Frequently Asked Questions About Hydroponics

1. What is Hydroponics?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages?
3. How old is the Hydroponic Technology?
4. How do I determine which hydroponic growing system is right for me?
5. Where can Hydroponics be used?
6. Do Hydroponics require the use of Pesticides?







1. What is Hydroponics?
Let's start by defining hydroponics. Literally, the name means working water. Simply put, it is the art of gardening without soil. There are six basic kinds of hydroponic systems with hundreds of possible variations.While the true definition varies from expert to expert, hydroponics is basically the growing of plants without soil. The word “Hydroponic” is derived from the Greek words – “Hydro” which means water and “Ponos” which means labor. True hydroponics is growing plants in water without any type of media e.g. NFT and Aeroponic, however, growing plants in soilless media such as coco, perlite rockwool etc are also classified as hydroponics.

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages?
There are many advantages and disadvantages to gardening indoors using hydroponics. Let’s start off with some of the advantages:

Bigger, Better, Faster? Growing hydroponically allows for bigger, healthier plants that usually grow faster and produce more fruit. When growing indoors and using the proper lighting, most plants will go from seed to flower in as little as 3 months or less.

Harvest fresh fruit and vegetables year round?Since you are growing indoors with the aid of artificial lighting, you can decide when to grow. You are not dependent on the seasons to decide when you can plant and harvest.
Total Environmental Control? Too hot in your room – vent out your light. Too cold - add a heater. Too humid - bring in some fresh air. Indoor gardening allows you to provide optimal conditions for your plants to grow in. Being indoors also helps avoid mold, pests and other adverse creatures.

Ease and Simplicity - Hydroponics is actually derived from Greek meaning “water” and “labor”. Hydroponic systems do all the work for you. Simply set the timer and the system automatically delivers water and nutrients to the plants.

There are also a few disadvantages to gardening indoors:

Cost - Gardening indoors is more expensive than traditional gardening. The initial costs are much more significant and maintenance costs will also be a factor.

Time - Hydroponic gardens will not take up all of your time, but you will need to pay more attention to the system then you would to plants growing outdoors. You will need to check your pH frequently, change out your nutrients once a week and perform general maintenance on your garden to achieve optimal performance.

3. How old is Hydroponic Technology?
The Pharaohs of Egypt enjoyed fruits and vegetables grown hydroponically. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, was believed to be a hydroponic garden. In India, plants are grown directly in coconut husk; hydro at the most grassroots level. If hydroponics is a "new" technology, it is a new technology in general use for thousands of years. Hydroponics is not new -- just different.  One of the first scientists to experiment with hydroponic culture in the past 70 years was Jean Boussingault , who grew plants in containers with sand and coal, feeding them with chemical solutions of known makeup. Around the beginning of the 1930's, Professor W. F. Gericke saw commercial potential in Boussingault's techniques and began to use them to grow vegetables, flowers, and other types of plants. Since then, hydroponically grown vegetables have been very important in America's history. For example, in 1939 the American army and British Air Force installed hydroponic units in their military bases, and Allied troops ate hydroponically grown vegetables during World War II.

4. How do I determine which hydroponic growing system is right for me?
There are many different hydroponic systems available and it is important that you choose a system that is not only going to meet your needs but also be compatible with your growing area. In general, we recommend that novices choose an Ebb and Flow or a Top Feed/Drip System. These systems are great for beginners because they are not too complicated and they will still produce very good results. A few examples of these are the Ebb and Flow, or a Waterfarm Kit. Aeroponic and Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) Systems are usually only recommended for intermediate and advanced growers. These systems require much more experience and general “know how” to successfully operate. Also, because aeroponic and NFT systems use little or no growing medium, you could be in big trouble if a pump fails or the power goes out for a prolonged period of time. Growing in these types of systems can be likened to driving a racecar – you’ll get to the finish line faster than normal but if you have an accident the consequences can be devastating.

The next factor that you will have to consider is the type of plant that you are growing. Certain systems will be better suited for some plants more than others. Smaller varieties of tomatoes, basil, and certain types of lettuce are very well suited to Ebb and Flow or Drip Systems. Larger plants would work very well in Waterfarm kits or BGH Bucket Systems. Lettuce and strawberries grow exceptionally well in NFT systems. Lastly, aeroponic systems can be used with most small vegetable and flower varieties.

Finally, you will want to consider what type of system is going to work best with your growing area. You may be working with as large an area as an entire greenhouse or as small an area as a closet. It is important to consider which systems will best fit into your area. Just remember not to cram too many plants into a given area. A few healthy plants will yield more than several plants that are overcrowded. Overcrowded plants will shade each other causing them to stretch, and the lack of airflow between the leaves will hinder CO2 movement across the leaves. They will also be at a higher risk of being infected by molds and mildews. You might be able to 16 heads of lettuce or basil plants in a 2’ x 4’ area, but don’t try this with something larger like tomatoes or cucumbers.

5. Where can Hydroponics be used?
Hydroponics is as easy to use outdoors under the sun as it is indoors. One advantage to gardening indoors under grow lights is that you, not Mother Nature, control the seasons, making the growing season twelve months long. However, that is still true whether you grow in soil or hydroponically. Soil gardening can be done indoors and hydro can be done outdoors.

6. Do Hydroponics require the use of pesticides?
The need for pesticides should be greatly reduced because a strong healthy plant is much less susceptible to attack than a weaker plant. Also, soil-born pest will be totally eliminated but even in an indoor environment, intruders still find their way in, catching a ride on your person or sneaking through tiny crevices. Monitor any garden carefully so you can catch problem insects when they first appear and your need for toxic products will be minimal.