Homemade hydroponics wick system
Water
works/wick hydroponics systems are probably the most basic form of
hydroponics kits available. The way they function is fairly simple to
understand. The roots of the plants are constantly submerged under water
and a pump is used with an airstone to provide aeration.
Water
works systems do not provide proper aeration of the roots. To allow
roots to breath, a pump must be used, usually an external one connected
to an air line running into the reservoir. At the other end of the tube
is an airstone that gently diffuse oxygen into the reservoir tank.
Water
works usually utilize grow rocks, rockwool or a combination of both
mediums to grow plants and keep them up-right and sturdy. Water works
can be classified as a wick system because wick strips are generally
placed in the planters (net pots) to pull nutrient from the reservoir to
feed the upper root system. When you submerge the planter into the
reservoir, the wick strip will transport water from the reservoir to
feed the part of the roots that is not submerged under water or the
roots growing at the top level of the root system.
Water works hydroponics systems,
such as, Emily's Garden kit is a good choice for beginners and hobby
gardeners'. The system is easy to use and maintain. Simply fill the
reservoir with nutrient solution, plug in pump and your all set. The
only thing you need to do periodically is replenish the reservoir once
the nutrient solution falls below the water lever indicator.
Water
works hydroponics systems are not the most advanced, however, it will
get the job done and the system is great for beginners and hobby
Gardeners. Water works may cause root rot and other problems because the
roots are in water for longer than they need to be and is not
recommended for large or long term plants.
Submerging plant roots
into water for a long period of time will usually kill the plant or
slows growth. Air stones will aerate the roots, but some plants may
still die because of soaking up too much water.
One of the few
crops that would be "perfect" for water works hydroponics systems is
lettuce. Lettuce is a crop that loves water and plenty of it. Lettuce
growers should have great results using this hydroponics technique.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Hydroponic tomatoes
Hydroponic culture is one of the most exacting and intensive methods
of crop production used in agriculture today. Hydroponics is a fairly
complicated process of growing high quality tomatoes throughout the year
in a soiless, controlled environment. With hydroponic technology and a
controlled environment greenhouse, you have the ability to grow premium
quality produce using a minimum of space, water and fertilizer.
Growing
Tomatoes in a Hydroponic Garden
By Tracy
Ballisager
Hydroponic tomatoes are easier to grow that
most people imagine and, what is more, they taste delicious and are high
in nutrients. Whether you are adding them to a sandwich, making a rich
tomato and basil sauce, serving them in a crisp salad or simply enjoying
the tomatoes on their own or with cheese, hydroponically grown tomatoes
have a wonderful flavor. If you want to know how to grow tomatoes in a
hydroponic garden, read on for some useful information.
Photo: organichydroponicsystems.com
Planting
Hydroponic Tomatoes
You need to mark and space holes
the same diameter as the pots you are using for your tomato seedlings.
It is best to use shade cloth if the climate is warm, for the first few
weeks. You need to mix fertilizer and water to a resulting pH of 5.5 to
6.5. Rinse the tomato seedlings to remove any dirt before you plant
them. How to grow tomatoes in a hydroponic garden includes good
preparation. You can use rockwool slabs, chopped rockwool slabs, cubes
or blocks. A mixture of rockwool and fired clay is also a good growing
medium. After planting your tomato seedlings in the hydroponic solution,
you should check the water every day to make sure your water to
nutrient ratio is right.
Temperature for Hydroponic
Tomatoes
Tomatoes prefer temperatures of 70º to 80ºF
during the daytime and 10ºF lower at night. These are the same
temperatures that most growing vegetables thrive in. If you exceed these
temperatures above or below more than 10ºF, your tomatoes might turn
out nutritionally unbalanced, stunted or dead! That is why, when
learning how to grow tomatoes in a hydroponic garden, it is vital to be
aware of the correct temperature.
