The Guide To Hydroponic Gardening For The Novice How To Grow Great Vegetables Without Soil By: Nathaniel Cross TABLE OF CONTENTS Publishers Notes Dedication Chapter 1- What Is Hydroponic Gardening? Chapter 2- Getting Started With Hydroponic Gard ening- Selecting The Right System Chapter 3- How to Set Up the Hydroponic System Chapter 4- Best Vegetables to Plant in the Hydroponic Ga rden Chapter 5- How to Plant Seeds in the Hydroponic Ga rden Chapter 6- How to Maintain the Hydroponic Garden Chapter 7- Dealing With Pests in the Hydroponic Garden About The Author PUBLISHERS NOTES Disclaimer This publication is intended to provide helpful and informative material. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem or condition, nor is intended to replace the advice of a physician. No action should be taken solely on the contents of this book. Always consult your physician or qualified health-care professional on any matters regarding your health and before adopting any suggestions in this book or drawing inferences from it. The author and publisher specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from the use or application of any contents of this book. Any and all product names referenced within this book are the trademarks of their respective owners. None of these owners have sponsored, authorized, endorsed, or approved this book. Always read all information provided by the manufacturers’ product labels before using their products. The a©u t2h0o1r3 a n d publisher are not responsible for claims made by manufacturers. Manufactured in the United States of America DEDICATION This book is dedicated to my parents, who taught me the importance of learning new things. CHAPTER 1- WHAT IS HYDROPONIC GARDENING? Fans of science fiction, fans of gardening and fans of innovative agriculture have one thing in common. They've all head of hydroponic gardening. However, just having heard the term only piques your curiosity. What exactly is hydroponics, and how does it work? The Origins of Hydroponics The word hydroponics comes from the combination of two Greek words. The first is hydros, which means water. The second is ponos, which means work or labor. While hydroponics sounds like a futuristic term, the roots of the practice are nearly as old as the roots of the word. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were thought to operate on hydroponic principles. The gardens were located in an otherwise inhospitable location, so a series of water pulls fed water to the top of the stepped gardens, allowing it to trickle through the plant life and back to the ground. This is, in essence, what hydroponics is: gardening without the use of soil. In the 10th and 11th centuries, the Aztecs made use of hydroponics in the opposite sort of environment. The marshlands where they lived could not support their crops. Instead, they built rafts that held small portions of soil. The plants that grew from that soil reached their roots into the free water below the raft, drawing all the sustenance they needed to thrive. The Development of Hydroponic Science In the middle and late 1620s, Sir Francis Bacon worked on the idea of soil-free gardening. In 1699, further work was done on the concept. John Woodward experimented with the quality of water in which a plant might grow. It was found that water which had been filtered through soil fed plants to a higher degree than filtered or distilled water. This is because of the minerals it retained, though science at the time did not know this. The term hydroponics was not coined until 1929, when the idea of commercial hydroponics farms began to circulate. It wasn't until 1938 that hydroponics was demonstrated on a large scale, on Wake Island. This island was used as a stopover for Pan-Am Airways. Hydroponic gardens were set up on the island growing various vegetables. These vegetables were used to feed the crew of the airplanes, proving the concept. Why Use Hydroponics? Plants have been growing in soil for much of the lifetime of the planet. Why change up the natural order by forcing plants to grow in mineral-infused water instead? There are a few distinct benefits. Hydroponics is effective in areas where the local climate is inhospitable for food. This includes arid areas such as New Mexico and parts of the Middle East. It also includes overly cold areas, though additional equipment is required to keep the plants warm enough to live Hydroponics takes up much less space -- a mere 20 percent of what the same crops would require in soil. This makes it ideal for small islands with limited space, as well as dense urban centers with no open soil. Despite relying on water alone to grow plants, hydroponics systems require 90 percent less water than crops grown in soil, due to water recycling and the self-contained nature of the system Because of the closed nature of the system, it is much harder for pests to break in and infest the crops. This means a much smaller amount of pesticides and fertilizers are required to grow crops. Hydroponics allows crops to grow in areas where they otherwise couldn't, which eliminates the need for transportation and importing fresh produce. Hydroponics allows a plant ready access to water and nutrients, which means it doesn't need to dig deep for those necessities. This drastically cuts down the amount of time it takes to bring a plant from seedling to harvest-ready. With all of these advantages, why don't we use hydroponics around the world? Unfortunately, the system does have a few drawbacks. Rather than picking a plot of soil, planting seeds and waiting, hydroponics requires a lengthy setup. For large-scale commercial farms, this means a very high introductory cost. While the cost will be made up in profits over a relatively short period, it is still a larger investment than most farms are willing to make. Hydroponics also requires a constant flow of water to work. Stagnant water will not nourish plants. This means the water needs to be circulated constantly with a system of pumps. If these pumps were to fail, through mechanical problems of power failure, the crops could be ruined. The Future of Hydroponics Hydroponics is a fast-growing industry. There is little room in traditional farming for expanded techniques, but hydroponics is far younger with much more room to grow. It is expanding in two directions, commercially and individually. As time passes, hydroponics equipment is becoming easier and cheaper to manufacture, set up and use. This means virtually anyone with space and electricity can set up his or her own hydroponic garden. On the other end of the scale, research is constantly underway for new methods to reduce the cost of large-scale systems. Many farms are converting some or all of their production to hydroponic systems. Simply take Tokyo for example. Japan has set up large-scale hydroponic rice farms in underground vaults, away from the weather and pests of the surface. Rather than a single annual rice harvest, they manufacture four each year. This increased harvest coupled with the decreased space requirements has proved to be of great benefit to the cramped city. Hydroponics is a technology that is sure to take off over the coming decades. Food production is in high demand as population rises, and hydroponics may be the only way to meet that demand. CHAPTER 2- GETTING STARTED WITH HYDROPONIC GARDENING- SELECTING THE RIGHT SYSTEM The