Grow your hanging gardens of Babylon

Certain forward-thinking people square measure reinventing farming as we all know it. Indoor, organic urban farms growing food vertically victimization husbandry and aquaponic principles, square measure maturation round the country. The push for different ways of raising food follow partially, on the heels of native governments outlawing owners from growing vegetable gardens in their yards, and forcing folks to tear out existing, healthy gardens. supplying the wheels of amendment square measure the county, state and central wittingly making an attempt to destroy the organic phenomenon with chemtrails, pesticides, growth hormones and GMOs, as they alter the terribly molecular nature of our food. These actions move the guts, stimulate rage, emotion and worry, and force humans to vary to survive or die.

Looking for alternative routes to feed themselves and also the community, massive and little different husbandry ventures square measure shooting up all over. Smaller ventures like the Urban Hydro Project in state capital, Tennessee is that the farm-child of Jeffery Orkin; and his efforts square measure paying off. A demand community support in late 2012 raised over $3,300 in donations, enough cash for Orkin to shop for materials to increase his fledgling indoor organic garden on the highest floor of a domicile building in state capital. though the Urban Hydro Project has solely a hundred thirty five sq. feet of floor house, the space has twelve foot ceilings, and Orkin plans to plant to the ceiling. lovely organic vegetables square measure mature victimization farming, wherever no soil is employed. Orkin says this is often a additional economical methodology of production, and one that produces higher yields and higher tasting organic food year spherical.

While the Urban Hydro Project continues to expand and thrive in state capital, FarmedHere up up outside of Chicago and claims the respect of being the most important indoor vertical farm within the U.S.. based by Jolanta Hardej, it's placed in a very Brobdingnagian ninety,000 square measure abandoned warehouse in Bedford Park, Illinois. Hardej had the vision as so much back as 2008 to grow contemporary, organic manufacture victimization aquaponic techniques, and no soil. Like Orkin, Hardej says the vegetables square measure higher tasting than once historically mature. Plants at FarmedHere square measure mature in multiple stacked levels and fed by mineral-rich water circulated throughout the system from fish tanks containing hormone-free genus Tilapia fish.

FarmedeHere is trying to provide over a million pounds of contemporary, organic foliate greens, freed from chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and GMOs.

Indoor farming provides property choices
As additional tight government rules square measure place in situ dominant individual freedoms, and larger efforts square measure created to change the essence of food by companies like Monsanto, the provision of organic, life-staining foods can diminish. because the air and land square measure poisoned chemically and different corrupting parts in a trial to marginalise life, different means that of growing food are going to be required for people who square measure willing to fight to survive the system.

· Indoor husbandry comes like these et al round the country manufacture organic food year spherical, beneath excellent temperature, wetness and lighting conditions

· because of the controlled growing atmosphere, indoor farms offer property agriculture for all -- the house gardener, native tailgate markets, and huge food chains such Whole Foods, inexperienced Grocery, and different massive grocery chains tightened organic foods

· Growing manufacture with farming is feasible for individual owners by fixing a special growing station in their homes, garages or sheds. Some vertical growing instrumentality is moveable and may be captive outside in hotter weather if desired.

· Indoor vertical farming incorporates a little footprint, permitting people to grow food victimization aquaponics or farming off from curious government eyes. in addition, little or massive indoor community gardens square measure attainable in smaller-sized buildings, allowing teams to make gardens, purchase provides and share contemporary vegetables along.

Sources for this article include:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com
http://www.kickstarter.com
http://www.motherearthnews.com
http://www.ugrosystems.com/
http://www.hgtv.com

Grow your own pharmaceuticals

It's very straightforward to grow powerful medicines which will lower your sterol, shield your heart, scale back your risk of upset, enhance system perform, and shield you from polygenic disease and lots of different chronic diseases. each plant could be a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant provided naturally. It's sort of a multi-million dollar pharmaceutical laboratory that takes raw materials and converts them into healing medicines. It will this freed from charge, while not asking something back from you aside from a bit little bit of care, some water, and a few daylight.
If you're thinking that regarding however plants operate, they are quite exceptional producing engines. They take nutrients out of the soil, greenhouse gas out of the air, water, and photons from daylight. Then, through a fancy system of metabolism and chemical change, plants manage to convert those components into healing phytonutrients, together with vitamins, enzymes, wholesome oils, fiber, proteins, and sophisticated carbohydrates. and they turn out all of those fantastic phytochemicals that we're currently learning additional regarding in terms of preventing, and even reversing, chronic diseases like cancer.

Plants offer you an additional factor, too: the energy of life. this can be another variety of nutrition, that I decision "vibrational nutrition." It's one thing that you simply cannot get from synthesized pills or factory-made foods. you'll be able to solely dig from plants, as a result of it's to try and do with the energy of living, respiration organisms.

For nearly each chronic unwellness, there's a plant which will treat it. area unit you battling cancer? Grow yourself some garlic, onions, and broccoli. area unit you battling high cholesterol? Grow and eat some blueberries. area unit you littered with macular degeneration? you'll be able to grow a good form of berries. If you are within the right climate, you'll be able to grow nut trees that offer wholesome oils right off the tree. In fact, despite what style of climate you are in, there area unit plants as healing drugs which will be grownup in your region, whether or not you are within the nice white north, or the jungles of Central America. whether or not you are in a very dry desert climate, the plains, forest, rainforest, swampland, the icy north, the mountain range, or the Smoky Mountains, there area unit plants you'll be able to grow which will facilitate heal you.

This is one in every of the most areas of analysis on that i am focusing without delay. i am performing on finding new ways in which for individuals to additional simply grow plants that have a healing potential. i might wish to share with you what I've learned to date, so invite you to remain up-to-date, as a result of there is a ton additional sensible info coming near this subject. One goal I actually have is to make or promote some type of device which will perform as a home pharmaceutical manufacturing plant, with which individuals will plant seeds and primarily get pleasure from a inactive operation that grows these plants while not requiring a lot of effort on their half.

It's quite silly to pay $100 per pill to a pharma once you will grow more practical and safer prescribed drugs right in your own residence, balcony, or curtilage. In fact, the word "pharmaceutical" suggests that "plant drugs." The word "pharma" has identical root utilized in the word "farming," after all. therefore medicines extremely do have their origins in plants. It's solely through the atrocious politics of pharmaceutical corporations these days that folks have forgotten the plant origins of drugs. What i am hoping to try and do is assist you come back to to the plants, as a result of the plants have the healing characteristics that we want.

For widespread adoption, we want one thing that works while not soil. Soil works nice for the outside, however if you actually desire a system that works for people that do not have yards, soil is clearly not the thanks to go. There area unit currently plant growing technologies accessible that grow plants much more with efficiency with much better yields than with soil. they are not essentially new, though there area unit some new technologies rising in these fields. i am talking regarding tank farming and aeroponics. tank farming has been around for quite an whereas. it's the growing of plants in nutrient solutions that haven't any soil. Basically, you are exposing the plant roots to liquids containing the nutrients required to grow. this can be achieved through Associate in Nursing ebb-and-flow agriculture system, or another agriculture configuration.

