How Hydroponics Works

Great tips on homesteading, frugal living, and self reliance.	Recipes \| Gardening \| Preparation \| Homemade \| Chickens \| Beekeeping \| The Bartering Corner
	How Hydroponics Works How hydroponics works is a good thing to know if you want to grow fresh lettuce and other vegetables year round, even indoors, using far less space and water than conventional methods. Here are a few things you should know about this great way to grow a garden indoors. How Hydroponics Works The History of Hydroponics Folks have been growing food with hydroponics since ancient times. King Nebuchadnezzar was practicing hydroponics when he built the legendary hanging gardens of Babylon, and Romans were building greenhouses as early as the first century A.D. to grow fresh green vegetables and salads year round for emperors. For many years, early horticulturists were convinced (erroneously, I might add) that all plants needed for growth was water. They thought the soil was just there to hold the plants upright, and they experimented with growing plants in other materials, such as charcoal and sand. Today, we know that plants derive much-needed nutrients from the soil, but those nutrients can come from other sources. The term hydroponics (It comes from the Greek - "hydro" for water and "ponos" for labor) officially came into play after being coined in a paper published in 1936 by W. F. Gericke, who later authored the book, The Complete Guide To Soilless Gardening. During World War II, hydroponics was used to feed pilots stationed in remote areas, and today it is being used to feed researchers working in the Antarctic. How Hydroponics Works To understand the process of hydroponics, you have to know what plants need to thrive. Not only do they need water and nutrients, but they also need carbon dioxide and the right kind of light for photosynthesis - the converting of light energy into sugar - to grow and produce food. By substituting special lamps for sunlight, you can grow herbs and vegetables in mineral-enriched water, and raise a garden anywhere - even underground. That's the beauty of hydroponics. There are many different hydroponics systems available. Here are two: Wick System This is by far the simplest and most affordable form of hydroponics available. You place your plants into a tray that is filled with perlite, rockwool or other medium. Place a nylon rope at the base of each root that dangles freely and extends beyond the bottom of the tray. Then you place the entire tray on top of a reservoir of water and nutrients. The nylon rope absorbs the water and the nutrients, wicking them up to the plant's roots. Ebb and Flow System The ebb and flow system has a tray that holds the plants (set in a medium, such as perlite, for stability) and a reservoir underneath containing water and mineral solutions. The water from the reservoir is pumped periodically into the tray and floods it, allowing the plants to absorb the water and nutrients. Gradually, the water drains back into the reservoir where it will eventually be pumped back up again. Other Helpful Information Not sure how a hydroponic system works? You can learn more by clicking here. Not all hydroponic systems are the same. Learn which hydroponic system works best for you by clicking here. Learn how to get the most out of your hydroponics system by clicking here. Learn the basics of using LED lights for your system by clicking here. New! Comments Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. Return from How Hydroponics Works to the Home Page	Build Your Own Chicken Tractor! *You Can Build a Chicken Tractor* Provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to build a chicken tractor and also provides helpful information on how to get free wood and how your chickens can pay for themselves. Click Here learn more. Search This Site: Subscribe to my free ezine! Successful Homesteading is a bi-weekly e-zine covering everything about self-reliance and the healthy, frugal life. Imagine! Great tips on organic gardening, self reliance, frugal living and frugal recipes on a regular basis and sent straight to your ebox! Click here to subscribe. How I'm Earning an Income at Home with This Website I was determined to stay at home, but also needed a little extra money to make ends meet. Then I learned about Site Build It! When I started this website I had virtually no web building skills. Now I am earning a great part-time income, working from home and having the time of my life. You can too! Site Build It! has an easy to follow, step-by-step program that will show you how to build a successful website that brings in the traffic you need to get the income you want and start living the life you want to lead. Want to learn how? Click here.
Important Information Home Advertise With Us Bulk Herbs What's New? Table of Contents Contact Me My Free Ezine You Can Build a Chicken Tractor About Me Country Critters Goats Chickens Beekeeping Cattle Pigs All Things Frugal Frugal Living Frugal Cooking Make It Yourself Homestead Passions Homesteading Tips Urban Self Reliance Off the Grid Homeschooling Self Reliance Natural Healing Home Business Being Prepared Organic Gardening Hydroponics Woodworking Enjoy This Site? Then why not use the button below, to add us to your favorite bookmarking service? [?] Subscribe To This Site
Return to Top \| Homestead Goats \| Homestead Chickens \| The Homestead Beekeeper \| Frugal Living Tips Frugal Healthy Recipes\| Make It Yourself \| Find Homesteaders \| The Urban Homesteader \| At Home Income Off the Grid \| Natural Healing \| Home Business \| Being Prepared \| Organic Gardening \| Advertising Policy Copyright \| Disclaimer \| Terms Of Use This site is for your information only.
Copyright© 2011.