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-Hydroponic Growing Systems
The hydroponic system has a top watering, drip method using
four gallon per hour emitters for a no clog feed. Top feed allows
the grower greater flexibility with larger configurations and
less water than flood systems. Hydroponic grow trays come equipped
with top of the line tub outlet drain fitting, allowing users
to install a stand off to adjust the solution level in the tray.
The hydroponics system is equipped with a two-inch drain module
to handle high volumes of water. Users can be assured of no drain
back-ups or overflows.
more indoor hydroponic grow
systems...
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Hydroponics is a method of gardening in
water that requires the gardener to provide all the nutrients
the plants need because they are grown in a soilless media such
as rockwool, perlite, vermicullite, expanded clay pellets, or
plastic pellets rather than traditional potting medias. For
the past several months I have been experimenting with growing
houseplants including foliage and trees in the ebb and flow
hydroponic system. This article presents the results of this
experimentation.
System Description
The Hydroponic garden consists
of two plastic trays. The bottom unit houses a recirculating pump
and holds approximately 5 gallons of water. This constitutes the
"reservoir" which contains all the nutrients available
to the plants for growth. The top tray has a drain and an intake
for water which is pumped up from the reservoir. The plants are
set in this unit in whatever growing media you may select.
It is vital that you test the ph of your water. In my hometown,
the water tests out at approximately 9 ph. This is very alkaline
and can prevent the uptake of nutrients by the plants which prefer
a ph range of 6-7. Therefore, I add phosphoric acid in the amount
recommended on the container to the water to lower its ph. I am
using a Hydroponic Nutrients
which contains Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potash, Calcium, Magnesium,
Sulfur, Boron, Chlorine, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum,
Sodium and Zinc. Several of these minerals are in a chelated form
which means they have been mixed with glass which was then ground
up into a fine powder. This makes the minerals available to the
plants at all times instead of being dependent on the presence
or absence of other nutrients.
Lighting is provided the plants by a grow light hung about 12"
over the top of the system. Still others use special lights designed
just for growing plants.
Many home growers are producing salad greens and tomatoes inside.
Others grow orchids and roses hydroponically. |
