Hydroponic Gardening Today » Hydroponic Gardening

What is a hydroponic system I can build?

admin — Sun, 11 May 2008 02:16:37 +0000

Building an Ebb and Flow Hydroponic Vegetable Gardening System
The system commonly known as an ebb and flow system is one of the easiest hydroponic systems to build yourself. A quick trip to a local hardware store and a gardening supply store should be all you need to find all of the required parts to build your system. The basic design is as follows:
1.    A reservoir containing the nutrient solution is located below a tray with the growing medium and plants in it.
2.    The tray contains growing medium such as Rockwool, grow rocks, perlite/vermiculite or possibly even coconut fibers.
3.    The bed is periodically flooded with nutrient solution by using a small pump on a timer.
4.    The timer turns the pump back off and the solution drains back to the reservoir.
5.    It is important to locate the tray above the reservoir as gravity will handle the draining of the excess solution from the tray back into the reservoir.
6.    As the roots are exposed to air during each cycle, oxygen is drawn in to the root zone providing additional plant requirements.
7.    Excess flooding can be prevented by adding a drain to the tray at the highest point the nutrient fluids should ever reach. This drain can then be plumbed back onto the reservoir.
It may sound complicated but its pretty straightforward. Remember, its just a tray with a drain on it that flows down into a reservoir of nutrient solution. A small pump on a timer floods the tray 4 times a day, and the fluid drains out allowing air to reach the roots.
Check back next time to learn more about your hydroponic vegetable garden.

What are hydroponic gardening nutrient solutions?

admin — Sat, 10 May 2008 03:01:26 +0000

Most problems with plants are a result of using the wrong amount of fertilizer. If you use too little, your plants will be weak and underfed. If you use too much you risk burning and even killing the plant. In most cases it is a judgment call and requires constant monitoring and adjustment over the lifespan of the plant.
Hydroponic nutrient solutions are typically sold in concentrated forms. They are designed to be diluted and then added to your garden’s water supply at a specific ratio. The ideal concentration for your hydroponic vegetable garden is 150-600 parts per million (ppm). For the majority of plants, that range can be narrowed to 300-400 ppm. The solutions are usually sold in two or three part solutions because some of the chemical components cannot be mixed together directly. In fact, always be sure to mix your nutrient solutions into water and never directly with one another.
The solution is simply water with fertilizer dissolved into it. Always start with good quality water and mix in the fertilizer at a rate dictated by the manufacturer. The pH of the nutrient solution is also very important and must be adjusted as needed using liquid pH adjusters. While the pH requirement is dependent on the plant, a good rule of thumb for the pH is between 6.0 – 6.5 for all growing mediums other than Rockwool. Rockwool requires a pH of 5.5-5.8.
For young plants, the sultion should be mixed at a ¼ to ½ strength of what the manufacturer suggests for full strength. At two weeks of age you can adjust upwards and start using a full strength solution. Remember, you want to keep the growing medium moist, but never saturated, with the nutrient solution.
Check back again for the next installment of knowledge about starting your hydroponic vegetable garden.

How does one get started with a hydroponic garden?

admin — Sat, 10 May 2008 02:47:55 +0000

There are several steps to getting started. This article will discuss just one of those steps. Starter cubes are an easy way to germinate seeds. Beginner hydroponic and soil gardeners often use the cubes as well. They are typically made of an inert substance, which is a material that doesn’t provide any nutritional value to the plant and merely gives the plant a place for its roots to grow.
There are 4 common kinds of starter cubes: Rockwool, Oasis cubes, Organo-Cubes and peat-pots. These days it seems most people prefer all but the peat-pots as they have a habit of retaining too much water and killing the seedlings.
The preparation of the cubes will vary depending on which cube you have selected. Note that Organo-Cubes come ready for use. The Oasis and Peat pot cubes should be pre-soaked with water that is pH adjusted to 6 – 6.5. The cubes need only to be saturated and then allowed to drain.
Since Rockwool has a high pH, it must be treated different. They are presoaked with water of a low enough pH that after the soak the cube is balanced. This is typically done with water with a pH of something around 5.0. The cubes should be soaked for a day and then will be ready for use.
Once the starter cubes are ready, you can begin to plant the seeds for your hydroponic vegetable garden. Using the tip of a something pointy like a pen or pencil make a small, ¼ inch deep hole in the top of the cube. Place the seed(s) into the hole and gently cover the seed(s) with some of the cube material from around the hole.
The seed cubes should be kept moist but not wet and they should never be allowed to sit in water. Light will not be required until the seeds being to sprout. Nutrients aren’t required either until the plants have formed their first leaves. Once this happens you can begin to give them a diluted nutrient solution.
Check back next time for the next installment to learn about nutrients for your hydroponic vegetable garden.

Welcome

admin — Sat, 10 May 2008 02:26:42 +0000

Thanks for visiting the Hydroponic Vegetable Gardening guide. We have taken the time to organize and provide information that can help you to learn about hydroponic gardening. If you’re looking for information about hydroponic vegetable gardening, or just hydroponics in general, you have come to the right place.

If any of you would like more specific information on hydroponic vegetable gardening, please feel free to let us know. Thanks again for the visit and make sure to check back often to receive additional information.