Hydroponic Gardening Systems for the Home

Here is a basic introduction to hydroponics.

Hydroponic gardening can be split into two basic types. The two types of hydroponic gardening systems are solution culture and medium culture systems. As the names suggest, hydroponic gardening systems which use medium culture still utilize a medium where the plants roots can cling to. In solution culture, the plants are suspended over the nutrient solution.

Solution Cultures: The 3 Subtypes

The basic principle of hydroponic gardening is the same, where the plant is suspended and a nutrient solution provides for it. Hydroponic gardening in solution cultures come in three subtypes:

1. Static solution culture – The plant is constantly exposed to a static nutrient solution, this way the plant may deplete the solution over time. Once depleted, the nutrient solution may be topped up to a point where only part of the root structure is in contact with it.
2. Continuous flow solution culture – The roots are exposed to the nutrient solution at all times. In this case the solution is non-static but flows through the plant container of the hydroponic gardening system. This is usually reserved for bigger hydroponic gardening systems where much of the process is automated.
3. Aeroponics – A type of hydroponic gardening in which the plants’ roots are exposed to a nutrient solution through a vapour. The exposure is very frequent, so essentially the plant “breathes” in the nutrients. This type of solution culture has produce very positive results. The benefit of aeroponics is the precision level of control over the nutrient flow to the plant.

 

Medium Culture

Hydroponic gardening systems which use medium culture benefit from the plants having anchoring. The basic question to answer is what medium to use. There are variety of materials that can replace soil including some popular choices such as:

• Gravel
• Perlite
• Clay pellets
• Mineral or rock wool
• Brick shards

These media are easy to use in hydroponic gardening systems and provide roots with stability as well as providing the nutrient solution with something to cling to.

It’s actually very easy to create home hydroponic gardening systems. Hydroponic herb gardens as well as vegetable gardens are two of the most popular types of hydroponic gardening. Research into hydroponics has produce positive results regarding it’s efficacy for plant growth and health. The lack of soil has virtually eliminated plant sickness and in turn created a benefit for people in gardening and the consumer.