Some hydroponic systems are easy and relatively cheap to set up; others, on the other hand can get rather complicated. The following article considers the pros and cons of some of the different types of hydroponic systems.
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This system is called aeroponic because the plants are grown in air and not water. Why then, can this be considered hydroponic? According to the book Hydroponics, the Complete Guide by Dudley Harris, New Holland Publishing, 1992 edition, hydroponics is the science of growing plants in a medium, other than soil, using a mixture of the essential plant nutrient elements dissolved in water.
With the aeroponic system, the plant is fed by mist (water with nutrients) at regular intervals. The spraying of mist onto the roots is governed by a timer and a pump. The mist has to be sprayed at short regular intervals. This system, although simple, can be expensive and is therefore not as popular among beginners.
The system also requires more maintenance to keep the pump running, since if the pump fails for whatever reason, the roots dry out quickly and the plants will die. The main advantage advantage is that the roots absorb nutrients at a faster rate than with other methods of hydroponics.
This system is probably one of the easiest systems for beginners to set up. The ebb and flow hydroponic system relies on a pump flooding a growing table with water and then draining the water back in to a tank. The system can be easily put together from items bought at a hardware store. All that is needed is a plastic tray of sufficient depth, a tank for the water, a pump, timer, some tubing and a frame to hold the table.
The problem with this system is the fact that if the pump fails because of a power outage or other reasons the roots dry out and the plants will die. Another advantage is that large plants and large quantities of plants can be grown with this method since there is little chance of the plants not receiving enough nutrients as long as the pump is running.
The Wick hydroponic system is one of the simplest of the hydroponic systems. The system consists of a growing tray over a tank of water with a wick joining the two together. An airstone connected to an air pipe can be used to filter and oxygenate the water. The advantage of this system is that there is very little maintenance as there is no pump or timer involved in pumping the water up to the tank. The disadvantage is that the system can only cater for a relatively small number of plants at a time. If the demand for water is greater than the quantity the wick can deliver then the plants will suffer.
A simple hydroponic system can be built quite cheaply by a beginner without too much experience. Hydroponic gardening can make for an enjoyable hobby, especially if space is an issue. A basic hydroponic garden can be installed with relative ease on a balcony or a rooftop of an apartment building. Elderly people or those with back problems can enjoy gardening without the backache associated with bending down since the growing table can be raised to accommodate the individual.
How to Create a Hydroponics Garden
Advantages of Hydroponic Gardening
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