HOME HYDROPONICS AHT107

This course develops a solid grounding in the principles of soilless cultivation of plants.

There are twelve lessons. Each lesson involves the student in set reading and an assignment (written) which is to be submitted to their tutor for comment. Some lessons will also involve other tasks (eg. research, collection of information or practical work).

THE TWELVE LESSONS ARE OUTLINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Basic Chemistry and Plant Nutrition - atoms, elements, nutrient deficiency symptoms.
2. Nutrient Solutions - calculating formulae, hydroponic nutrition, preparing nutrient solutions.
3. Types of Systems A - classification of hydroponic systems, ingredients of hydroponic systems, rockwool.
4. Types of Systems B - what makes up a system, 16 hydroponic ideas, NFT, solution dispensation.
5. Plant Problems in Hydroponics - pests and diseases, nutritional and environmental problems, water and plant relationships, pH.
6. How a Plant Grows - growth, nutrient solutions, preparing a solution, mechanisms of nutrient uptake, photosynthesis.
7. Plant Culture - controlling environmental features, post harvest storage.
8. Hydroponic Vegetable Production - how to grow vegetables hydroponically.
9. Hydroponic Cut Flower Production - growing flowers in hydroponics, carnations.
10. Soil Media vs Nutrient Film - berries, indoor plants, types of media, NFT.
11. Greenhouse Operation & Management - solar energy applications in horticulture, greenhouse management.
12. Special Assignment - a report on how to improve your present hydroponic venture, or a report on planning a new hydroponic venture.

What is Hydroponics then?

Hydroponics, the word, is derived from two Greek words:

• Hydro... means water
• Ponos ... means to work or labour.

Today the word has been broadened to mean 'All ways of growing plants without the use of soil'.

The 4th International Congress of Soilless Culture defined the different systems of hydroponics as follows:

• Water Culture: Roots of plants submerged in nutrient solution (eg. Nutrient Film Technique or NFT).
• Sand Culture: Roots of plants in solid aggregate composed of particles with a diameter less than 3mm (eg. sand, perlite, plastics and other in‑organic materials).
• Gravel Culture: Roots of plants growing in solid aggregate composed of particles greater than 3 mm diameter (eg. gravel, basalt, scoria, pumice, plastic & other inorganic materials).
• Vermiculaponics: Roots growing in vermiculite or a mixture containing vermiculite.
• Rockwool Culture: Roots of plants growing in rockwool, glasswool or some similar material.
• Hydroculture: Can refer to all forms of hydroponics but more commonly used to refer to growing ornamental or decorative plants inside.

What is involved?

Soil does four main things for the plants which grow in it:

a. Provides support (stops the plant falling over or blowing away by providing anchorage for the plant's roots).

b. Provides water through the roots.

c. Provides air through the roots (Yes; the plant absorbs gas out of the air through it's roots! A plant's roots can starve for air just as much as they can starve for water!).

d. Provides nutrients (ie. Food in the form of very simple types of chemicals).

To be successful; hydroponics needs to successfully cater for these FOUR FUNCTIONS, which are usually handled by the soil.

If the roots aren't grown in a hydroponic situation which will enable adequate support for the plant, then a trellis or some other artificial means must be provided to support the plant.

It is essential to maintain a balance between moisture and air content of the root environment. With some plants the air which is dissolved in water might be adequate; but for the majority of plants, total immersion in water will result in air starvation and death. In anything other than water culture (aggregate culture) the ability of the medium to hold moisture and the relationship of this characteristic to their air holding ability is critical.

A medium which drains very easily usually holds water well but might dry out very easily. This type of medium might need watering very frequently. A medium which holds water very well could become waterlogged and plants could suffer a lack of air if watered too often.

As you can see there is a relationship between how often you apply water AND the drainage and water holding characteristics of the medium. Nutrients are fed to the plants in the form of a nutrient solution (ie: chemical fertilizers are dissolved in water). There are many different nutrients which must be included in the solution, all essential to the plant's growth. The relative amounts of each of the nutrients is important. Though there are rough similarities between the amounts of different nutrients which different plants require, to get the best out of plants, different balances of nutrients are needed for different plants at different stages of their growth.

SOUNDS COMPLEX?......NOT NECESSARILY!

If you want the best out of hydroponics maybe you need to be a chemist....but most people can grow better in hydroponics than in soil without needing to go that far. It is possible to buy standard nutrient mixtures from hydroponic suppliers. These may not be ideal, but they are adequate for most situations.

Depending on the type of system you are operating (and perhaps other factors) you might apply water only in the form of a nutrient solution, or perhaps both as nutrient solution and straight water (eg. Apply nutrient solution once a week then simply water once or twice a week).

• Student discounts are available to anyone studying with ACS Distance Education.
• Both printed books and ebooks (as downloads) available

GARDEN DESIGN Part I  by John Mason (publisher ACS)  EBook

http://www.acsbookshop.com/products/2087-orchids-a-beginners-guide.aspx

 

TREES and SHRUBS FOR WARM PLACES  by John Mason (publisher ACS)   E Book

http://www.acsbookshop.com/products/2237-trees-and-shrubs-for-warm-places-by-john-mason-pdf.aspx

 

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