You may be shocked to be told that you simply will grow plants while not soil. the fact is that the soil is simply a medium that holds nutrients for the plants. therefore if you get obviate the soil, however still offer the nutrients to the plant roots, they are going to be simply fine. In fact, you'll be able to increase yields through this method versus growing them in soil. I've done this myself in several experiments, within which I've planted identical plants in soil vs. a agriculture system. I actually have found a lot of quicker growth and bigger yields in a very agriculture system. agriculture systems do need electricity, and that they take some effort to be told the way to operate properly. however they will be terribly profitable. they are additionally much more moveable than growing plants in soil, as a result of it's easier to maneuver a receptacle, a timer, and a pump than it's to maneuver four hundred lbs of soil.

If you would like to spice up yields on the far side those achieved by agriculture systems, a stronger system to use is Associate in Nursing aeroponic system. this can be what you see at the Epcot Center in American state, wherever agriculture scientists area unit victimisation this technology to grow vertical stands of plants. They basically spray the roots with a nutrient resolution on regular intervals.

Spraying the roots of a plant each quarter-hour with this nutrient resolution has benefits over the agriculture approach, as a result of you are able to make even additional expanse between the nutrients in your liquids and also the roots of the plant. In my expertise, Associate in Nursing aeroponic system produces considerably bigger yields than the agriculture system. If you're thinking that regarding what is chargeable for that increase, you understand that it is the bigger expanse of the smaller droplets of water being sprayed on the roots.

You can purchase home-built aeroponic systems on the web. None of them area unit extremely elegant, however they work, and that they do turn out outstanding plant yields. Right now, i am growing tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, herbs, strawberries and even watermelons on aeroponic systems. Plant growth is extremely aggressive, though i'm having some challenges obtaining the tomato plants to fruit (it's in all probability simply a nutrient oversight on my half, thanks to my relative ignorance in plant chemistry).

When i am able to retire these plants for the season, i am going to snap some photos of the foundation mass to indicate you simply however effectively aeroponic growth systems are often. you will be completely astonied at however quickly and sharply these plant root networks will grow.

The bottom line here is that i feel home-grown plants area unit aiming to create an enormous comeback within the years ahead, and we're aiming to see nutrient-rich styles of plants (like red carrots with lycopene) that treat and forestall chronic unwellness, in addition to new technologies that permit hands-free cultivation of healing plants. After all, World Health Organization has to build a $100 million drug manufacturing plant once nature will manufacture all the medication you wish for the value of one or two of seeds? I say, let nature build the medicines.

What is Ebb and Flow Hydroponics and How Does it Work?

Ebb and flow hydroponics is a method of growing plants hydroponically that is known for its reliability, simplicity of operation and low cost of investment. Pots or a flood tray are filled with a grow media such as gravel, clay pellets, lava rock etc. These do not function like soil or add nutrition to the plants but will anchor the roots and will function as a temporary reserve of water and nutrients. The hydroponic solution floods the system four to six times a day and is allowed to drain away in between flood cycles.
With this system a water tight flood tray or pot, containing either clean gravel, clay pellets or lava rock is used as the rooting medium. The system is then periodically flooded for short periods of time (5 to 15 minutes) with a nutrient solution pumped from a reservoir. By placing the reservoir below the flood tray, with a over flow drain, the nutrient solution can drain back by gravity through the pump with the same line that supplied the water and nutrients during the flood cycle. Our favorite media is lava rock with this type of system. Lava rock drains quickly and traps air and will not leave a clay residue if using clay pellets, which can clog the water pump after time.

Aeration of an ebb and flood system is one of the most important things of the system. Let me explain, when the system floods it is in a deep water culture mode. Your reservoir may contain an air delivery system such as a air stone to keep the water saturated with oxygen and eliminate a pathogen problem. During the flood cycle the oxygenated air is pumped into the tray or bucket for 5 to 15 minutes. During this 5 to 15 minute period there is no additional air and oxygen being supplied to the tray or bucket. So even though you are now in deep water culture mode your plants are not receiving the amount of air and oxygen as if they were in a deep water culture system. The reason why is a deep water culture system has air constantly pumped into the reservoir 24 hours a day in which the roots are submerged. During the ebb cycle, or draining of the tray or bucket, air is now pulled down into the grow media supplying oxygen to the plants. At this point until the next flood cycle the roots again are being deprived of fresh air and oxygen.

Drawbacks to Ebb and flood hydroponic systems:
1. Pathogens in reservoir, flood tray or pot due to stagnated water during drain time which can contaminate the entire system due to the shared water source.
2. Limited amount of oxygen available during flooding of tray or pot.
3. Limited amount of oxygen available while in the ebb or drain stage.

Is there a solution to the problem above?  Ebb and flow hydroponic system to help eliminate the problems above. By adding Air Injection Technology at the very bottom of the media in your current flood tray or pot you will eliminate the drawbacks to a ebb and flood hydroponic system. You will also increase the plants growth rate and have healthier plants. 1. Pathogens in the flood tray or pot are eliminated because there is a constant supply of oxygen 24 hours a day weather in the flood stage or drain stage. 2. Constant supply of oxygen during the flood stage just like true deep water culture. 3. During the ebb or drain stage there is constant air being delivered to the plants roots 24 hours a day weather in the flood or drain stage. This will bring your current Ebb and flow hydroponics system up to date and will allow you to take full advantage of your ebb and flood hydroponics system at minimal cost.

Hydroponic growing leads to tastier vegetables

Growing vegetables hydroponically leads to a more expensive, but tastier veggie, cumberlink.com reports.

Tomatoes are the king crop in hydroponics because of the demand for them in early spring and late fall when field tomatoes aren't available. The challenge is to sell them at $2.99 per pound when field tomatoes are going for 99 cents, says Mark Toigo, 42, who has run hydroponic greenhouses for the last 15 years, among other duties, at the family-owned Toigo Orchards in Southampton Township, Cumberland County. Hydroponic grower Barb Rose, 52, co-owner of Beck-n-Rose of North Middleton Township, agrees with Toigo. She also developed a niche market in the last three years --- a few chefs at "better restaurants who care what tomatoes look and taste like," Rose says. She counts among her customers Fetter Brookside Market south of Carlisle, Mountain Lakes west of Carlisle, Oak Grove Farms of Mechanicsburg and the Butcher Shop in Chambersburg. For next season, all Beck-n-Rose produce is committed to current customers, says Rose, a former marketing manager for a start-up software company that sold last year for $40 million. "You do need to be a manager and a marketer" to be profitable, Toigo says, raising his voice above the half-dozen four-foot-wide fans that ventilate his 90- by 130-foot greenhouse off South Mountain Estates Road. He steps over piles of vines on the concrete greenhouse floor, the result of cropping the tops off tomato plants that have the last of the crop ripening on the vines. He will plant new tomato vines again in January for harvest beginning in April. Although growers would like to produce tomatoes through the winter, year-round tomato production isn't feasible this far north. They say it doesn't have the flavor of food grown in soil," says Brubeck, who sells mostly to restaurants and to some grocery stores in Cumberland, Dauphin and Lebanon counties.

Original source:
http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2005/08/07/business/busi01.txt

Indian family makes a breakthrough in hydroponics

by Mike Adams

Hydroponics, the practice of growing plants in water instead of soil, received a giant lift from a New Delhi family that created a purely organic nutrient mix that has sustained tomatoes and Arjun.

