When growing hydroponics, there are a vast variety of
growing mediums that may be used. The mediums include
materials, including perlite, vermiculite, coconut fiber,
gravel, sand, or any number of other materials. Even air
may be used as a hydroponic growing medium. The hydroponic
growing medium is an inert substance that does not supply
any nutrition to the plants.
All of the nutrition comes from the nutrient solution,
typically combining water and fertilizer. Hydroponic
fertilizer and fertilizer intended for use in soil
(regularfertilizer) contain the three main nutrients.
These nutrients are nitrogen, Phosphorus, and potassium.
The main difference between hydroponic fertilizer and dirt
fertilizer is that hydroponic gardening fertilizers contain
the proper amounts of all of the essential micro-nutrients
that regular fertilizers do not include. The plants are
expected to find these elements in the soil.
Problems may arise for the plants if any or all of the
micro-nutrients are not present in the soil or have been
depleted by successive or excessive plantings. Hydroponic
gardening fertilizers are usually in a more pure form than
are regular fertilizers so they are more stable and
water-soluble.
Organic fertilizers are typically very different than
either the hydroponic fertilizers or the dirt fertilizers
in how the deliver nutrients to the plants. The organic
fertilizers rely on the action of bacteria and microbes to
help break down the material into its basic elements so the
plant can easily use it. Hydroponic and regular
fertilizers then supply the plants with these elements.
Another difference between hydroponic and regular gardening
is that growing hydroponics can be extremely complicated.
Hydroponics are controlled with computers and sensors which
help control everything from watering cycles to nutrient
strength, and the amount of light the plants receive.
However, hydroponics can also be very simple. The average
home hydroponic system usually consists of a few basic
parts, including a growing tray, a reservoir, a timer
controlled submersible pump to water the plants, and an air
pump to oxygenate the nutrient solution. Light is, of
course, also required to help the hydroponic garden to grow.
There are also micro-nutrients that are required for
healthy plant growth. These micro-nutrients include
calcium, sulfur, magnesium, boron, cobalt, iron, copper,
manganese, zinc, and molybdenum. These nutrients are the
essential elements that plants need in very small amounts.
Plants are likely to become sick without these trace
elements and will develop all sorts of problems depending
on which nutrient is missing.
The lack of micro-nutrients in food crops can mean a lack
of nutrients in the food. This will result in the food not
being as healthy as it could be and potentially lead people
to develop health problems due to the lack of these
essential elements. Any hydroponic gardener needs to use a
good quality hydroponic fertilizer when they are growing
plants using hydroponics.
It is also vital that the pH is controlled in both growing
hydroponics and in the soil as well. Plants lose the
ability to absorb different nutrients when the pH varies.
The pH must be monitored during the entire growth cycle of
the plants to maintain the maximum healthy uptake of
nutrients. The pH of the nutrient solution will affect how
well each element can pass through the root cell wall to
nourish the plant. Once the gardener has properly
calibrated the fertilizer concentrations and the pH of that
solution, they can generally assume it will stay steady
barring any unforeseen root disease.
Gardeners should always monitor their system too much
rather than too little to avoid any problems. The ability
to quickly and easily test and control pH in hydroponics is
a major advantage over regular gardening, where testing and
adjusting the pH is much more complicated and time
consuming.
----------------------------------------------------
Hydroponic Gardening can be a fun and productive new way of
gardening for you. We have tips and resources to get you
started fast! Author Tony Buel
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com
growing mediums that may be used. The mediums include
materials, including perlite, vermiculite, coconut fiber,
gravel, sand, or any number of other materials. Even air
may be used as a hydroponic growing medium. The hydroponic
growing medium is an inert substance that does not supply
any nutrition to the plants.
All of the nutrition comes from the nutrient solution,
typically combining water and fertilizer. Hydroponic
fertilizer and fertilizer intended for use in soil
(regularfertilizer) contain the three main nutrients.
These nutrients are nitrogen, Phosphorus, and potassium.
The main difference between hydroponic fertilizer and dirt
fertilizer is that hydroponic gardening fertilizers contain
the proper amounts of all of the essential micro-nutrients
that regular fertilizers do not include. The plants are
expected to find these elements in the soil.
Problems may arise for the plants if any or all of the
micro-nutrients are not present in the soil or have been
depleted by successive or excessive plantings. Hydroponic
gardening fertilizers are usually in a more pure form than
are regular fertilizers so they are more stable and
water-soluble.
Organic fertilizers are typically very different than
either the hydroponic fertilizers or the dirt fertilizers
in how the deliver nutrients to the plants. The organic
fertilizers rely on the action of bacteria and microbes to
help break down the material into its basic elements so the
plant can easily use it. Hydroponic and regular
fertilizers then supply the plants with these elements.
Another difference between hydroponic and regular gardening
is that growing hydroponics can be extremely complicated.
Hydroponics are controlled with computers and sensors which
help control everything from watering cycles to nutrient
strength, and the amount of light the plants receive.
However, hydroponics can also be very simple. The average
home hydroponic system usually consists of a few basic
parts, including a growing tray, a reservoir, a timer
controlled submersible pump to water the plants, and an air
pump to oxygenate the nutrient solution. Light is, of
course, also required to help the hydroponic garden to grow.
There are also micro-nutrients that are required for
healthy plant growth. These micro-nutrients include
calcium, sulfur, magnesium, boron, cobalt, iron, copper,
manganese, zinc, and molybdenum. These nutrients are the
essential elements that plants need in very small amounts.
Plants are likely to become sick without these trace
elements and will develop all sorts of problems depending
on which nutrient is missing.
The lack of micro-nutrients in food crops can mean a lack
of nutrients in the food. This will result in the food not
being as healthy as it could be and potentially lead people
to develop health problems due to the lack of these
essential elements. Any hydroponic gardener needs to use a
good quality hydroponic fertilizer when they are growing
plants using hydroponics.
It is also vital that the pH is controlled in both growing
hydroponics and in the soil as well. Plants lose the
ability to absorb different nutrients when the pH varies.
The pH must be monitored during the entire growth cycle of
the plants to maintain the maximum healthy uptake of
nutrients. The pH of the nutrient solution will affect how
well each element can pass through the root cell wall to
nourish the plant. Once the gardener has properly
calibrated the fertilizer concentrations and the pH of that
solution, they can generally assume it will stay steady
barring any unforeseen root disease.
Gardeners should always monitor their system too much
rather than too little to avoid any problems. The ability
to quickly and easily test and control pH in hydroponics is
a major advantage over regular gardening, where testing and
adjusting the pH is much more complicated and time
consuming.
----------------------------------------------------
Hydroponic Gardening can be a fun and productive new way of
gardening for you. We have tips and resources to get you
started fast! Author Tony Buel
http://www.hydroponics.com-afl.com
