Hydropo

nics:
Gardeni
ng
without Introduction
The science of growing plants in
soil nutrient-rich water
is hydroponics. The
word hydroponics means "working water" and comes
from the Latin words hydro, meaning "water,"
and ponos, meaning "work." In hydroponics, the nutrients
are available at the plant's roots. From our lower grades
we have learnt that for photosynthesis of plants they need
soil, water, sunlight and minerals. but do you know that
we get these nutrients macronutrients (like carbon,
nitrogen, and phosphorus) and micronutrients (like iron,
sodium, and zinc) from the soil. then how about we grow
plants without soil. the idea is very simple, what if the
water had all the nutrients in it that soil does? So, without
any work, the plant gets its food and nutrition. A plant
with roots in soil must work hard to extract its nutrition
from the soil, and it can waste a lot of energy doing that.
But a plant in nutrient-rich water can spend its energy
growing bigger leaves, fruits, and flowers in a shorter
amount of time. One benefit of growing plants
hydroponically is that the nutrients in the water can be
completely controlled, and the plant can receive exactly
the right amount of nutrients at exactly the right time.
Another benefit of hydroponics is that it works in areas
where the soils are not arable (not suitable for farming)
and in areas where there is no soil.

Types of Hydroponic Systems

1. Wick System
Grow tray, rope wicks, air stone, non-submersible air pump, and air hose.
2. Water Culture
Water culture uses a floating platform, non-submersible air pump, air stone,
and an air hose.
3. Ebb and Flow
Grow tray, overflow tube, submersible air pump, timer, and air hose.
4. Drip System
Grow tray, drip manifold, drip lines, overflow tube, submersible pump, timer,
non-submersible air pump and air hose.
5. Nutrient Film Technique
Grow tray, overflow tube, submersible pump, non-submersible air pump, air
stone, and air hose.
6. Aeroponics
Aeroponics uses a submersible pump, short-cycle timer, air hose, and mist
nozzles.

Materials and Equipment

 Two-litre plastic soda bottles (6), emptied and cleaned
 Scissors or utility knife
 Thick cotton or felt strips (12), about 2 by 20 cm.
 Growing medium like coconut coir or hydroponics clay pebbles 
 Seeds (1 package).
 Rapid root plugs or soil plugs. This is optional if you use
coconut coir and mandatory if you use clay pebbles.
 Purified, filtered, or bottled water. Avoid unfiltered tap water as
that can contain contaminants that may inhibit your plants'
growth.
 Disposable gloves
 Plant nutrients for green leafy plants like GH flora grow  
 Large container or second bottle with lid to prepare the water
 Area that receives plenty of light to store the container. Use a
grow lamp if you store the plants in a place with very few hours
of natural light.
 Optional: pH control kit
 Optional: Aluminium foil
Experimental Procedure
 Although some growing mediums used in hydroponics (like coconut coir) look
like soil, they are not the same as soil. Soil and coconut coir are both growing
mediums, but soil contains nutrients a plant needs to grow, and coconut coir
does not.
 start by creating a hydroponics container from the empty, clean 2-liter soda
bottle. Use the permanent marker to draw a line around the bottle just below
where the cylinder starts to curve in toward the cap.
 Cut the bottle along the line with your scissors or utility knife. Adult supervision
is recommended for this step.
 Flip the top upside down and rest it in the larger bottom part of the bottle. You
will grow your plant in the upside-down top part, and the bottom part of the
bottle serves as a reservoir to hold the water.
 A wick will transfer nutrient rich water from the reservoir to the roots of the
plant. To create the wick, knot the two cotton or felt strips together at one end.
 Push the loose ends through the bottle top so they hang down into the reservoir.
The knot should stop the wick from going all the way through; if it does not,
retie a larger knot
 Place the top with the wick back into the reservoir. Fill the growing area with the
growing medium. A growing medium in hydroponics is inert, meaning it does
not contain nutrients, like soil does. Be sure to pull the wick up about 2/3 of the
way into the growing medium. This will ensure that the water and nutrients
stored in the reservoir reach the plant's roots.
 Measure 1 quart of bottled, filtered, or purified water into your second bottle or
container. Avoid unfiltered tap water, as that can contain contaminants that may
inhibit your plants' growth.
 Plants need nutrients to thrive, and these nutrients are not found in pure water.
You need to add them. Look on the label of the liquid nutrients bottle to find
out how much of the solution you need to add to a quart of water in the growing
 phase of the plant. Mix that into the water in your second bottle or container.
Your tiny plant will not consume much, so the water you prepare now will last
until the plant is somewhat larger.
 Optional: Pure water is neutral (pH of 7); Plants absorb nutrients best if the
water is slightly acidic. Too acidic (pH well below 7) or too basic (pH higher
than 7) are not ideal. If you have a pH control kit, follow the instructions that
come with the kit to test the acidity of the quart of prepared water. Adjust the
acidity of the water by adding a few drops of acid (if the pH is too high) or base
(if the pH is too low), as directed by the kit.
 If you are starting from seeds and using coconut coir, place three seeds in the
coconut coir just above the knot in the wick. If you are starting from seeds and
using pebbles, seeds cannot germinate when placed in clay pebbles; you will need
a rooter plug or soil plug for them to germinate. Place three seeds into the plug
and place the plug just above the knot in the wick. Cover the seeds with the
growing medium (seeds germinate better when in the dark).
 If you are starting with a small plant, plant it directly into the growing medium.
Make sure the roots get close the knot in the wick and be careful not to damage
them.
 Pour the prepared water over the growing medium. It will seep into the reservoir.
Keep pouring until the reservoir is about 1/2 to 2/3 full. The water should never
reach the spout of the bottle. Make sure that the area around the seeds or tiny
plant gets wet as you pour the water.
 Seeds can germinate in the dark, but once they emerge above the soil, plants
need air and sunlight to survive. Once the seed is sprouted, place the container
near a window and wait.
 For the first couple of days, check daily to make sure the area around the seed or
tiny plant is moist. Add a little water if needed. As the plant grows, its roots will
extend deeper and get better access to the water and nutrients sucked up by the
wick. Once the plant is established, check the water level in the reservoir weekly.
 Make a new batch of nutrient-enriched water when you start to run low and add
it when the water level gets low.