Original source:
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu5&leftindx=5&lselect=2&chklogin=N&autono=202585

Details

An Indian hobbyist has created a purely organic nutrient mixture for growing plants in water. Although it is still an evolving science, hydroponic agriculture (growing plants in water solution rather than soil) is spreading fast the world over. The nutritional requirement of the plants in this system of soilless farming is met by the nutrient mixtures, called hydroponics fertiliser mixtures, added to the water in which the plant roots are kept submerged. These mixtures are made of chemical plant nutrients. A breakthrough has now been achieved by an Indian hydroponics hobbyist in creating a purely organic nutrient mixture for growing plants in water. This wholly chemical-free plant growth solution has been tested successfully for growing several plants, including common vegetables like tomato and arbi and some high value medicinal plants like Brahmi, Arjun and Cineraria. Indeed, a good deal of research is underway in this system of soilless farming in the US and Europe but not much headway has been made anywhere in organic hydroponics. Of course, some hydroponics enthusiasts abroad have been experimenting with various kinds of organic manures and mixtures of plants, but successful and commercially viable organic hydroponics models are still not available. His daughter, Shweta Singh, a Delhi University botany student, has been assisting him in discovering and further improving the biofertiliser mixture for growing plants in ordinary water. “I will work on it for a couple of years more before thinking of launching commercial production of this bio-fertiliser for hydroponics. However, if some government organisation, such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), comes forward, I am willing to cooperate with it in promoting organic hydroponics in India,” he says. He believes that nearly 200 commercially important plants can be grown by hydroponics technique.

Source: Article taken from Natural News, only for information purpose

Hydroponics Basics – A Guide to Your First Hydroponic System

By Justyn Hornor

Hydroponic gardening is so much easier than you’d think! My goal here is to make the process of hydroponics as easy as possible — too many people are scared of trying it. They’re intimidated, or they don’t know how much it will cost, possibly. And while I recognize that the basic set-up I describe below isn’t ideal, it’s easy and you can get all the supplies at your favourite super-store.

That’s right! You don’t have to find a specialty store or use special equipment to pull off a fully-functional hydroponic garden. Of course, I hope that by trying a simple system first, you’ll then get excited and run out to a local hydroponics supplier to build a more sophisticated system, using the latest techniques and supplies.

Basic Hydroponic Garden Supplies

The first thing to do is get your supplies. I found everything I needed for this system at Walmart for about $40. I have enough supplies with this purchase to feed my plant for about two years. Yes, you heard me right – a full two years. Let’s break each item down and explain its use.

1. Large yellow bucket – this is the outside container of our system. It holds the water/food for the plant.
2. Small green bucket – this is where the plant will sit. We’ll be punching a few small holes in it so the water can drain out.
3. Compact fluorescent light bulb – this will be the light source for the plant if it isn’t growing outdoors.
4. Lamp – to hold the light bulb.
5. Marbles – to support the roots – no soil necessary.
6. Miracle-Gro™ – the plant food.
7. Strawberry plant – the Quinalt variety is everbearing, so the fruit will grow year-round.

When you’re all done assembling the system, here’s what it will look like:

Before Picking Your Plants

The most important aspect of your hydroponic garden is the genetics of your plants. In this guide, I’m using a strawberry plant of the Quinalt variety. I chose this type of plant very specifically. The Quinalt variety is everbearing, meaning that it’s going to produce year-round for me. This variety is also resilient.

Take time to research which variety of plants you want to grow. Your local hydroponics store can be a huge resource in this area. They’re sure to know someone who grows what you are interested in, and might offer some wonderful tips for plant selection and care.

This point can’t be overstated: No matter how nice your system is, plants with better genetics for the environment in which you are raising them will always outperform those with less-ideal genetics. So don’t just grab the cheapest plant you can find. You may be missing out on huge long-term payoffs if you waste time on an underperforming variety of plant.

Step 1 – Preparing the Small Plant Holder

Grab the smaller plant holder in which your plant will grow. We’re going to punch a few holes in it, so the water can drain and to prevent the roots from getting too wet. I usually punch about four holes in the bottom and one every inch or so up the side of the pot.

Step 2 – Create Some Space at Bottom of Large Pot

In the bottom of the larger pot, place a layer or two of marbles. Be very careful that none of them get away! (We don’t want you losing your marbles, ha ha.) The goal here is to create about a half-inch to an inch of space between the base of the pot and where your smaller pot will sit. This allows some water to settle in the bottom.

Eventually, the roots will come through the bottom of the smaller pot and absorb more water and food as needed. This extra space on the bottom will allow the roots to grow into the bottom as much as they want.

Step 3 – Wash Off the Soil from the Plant

Handle your plant with care at this step. I use a bowl of room-temperature water to gently wash the soil off the roots. You don’t have to get them perfectly clean, but you should be able to see the bulk of the root system.

Try to handle the roots as little as possible. You don’t have to create a sterile environment or anything, just be gentle. I affectionately refer to my strawberries as “strawbabies.”

Step 4 – Preparing the Plant Pot

Now, put a layer of marbles in the bottom of the smaller plant pot. About a half-inch to an inch is fine. This gives your plant roots space for air, water, and growth.

Step 5 – Placing the Plant

This step will take both hands or a little help from someone else. With one hand, hold your plant with the roots hanging down. You’re basically suspending the plant over the place you want it to rest. Allow the bulk of the roots to set along the bottom, so that these roots can start to quickly “reach” lower for more water. Setting them too high can delay the blooming process, because the roots will have to grow farther. Too low and the roots will get “lazy”, and just settle into the bottom. (Yes, plants struggle with laziness, too.)

Now, start to gently fill the rest of the container up with marbles — as high as the base of the plant’s root system.

Step 6 – Placing the Plant Pot into the Holder

Place the smaller pot containing your plant into the larger pot. You may have to move some marbles around so that it sits steadily on the marbles. You can always stabilize the plant pot later with other materials if necessary.

Step 7 – Lighting the Plant (Optional)

You can just leave your plant in sunlight inside your house or outdoors. But if space is at a premium, or if you want to accelerate the growth of your plants, you can also set up a simple lighting system. Some people use a light sensor to have the light turn off during the day and back on at night.

I use a 28-watt CFL bulb which will cost me about $28 per year in electricity to stay lit year-round (at $.12/kilowatts/hour). Not too expensive at all. I mount my lamp directly above the plant and use a reflective lamp cover to provide as much light as possible.

Step 8 – Feeding and Watering Your Plant –

Actually, feeding and watering your plant is the same step. First, measure out the following:

1. Tablespoon of Miracle Gro
2. Tablespoon of salt (Epsom salt is best, if you have it)
3. Gallon of water

Mix it all together and pour directly and gently onto the roots until the water line in the larger pot is about an inch above the base of the smaller pot.

I use less than half a gallon of water each time. Remember to label and properly store any leftover plant food — Miracle-Gro turns the water blue and it might look dangerously like a beverage to a small child. You don’t want pets or humans drinking this.

Step 9 – Care and Maintenance of Your Plants –

The plants will tell you if something is wrong. Just get your ear really close to the tallest leaves and listen very, very carefully. (Kidding!) If the leaves start to turn colors, you’ve got a problem. Too much water or not enough water are the two usual suspects.

Another common problem is that the acidity of the water can get too high or too low. This is the PH balance of your water. The easiest way to fix this problem is to change the water completely once a week. You may have to add fresh water/food once a week to keep acidity levels at the right spot.

You can get PH-level test supplies at a hydroponics store, as well as any supplies/advice for maintaining the proper PH balance.

Step 10 – Taking Your Hydroponics System to the Next Level

GO VISIT YOUR HYDROPONICS STORE! The system described here is a VERY simple, “beginner” design. Once you get a taste for it, you’re going to want to see all the different options available!

