The Hydroponic Garden
By Philip Yeats
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About this ebook
Every child knows successful gardening requires soil, water, plants and sunlight, and that if you are missing any of those ingredients, your efforts are doomed to failure.
Every child is wrong.
It may not be possible to replace all of those four options as yet, but along with artificial lighting as a replacement for the sun, soil is one more element of gardening we are learning can be successfully omitted under the right circumstances.
Today, hydroponics is used in a variety of settings. Wherever soil is unavailable, hydroponic gardening seems to appear. Wildcatters on offshore oilrigs grow their own tomatoes. Cooks on nuclear submarines hydroponically grow vegetables to use in there crew’s meals. Right now, plants are growing on orbiting space stations without a single grain of soil.
Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1 - A Different Kind of Garden including Why Do We Use Dirt In The First Place? - The Organic Question
Chapter 2 - Crystal Clear Advantages to Hydroponic Gardening including Size - Climate - Control - Growth - Conservation - Nutrition
Chapter 3 - Essential Hydroponic System Components including Plants - Advice and Information on Acquiring Plants for Hydroponic Gardens - Water Quality “Hardness” - Oxygen in the Mix for Healthy Roots
Chapter 4 - 6 Basic Hydroponic Systems including Water Culture - Ebb and Flow - NFT - Drip System - Wick System - Aeroponics
Chapter 5 - More on Nutrients Solutions including Basics - Diagnosing Problems with Solutions - Other Considerations When Adding Micronutrients
Chapter 6 - Light Overview including Types of Lights - Understanding How Different Lights are Rated - Elements of Effective Lighting
Chapter 7 - Building Your Own Hydroponic Garden including Water Culture Directions - Building a NFT System
Chapter 8 - Troubleshooting Your Garden including Blossom Drop - Blossom Set - Blossom End Rot on Tomatoes - Bolting of Lettuce - Bolting of Radishes - Damping Off - Droopy Leaves - Misshapen/Deformed Tomatoes - Insects - Patchy Growth - Salt and Mineral Build-up - Spindly Growth - Tip Burn
Chapter 9 - Conclusion
Chapter 10 - Going a step farther
Appendix - The Bigger Picture including Hydroponics Could Increase the World's Fresh Water Supply - Hydroponics Could Lessen Pesticide Use - Hydroponics Could Fight Global Hunger
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Book preview
The Hydroponic Garden - Philip Yeats
Introduction - Gardening without soil? Is it possible?
Every child knows successful gardening requires soil, water, plants and sunlight and that if you are missing any of those ingredients; your efforts are doomed to failure.
Every child is wrong.
It may not be possible to replace all of those four options as yet, but along with artificial lighting as a replacement for the sun, soil is one more element of gardening we are learning can be successfully omitted under the right circumstances.
Yes, it is possible to grow plants without soil. It is called hydroponic gardening and although it may seem to border on science fiction, it actually works quite well and can be a great deal of fun.
Hydroponics is not a new development. It has been around since nearly the beginning of recorded history. That wonder of the ancient world known as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was an exercise in hydroponics and rice has been grown hydroponically for centuries.
Today, hydroponics is used in a variety of settings. Wherever soil is unavailable, hydroponic gardening seems to appear. Wildcatters on offshore oilrigs grow their own tomatoes. Cooks on nuclear submarines hydroponically grow vegetables to use in there crew’s meals. Right now, plants are growing on orbiting space stations without a single grain of soil.
Hydroponics may fly in the face of convention, but it does work. In some situations, it is far more practical than traditional gardening, as well, because it requires very little space and other resources and can produce such amazing results.
Hydroponic gardening is not simply something at which to marvel at from afar. It can be something you can do at home, as well. You can grow your own plants, fruits, vegetables and flowers hydroponically. Hydroponics makes for a fun challenging and ultimately very fulfilling hobby.
We have designed this ebook to give you a solid, comprehensive introduction to hydroponic gardening. We hope this information will encourage you to explore the numerous options presented, by gardening without soil.
Not only is it possible, but also Hydroponics Gardening is fun. That’s right; I said Hydroponics Gardening is fun! At first, the thought of plants suspended in liquid, growing without soil may seem the subject matter for the latest science fiction novel, but Hydroponics Gardening is a reality and it has been around for a long, long time.
Hydroponics is simple to learn and makes an excellent hobby. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this book. Soon, you too will learn the trend called Hydroponics Gardening.
Chapter One A - Different Kind of Garden
If you think of gardening, you probably think of soil-intensive preparation, hoeing, tilling, digging, planting, watering, dirt and mud as all necessary parts of the process. Gardening can be hard work and a lot of that work involves getting one’s hands dirty
in soil.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
The hydroponic approach to gardening makes things a little easier and a whole lot cleaner!
Hydroponics has been an alternative to digging in the dirt for centuries, but it has really come into widespread use only during the past century. During World War II, Allied troops ate fresh veggies from hydroponic gardens located on Pacific naval and air bases. Before that, airline innovator Pan Am supplied travelers with food grown at a hydroponic garden on Wake Island.
The idea of doing away with dirt may sound alien and unnatural, even if it has been practiced for ages in various forms. You will find that today hydroponics is actually quite a sensible way to grow things you want. To make matters even better, in today’s age it can also be very simple rewarding and fun.
In order to embark on a soil-less journey, we have to overcome that mental block that leaves us shaking our head in disbelief. Let’s start by looking at the underpinnings of traditional gardening.
Why do we use dirt in the first place?
Soil is the means by which traditionally planted items get their nourishment. The plants’ roots spread out in mineral-rich soil and draw nutrients from it. The soil itself, of course, has no nutritional value. It is merely a medium in which those nutrients are hosted.
That’s why most serious gardeners spend a great deal of time dealing with soil preparation. They recognize that not all dirt is created equal and understand that successful plant growth in a traditional garden may very well necessitate treating the soil with additional nutrients.
Soil is important in regular gardening. It plays a critical role in nutrient dispersal. However, the wrong soil can actually work against a