Outdoor gardening is one way to enjoy fresh & organic produce, but sometimes you just don't have the space outside.
Craig Baum, the owner of Sea of Green stores here in the Valley, is teaching us all about hydroponics.
What are hydroponics?
Hydroponic gardening uses no soil; rather, plant roots are suspended in specially formulated clay pellets and bathed with liquid nutrients. This keeps roots tightly compacted, which allows you to hang dozens of growing plants in a single window.
Baum says the big difference between practical gardening and hydroponic gardening is soil. With traditional soil, growing seeds are planted, build a root system, then obtain water and nutrients from the soil.
In hydroponic gardening, plants are anchored in water to allow the roots to access nutrients. Soil is not used in hydroponics.
The nutrients in hydroponic systems are taken up directly into the root system therefore allowing plants to focus more of its time on growing and producing more fruit rather than growing deep roots in search of water and soil bound nutrients.
What are the benefits of hydroponics?
The main benefits of hydroponic gardening are the ability to grow in a controlled environment and grow larger yielding crops in a shorter amount
of time. Growth rates of hydroponically grown plants are typically 30-50% faster.
Benefits of hydroponic gardening include the following:
What do I need to get started?
You will need a container or system to grow in, nutrients, and a light source, such as Botanicare products. The price varies but can a beginner garden can be started for around $100.
source
Craig Baum, the owner of Sea of Green stores here in the Valley, is teaching us all about hydroponics.
What are hydroponics?
Hydroponic gardening uses no soil; rather, plant roots are suspended in specially formulated clay pellets and bathed with liquid nutrients. This keeps roots tightly compacted, which allows you to hang dozens of growing plants in a single window.
Baum says the big difference between practical gardening and hydroponic gardening is soil. With traditional soil, growing seeds are planted, build a root system, then obtain water and nutrients from the soil.
In hydroponic gardening, plants are anchored in water to allow the roots to access nutrients. Soil is not used in hydroponics.
The nutrients in hydroponic systems are taken up directly into the root system therefore allowing plants to focus more of its time on growing and producing more fruit rather than growing deep roots in search of water and soil bound nutrients.
What are the benefits of hydroponics?
The main benefits of hydroponic gardening are the ability to grow in a controlled environment and grow larger yielding crops in a shorter amount
of time. Growth rates of hydroponically grown plants are typically 30-50% faster.
Benefits of hydroponic gardening include the following:
- Grow any fruit or vegetable year round no matter what outside conditions exist.
- Pesticide and herbicide free
- Deciding what exactly enters into a plant or fruit/vegetable your family might eat
- Reuse water
- Grow a more uniform crop
- Healthier and happier plants
- Reduced topsoil erosion
- Less space needed to grow same amount of fruits and vegetables
What do I need to get started?
You will need a container or system to grow in, nutrients, and a light source, such as Botanicare products. The price varies but can a beginner garden can be started for around $100.
source
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