The beauty of hydroponic gardening is that you can control each and every plant if you need to. You can test Miracle-Gro against another brand, and try different mixtures to see which grows your plants better. You can set one plant outdoors during the day while leaving another inside to see if it makes a difference. There are lots of experiments you can conduct, and it’s easy to test different ideas.

You can also upgrade as you go. This system is simple and relatively cheap. If you have most of these supplies sitting around, you may not have to buy a thing to get started. There are lots of different arrangements and ways to control your garden.

Have fun! Build your first hydroponics garden and see just how easy it is to grow fruits, veggies, and even bushes and dwarf fruit trees, right inside your house and with very little space.

And let us know how your system turns out if you recreate this one. We’d love to hear how you’re doing and how well it’s working!

Hydroponics Basics FAQ –

Why is no soil required?

Because plants don’t actually need soil to grow, for one. They just need nutrients which can be absorbed from water. Soil is just one very inefficient root-supporting material. Marbles aren’t ideal, but they’ll do the job. Rock-wool and clay beads are two other common root-supporting materials.

Can plants survive on only the light from a bulb?

If they have air, food, water and light – plants will grow anywhere. We use a specific kind of light with a temperature of 6500k or higher, which represents a measurement of the color of the light. Look for “Daylight” as opposed to “Soft Light” bulbs. The packaging should state that the temperature is 6500k; right in the ideal range.

Is Miracle-Gro all you really need?

Pretty much. However, you can get very sophisticated with the kinds and types of food you give your plants. Your local hydroponics store will have all kinds of awesome plant foods that you can use to create the perfect blend for your plants. But Miracle-Gro has you covered for now and is a great place to start.

Will any plant grow in a hydroponic garden?

Yes! Although some plants have different needs and you may have to tailor a hydroponics system to these specific needs. This is when getting involved with your local hydroponics store will be incredibly helpful.

How much will a plant in a hydroponic garden produce compared to a normal garden?

Generally speaking, a hydroponic garden will far out-perform a traditional garden for several reasons. The biggest advantage for plants in a hydroponic garden is that they are not competing for resources – their roots have direct access to the food. Also, the lack of soil means you can control the environment very carefully. And if you provide light 24/7, your plants will grow a lot faster than in nature.

Source: http://greenhomeauthority.com

pH and Nutrition in Hydroponics

Water also is known as H20 because it has two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom for each water molecule. From this base molecule, it can accept an additional hydrogen ion to become H3O, and become acidic. It can also lose a hydrogen ion to become HO, and become basic (alkaline). The pH scale is a measure of whether water has additional hydrogen ions (lower on the scale, acidic), or is missing hydrogen ions (higher on the scale, basic).

Pure water has a pH of 7, and is the center point of the pH scale. It is neither an acid or a base.

Substances that have extra hydrogen ions to donate to the water, are known as acids. If you add an acid to water, it gives the water extra hydrogen ions, and the water becomes more acidic. The more extra hydrogen ions there are, the stronger the acid, and the lower the pH value. This is why if the nutrient solution tests too high of a pH, you can add General Hydroponics’ pH Down to lower pH. The acid in pH Down donates hydrogen ions.

Substances that will soak up and capture hydrogen ions from water are known as bases or alkalines. If you add a base to water, it will take away hydrogen ions from the water, and the water will become more basic. If the pH reading of a nutrient solution is too low, adding a base such as General Hydroponics’ pH Up to capture hydrogen ions and raise your pH.

Understanding pH Readings

Acids have a low pH, and bases have a high pH, pure water sits in the middle at 7. The lowest number on the pH scale is 0, which is a very strong acid, and the highest is 14, which is a very strong base.

The pH scale is logarithmic, not linear. Each full number difference is a factor of ten in difference. For example, pure water has a pH of 7, a pH of 6 is a 10 times stronger acid, and a pH of 5 is 100 times stronger.

To check the pH of your nutrient solution, either use a meter, or a General Hydroponics pH Test Kit. To use the test kit, fill the test vial halfway with the solution to be tested, and add 3-5 drops of the pH test indicator fluid. Cap the vial, and tap the side while holding lightly to mix. Compare the color of the liquid to the colors on the label. If the resulting fluid is yellow, the pH is around 6.0 and acceptable to use. Orange or red indicate low pH, add pH UP in increments of 1-2 ml per gallon, giving each treatment time to disperse before retesting. Green or blue indicates high pH, add pH Down as above to lower pH.

Since the test fluid is only used at a few drops at a time, the bottle that comes with the test kit lasts for many tests, and does not require batteries or calibration.

Source:General Hydroponics

NFT (Nutrient Film Technique)

NFT is uniquely simple. It involves a shallow film of nutrient solution (nutrient & water) constantly recirculating past the roots of your plants. Nutrient solution is pumped from a tank to the channel, over the plant roots and back into the tank. It is the recirculating film that differentiates NFT from other hydroponic growing methods.

Are my plants ready?

The image shows a plant ready for your NFT system. If your plants are not at this stage DO NOT transplant. It is always better to delay transplanting until correct root stage is reached in order to achieve best results in the end.

The reason for this is that if white roots aren't abundant on the outside of the propagation block at transplanting to NFT the block will absorb a large volume of solution. The roots inside the block will be saturated but with no access to oxygen. As a result they will die-back and successful introduction to NFT will not be possible.

Raising Transplants From Seed

Ensure your environment is good enough for plants you intend to grow. If necessary use a propagator.

a. Using soiless compost

Germinate seed in a seed tray of compost. When seedlings are large enough to handle transplant to a suitable size round plastic pot with drainage holes. ( 2.5/3"(75mm) for tomatoes (1" (35/40mm) for lettuce.

Alternatively germinate seed directly in the correct sized pot.

Water as necessary. If your compost contains nutrient (see label) use water only. If your compost does not contain nutrient use a complete hydroponic nutrient at half strength (If necessary adjust pH in the watering can (See first few days).

Your plants are ready to be transplanted to your NFT system when you can remove the pot and the compost remains bound by the abundant white roots of your transplants.

b. Using artificial compost

The leading brand in this category is grodan and it is recommended by Nutriculture.

N.B. Before using any grodan products always thoroughly soak the material overnight and allow to drain. Additional beneficial drainage may be achieved by squeezing the block prior to use.

Using the small propagator block, plant the seed in the block and allow to germinate.

When the seedling develops it's first green leaf begin to water sparingly with half strength complete hydroponic nutrient. If necessary adjust pH in the watering can (See first few days).

When seedling has developed white roots to the outside of the small block it can be transplanted to a larger grodan propagation block.

Alternatively, seedlings raised in soil-less compost can be transplanted at this stage to a grodan propagation block instead of a soil-less compost in a pot.

As necessary hand water seedlings with half strength hydroponic nutrient.

Your plants are ready to transplanted to your NFT system when white roots are abundant on the outside of block (inside the plastic liner).

Raising transplants from cuttings Follow the procedure exactly as for seed production but note that you should never use nutrients in the water until your cutting has rooted. TIP. For raising seedlings or cuttings, overwatering slows root growth dramatically. Always tend to keep your plants slightly on the dry side.

Transplanting to NFT Channels

Ensure that your set-up is leak proof before attempting to transplant. Always test your pumping system is in good working order before transplanting.

