Tuesday, February 17, 2015

The Right Hydroponic Supplies Make Gardening Indoors Practical

By Katina Brady


Hydroponics involves more than growing roots from small cuttings in a water solution. It is an ancient practice that is enjoying increased popularity today, especially with urban citizens who usually live in smaller spaces. The process gives people the opportunity to raise herbs and vegetables on a small scale in restricted spaces, and getting started is less complicated with the appropriate type of hydroponic supplies.

Although its name refers to water, the terminology is often applied to any type of gardening not using natural soil to hold root structures in place and deliver nutrition. Instead, it utilizes a variety of media to anchor seedlings, including gravel, vermiculite, bits of shredded wood, or clean, porous sand. These materials contain no native nutrients, which are provided by a liquid solution.

Advantages not only include smaller size and greater efficiency, but also allow gardeners to more easily control threats from insect pests and other hungry creatures without continually resorting to pesticides. Grow boxes that can easily fit into a small closet space, or may be part of a commercial operation in greenhouses spanning several acres. Hydroponics is a mainstream agricultural option.

The location chosen must be able to maintain temperatures that match a normal growing season. Ideally, plants thrive best in areas that do not exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, or dip below sixty. Cool weather crops easily survive lows of fifty, and the room or space allocated must be able to maintain those temperatures consistently. Plant containers should have reasonably easy access to a water source.

Six individual types of systems currently predominate. Wick setups draw up water from a reservoir, using a variety of soil media. Basic water culture is also popular, and relies primarily on a platform that floats, allowing constant root exposure and encouraging direct nutrient absorption. Ebb and flow systems flood the roots at regular interval with the help of a pump. Drip systems are efficient, but require using a timer.

Nutrient film systems allow young roots to thrive under constant exposure to food and water, but require no additional soil medium. Roots are completely exposed, and the plants remain suspended above the water, making them more susceptible to water loss. Aeroponics is considered the most complex method, and produces a timed mist that engulfs plants and roots on a regular basis.

There are no strict rules governing which system to choose, and many people assemble variations. Tanks can be made of metals, wood, or even an old aquarium, and the size is limited only by available space. Commercially sold soil substitutes are readily available. For optimal results in dark locations, grow lights that imitate the natural outdoor spectrum give plants the ingredients for photosynthesis.

With so many options, the best way for residents of Seattle, WA to begin a hydroponic garden is by talking directly to the people who sell the equipment. Recent legalization of cannabis cultivation has sparked wider interest in indoor gardening, and there are a wide variety of choices available for successfully raising nearly any kind of plant. An indoor garden can be an enjoyable and healthy addition.




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