Hydroponics is a technology for growing plants in nutrient solutions (water and fertilizers) with or without the use of artificial medium (e.g., sand, gravel, vermiculite, rockwool, peat, coir, 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, where after the nutrient solution has been delivered to the plant roots, it is not reused; or closed where surplus solution is recovered, replenished, and recycled. The definition of hydroponics has been confined to liquid systems only, which blurs statistical data and leads to underestimation of the extent of the technology and its economic implications.
All hydroponic systems in temperate regions of the world are enclosed in greenhouse-type structures to provide temperature control, reduce evaporative water loss, and to reduce disease and pest infestations
With use of proper nutrients and the right artificial light source, today's' indoor gardener can achieve amazing results.
The plants can have an ideal environment since the gardener determines everything which is normally up to mother nature.
Canada is second only to Holland, for glass house vegetable production. Hydroponics is already used extensively in Canada for commercial greenhouse vegetable production.
Hydroponics may also be called 'controlled environmental agriculture'.
In a complete controlled environmental agriculture system you control:
light, temperature, water, CO2, oxygen, pH and nutrients
Starting Hydroponics Gardening
Starting out with hydroponics
Choose a garden and a light source ...
Hydroponic gardening is simple! A Hydroponic Garden is low maintenance and efficient. Every other day a pH check is done and water level topped up. Nutrient is changed every 7 - 12 days. A timer is recommended to automatically turn the light and garden on and off.
All of our complete kits are "Deep Water" systems, meaning the plant roots will grow right down into the bubbling solution below. Deep water is the purest form of hydroponics because the roots are directly exposed to the nutrient solution. This type of garden uses a small air pump to keep the solution well oxygenated.
Each garden kit includes everything necessary to start growing, just add water!
Included: self contained growing tray/reservoir, plant support baskets, growing media, air pump, nutrient, pH kit, tubing/fittings, sample seeds, and instructions.
Another popular method of hydroponic gardening is Ebb and Flow or Flooding and Draining systems. These are ideal for multiple plant per square foot growing. They are also very popular as propagation tables.
An ebb and flow growing tray is flooded automatically by a submersed pump connected to a digital timer . Growing medium and root system are soaked at specific intervals. Various mediums can be used, Rockwool is the most popular. This method makes it easy to cultivate many plants in a minimal space.
Unlike growing in soil, these hydroponic methods allow the grower exact control over plants' nutrient, water and oxygen intake. Better control over these factors means faster, healthier growth. A large percentage of our produce, such as tomatoes cucumbers and lettuce are grown commercially using hydroponics.
Light is the most important factor in plant growth. Most herbs and vegetables would like to receive as much light as they can get, therefore place your garden in the brightest window available. If you do not have a spot with plenty of sunlight, you can add a fluorescent light to increase intensity and extend daylight.
What about winter gardening? As winter approaches and the days get shorter, even south facing windows will not supply enough light for adequate growth. This is the time when extra lighting is most helpful! Most plants need sixteen to eighteen hours per day and Metal Halide lighting can take the place of sunlight completely.
To determine the size of light you need first consider what size area you would like to illuminate. A good rule of thumb is that 400 watt lamps will cover an area up to 5' x 5' and light any of our complete kits nicely. This will yield 25 watts/square foot, an acceptable level of light for good growth.
Kits are ready to plug in and include a dish style reflector, ballast is mounted in a vented electrical enclosure, 12' lamp cord, 8' line cord with grounded plug, 5 year warranty on the ballast, assembled and all connections made, CSA approved.