Fill your collection tank with clean water (no nutrient) several days before transplanting. (Note the volume of water your tanks holds. You will need this information later when working out how much hydroponic nutrient to use.) This allows the water temperature to rise to room temperature and also allows time for testing and for chlorine to escape from tap-water.

If the water temperature is too low (minimum 65 F/17 C) use a water heater to raise water temperature.

1. Placing spreader mat

Place spreader mat into the channel. Use only 1 layer of quality spreader mat. It's only function is to spread the water as it comes from the inlet to the channel. To prevent leaks at the channels ends where water "drops" into the collection tank or duct always over-hang the spreader mat to provide a path for the water from the channel to tank or duct.

Solution flow is generally unimportant but should normally be between 400 ml and 1500ml (1 to 3 pints) per min. per channel. Ensure that your channels are sufficiently sloped, normally not less than 1:50 but may be much steeper if set-up allows, so that there is no "pooling" in the channels.

NFT channels should always be covered this prevents algal growth in the nutrient solution.

When you are happy with the reliability of your system and water temperature and the air space environment is adequate for your plant type you can transplant to your channels. At this stage your system will contain water only.

2. Planting out

Remember you should have abundant white roots on the outside of your propagation block before transplanting.

Planting out distances should be appropriate for your plant type. Plants grown in NFT seem to prefer their roots to run together so with tall plants where there is good opportunity to train the stems to make full use of air space plants can be set out reasonably close together.

The First Few Days

These are vital to success in NFT. The successful transplant quickly projects roots from the propagation block and into the water flow.

In the right conditions root growth is amazingly rapid - several inches per day. Signs of successful growth into the water should be seen within 48hours. At this stage drain-off the water, refill with water, if necessary adding some hot or warm water to bring water temperature to acceptable level and add hydroponic nutrients at half strength.

The picture to the left shows a plant in the early stages of rooting out from the propagation block.

Additionally you should adjust the pH of the solution if necessary. How do you do this? The best method varies a little depending on whether you are using soft or hard water.

a. Using soft water

• Determine the pH of the nutrient/water mix in your collection tank using an approved test kit eg: Nutriculture liquid pH test.
• Determine the pH you wish to run your NFT system. Most authorities recommended between pH 5.8 and 6.5.
• If the pH of the solution is in the correct range do nothing.
• If the pH of the solution is above the correct range add phosphoric acid (ph down).
• If the pH is below the correct range add potassium hydroxide (pH up)

b. Using hard water

ie: water which causes your kettle or boiler to "fur" up.

• Determine the pH of the water (BEFORE ANY NUTRIENT IS ADDED) in the collection tank.
• Determine the pH you wish to run your NFT system. Most authorities recommended between pH 5.8 and 6.5.
• The pH of hard water is always higher than 6.5 so you need to add phosphoric acid (pH down) to bring the water to the correct pH range.
• Add hydroponic nutrients to the water and begin circulation.
• After an hour or so recheck pH and add more phosphoric acid (pH down) if necessary.

Safety First

Phosphoric acid is strongly acidic and Potassium hydroxide is strongly alkaline. Always follow the safety instructions on the container. NEVER EVER mix phosphoric acid with potassium hydroxide. You should never need both materials on the same site.

Useful Tips

Phosphoric acid and potassium hydroxide are very dense chemicals which do not mix readily with water. To improve mixing so as to get the best results from your pH test kit add phosphoric acid or potassium hydroxide very sparingly to a glass of warm water stirring vigorously before adding it to the nutrient solution. Once in the solution stir vigorously again, or allow ample circulation of the nutrient (say over 1 hour) before retesting pH.

Finally it is very easy to overdose with either chemical. It is not critical for your plants that the pH should always be in the determined range while overdosing is always very harmful so go easy and use either chemical very sparingly. Be satisfied to adjust pH to your chosen level over several days.

Take a note of the amount of phosphoric acid used to adjust your first tank of nutrient solution it will make it much easier when you need to do it again at solution changes.

Maintaining The NFT System

Follow the instructions on your hydroponic nutrients. These instructions will tell you when to use higher or lower levels of nutrient or if it is appropriate to change to leaf promoting or flower promoting nutrient formulations.

Avoid large changes in either pH or nutrient strength and do not let the solution level in your tank drop significantly. On larger systems an automatic top-up device can be fitted to prevent this happening.

If you are monitoring your solution strength using a conductivity meter always top-up the tank with water to it's maximum level about 1 hour before testing for nutrient strength. This will ensure an accurate reading.

If you are using the "top-up" method of nutrition (dose rates will be given on your nutrient pack) it is especially convenient to make-up a large container of nutrient solution so you can draw off just sufficient to top-up the tank on a regular basis, say every day or so.

Check and adjust the pH of the solution as necessary. In soft water areas very little adjustment (if any) will be needed but in hard water areas (and especially if using grodan) there will be a tendency for the pH to rise gradually after you have previously adjusted it down to the correct level. Do not be alarmed by this. Do not be tempted to add extra acid. As necessary simply adjust pH back down to preferred level.

Observe root growth regularly. The key to successful growing, assuming your shoot environment is favourable to the plant you have, is to obtain a full healthy root system outside of the propagation block. It is worth worth detailing what you are looking for.

Plant roots have three components:-

1. Primary roots

These are the large diameter roots which first emerge from the propagation block into the nutrient solution and which grow so rapidly.

2. Secondary roots

These are smaller diameter laterals emerging from the primary roots. The large surface area of these roots makes them vital in taking-up nutrients and water from the nutrient solution. Incidentally plants don't always take-up nutrients and water from the solution in the same ratio as you add it. They have a mechanism known as "active" uptake which enables plants to determine what they want to take-up from all that is provided in the solution. This is why NFT is so successful for growing plants.

3. Root hairs

These are vital to the health of your plants. Root hairs take-up atmospheric oxygen (which is as essential to plants as it is to humans). Root hairs are the lungs of the plant. Most plants cannot absorb sufficient oxygen from the solution for healthy growth so it follows that the roots of your plants should always have roots hairs present and above the solution level in the channel. It is essential to keep the solution from pooling so that roots are not submerged. This is achieved by having an adequate slope and appropriate inlet solution flow. Note that atmospheric oxygen will always penetrate into the root zone irrespective of your channel cover or the length of your channel.

The picture above shows the dense root mat you can expect from your NFT system

Remember NO ROOTS, NO SHOOTS.

Key Things to Remember

• Transplant when root bound.
• Ensure atmospheric (air space) environment is suitable for the plant you intend to grow.
• Follow nutrient instructions on nutrient label.
• Maintain nutrient & pH levels.
• Monitor & control pests and disease.

Source

The Guide To Organic Hydroponic Gardening

Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydroponics

Hydroponics is a technology for growing plants in nutrient solutions (water containing fertilizers) with or without the use of an artificial medium (sand, gravel, vermiculite, rock wool, perlite, peat moss. coir, or sawdust) to provide mechanical support.
Advantages of Hydroponics

1. No soil is needed
2. The water stays in the system and can be reused- thus, lower water costs
3. It is possible to control the nutrition levels in their entirety- thus, lower nutrition costs
4. No nutrition pollution is released into the environment because of the controlled system
5. Stable and high yields
6. Pests and diseases are easier to get rid of than in soil because of the container’s mobility

Disadvantages of Hydroponics

1. The hydroponic conditions (presence of fertilizer and high humidity) create an environment that stimulates salmonella growth.
2. Another disadvantage is pathogens attacks including damp-off due to Verticillium wilt caused by the high moisture levels associated with hydroponics and overwatering of soil based plants.
3. Also, many hydroponic plants require different fertilizers and containment system.

