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Hydroponics System: Grow Healthy Food Year Around

Written By admin | Urban Farming | 0 Comments

What is a Hydroponic System?

A hydroponics system is a group of plants that are set in a water based solution. This method does not use any dirt to secure the plants. Instead, peat moss, rockwool, perlite, or clay pellets are used. This approach allows the plants to have constant access to their nutrients and oxygen that are essential for healthy growth.

With a hydroponic system, you have a significant increase to both growth and production rates. Your hydroponic garden should have plants that mature 25% faster than they would in standard gardening and will produce 30% more of a crop yield.

These plants are often larger and healthier than soil based plants also. This is due to the fact that the hydroponic gardening provides easier access to the nutrients and that means there is less of a need for the plant to focus on producing deeper roots, so its efforts are above ground.

Another perk your hydroponics system has is that you have better control over pH levels, and the amount of nutrients the plants receive. That is because you can fine tune your solution to ensure it meets the needs of your plants. You’ll also find that you are using less water and that more nutrients reach each plant, since you don’t have to deal with soil runoff.

Hydroponic Advantages

Up to 90% more efficient use of water.
Production increases 3 to 10 times in the same amount of space.
Many crops can be produced twice as fast in a well managed hydroponic system.
Decreasing the time between harvest and consumption increases the nutritional value of the end product.
Indoor farming in a climate controlled environment means farms can exist in places where weather and soil conditions are not favorable for traditional food production.
No chemical weed or pest control products are needed when operating a hydroponic system.

Disadvantages and Challenges

A Hydroponic garden requires your time and commitment. ...
Experiences and technical knowledge. ...
Organic debates. ...
Water and electricity risks. ...
System failure threats. ...
Initial expenses. ...
Long return per investment. ...
Diseases and pests may spread quickly.

So is a hydroponics system the right choice?

That doesn’t mean a hydroponics system is the right choice for everyone. You need to monitor the pH levels in the water daily, and pay close attention to nutrient levels. Something minor like a pump giving out, or a sudden spike in pH levels can lead to the entire crop dying.

Hydroponic gardening isn’t for someone who wants to have a bunch of plants they only check on every few days. This is a lot of work, but it will ultimately pay off in the end.

Your Choices In Hydroponic Gardening

While you explore your options for a hydroponics system, you’ll also find that you do have a few different types to choose from. They include:

Deepwater Culture which uses a reservoir method.
Nutrient Film Technique that provides a continuous flow of nutrients.
Aeroponics where plants are suspended in the air and a nutrient solution is misted on the roots.

There are of course other options that you’ll have for hydroponic gardening. Ultimately your hydroponic system will be one that fits best into your own person lifestyle.

Just remember that you need to routinely change the nutrient solution to keep the levels of nutrients high and to maintain a temperature of 65 – 75 degrees in the water you use, as this is ideal for most plants.

Before you know it, you’ll have a crop of fruits and vegetables that will taste far better than anything you can grow in soil. That’s why more people are choosing this form hydroponic systems for gardening.

Once you get into a routine, you’ll also find that this form of gardening will become one of the most effective methods you can use. One that is easy to maintain with a sensible routine in place..