Sunday, February 27, 2011

Hydrophonic Gardening - How Gardeners And Plants Benefit From This Method

Author:

Abhishek Agarwal

The conventional farming helps people plant crops over land, also gives it water in order to help growth then start harvesting as the time comes.

Many such practices made use of herbicides and fertilizers and pesticides , some contaminated sewage and also irradiation.

Technology has thus found yet another way to enhance crop production without harming the welfare of people and also the environment. This is done by doing hydroponics farming.

Since plants need the water in order to survive but however it\'s only one ingredient. Other and most vital are nutrients. Many scientists have found that it\'s only all this is diffused into several water systems then roots of the plants consume it hence it grows.

Doing all this in a very controlled environment like a greenhouse for example, the nutrients are to be mixed into all the water systems hence allowing the plant to produce more yields and this is mainly what hydroponics gardening deals about.

In order to show how effective it actually is, many scientists did a comparative study about the growth of certain tomatoes. One of the batch used up soil and were able to give ten tons. Whereas the other batch used only hydroponics and hence were able to give about 60 tons. This proves that this method can almost produce 6 times the produce compared to the traditional farming.

Any kind of crop which is cultivated using this method gives high yields. Even though some plants can produce more than most others, even then amount of time needed to harvest is still faster compared to the older method that provides a quicker turn around for the farmers.

Problem with the controlled environment is mainly that most of the plants will not get the correct sunlight and also carbon dioxide which helps it to grow. But this problem is addressed by using lights and also infusing artificial carbon dioxide in the air.

There are some other ways to grow crops inside the green house. One of the methods is known as deep water culture. Roots of the crops are exposed to the air and then a pump that releases air out helps to grow. This method is perfect for grapes and some other crops which are cultivated in this method.

Yet another method that is similar to the deep water culture method is the aeroponics. In this the plants are again raised in air and all nutrients here are put together in the form of mist or fog that also reaches all the crops to enable it to grow.

In drain and flood , one tray holds all the nutrients. Roots of the specific plant is held using foam chips or even clay pebbles and then at particular times in the day, this is then flooded for the plants to be able to get the correct requirements to enable growth. Then afterwards, this sort of drains itself.

One of the best things about this hydroponics gardening is the fact that it doesn\'t use a lot of area. This generally allows a person to put up the greenhouse even in the backyard. Only thing mainly needed is water placed in containers, and also tubes to reuse all the water taken in by the plants, also strong lamps must be used for artificial lighting and also some of the organic nutrients which are generally available in the gardening store.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/hydrophonic-gardening-how-gardeners-and-plants-benefit-from-this-method-753843.html

About the Author

Abhishek is passionate about Greenhouse Gardening and he has got some great Greenhouse Maintenance Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 94 Pages Ebook, 'Greenhouse Maintenance' from his website http://www.Gardening-Master.com/788/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

8 Benefits Of A Hydroponic Garden

Hydroponics is the science of growing plants without soil, only making use of minerals, nutrients, and water. In a hydroponic garden, plants grow through the use of nutrient water with fertilizers.
It may or may not involve the use of mechanical support in the form of sand, gravel, peat moss, sawdust, and others. The growing popularity of using a hydroponic garden has increased over the years, because it has its own advantages.
They are especially efficient for use to eliminate poverty, overpopulated regions, or for use in areas that have low access to water, and hence cannot produce large yields of crops.