Source: Oasis Agro Industries Pakistan

Hydroponics Technology

Hydroponics is a technology for growing plants in nutrient solutions (water containing fertilizers) with or without the use of an artificial medium (sand, gravel, vermiculite, rockwool, perlite, peatmoss. coir, or sawdust) to provide mechanical support.

Liquid hydroponic systems have no other supporting medium for the plant roots: aggregate systems have a solid medium of support. Hydroponic systems are further  categorized as open (i.e. once the nutrient solution is delivered to the plant roots, it is  not reused) or closed (i.e. surplus solution is recovered, replenished, and recycled). Hydroponic growing (as opposed to soil growing) allows you to control the nutrient levels for your plants directly. Because of the higher control over nutrients, hydroponically grown plants generally have a much higher yield than similar plants grown in soil.

A plant gets its food source by turning Co₂, light and water (or hydrogen) into carbohydrates through a process called photosynthesis. With hydroponics growing, plants are grown without soil so they must get their nutrients from the nutrient solutions added to water. The absence of soil in growing means that hydroponics systems must have some way of supporting the plants while still allowing the bare root system maximum exposure to the nutrient solution. Often a “growing medium” is used for support and to aid in moisture and nutrient retention in hydroponics growing. Because they lack media to store water and nutrients, water culture systems need a continuous flow of nutrients to prevent drying out the plant roots. Plants need an energy source in order to grow. With hydroponics growing this energy may come from natural light, which has the full spectrum of color or through the use of different types of artificial lighting (grow lights), which can be selected for specific plant varieties and optimum plant growth characteristics.
Source: Oasis Agro Industries Pakistan

Hydroponics - a quick overview

Truly a wonder of modern science - hydroponic gardens produce bountiful harvests of fruit, vegetables, grains, herbs and flowers in places never before able to sustain growth. Hydroponic gardens produce the healthiest crops with the highest yields and vitamin content thanks to their perfectly balanced nutrient solutions. Modern hydroponic methods provide food for millions of people worldwide and supply you, me and the food service industry with superior produce. In fact, hydroponic cultivation is so effective, NASA has devised an advanced method of hydroponics for use in outer space. The science of hydroponics began with experimentation into deter-mining the elementary composition of plants. These experiments have been dated as early as 1600 A.D., however, records show that plants have been cultivated in soil free mixtures of sand and gravel even earlier. The hanging gardens of Babylon and the floating gardens of the Mexican Aztecs are perfect examples of early hydroponic gardening. Egyptian hieroglyphics have even been found depicting the cultivation of plants in water as far back as several hundred years BC.

The word "Hydroponics" was coined by Dr. W.F. Gerick in 1936 to describe the cultivation of both edible and ornamental plants in a solution of water and dissolved nutrients. The simple meaning is derived from the Greek "Hydro"- meaning water, and "Pones"- meaning labor. In this method of cultivation, plants are provided with the nutrients required for growth by a “nutrient” solution which is basically nutrient enriched mineral water. This nutrient solution can be circulated around the roots by  either the passive force of gravity or the active force of an electromechanical pump. Some systems simply bath the roots in nutrient solution and use an air pump to oxygenate the solution from below to prevent stagnation and provide the roots with important oxygen.

Plants grown hydroponically are healthier than their soil grown counterparts since they receive a perfectly balanced diet and do not come in contact with soilborne pests and diseases. Super efficient hydroponic systems like the ones we show you how to build conserve water and nutrients by preventing evaporation and runoff. Arid regions where water is scarce can now grow crops with hydroponics. Since hydroponic systems deliver water and nutrients directly to the plant, crops can be grown closer together without starving each other and healthier plants add to a higher yield. By growing crops in a sterile environment, under ideal conditions, hydroponics saves the costs of soil preparation, insecticides, fungicides and losses due to drought and ground flooding.

In soil, plants waste a tremendous amount of energy developing a large root system to search for moisture and nutrients. When grown hydroponically, the roots are bathed or sprayed with nutrients dissolved in water. This way their energy can be redirected into the production of more foliage, flowers, fruits and vegetables.
Plants grown hydroponically are healthier because they receive a well balanced 'diet'. They are more vigorous because little energy is wasted searching for water and nutrients. As a result, hydroponically grown produce is generally larger, tastier, and more nutritious than the same produce grown in soil. In order to give the physical support soil would normally provide, a sterile medium such as sand, gravel, rocks, cocofiber or rockwool (or combination of each) may be used. In the case of aeroponics, no medium is used and the plants receive physical support from baskets and in this case, wires suspended from the roof. These plants are rotated through a chamber that supplies their roots with a fine spray of water and hydroponic nutrients.

Oxygen to the roots increases a plant’s metabolism substantially. Some advantages of replacing soil with a sterile medium are:
1. Elimination of soil borne pests, funguses and diseases.
2. Elimination of troublesome weeds and stray seedlings.
3. Reduction of health risks and labor costs associated with pest management and soil care. 
At the Environmental Research Laboratory (ERL) at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Dr. Carl Hodges and Dr. Merle Jensen in conjunction with Walt Disney Productions, have developed new concepts for presenting hydroponic technologies to the public in an entertaining way. The ERL helped create two attractions called "Listen to The Land" and "Tomorrow’s Harvest" - both major facilities at Epcot Center near Orlando, Florida. Hydroponics is NASA's solution to provide a self sufficient food source for future space stations and proposed visitors to mars. The administration has sponsored a research program titled Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) in order to further develop the technology and carry it into the future. The picture below is of Epcot/ NASA’s Space Agriculture expo as seen from a tour of the Epcot Center attraction. The lighting used in these examples is high pressure sodium or HPS, which delivers an excellent spectrum of color and output in lumens. High Intensity Discharge (H.I.D.) lighting, which includes the HPS and metal halide type lamps, is the best lighting to use when gardening indoors or supplementing natural lighting outdoors due to its efficiency and close representation of the sun’s natural light color and intensity.
Source: Oasis Agro Industries Pakistan

Hydroponic farming to help achieve Agri targets

Pakistan can enhance vegetable and fruit crops yield with hydroponic farming technology to overcome the food shortages and price hike tendency. This technology would not only raise yield but also enhance nutrition abilities of plants. Hydroponics can be a futuristic technology for Pakistan to ensure proper supply of vegetable and fruits crops as it uses 70 percent to 90 percent less water than irrigated soil based agriculture. No water was lost in the ground or absorbed by weeds or lost in evaporation, officials in Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) said. A website relating to agri news reported that a hydroponic pilot project has already been launched in Rawat (Islamabad) under the name bio-blitz over just five acres of land. The state-of-the- art five-acre Green House facility is producing hydroponic tomatoes of all varieties including tangy, elegant, cherry and others. If hydroponics farming technology is introduced properly, then country can triple the revenues earned on agriculture exports and the country could be a huge power player in the market because nobody else in the region is using high-tech hydroponics. The officials said in the pilot project, a Dutch hydoponic expert was working with the team training Pakistani staff on how to run a hydroponic greenhouse. According to them, a high tech hydroponic facility was more expensive to set up than soil farming but once it is set up, operating and maintenance costs were low and the very high and definite yields means that invested money would be recovered in one year.

