How to Introduction to Hydroponics

We have just launched the latest in our interactive flash applications. Hydro-school is a great startingpoint for anyone interested in hydroponics. Hydro-School teaches you about general plant health, nutrients, pests and disease, lighting and we even have animated diagrams of how to set up your own cost effective hydroponics system. Great for teachers to use in an agriculture class, or to teach yourself!

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Hydroponics by definition, means ‘water-working.” In practical use, it means growing plants in a water and nutrient solution, without soil. Hydroponics allows a gardener to grow plants in a more efficient and productive manner with less labor and time required.
2. The science of hydroponics proves that soil isn’t required for plant growth but the elements, minerals and nutrients that soil contains are. Soil is simply the holder of the nutrients, a place where the plant roots traditionally live and a base of support for the plant structure.
   
   In hydroponics you provide the exact nutrients your plants need, so they can develop and grow. The nutrients are fed directly at the root base, never stressing the plant due to lack of nutrients or water. Virtually any plant will grow hydroponically, but some will do better than others.
3. Hydroponic growing is ideal for fruit bearing crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, leafy crops, like lettuce and herbs and flowing plants. Most hobby hydroponic gardeners plant crops similar to what they would grow in a soil garden. Most commercial hydroponic growers combine hydroponic technology with a controlled environment to achieve the highest quality produce. Within a green- house structure you can control the ambient temperature, humidity and light levels allowing you to grow on a year- round basis.
4. There are many advantages of hydroponic growing. These include:
   
   • Most hobby hydroponic gardens are less work than soil gardens because you do not have soil to till or
   weeds to pull.
   
   •By eliminating the soil in a garden, you eliminate all soil borne disease
   A hydroponic garden uses a fraction of the water that a soil garden does because no water is wasted or consumed
   by weeds.
   
   •In hydroponics, plant spacing can be intensive, allowing you to grow more plants in a given space than soil
   grown produce.
   
   •A small hydroponic garden can be set up almost anywhere.
   
   •By providing the exact nutrients your plants need, they will grow more rapidly and produce bigger yields.
   
   •In studies it has been proven that hydroponic produce is higher in nutritional value than field grown crops.
   
   •Hydroponic produce generally tastes better than field-grown produce.
   
   •If you are growing indoors or in a greenhouse, you can grow your hydroponic plants on a year-round basis.