Hydroponics

(3/29/2020, bes)

I have been growing hydroponically for a few years and in preparation for growing tomatoes, basil and rosemary in the basement of the Patton Block building, i have decided to start collecting hydroponic information in one place.

The following is a list of "parts" that all hydroponics have in common:

- water reservoir, planting bed, circulation of water, lighting, fertilizer (NPK)

Some additions:

Air stones are used to "aerate" the nutrient solution when circulating pumps are not used.

Types of Hydroponics

This website has a nice description of 6 ways of growing plants in water.

Wick

This system uses no pumps, but instead uses a "wicking" system to move water from a water reservoir to the plant bed containing the support material.

Water Culture

This system is unique because the planting bed (made of some type of floating foam) sits/floats on top of the water reservoir. Since the planting bed and water reservoir are in direct contact, there is no need for a pump. Roots extend into the water reservoir.

Ebb and Flow (Flood & Drain)

As the name says, the planting bed is "flooded" with water and then allowed to "drain." This flood/drain process can be controlled by a timer on a pump, or better yet through the use of a siphon tube.

Drip (recovery or non-recovery)

Individual plants in the planting bed have their own drip tube that provides water/nutrient solution. Unlike the systems above, most drip systems do not use a single planting bed, but instead individual planting containers. Nutrient solution is "dripped" using a pump with timer and if the nutrient solution is collected and reused it is considered a "recovery" drip system.

N.F.T. (Nutrient Film Technique)

This technique uses a planting bed that consists of a single row of plants (similar to a rain gutter). Nutrient solution is delivered to the end of a planting bed and this solution then flows through the bed and moistens the plant roots. The planting beds are usually mounted on a slant allowing the nutrient solution to easily drain out of the opposite end of the planting bed. Nutrient solutions are recovered and the pump runs all the time.