Countries, which were world leaders in hydroponics employ what was called a 'cluster approach where land is allocated just for hydroponic farming practiced by different farmers. To develop a viable hydroponics industry, Pakistan desperately needs to improve its infrastructure facilities, such as availability of electricity and land. Greenhouses need a constant supply of power but the situation in Pakistan is not encouraging, they added. Agriculture scientists said there are two main types of hydroponics culture, namely solution culture and medium culture. The solution culture excludes roots as source of nutrition, while the medium culture is based on roots as part of the process. The solution culture method is further divided into three types - static solution culture, continuous flow solution culture, and aeroponics. The medium culture, on the other hand, is based on medium through which the root is routed - sand culture, gravel culture or rock wool culture. These media of nutrition are again sub-divided into two categories - sub-irrigation and top irrigation. In all these techniques, mostly plastic is used for hydroponic reservoirs, though other materials have also been used, which include concrete, glass, metal, vegetable solids and wood. Experts advised that the containers should block light to prevent algae growth in the nutrient solution. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants, using mineral nutrient solutions without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, or mineral wool. This technology was discovered in the 19th century. In this technology plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions in water. In natural conditions, soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir, but the soil itself is not essential to plant growth. Hydroponics is also a standard technique in biology research and teaching. Researchers have obtained groundbreaking results in various countries, however the process has proved it to be thoroughly practical, having an edge over conventional methods of horticulture. Talking about the benefits of the technology, the officials said it saves water, freedom from soil diseases and weeds and less labour needed and cost effective. Scientists agreed that hydroponics fruits and vegetables are sweeter and more luscious than those grown in ordinary soil are. The technology is being utilised around the globe, including the US, European Union (EU) and African countries. Repeated pricing studies have shown that only high-quality garden type vegetables like tomato, cucumber, potato, sweet peppers, melon, and specialty lettuce can cover costs or give a return in hydroponics systems. As the consumer becomes increasingly aware of quality differences, especially the high quality of tomatoes, cucumbers, and leafy vegetables coming from hydroponics, the demand will increase. This, along with the increased emphasis on eating more vegetables for dietary and health reasons, will surely help the hydroponics industry.

Source: http://www.nation.com.pk

High-tech agriculture: Hydroponic vegetable farming

By Imran Rana

Tahir Rana is a nuclear physicist who gave up a job in Canada to set up a vegetable farm in Faisalabad. He is part of a growing number of people worldwide who have been drawn in by the extraordinary profits in hydroponic vegetable farming, a new method that dramatically increases productivity and thus farmer incomes.

Hydroponic farms are unique in that they do not require any fertile soil. Indeed many of the world’s largest hydroponic farms are set up in the deserts of the Middle East or unfertile soils in other parts of the world. Seeds are placed in a growing medium – which can be either solid or liquid – in trays made from steel pipes. The advantage of this system is that nearly all of the nutrients poured into the growing medium are absorbed by the plant, making it exponentially more efficient and increasing productivity manifold.

Rana has set a up a small company just outside Faisalabad called Fareed Farmhouse, where he produces three varieties of tomato (cherry tomato, strawberry tomato, beef tomato), cucumber and capsicum. His production capacity is significantly above the norm.

“Through this technique, farmers can get between 450 and 550 tons of vegetables per acre, compared to the average yield of 15 tons per acre using traditional farming,” said Rana Zahid, the project director at Fareed Farmhouse.

Rana uses coconut waste imported from Sri Lanka as the solid medium in which he grows his plants. The vegetable plants are then irrigated through a water injection system. Fareed Farm uses reverse osmosis water purification systems to ensure the quality of the water.

Each plant requires up to two litres of water per day, which needs to be slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.8, according to Zahid.

Fareed Farmhouse produces relatively high-end vegetables that are consumed by higher income customers. His buyers include some of the large retail and wholesale chains in the country as well as hotels that have traditionally imported many of these vegetables from Europe.

Rana sells the tomatoes for about Rs225 per kilogram, compared to the cost of importing them from the Netherlands, which can run as high as Rs800 per kilogram. The seeds for the tomatoes at Fareed Farmhouse are imported from Canada and many of the other raw materials from China and Sri Lanka. Yet while the imported raw materials can be expensive, the method allows the company to save on other expenses.

“Our production method allows us to not use any kind of pesticides,” said Rana Arshad, a quality control officer at Fareed farmhouse.

The methods used by Fareed Farmhouse, however, do not come cheap. Hydroponic farming requires an investment of up to Rs1.5 million per acre, though it can yield net profits of up to Rs3 million per acre annually. Tahir Rana, however, is not content with just reaping the rewards of the existing techniques. He plans to spend up to Rs4 million in researching new methods and new variants of seeds. He is also planning on rapidly expanding his production base to up to 20 acres in the Faisalabad area.

Rana is a firm believer in the potential of hydroponic farming to transform Pakistani agriculture. “Every year, we import vegetables from India. If the government takes an interest in promoting these new technologies, we would not need to import from other countries. In fact, the country could earn a lot of foreign exchange by exporting to other countries.”

While Fareed Farmhouse is thus far focused on high-end vegetables, it appears that the company believes this method can be used to produce more mass market products as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2012.

Hydroponic Fertilizer Solutions

Plants typically grow with their roots in soil and their stems and leaves in the air. They get some of the elements they require from the air (for example, most of the carbon and much of the oxygen used by the plant comes from the carbon dioxide taken in by the leaves of the plant), there are other nutrients that can be fed to them through their foliage, and there are even some aerial plants that get everything they need to thrive without any contact with soil at all. However, most plants get the bulk of what they need through their roots, usually in soil.

In a hydroponic production system, however, instead of getting nutrients from the soil, the plant derives the nutrients it needs from the solution in which its roots are immersed. A fertilizer solution is supplied to the roots, and the way the solution is supplied is important because it influences what components of the air, such as oxygen, are included.

Soil is avoided in specialized controlled-environment systems because it introduces so many composition variables and potential insect and disease problems. Soils differ from one part of a field to another and certainly from one part of the country to another, so fertilization according to soil becomes complex and tricky. Despite this, soil will continue to be the medium most used for agricultural plants for the foreseeable future.

Source Water

Water to be used in a hydroponic system should be tested before it is used. It is important to request an irrigation-water report rather than using a domestic-water report, because some elements critical to hydroponic growing will not be measured in a residential water test. Most water has a certain number of dissolved ingredients in it. In small quantities, most anything dissolved in the water is tolerable. If present in larger quantities, however, some plant-usable dissolved ingredients will require that the fertilizer solution be adjusted to include less of those ingredients.

Calcium and Magnesium

Calcium and magnesium are often present in source water in significant amounts. Calcium content in source water will range from almost nothing to more than a hundred or two parts per million (ppm). In a few groundwater samples it has been present in excess of 300 ppm, even higher than in most hydroponic fertilizer feed solutions. Magnesium’s presence in water can range from almost none up to 50 or 60 ppm. When magnesium is present at the higher levels, it’s likely that no magnesium will need to be added to the water in the hydroponic feed solution. Some ingredients that plants require, like manganese and boron, can be present in sufficient amounts to meet plant needs, but can sometimes be present in excess quantities. When these quantities are present, it is important to add little if any at all in the fertilizer program, since an excess of these substances can damage plants.

