Hydroponic gardening is the science of growing plants in a
controlled environment without soil - free from soil borne
pests and diseases. Hydroponically grown plants are raised
in greenhouses under carefully monitored and controlled
conditions. Gravel is normally used as the medium to
support the plant's roots within the hydroponics
greenhouse. Carefully mixed nutrients are then periodically
fed to the crops in liquid form - a method called
sub-irrigation culture. Once seedlings are planted almost
all of this work is done by automation. In these hydroponic
greenhouses sensors within the gravel are used to determine
when the plants need more nutrition and turn on the pumps,
giving the plants the just the right amount of solution.
These hydroponically grown plants are fed the exact
nutrients needed for rapid growth and volume production.
Some hydroponic gardeners use special tanks that are made
from big drums which are cut in half. The bottom of each
half is brazed with brass tubing. A hose hose is clamped to
one end of the tube. The other end is attached to a similar
tube which is brazed into a small can.
Inside the tanks the can is painted with an asphalt based
paint in order to prevent metal surfaces from rusting. The
tanks are filled with small sized gravel pellets.
The hydroponic gardening process starts with 'planting the
tanks' by first starting seedlings in carefully prepared
paper cups full of vermiculate to allow the hydroponic
solution to enter. After the plants are started, the entire
cup should be placed in the gravel. The plant's roots are
irrigated from below as the fluid flows down the hose and
into the gravel. The system is set up to ensure that the
crops are moist but are never flooded with solution for
more than a few seconds.
The advantages of hydroponic gardening in a greenhouse are
numerous. When crops are grown hydroponically, crop yields
are increased dramatically over conventional agriculture.
For example acre of land will yield five to the tons of
tomatoes. The same amount of space will yield 60 to 300
tons when grown hydroponically. A lettuce crop grown in a
hydroponic greenhouse will yield an increase of 12,000
pounds over conventionally grown lettuce.
Hydroponic gardening provides other advantages besides
increased crop yield. The hydroponic greenhouse environment
extends the growing season and doesn't require heavy labor.
And of course the obvious -there's no need for greenhouse
soil!
----------------------------------------------------
Author Tony Buel
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com
Getting Started in Hydroponic Gardening:
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com/Hydroponic-Gardening-Gree
nhouse-Advantages.htm
controlled environment without soil - free from soil borne
pests and diseases. Hydroponically grown plants are raised
in greenhouses under carefully monitored and controlled
conditions. Gravel is normally used as the medium to
support the plant's roots within the hydroponics
greenhouse. Carefully mixed nutrients are then periodically
fed to the crops in liquid form - a method called
sub-irrigation culture. Once seedlings are planted almost
all of this work is done by automation. In these hydroponic
greenhouses sensors within the gravel are used to determine
when the plants need more nutrition and turn on the pumps,
giving the plants the just the right amount of solution.
These hydroponically grown plants are fed the exact
nutrients needed for rapid growth and volume production.
Some hydroponic gardeners use special tanks that are made
from big drums which are cut in half. The bottom of each
half is brazed with brass tubing. A hose hose is clamped to
one end of the tube. The other end is attached to a similar
tube which is brazed into a small can.
Inside the tanks the can is painted with an asphalt based
paint in order to prevent metal surfaces from rusting. The
tanks are filled with small sized gravel pellets.
The hydroponic gardening process starts with 'planting the
tanks' by first starting seedlings in carefully prepared
paper cups full of vermiculate to allow the hydroponic
solution to enter. After the plants are started, the entire
cup should be placed in the gravel. The plant's roots are
irrigated from below as the fluid flows down the hose and
into the gravel. The system is set up to ensure that the
crops are moist but are never flooded with solution for
more than a few seconds.
The advantages of hydroponic gardening in a greenhouse are
numerous. When crops are grown hydroponically, crop yields
are increased dramatically over conventional agriculture.
For example acre of land will yield five to the tons of
tomatoes. The same amount of space will yield 60 to 300
tons when grown hydroponically. A lettuce crop grown in a
hydroponic greenhouse will yield an increase of 12,000
pounds over conventionally grown lettuce.
Hydroponic gardening provides other advantages besides
increased crop yield. The hydroponic greenhouse environment
extends the growing season and doesn't require heavy labor.
And of course the obvious -there's no need for greenhouse
soil!
----------------------------------------------------
Author Tony Buel
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com
Getting Started in Hydroponic Gardening:
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com/Hydroponic-Gardening-Gree
nhouse-Advantages.htm
