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What is hydroponics?
Hydroponics
is the method of growing plants without soil. In
place of soil, water enriched with oxygen and
nutrient salts is used. This solution is well
balanced to provide plants with the nutrition they
need. It is also environmentally safe, since there
is no excessive spillage of fertilized soil.
How does a hydroponic system work?
In a
hydroponic system, a soil-free medium is used to
keep the plant in place. Options for this medium
include sand, stone, or fiber. Because these are
porous, they enable the absorption of air and water,
which is required for plants to grow.
Typically in a hydroponic system, nutrition is
efficiently directed to the roots of the plants.
Thus, there is no need for the plant to expend its
energy in developing long roots. As long as they are
exposed to light, hydroponic plants will flourish.
What are the different types of hydroponic
systems?
There are six different types of hydroponic systems.
A brief description of each is given below:
Wick System
This is the simplest of the hydroponic systems. A
rich nutrient solution is pulled into the growing
medium with a wick. Coconut fiber, vermiculite,
perlite, and pro-mix are used as growing mediums.
This system works best with smaller plants because
the wick can only supply a limited amount of water.
Water Culture
This hydroponic system consists of a styrofoam
platform that holds the plants, while floating on a
nutrient solution. Nutrients and oxygen are filtered
to the plants' roots by an air pump. This hydroponic
system works best for plants which thrive on water,
such as leaf lettuce. As with the wick system, the
water culture system is not ideal for larger plants
that require a more efficient feeding cycle.
Ebb and Flow
The ebb and flow system operates by temporarily
flooding the plant's grow tray with the nutrient
solution and then letting it flow back into the
nutrient reservoir. The cycle is controlled by a
pump that is activated by a timer. This hydroponic
system is more versatile than the previous two.
Drip System
This hydroponic system is widely used because it
involves a simple operation. A timer is used to turn
on a submerged pump that enables the nutrient
solution to reach the plant via a thin drip. A
recovery drip system recycles excess solution that
is not absorbed by the plant; a non-recovery system
allows this to go waste.
Nutrient Film Technique
This technique uses a constant flow of food so no
timer is used. A tube is used to pump the nutrient
solution into a tray where it can be absorbed by the
plants' roots. Any solution that is not absorbed
automatically flows back into the reservoir.
Typically, the plant is placed in a basket whereby
the roots can hang freely into the solution. No
other growing medium is required.
Aeroponics
The technology involved makes this the most
complicated of the hydroponic systems. No medium is
used as the roots grow in air, but are misted with a
nutrient solution according to a precisely timed
schedule every few minutes. The misting cycles need
to be monitored to avoid the roots drying out.
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