Sodium and Chloride

Other ingredients that are highly water-soluble, like sodium and chloride, are often present in groundwater as well as in surface water. Very small amounts of both sodium and chloride are used by plants. Larger quantities can make the water unusable for growing plants hydroponically. When the levels of either sodium or chloride approach 75 ppm in the water, some modifications in the use of the water for hydroponic production may be necessary. If both sodium and chloride are high in the water, plant production problems may develop even at levels lower than 75 ppm.

Sulphate

The sulphate ion is a combination of sulphur and oxygen that acts as a unit in water solutions and in many chemical reactions. It can be present in small to large quantities in source water. Although large quantities of the sulphate ion are tolerable in hydroponic solutions, a point comes when they are high enough in concentration that they don’t leave room in the solution for other needed fertilizer ingredients. Short of that, most plants havea fairly high tolerance for the sulphate ion in the fertilizer solution. Since most fertilizer ingredients are introduced to the hydroponic solution in the form of a salt, the tolerance for a little extra sulphate is a useful attribute in building a soluble fertilizer feed program.

Treating Source Water

When source water is not suitable for hydroponic plant production because of excessive levels of sodium, chloride, sulphate and/or other ingredients, the water can be made suitable for plant production by being processed through reverse osmosis equipment. Itis interesting to note that most growers find better plant production results when 10 to 25 per cent untreated source water is blended back into the treated reverse osmosis water. The amount of blend-back will depend on how much of the excess levels of elements are present in the source water.

 

Hydroponic Fertilizer Components

Although there may be different approaches to developing a fertilizer for hydroponic plant production, only the approach using soluble fertilizer concentrates that can be diluted will be outlined here. In the concentrated fertilizer solution, the calcium must be kept separate from the sulphates and phosphates, so two separate concentrate tanks are needed. Let’s start with the calcium source and look at other fertilizers that are compatible with it in the same solution.

Calcium

The only suitable soluble calcium salt for the concentrate solution is calcium nitrate. Although calcium chloride is soluble, we don’t want to use it because of the addition of the chloride ion. Some fertilizer formulators do use it up to the legal limit for the chloride level in a fertilizer, but even a small amount of chloride content in the fertilizer, combined with chloride that may be present in the source water, could overload the chloride content in the fertilizer program. Using chloride in the fertilizer solution would reduce the variety of source waters usable for hydroponic plant production.

The amount of calcium in your source water can be subtracted from the calcium target for the fertilizer. That level will differ in waters in various parts of the country. Surface water such as that from rivers or lakes will usually contain a low level of calcium, if any. Well water is more likely to contain significant amounts of calcium. That depends, however, upon the rock and other media it has gone through in the ground. This is why it is advisable to have a water analysis done so that you know the calcium and other content of the water. In the U.S., well water in Ohio and Michigan, for example, will usually contain significant to even high levels of calcium. By contrast, well water in Tennessee will usually not contain much of anything in the way of elements. Some of the nitrogen needed by the plants will be provided in the calcium nitrate.

Potassium, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen

Potassium sulphate is soluble and usable by plants and can be used in the fertilizer solution. However, it needs to be supplied in the sulfate concentrate tank. The fertilizer of choice is mono potassium phosphate, which is also soluble in water and is used as the source of any phosphorus needed in the fertilizer program. Mono potassium phosphate will need to be supplied in the sulfate concentrate tank as well. Although many growers use phosphoric acid as a source of phosphate, we do not recommend it because it is much easier to manage the fertilizer program if the fertilizer management and the pH management are separated. If a fertilizer containing acid such as phosphoric acid is used, the fertilizer program and the pH management program are tied together, so that a change in one will affect the other, making it much trickier to maintain proper levels of both nutrients and pH.

Once the target amount of phosphate has been determined for the fertilizer recipe, the amount of potassium present in the mono potassium phosphate is calculated and then subtracted from the potassium target, giving us a new target amount of potassium. The amount of potassium nitrate necessary to supply the needed potassium is then calculated. If that results in excess amounts of nitrogen, the potassium nitrate needs to be backed off so that the nitrogen target is not exceeded. When this happens, the potassium target is met by adding enough potassium sulphate to bring the potassium to the target amount.

If the nitrogen target has not yet been met with the calcium nitrate and the potassium nitrate in the fertilizer recipe, the calcium nitrate can usually be increased to meet the nitrogen target. The additional calcium is usually not a problem in the fertilizer program. Magnesium nitrate can also be used if there is room in the program for the nitrogen that would also be supplied.

Iron

In the fertilizer solution, iron is supplied in chelated form. The chelating molecule is a large molecule that surrounds the iron and prevents it from chemically reacting with other ions in the solution. This preserves it for uptake by the plant roots. The chelating agent does not interfere with the plant’s uptake of iron. A number of chelating agents are available. Because EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) is toxic to plants, some growers do not use any EDTA chelates in their recipes. DTPA (diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid) is a more suitable chelating agent. It protects the iron over a broader pH range. It is a little more expensive than EDTA, but many growers consider the extra cost well worth it. The DTPA iron is best put into the calcium fertilizer concentrate tank. This keeps it separate from the manganese, copper, and zinc in the concentrate solution.

Magnesium

Magnesium is supplied in the sulphate tank. It is usually supplied through Epsom salts or magnesium sulphate. Epsom salts are not very expensive and are readily available. Magnesium can also be supplied in the nitrate form. For most fertilizer programs, however, the nitrogen target has been met by the time magnesium additions are being calculated, so magnesium nitrate is rarely used.

Micronutrients

In addition to the above main elements, micronutrients are also needed by plants, but in smaller quantities. These can be supplied in a concentrate mix that is then added to the sulphate fertilizer tank. Manganese, copper, and zinc can be supplied in the sulphate form. Some growers may use one or more of these nutrients in the chloride form, arguing that not much chloride is introduced to the fertilizer program from the comparatively small amount of micronutrient. Other growers use one or more of the nutrients in the EDTA chelated form. This is not a good idea for two reasons: 1) the EDTA is toxic to plants, and 2)the elements in chelated form can move around based on the preference of the chelating agent, making their distribution to the plants unpredictable. For this reason, using chelated manganese, copper, and zinc should be avoided.

Boron can be supplied using boric acid or solubor. Although solubor contains some sodium, the amount of sodium effectively added to the fertilizer solution is small because not much boron is needed. Molybdenum is usually supplied in either sodium molybdate or ammonium molybdate. A very small quantity of molybdenum is needed in the fertilizer solution, so the amount of sodium or ammonium supplied along with the molybdenum amounts to a small fraction of a part per million in the final fertilizer solution.

Fertilizer Solution Delivery

Reservoirs can be used in hobby greenhouses as a source of fertilizer solution for the plants. The feed-strength fertilizer is mixed from the concentrates every day or so and placed in the reservoirs. Although the reservoir can take up space in the greenhouse that could be used for growing plants, and it takes time every day or so to fill the reservoir with feed-strength fertilizer solution, this system requires a much lower investment than the use of fertilizer injectors.

Fertilizer injectors can be used to mix small amounts of the fertilizer concentrates and the pH adjustment concentrate with the incoming source water as it is delivered to the plants. There are several injector systems available. Some are pictured here. Systems can range in price from just over a thousand dollars to four or five thousand or more. The advantages of such systems include the opportunity to supply concentrates that need to be mixed less frequently than a reservoir would need to be filled. The injectors have adjustments that can be used to change the amount of fertilizer in the solution being fed.