over the nutrients that feed your plants. It is easier to vary
the nutrients that the plant receives at various stages of its development ensuring optimum growth.
Instead of soil, a porous growing aggregate is used. This can include sand, vermiculite, gravel,
coconut coir, clay balls or perlite. This allows air and nutrients to circulate more freely allowing a
better distribution of oxygen and food to each plant. Nutrients and water are fed directly to the roots
which enable the plant to spend more of its energy growing above the soil rather than pushing
through soil to compete for nutrients. Because the roots are smaller the plants can be grown closer
together thereby conserving space. This can mean everything grows faster and produces higher
yields within a smaller space. Hydroponics is so versatile that NASA has explored the use of
hydroponics in their space programs and possible use of hydroponically grown food on planets such
as Mars.
Hydroponics isn’t new – the Ancient Babylon’s built the hydroponically-engineered ‘hanging gardens
of Babylon’ in the palace courtyard located just outside of present day Baghdad, Iraq. Also the
floating gardens of the Aztecs of Mexico and those of the Chinese. Archeological evidence shows
that when soil isn’t ideal for agriculture, hydroponics’ was often a viable alternative.
Lighting
As with all gardening artificial lighting is not required if you are growing outdoors in sunlight. The
more you substitute for nature the more complicated any system will become. However if you choose
to grow indoors you should use a grow light. You should also consider a grow tent with a reflective

2. inner surface to ensure the plants receive the maximum amount of light and so ideal growing
conditions are maintained. Many grow lights for plants are inefficient and expensive to run. However
due to advances in technology grow lights have become more efficient, longer lasting and powerful.
Hydroponic Nutrients
Nutrients dissolved in a water solution are often called nutrient salts and these should contain the
micro and macro nutrients required for plant growth. You can make your own nutrient solution using
water and fertilizer salts or you can buy one ready-made. The nutrient solution is than mixed with
water to provide the correct concentration for the plant and then poured over your aggregate, or
pumped through the hydroponic system. Some ready-made nutrient solutions also contain microbes,
enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, crop enhancers such as root boosters, non-ionic surfactants and PH
stabilizer and buffers. However all of these additional nutrients are not necessary. Also the ready-
made solutions containing these exotic ingredients can be expensive. To make your own nutrients all
you require are some fertilizer salts containing the macro and micro nutrients plants require.
Hydroponic Systems
To grow plants with a nutrient solution you require a hydroponic system. A hydroponic system is
required to ensure that the nutrients and water solution are replenished and the roots can absorb
oxygen.
There are many different types of hydroponic growing systems. The most common hydroponic
systems are the Ebb and Flow system, drip method, Aeroponic growing system, Nutrient Film
Technique, the wick method and water culture system. You can also make your own DIY hydroponic
system which is cheap but still affective.

3. Ebb and Flow system
One of the most adaptable hydroponic systems is the Ebb and Flow system. It involves a pump to
release nutrient solution into a grow tray. The pump is controlled by a timer which floods the grow
tray. The solution is then drained away back into a reservoir several times a day.
Hydroponic Drip Method
Probably one of the most widely used methods in hydroponics. A timer is used to control a
submersed pump that releases nutrients onto the base of each plant. This can involve either a
recovery drip system were excess nutrient solution is collected and reused or a non-recover drip
system that does not collect and re-use the nutrient solution.
Aeroponic Growing System
The aeroponic growing system is one of the most high tech and usually involves the roots being
suspended in air and misted with nutrients every few minutes. The rate at which the plants are
misted can be controlled with a timer.
The Nutrient Film Technique
Another common hydroponic system is the N.F.T system. This involves a constant flow of nutrients.
It does not require a timer but does involve a pump which draws a nutrient solution into a grow tray
where the plant roots are held in plastic containers with the roots hanging in the nutrient solution.
The solution is then drained away back into the reservoir.

4. Wick System
This is probably the simplest and most versatile hydroponic system as it can be set up on a small or
large scale and does not involve any moving parts. A wick releases a nutrient solution into the grow
tray where it is utilized by the roots. The wicks cannot supply large amounts of water so it is more
suited to smaller plants rather than larger plants that require more water.
Water Culture System
This is another simple method but a less affective way of distributing nutrients and air to plants. It is
only suitable for some plants such as leaf lettuce. It involves a Styrofoam platform whereby the
plants float on the nutrient solution and air bubbles travel up from the bottom of the reservoir
thereby supplying oxygen to the plant roots.
Whatever system you choose to use hydroponic gardening is the most efficient and productive
method available for growing plants indoors or outside. Once you’re setup the system doesn’t
require the same level of work that conventional gardening requires and you can make your own
hydroponic system and nutrients making it a cheap and sustainable alternative.
Note from SGA - Simon runs a fantastic hydroponic website. For loads more detailed information
on everything Hydroponic, head to www.buyhydroponic.net
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