F.A.Q.

Why grow your plants hydroponically?

What is hydroponics?

Hydroponics is the science of growing plants without soil in an inert medium, if any. The plants thrive on the nutrient solution alone; the medium merely acts as a support for the plants and their root systems.

What are the advantages of hydroponics versus soil grown plants?

Year Round Gardening: Grow your favorite plants indoors all seasons. Tomatoes in December, fresh flowers in January, and even pumpkins in April! Cut herbs in the kitchen for fresh cooking and make a colorful flower arrangement year round.

Control: Indoor gardening in Hydroponic systems allows you to have complete control over the growing environment. You can set the parameters to maximize the potential of each plant you grow. You can grow more plants per square foot in a hydroponic garden because roots are directly fed ~ therefore, there is no competition for root space. As a result, you can get higher yields per square foot, per unit of time. Your plants will grow faster because they will be getting all the nutrients they need and in the proper proportions. The root systems stay smaller, so the plant can concentrate it’s grown energy on producing plant mass, rather than roots. Establishing ideal conditions yields ideal results!

Results: Water and nutrients circulate within the hydro system providing immediate and efficient nutrient uptake. Using a fraction of the fertilizer and
1/10 the amount of water as soil gardens; hydroponic gardening yields environmentally conscious crops that grow 50% faster producing twice as much crop.

Isn’t hydroponic gardening complicated?

NO! If you follow directions, you can garden hydroponically. A few simple steps must be followed on a regular basis to insure that your plants thrive. Once you get used to the routine ~ it’s a snap.

Can plants be grown organically, hydroponically?

Organic and hydroponic growers have typically regarded each other somewhat suspiciously and the two growing methods were not thought to be compatible. There is common ground, however, and more people are finding that with a little experimentation, they can grow a successful organic, hydroponic garden. Typical organic products used for hydroponic gardening include bat and seabird guanos, liquefied seaweed products, fish based fertilizers and enzyme activators, such as Nitron A-35. For more information on organic hydro-gardening check out www.maximumyeild.com They have excellent articles in their past article archives.

What types of plants can be grown hydroponically?

Anything can be grown hydroponically, but some plants prove to be more space efficient. Some plants we suggest are tomatoes, sweet peppers, hot chilies, lettuce, spinach, squash, cucumbers, broccoli, beans, snow peas, herbs and flowers of all types.

Do you REALLY get better yields in less time?

Absolutely. The plants, receiving everything they need, tend to be healthier, faster growing and generally more productive. Expect 30-50% faster growth with many crops.

What about taste? Will the flavor compare to my outdoor grown, organic produce?

You bet ~ perhaps even better! This is simply due to the fact that the hydroponically grown plants are getting everything they need, when they need it. Don’t be fooled by “hot house” produce grown commercially. The grower’s primary concern is shipability and storage, not flavor. When you grow your own vegetables at home, you can expect nothing less than excellent results. Plus, hydroponically grown produce has the added benefit of a longer shelf life.

Will I be using any pesticides? If so, what kind?

Generally, indoor environments demand less pesticides for obvious reasons. Hydroponic growing eliminates soil borne pests, as well. However, if pests do become a problem, one can choose to use insecticide soaps, natural pyrethrums and, in some cases, beneficial insects. These controls will be completely safe to use on edible crops and are also environmentally safe.

What is the best growing medium?

There is no clear cut answer to this question. Different mediums work better for different situations and different crops.
• Rockwool will allow the grower an easy set up, since it is pre-formed and modular. It holds a tremendous amount of water and offers a buffer against drying in the case of electrical outages or pump failures. As Rockwool is disposable, it lends itself to quick end of crop clean-up. For starting seedlings and cuttings, Rockwool is without equal!
• Coconut Fiber is recently becoming more popular. Coconut fiber is the first “organic” medium to offer high performance in modern hydroponic applications. It can also be added into soil mixtures to increase water retention. Coconut fiber holds more oxygen than rockwool and is pH neutral.
• "Baked Clay" Stone (goes by a variety of names) is a super-fired type of baked clay formed to create a porous, reusable hydroponic media. It is fairly heavy, which provides secure support for the plants’ root zone. This non-degradable, sterile growing medium holds moisture, has a neutral pH and will also wick nutrient solution to the plants’ root system. Easy to use.

TIP: Stick with dwarf or compact plant varieties when gardening indoors. They will perform better under lights and are lower maintenance. Try hand pollinating tomatoes, peppers and other veggies for best results!