The benefits of hydroponics

1. The growth rate of plants in a hydroponic garden are 30-50 times faster than plants that grow in soil, making it an ideal choice for those who want to grow vegetables to consume or sell in a business.
Scientists attribute the higher plant yield to the additional oxygen provided by the mediums used in hydroponics which is crucial to root growth and development.
2. Measuring the ph levels of the nutrients will be much easier to manage through a hydroponic garden than with soil. It also becomes easier to maintain the desired nutrient status, and presents a cleaner, easier way to manage your garden.
3. There is a significant decrease in pests and disease, which the soil usually attracts. A hydroponic garden is usually placed indoors as well, which is another contributing factor to this advantage.
4. Water waste is significantly reduced as well because the plants make use of concentrated feeding.
5. The environmental benefits are one of the most important advantages of a hydroponic garden. The systems in a hydroponic garden can be designed to make use of recycled nutrients and water, and feeding them uses only 10% of water as compared to traditional gardening or agriculture.
6. Growing your own hydroponic garden also means that you can totally eliminate the use of herbicides and pesticides, which is beneficial to the environment and ensures that the vegetable plants grown are healthier, loaded with nutrients, and don’t have toxins or chemicals.
7. A hydroponic garden makes use of only about a fifth of the space of a traditional garden, while producing even more yield. The gardens can be situated in your basement and even in your rooftop, saving a significant amount of space.
Furthermore, they are not dependent on seasons and external environmental factors because it is a controlled method of gardening. This allows you to grow crops all throughout the year.
8. Plants grown in a hydroponic garden will be healthier and more immune to diseases and parasites. This is attributed to the controlled environment and controlled lighting involved in a hydroponic garden.
Given the significant benefits of a hydroponic garden versus traditional agriculture or garden, it’s no surprise that more and more people are getting into it.
It’s also very easy to start your own hydroponics at home, and although the technology may be a little more capital-heavy, its returns, yields, and low-maintenance make it an excellent investment.
Posted in: GARDENING TIPS

Tuesday, February 1, 2011


The Advantages of Using Hydroponic Greenhouse Systems

By Sarah Duke

People who take up hydroponic gardening will typically begin by setting up their growing space in the basement or an unused room. Yet there aren't a lot of people who are willing to let their garden take over their home. Once you get to the point where you know you will be continuing with hydroponics, it only makes sense that you should consider using one of the hydroponic greenhouse systems.

Using hydroponic greenhouse systems to grow your plants is really the perfect setup. It's much less difficult to manage all the conditions required for your garden to flourish. You will be able to control essential factors such as lighting, air flow and temperature. As well, you need a lot of room in order to install the irrigation and lighting systems that are needed for this type of gardening. You can position these systems precisely where they are needed. This is important in hydroponics, because regulation of water and light are more essential than in a regular garden.

The most important benefit of hydroponic greenhouse systems has to do with the light. When you grow plants hydroponically, it's essential that they get adequate amounts of light. However, it's also important to remember that too much direct light allows algae to grow and that is not beneficial. In this type of hothouse setting, daylight is filtered and diffused naturally. You can also manage the quantity and angle of light that gets into the structure through the use of shutters and shades. A further benefit is that you'll consume less energy because there's no need to have grow lights on constantly.

When you have a greenhouse, you'll see that the system for providing nutrients to your plants is easier to set up and maintain. This is very important to the well being of your garden. Since your plants aren't growing in soil, the pH levels are more prone to variation. There will be great variations in alkaline and acid levels since it is all dependent on the water. With a greenhouse it's quite simple to install an automated pH control system, so you're not constantly monitoring the numbers.

Regulating the temperature is another essential factor as it concerns raising plants hydroponically. Even in cold climates, a properly constructed hothouse will maintain the temperature at an appropriate level without the need for heaters. If you dwell in a region that experiences cold weather but has lots of sun, this is particularly pertinent. Fans and vents can also be installed that will further help to regulate the temperature inside your greenhouse.

There is a good selection of hydroponic greenhouse systems to be found, but you can also build one yourself from scratch. Kits are available in an assortment of sizes and styles. There are also styles that will accommodate expansion if you decide to increase the size of your indoor garden. These are good reasons to think about getting one of these useful structures for your hydroponic garden.

Lighting is a critical component of growing plants hydroponically. You will almost certainly need to supplement the natural daylight in a greenhouse with hydroponic lights. The Hydroponic Gardening site is a great source of information on all aspects of hydroponics. Visit us today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Duke