The advantages
1. Maximizes Space

Hydroponics requires far less space than plants grown in soil.

Depending on the system, when hydroponics is combined with
vertical farming techniques, they can use up to 99 percent fewer
lands than typical farming techniques. 

2. Conserves Water

It may seem counterintuitive but growing plants in water actually

use less water than growing the same plants in soil. In fact,
hydroponic plants can grow with up to 98 percent less water than
traditional growing methods. 

3. Require Less Labour

Without the need for tilling, weeding, herbicide and insecticide

application, and other labour-intensive farm jobs, hydroponics offers
a lighter load for laborers and can easily be managed with far fewer
man-hours.

4. Produces Higher Yields

Creating ideal conditions ensures plants receive the perfect amount

of nutrients, which come in direct contact with roots. Additionally,
microclimates allow for year-round growth and faster crop cycles.
All of this adds up to create far higher yields than traditional farming
methods. In fact, it was found that hydroponic greenhouses can
produce about 240 times the yield of other farming practices.

5. Needs No Soil

The world is quickly losing workable soil. This is due to erosion,

compaction, loss of soil structure, nutrient degradation, and salinity.
Additionally, there is a wide variation in soil quality from one
location to the next, and many plants have strong preferences for a
particular soil type. This means traditional farmers can only grow
crops suited to the soil in their areas. In large parts of the world,
few crops can be grown using traditional methods. With hydroponic
gardens, the soil is not a concern so farmers can grow whatever
crops would be most beneficial to their community without concern
for soil degradation.
 6. Produces Higher Quality Food

With traditional farming, supply of ripened fruits and vegetables isn’t

possible every time. At times, ethylene gas is used to artificially ripen
food that has been picked too early. This is necessary if traditionally
farmed crops are going to reach consumers in far off places. 

Food that ripens naturally, on the plant, typically has more nutrients and
better taste too. Because hydroponic gardens contain their own
microbiomes, these crops can be grown just about anywhere. This means
they can be picked at the peak of ripeness.

7. Crops Grow Faster

Most fruits and vegetables take several months to reach maturity
using traditional methods. Plants must take their nutrients from the
soil, which can be a slow process. What nutrients they absorb are
often wasted through the maturing process. 
The growth rate for a hydroponic plant is 30-50 percent faster than
a plant grown in soil. With hydroponics, nutrients are more easily
available for the plant to absorb. The grower can control light, heat,
nutrients, hydration, pests, and all other aspects of the growing
process. This means the whole cycle can be streamlined for larger,
faster-growing plants with a higher yield.  

8. Predictability and Seasonality

We don’t usually get all the crops in all seasons, many crops are seasonal so
to avoid this problem, In a hydroponic greenhouse, conditions are
controlled by the grower so the crops can be grown and also the lifetime
of that crop is increased by using those particular conditions so there is
no damage to the crop

9. No more use of fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals.

10. It minimizes the loss of nutrients and has a lot more accurate control
over the nutrients required by the plants.

The disadvantages
Risk of Water Borne Diseases and Algae Bloom
Most hydroponic systems are closed units in which all the plants
may share the same water or nutrient solution through
recirculation.

The risk with this system is that any waterborne pathogen that
infects one plant can easily spread to all the other plants at once.
This can destroy entire batch of plants if it’s not handled properly.

Environment that is Susceptible to Quick Changes

Environmental factors are very important to the growth and
survival of plants in general, but this may be more critical for
hydroponic plants because they react or respond quickly to these
changes. Quick changes in nutrient solution or atmospheric
conditions can inflict irreversible damage to plants which can lead
to plant death, loses and hydroponic farm failure

Capital Intensive
One of the most common disadvantages of hydroponic farming or
gardening for many people is the high cost involved in starting up.
setting up or scaling up to a large-scale hydroponic farm will
entail investments in equipment like HVAC systems, fans,
ventilation, irrigation systems, control systems, lights etc. You will
also need to have significant resources like land, manpower,
expertise etc

Risk of Power Outages

Electric power is a requirement for hydroponic farms to be
effective. You need electricity to power the various grower’s
lights, different smart systems like sprinklers, air pumps, etc. in
addition to powering other operational and maintenance activities
on the farm. 

Power outages may not be an issue for most growers in developed

countries with reliable power supply except during disasters like
hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. where power supply can be disrupted.
However, the cost of power bills can easily add to your production
and operational expenses which tend to affect your profits.