Hydroponics Systems

Welcome to HydroponicsSystems.info, the site where you can find bargain hydroponics systems plus other affordable accessories and products for your plant care and indoor gardening hobby. Hydroponics systems are commonly used to deliver carefully monitored nutrients to the roots in liquid form when growing plants in an indoor soil-free environment.

Hydroponics, in its simplest terms, is the growing of plants in water and without soil. It is known that soil, the natural growth medium for so many plants, contains the nutrients necessary for growth and that these will dissolve in water which the plant-roots then absorb. The soil itself, however, is not essential as a vehicle to deliver the nutrients.

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An Introduction to Hydroponics

Growing plants in nutrionally-balanced water has long been recognised as a means of increasing productivity from a given area. The controlled environment would facillitate more plants in a given space and, as the correct balance and quantity of nutrients were delivered straight to the roots, through the water, there would be no wasted nutrients in surrounding soil. Also, it is a viable undertaking in areas where the land itself is inhospitable for plants, for example deserts and barren mountainous areas.The advantages are enormous but, like anything, there is always a down-side which has to be dealt with. One of these is that the humid and nutrient-rich environment can encourage the growth of bacteria such as salmonella and disease in the plant itself. However, the advantages, in commercial terms, far outweigh the disadvantages which, in a controlled environment, can be eliminated or minimised.

Unfortunately, the term 'hydroponics' is now more widely used and applied to many different ways of growing plants, their only common factor being the absence of soil itself. For example ,plants can be hydroponically grown with their roots in another medium, such as naturally nutrient-free sand or perlite. Using the term hydroponics in its wider sense it falls into two main categories, ie., plants nurtured entirely in a solution and those using a solid medium (such as sand) around the roots. This soil-less medium definition is expanding, at the domestic level, to include such items as grow-bags, which use peat or bark, although technically this isn't correct as these substances do contain natural nutrients of their own.

Within each type of hydroponic method of growing the plants there are differences in the way the nutrients (and oxygen) are delivered to the plant roots. In a solution-only based system the fluid can be static, contained within enclosed vessels in which the nutrient levels are monitored and topped up, or the solution changed, on a regular basis. The plant's entire root system can be submerged if the liquid is aerated but, if not, a percentage of the roots must remain above water level. An alternative system is a continuous flow, of the nutrient rich solution, around and past the plant roots. This can have the advantage that there is just one, larger, storage tank to be monitored. A further development, and modification of the basic premise, is that of 'aeroponics', in which the roots are suspended in a sealed container which is periodically filled with a fine mist of nutrient-rich solution. It's main advantage is the much improved level of air reaching the roots.

In a system where the plants are growing in an inert medium, such as sand, the nutirent-rich solution can be delivered by one of several methods. One way is that in which, in simplest terms, the plant in its container sits in a shallow container (or saturated mat) of the nutrient solution. This solution is then taken up, by capillary action, into the pot and thence to the roots. Another is where plants are planted directly into an inert medium in a shallow container which is regularly filled with the nutrient solution and then allowed to drain. Medium used in this method are commonly those such as coconut husks which allow vital air pockets to be created around the roots. Finally, the method in which the solution is delivered to the surface of the medium and then sinks through it, as the roots absorb what they need. The rest of the solution then drains away.

One important decision for the grower to make is what sort of growing medium will best suit your particular needs or crop. One example is the product made from fossilised shells of algae, with a high silica content, known as 'Diahydro'; another is expanded clay which is formed into pellets and fired, becoming porous and light; yet another is 'rock wool', synthetic fibres which support capillary action. Perlite (volcanic rock in origin) and vemiculite (mineral) are other commonly used mediums. Sand, gravel and brick chippings can also be used but have the disadvantage of being considerably heavier than the others. Finally, wood fibre is another option and has the advantage of being organic.

Employed on a large scale, or commercially, hydroponic food production has many advantages in addition to the increased productivity from a given area. Its use of water is highly efficient as the drain-off can be collected, have its nutirents topped up, and then be re-used .... a definite plus factor in countries where water might be in very short supply. Another great advantage is the easier control of plant pests as the soil-less environment creates a less hospitable environment in which the pests could flourish.

Find affordable hydroponics systems plus other plant care products, indoor gardening supplies and accessories. For a bargain hydroponics kit come to HydroponicsSystems.info