1. Hydroponics

2. Hydroponics
The growing of plants in a solution of nutrients necessary for plant growth, rather than directly in soil.

3. Substrate
the substance in which something takes root

4. General Facts: any plant can be grown in a hydroponics system
almost any system will produce acceptable growth

5. General Facts;
small scale is entirely different from the culture of several thousand plants
has contributed much to understanding plant growth

6. General Facts: Very few commercial producers
Most facilities are experimental, studying plant nutrition

7. Different Names: nutriculture solution culture slop culture
gravel culture

8. Requirements for home hydroponics
best possible light
humidity 50% or more
day temp 75 degrees
night temp 65 degrees

9. Requirements for home hydroponics
no need for special drainage system
small scale, outstanding plants such as tomatoes, radishes, lettuce, carnations, roses, cabbage etc. produced

10. Requirements for home hydroponics
return is not sufficient for a hobbyist to earn a living.

11. Facts about hydroponic growing
plants don’t do well unless all essential nutrients are available in reasonable amounts

12. Facts about hydroponic growing
25 gallon container, minimum size for proper proportion of nutrients

13. Facts about hydroponic growing
the larger the particles in the substrate, the more often it must be watered.

14. Commercial use very familiar with plants
observation can determine temps and nutrient deficiency

15. Commercial use
to earn a reasonable living you must grow thousands of plants

16. Commercial use
minimum of 100,000 square feet is needed to break even financially

17. Growers must know about plants
most plants are very adaptive
plants can take a lot of abuse

18. Growers must know about plants
plants require a minimum amount of water, food, vitamins, sleep and proper temps.

19. Growers must know about plants
each species has its own requirements for maximum growth

20. Media almost any inert material may be used as a substrate
substrate must not decompose or be too fine

21. Media River washed gravel is competitive in price with soil mixtures
aeration of roots is necessary

22. Various Media Types rock volcanic ash vermiculite - heated mica
perlite - exploded volcanic rock 1800 degrees F.

23. Various Media Types peat moss granite or sand
idealite - concrete aggregate
water

24. Watering frequency depends upon media
each time a hydroponics system is replanted, roots will be left, this increases water holding capacity

25. Conventional Irrigation
flooding
flood tray until water appears at surface
perforated tube is used to fill and drain media as needed

26. Flooding
nutrient solution is pumped back and tray is flooded again

27. Disadv. Of Flooding nutrient solution can become unbalanced
bacteria and disease can be spread

28. Peripheral Gates nutrient solution applied and allowed to drain away
non recirculating system
no storage tank

29. Peripheral Gates bacteria and diseases are drained away
solution is sprayed on

30. Disadv. Of Peripheral more expensive, solution is not reused
spraying can cause spread of disease by splashing

31. Ooze Tube System drip holes in double tube no splashes
Disadvantages: most expensive

32. Facts about nutrients all plants require certain basic elements
if nutrients are missing poor growth may result

33. Facts about nutrients plants need more of the major elements
any deficiency is rapidly apparent

34. Facts about nutrients
trace minerals are often present in tap water in sufficient amounts.

35. Major Elements in a basic solution
Ca - Calcium
K - Potassium
N - Nitrogen
P - Phosphorous
Mg - Magnesium

36. Minor Elements
Mn - Manganese
S - Sulfur
Cu - Copper
B - boron

37. Minor Elements
Fe - Iron
Zn - Zinc
Mo - Molybdenum

38. Recommendations
If less than 25 gallons of nutrient solution is needed, purchase a commercial preparation
Get a scale that can weigh to less than 0.01 oz.

39. Diatomaceous Earth
Skeletons of diatoms
dried and used as a filter