Hydroponics

Hydroponics Garden

What the heck is a hydroponics garden?

To answer that question you first need to understand a little bit about hydroponics.   Well, hydroponics is the process of growing veggies, fruits and flowers … or any plant for that matter in nutrient rich water versus soil.   Some folks think that a hydroponics garden grown plant is better and therefore like to eat these over their dirt grown brothers.

The hydroponics garden can come in the organic variety or the non-organic.   Because water is naturally organic, it is really up to the type of nutrients and fertilizer that you use that determine what “type” you have.   It is totally up to the individual and their desires.

Hydroponics is a Latin word that when translated basically means "working-water".   When people think about the modern day hydroponics garden, it refers to a method of gardening that is cleaner for the environment. By the use of indoor hydroponic gardening methods, water and lighting … plants are grown. This method of growing plants without soil has been dated back as far as the 1600s but has really become a hit recently with hydroponic offerings at many local supermarkets.   In fact, people have been growing “green stuff” in water since before they began planting in soil.

While hydroponic gardening has come a long way over the years, the invention of plastics really allowed the hydroponic garden to take off.   Plastic pots, plastic tubing and plastic hosing … it is light and reasonably priced … what’s not to love about that?    Because of this, the process became much easier so more people were willing to give it a try.

Everyone knows that plants require nutrients to survive and the key to hydroponic gardening is how you feed those nutrients to the plant.   Water and oxygen are a must for your plants, but they also require big quantities nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and sulfur. Some other nutrients that are needed in smaller amounts are iron, manganese, boron, copper and zinc.   In addition, your plants need molybdenum and chlorine but in such small supplies that they usually get it from the water or from the other minerals so you don't really have to worry about adding these.

Now, if you want to go the organic route you need to follow certain methods. Something is considered "organic" when it comes from the earth. Animals and plants are organic, for example. Anything that comes from animals such as “poop” is also organic. So, if you are thinking about organic hydroponic gardening, anything that is added needs to be organic and not artificial.   Water, of course, is organic, so you can use both hydroponics and organic or semi-organic gardening in the same garden.

All plants need to have oxygen and nitrogen to live and prosper. They also require a proper pH balance. When you use hydroponics in addition to organic fertilizer and other organic gardening methods, you can have healthier, better plants.   That means a healthier and better YOU!

Since hydroponic plants are not grown in soil, the water and nutrients need to be absorbed somehow ... that is where “medium” comes into the picture. The medium is used anchor the plant in position so it is able to soak up the nutrients. The most common types of mediums are Heydite and Rockwool.   While they are both made of rock, there are some. Which is better?   It really depends on who you ask and what types of plants you are planting.

Your growing media can also be vermiculite, perlite, peat, coco-husk, straw as well as other organic materials.

Now, let’s get the “poop” on organic fertilizer … you can use organic fertilizer from many different sources including cow, chicken, pig, and sheep manure, seaweed, bat guano, fish emulsion and entrails, urine, bone and blood, as well as many other natural sources. The issue with any organic fertilizer is the clear … you need to be aware of any possible health concerns.   That decision is left up to the organic gardener.

Now for the big question from most newbies … my included … can you take a dirt plant and shake it off and grow it in water?   Heck, Yes!   It is easy to take plants from the soil and transplant them to a hydroponic system. Just pull the plants out gently of the soil and rinse the roots in cold water. Next you just spread the roots in the bottom of the hydroponic pot and fill it with your growing medium.

It is never too late to begin your hydroponic garden, in fact, you could begin right now. It is not difficult at all with a little bit of planning.   Anyone who loves to garden should consider this safe and environmentally friendly method of gardening.    The hydroponics garden can be a ton of fun!