basic concept of a hydroponic system is a garden enclosed in a small space with running water and very little to no soil. The water carries all of the nutrients the plants need to thrive. Easy access to those nutrients allows the plants to focus more energy on producing fruit or vegetables and less on developing root systems. This results in a faster harvest with more robust produce in a smaller amount of space. While all hydroponic systems operate on the same principle, there are several different systems you can use. Which one is best for you? The exact answer depends on your space availability and your exact needs. Here are the basic hydroponic systems and how they might fit your needs. Ebb and Flow Systems Ebb and flow hydroponics is one of the most common varieties. It works best with small, short plants, such as herbs. These systems work by putting plants in an inert material, called a medium. The plants do not receive nutrients from this medium, and instead use it simply for root support. The bottom of the tray in which the medium and the plants are housed opens on to water access. Periodically, your nutrient solution is pumped upwards into the medium, soaking it and allowing plants access to the nutrients. The pumps are turned off and the water gradually drains, until the cycle repeats. Pros: Ebb and flow is a simply system to set up and maintain. It requires a small pump, but little in the way of extra parts. It also takes up a relatively small amount of space, making it ideal for gardeners with height restrictions. You can also use any type of medium and your nutrient solution is easily recycled. Cons: You will likely be unable to grow tall or large plants in the ebb and flow system. You may also run into issues with mineral buildup, necessitating regular cleaning. Without such cleaning, you may find your plants cannot reach the nutrients they need. Nutrient Film Technique The NFT style is perhaps the oldest version of hydroponics and operates on a similar principle as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. It consists of a long, shallow channel or pipe -- modern systems can use PVC -- with regularly spaced holes, baskets or pots of medium. The bottom of these holes opens up into the channel. The channel itself is sloped gently. At the top of the channel, nutrient solution is pumped and allowed to flow. At the bottom of the channel, the solution is collected and cycled through the system again. Plants are placed in the holes, with the roots reaching the nutrient solution. Pros: The method is proven effective for large plants such as tomatoes and there is no height restriction. Your nutrient solution is recycled easily through the system and you have no need for a growth medium for most plants. Water is constantly flowing, so you don't need to worry about timers or complex controls. NFTs are incredibly easy to set up and operate. Cons: Small plants may not be able to reach the water and will not thrive in a NFT system. You will also have to monitor the pH of the nutrient solution. These systems are also highly susceptible to damage if the pump fails, as there is no medium to hold extra nutrients. Aeroponics As one of the most advanced hydroponic systems developed today, aeroponics is beyond the reach of most household gardeners. It is, however, very useful for large-scale farms and commercial growers. At the bottom of the system is a tray partially filled with nutrient solution; above it is a lattice or tray in which plants are suspended, with their roots able to reach the water below. Above the plants are sprayers that release a mist of nutrient solution over the plants as a whole, which filters to the bottom tray and is recycled for further spraying. Pros: Aeroponics kits are sold in one piece, making it incredibly easy to set up. It can contain a large number of plants at various heights. It also recycles the nutrient solution used for spraying. Cons: Sprayers can clog easily, as can pumps, and if the constant flow of water is interrupted for too long, the plants can easily die. You also need to monitor the pH levels of the water carefully. Root disease is common, and the system needs constant monitoring. You definitely cannot set up and forget about an aeroponics system. Drip Systems Drip systems are similar to traditional irrigation methods. A single reservoir of nutrient solution feeds into a main water pipe. This pipe has a number of smaller offshoot pipes leading along grow channels. These channels contain soil in traditional farming, but are limited to a static medium for hydroponics. The small pipes often lead directly to the plans that will be irrigated. Pros: Easy to set up, easy to purchase and easy to get started. Drip systems can be set up in virtually any configuration, meaning oddly shaped spaces can be utilized fully. You are able to set up a drip system on a constant flow or a timed release, and you can choose whether to pump back and recycle the used nutrient solution. Cons: Requires plenty of space horizontally, though not much vertically. A drip system also works best for small plants, because larger plants may need a higher nutrient flow than the system can provide. They are also time- consuming to set up initially. CHAPTER 3- HOW TO SET UP THE HYDROPONIC SYSTEM In today's challenging economic times, many families are turning to gardening. Gardening can help reduce your grocery budget while improving the health of your family. There are many different types of gardening methods, and hydroponic systems are increasing in popularity. A hydroponic system is a method of gardening that does not require soil. It takes some time and effort to set up a hydroponic system, but this method of gardening can product some exciting results. Understanding the Basics of Hydroponics You do not have to be an expert in hydroponics to maintain a successful system. However, it is important to understand the basics of hydroponics and how a hydroponic system works. Since no soil is present in a hydroponic system, substitute materials are needed to support the root system of your plants. The plants will need constant access to nutrients. There are several different methods of setting up a hydroponic system, and many advantages to this type of system. Since a hydroponic system needs no soil, plants can be grown successfully even in less than ideal gardening environments and climates. Growers also have more control over their plants in a hydroponic system. Determining Your Budget It is fun to dream of a huge hydroponic system that will grow a wide variety of different plants and vegetables. However, such a large system might not be in your budget. Before you start planning the specifics of your system, it is important to determine the budget for your project. It is possible to get a hydroponic system functioning with a budget under $100. You will just need to be creative with the materials and supplies that you purchase. If your budget is small, do not be discouraged. A basic hydroponic system is a great place to start, and you can always continue to grow and add to your system. When you are determining your budget, keep in mind that you should see a decrease in your grocery costs once your system is functioning. When you can grow delicious vegetables in your own hydroponic system, you do not need to purchase these items from the costly produce section of your local grocery store.