Lighting for Hydroponic
Tomatoes
Tomatoes use the blue part of the light
spectrum because they are long day plants. This means that a metal
halide high intensity discharge lamp is the best thing to use if your
plants are growing indoors rather than in the sunlight. They prefer 18
hours of light per day.
Humidity for Hydroponic Tomatoes
Tomatoes
enjoy plenty of water but they also have to transpire it out with
photosynthesis. This results in moderate humidity levels, which need to
be controlled via good ventilation and air circulation. If you don't
know how to grow tomatoes in a hydroponic garden and control the
humidity, this can affect your tomatoes' nutrient intake. High humidity
can result in calcium deficiencies in tomato plants, which can have
long-lasting bad effects. Hydroponic tomatoes prefer 70% (80% is OK at
night) humidity, if you are able to measure it.
Learning how to
grow tomatoes in a hydroponic garden is perhaps a little more
complicated than growing them outdoors but if you don't have the correct
climate where you live, it might be a necessity. If you do have the
right climate but prefer the rich taste of hydroponically grown produce,
you might also want to try this. If you adhere to the above guidelines
about how to grow tomatoes in a hydroponic garden, your tomatoes should
turn out very well.
Tracy Ballisager is a stay at home mum. To
read more on gardening tips go to http://www.gardening-tips-idea.com/
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Indoor Hydroponic Garden
How to Make an Indoor Hydroponic Garden
By Tracy Ballisager
If you want to learn how to make an indoor hydroponic garden, you need to know the difference between an active hydroponic area and a passive one. Active hydroponic systems pass a nutrient solution over the plant roots. You will need a large sized planting medium like vermiculite, perlite and pea gravel. To make an indoor hydroponic system passively, you will be providing a system that uses a wick or capillary system to feed your plants. The wick, which works like a kerosene lamp, sucks your nutrient solution via its reservoir, to the root system of the plant. Sand, peat moss or sawdust is the usual medium for growing hydroponics passively. It is quite easy to begin. You need a lot of natural light for the best results. A greenhouse is ideal.
Photo: onlinegardenertips.com
Hydroponically grown foods taste better and are high in nutrients. You can grow more plants in a small space than with regular gardening. If you choose your plants wisely, you can also repel pests. Citronella plants repel mosquitoes and various other pests.
Easy Hydroponics
The first thing to do when learning how to make an indoor hydroponic is to decide exactly what you want to grow. Decide how many of each plant you want. How much area will you need to grow your desired quantity of plants? Let's say you want to grow a mixture of 66 cabbages and silverbeet. This can be grown hydroponically in 5 pipes of 4 inch round and 10 feet by 6 feet wide. This means you need a 6 feet square area for growing.
Mark and space 4 inch holes for the 4 inch diameter pots you are going to use. Shade cloth is helpful for the first month and if the climate is very warm. Mix fertilizer and water to a strength of 20 to 24 CF. The resulting pH should be between 5.5 and 6.5. Rinse the seedlings to remove any dirt before planting them. Don't be too generous with nutrients. Hydroponic plants can cope with not enough nutrients but can die if you give them too much.
You can use chopped rockwool, rockwool slabs, blocks or cubes, fired clay or a mixture of fired clay and rockwool as a growing medium. Cubed chopped rockwool or fired clay are recommended but you can use any of these and expect good results.
Planting
Plant the seedlings in the hydroponic solution. You need to check the water daily if you want to successfully learn how to make an indoor hydroponic system. This is to ensure the nutrient to water ratio is right. Water evaporates which is why you have to keep an eye on it. Hydroponic gardening is not for you if you can't check it frequently.
Your hydroponic plants will grow for 3 to 5 months. You have to watch out for root rot and pests during this time. When your plants are ready, you can harvest them. It can be expensive if you want to discover how to make an indoor hydroponic system but the results are usually well worth it. For more information you might want to get a book on hydroponics or search online because there is plenty of information on how to make a hydroponic garden.
Tracy Ballisager is stay at home mum. To read more about gardening tips and idea go to http://www.gardening-tips-idea.com/