What Is Hydroponics?
hydro = water ponos = labor
Hydroponics basically means working water. Ancient Babylonians, Chinese, and the Aztecs of Mexico all utilized early methods of hydroponic growing. Hydroponics is hardly a new method of growing plants.
In recent years, hydroponics has been used to grow plants in areas where it would normally be impossible or impractical. Scientists who live at research stations near the South Pole use hydroponics to grow fresh vegetables when it's -100°F outside. NASA does extensive research on hydroponics for their future space stations. In addition to scientists, everyday people from all over the world have been building (or purchasing) their own systems to grow great-tasting, fresh food for their families.
The Many Types of Hydroponic Systems
There are many different kinds of hydroponic systems. Systems can be "active" or "passive." They also can be "media-based" or "water culture." Active systems rely on a pump to flow nutrient around the plant's roots and to provide aeration. Passive systems work without a pump. Media-based systems rely on a growing medium to support the plants and hold nutrient solution around their roots. Water culture systems usually operate without media. The best way to learn about the different types of hydroponic setups is to check out our easy system plans.
Media-Based Systems
Flood-and-drain (Ebb-and-flow)—A growing tray filled with medium connected to a bucket filled with nutrient. The tray is flooded by manually raising the bucket and drained by lowering it. By adding a pump and timer, the basic unit evolves into an automatic hydroponic system.
Top-feed or drip systems—A timer-controlled pump delivers nutrient solution slowly and regularly to the base of the plant roots through thin tubing. The solution trickles through the medium back to the reservoir below the growing bucket. Media distribute the nutrient in a wide circle around the plant roots.
Water Culture Systems
Nutrient film technique—This is a channel-type system where plants are supported with rockwool cubes, cups, or collars and their roots dangle in triangular pipes or round tubes. Nutrient solution runs along the bottom of the channels so just the root tips are submerged. While NFT is the most popular water culture system, it is not appropriate for beginners.
Other water culture techniques—There are many other simple systems that fall into the water culture category. Check out our two simple systems that you can build.
How Hydroponics Is Different
In traditional gardening, plants have to work to get the nutrients from the soil. In hydroponics, a nutrient solution feeds your plants directly. Your plants can concentrate on growing food for you to eat. And they do it faster! Since hydroponics can be done indoors, you can grow plants year-round. Also, pests and diseases that live in soil can be reduced in hydroponics.
Once you have a system figured out and have some of the basics under your belt, it's time to get growing!
First, you will need to get some seeds. Although almost any seeds will work, according to Jessica Hankinson, who wrote "A Hydroponic Lesson Plan," in The Growing Edge, Vol. 11, No. 5:
Make sure that the seedling's roots are clean before transplanting. Move the seedling from the starting tray and into your growing system. You should be using a nutrient solution in your system. Have an adult help you mix the nutrients. Make sure you are very careful with this solution.
Growing
You'll notice that plants can grow quickly using hydroponic methods. Keep a log of how your plants grow. Make sure they get enough light. Some plants will easily produce fruit. Others may only do so under just the right conditions. Sometimes, it's fun to just grow cool-looking plants. Let us know how your experiments come out!
Once you have grown a few plants with these simple systems, you might want to read more about how to get a little more advanced. There isn't a limit to how far you can go with hydroponic growing!
Other areas of The Growing Edge Web Site you might want to visit:
Some Great Links for Hydro Kids
