Hydroponic growing methods
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without the use of soil. All living things, plants included, need nutrients to keep them alive, plants ususally draw their nutrition from soil. However, plants can be grown using nutrient solutions instead of soil very effectively. The nutrient solution provides a much better source of nutrition for the plants than normal soil would meaning they can grow much faster and stronger.
There are two different types of hydroponics, both of which can be carried out using cheap hydroponic systems. They are solution and medium cultures. Solution culture uses pure nutrient solution for growing. Static solution growing is where the plants are in containers that have nutrient rich solution in them, these containers need monitoring to ensure the solution is at the correct levels and will need changing regularly. Continuous flow solution means the plants have a constant flow of nutrient solution running over their roots which is kept and optimum nutrient level and temperature in a central tank. Dependant on the complexity of the growing system being set up, a technique called Nutrient Film Technique or NFT for short, may be used. This is where the level of water is so low it is just a film, hence the name. but also oxygen levels are kept optimum as the root mat can absorb all it needs.
Medium culture allows the plants to set their roots into something, such as sand, gravel or rock wool. The solution runs through the chosen medium, allowing the plants to absorb as much nutrients as they need. Gravel is one of the cheapest and easiest mediums to use in homemade hydroponic systems as it is very easy to sterilise and re-use. Weight is the only real disadvantage.
Lights are also used to promote growth using hydroponic growing systems. Depending on where the plants are being grown, there are different lights that can be used. The type of light varies and you can chose the specific spectrum you need. You can purchase lights that allow you to increase the hours of sunlight the plants get. You can also purchase lights that give a spectrum to encourage growth.
