How Do Hydroponic Gardening Systems Work?

by

Tony Buel

The idea of hydroponic gardening (gardening without soil), has been around since the time of King Solomon. There are a few advantages with hydroponic gardening over traditional gardening -for example the rate of growth of a hydroponic plant can be up to 50% faster than a soil plant grown under the same conditions.

And the yield of the plant is also greater! The reason for this is that the plants get their nutrition fed directly into their roots from nutrient rich water. Since this water is so high in nutrient content, the plant does not need large roots to search for nutrition. And since the plant expends less energy in growing roots it has more energy available to be productive above the rootline! Hydroponically grown vegetables are healthy, vigorous, and consistently reliable. This form of gardening is clean and extremely easy, and it requires very little effort. Hydroponic gardening is also beneficial to the environment. For example hydroponic gardening uses considerably less water than soil gardening because of the constant reuse of the nutrient solutions. And also, fewer pesticides are necessary in hydroponic crops -they are not as necessary. And topsoil erosion is not even an issue since hydroponic gardening systems use no topsoil. How exactly does a hydroponically grown plant get its nutrition -nutrition it normally gets from the soil? Well, these nutrients come in liquid or powdered mixes and can be purchased at a hydroponic supply store. And like soil, hydroponic systems can be fertilized with organic or chemical nutrients. But you should know that an organic hydroponic system can be considerably more work to maintain since the organic compounds have a tendency clump. Hydroponic systems are normally categorized as passive or active. An active hydroponic system moves the nutrient solution with a pump. A passive hydroponic system relies on the capillary action of the growing medium or a wick. In a passive system the nutrient rich solution is absorbed by the medium or the wick and passed along to the plant’s roots. But a downside with this method is that they are usually too wet and do not supply enough oxygen to the root system for the best growth rates. Hydroponic systems are also characterized as recovery or non-recovery. In recovery systems, the nutrient solution is re-circulated for reuse. In a non-recovery system however, the nutrient solution is not recovered. You may be unsure of whether to buy or build a hydroponic system. If you have an ‘engineering mind’ and want to build one, consider buying one first just to get familiar with the inner workings. Buy a system which does not cost a lot of money. It will give you a better understanding of how hydroponics works and the hands-on experience can be worth the cost of the system as you will be able to reuse the parts when you decide to build one. Hydroponics gardening is a popular and growing hobby and many are finding this to be fun, exciting, and easy to get started. Growing Hydroponics

can be a fun and productive new way of gardening for you. We have tips and resources to get you started fast! Article:

Hydroponic Gardening

Author Tony Buel

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

Submitted by: Matthew Kepnes

When you buy a house you want to have a wonderful garden where children can play and you can sit back and unwind. A garden is one place where we feel we are one with Nature and enjoy the small pleasures of life. But without potted plants and flowers, a home garden is incomplete. Before you choose the plants to grow in your home garden, walk around the neighborhood and take note of what kinds of plants are being planted. That ll give you an idea of what grows in your area.

You can visit your local nursery and ask for their advice, which will help you select the type of plants you will grow in your home garden. The most common plants are flowering ones, such as roses. To add a cheerful look to your garden, consider getting some sunflowers. Flowering houseplants, like Clivia or Kaffir Lily add vibrancy and a touch of the exotic. The most popular exotic house plant and garden favorite, Sambac, brings the most wonderful aroma into your home garden. Cactus is one tropical plant that doesn t need any special care. It can grow in any weather and is easy to care for.

If you are an avid gardener then you can have a patch in your garden for vegetables. Grow tomatoes, broccoli, luscious rutabaga and green vegetables in your home garden. Greens and lettuce, cumin plant and mint can also be grown as an herbal patch in your garden. If you are living in an apartment then have a few pots on your window sill of mint, tulsi, bamboo, aloe vera and curry leaves. Apart from flavor, these plants also have medicinal traits.

If you wish to plant trees that can give out fragrance then silk mimosa will be an ideal choice. This fast growing tree has attractive fragrance and its pink flowers add beauty to its fern like leaves that are shaped like a dome. Bamboo is another tree that can be grown in your garden. The Chinese say that bamboo has mystical properties that allow it to attract wealth and prosperity. Who wouldn t want to attract those qualities?

Quality soil and sufficient water are essential to a garden for plants, flowers and trees to grow. Organic gardening is one of the safest and healthiest options out there. One of the most important secrets in organic gardening is tending to the soil. Soil is the main key to growth. A manure-rich soil will ensure that your produce will be thriving and healthy. If you add too many chemicals to the soil, it won’t be as fertile anymore. Allow earthworms and other creatures to naturally aerate the soil. These worms while moving around, till the soil that allows air to enter beneath and allow the soil to remain fertile. Use organic pesticides if you want to ensure the health of the soil and the plants. Adding dead leaves, grass and plant material will enhance the richness of the soil. This is called mulching. Manure that is rich in soil nutrients is cow dung. Many gardeners and farmers use it.

While watering your garden, see to it that it is evenly spread. Drip irrigation is one of the most important aspects of watering a garden. Nature balances itself beautifully. It is our duty to keep nature intact so that it can help us to lead a healthy and joyful life on this planet earth.

About the Author: Matthew Kepnes builds gardens. You can find out his garden tips at his websites about

figuring out his garden

and about

gardening tips

.

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

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Gardening 101

by

R Birch

Successful garden designs create landscapes which are practical, beautiful and compatible with a site’s natural conditions. Gardens should be designed to meet the needs of the people who will use and maintain them. More importantly, however, a garden should enhance the quality of life of the people who visit it. The following covers some of the basic issues involved when planning a garden.

Choosing the appropriate tree for your garden requires an understanding of your local environment and your specific needs. Suppose the lower portion of the grounds is a bit wet much of the year, then the spot is ideal for a willow. An open field may be the ideal location for tulip tree or beech tree, both of which requires a lot of space. A sunny patio may benefit from dappled shade provided by a honey locust. Determine your needs and landscape conditions before searching for the right tree.

Look for plants with interesting, year-round qualities. All plants are available in types which bloom or provide some sort of interest in early, mid, or late season. For instance, forsythia blooms early in the spring while the red twig dogwood and the red berries of the holly provide color all winter.

Consider using plants with unique shapes and colorful bark. These qualities are wonderful during the fall and winter.

Certain shrubs are great for hedges while others are perfect as a lone specimen or planted in the shrub border. For instance, Californian privet is an excellent hedge shrub while the Korean spice viburnum can demand attention on its own. Spireas and rhododendrons are both suited to the mixed border planting. Take into account trees and shrubs which are native to your area, they’re low maintenance and are usually quite hardy.

Gardens may be formal or informal. Formal gardens will often utilize crisp straight lines, symmetrical planting and hardscapes containing bluestone, granite or brick. An informal garden may consist of curving lines, plantings which mimic the natural landscape and paths and patios built from fieldstone.

Garden paths may be constructed out of a wide range materials, including gravel, mulch, grass or any type of paving stone. Grass paths are great around the flower beds. However, in a small gardens they would become worn very quickly. A gravel path is easily installed and very inexpensive. Mulch in suitable in the woodland garden while paving stone is effective in any garden settings. Limit the types of material throughout the garden; too many can be a distraction.

Gardens tie together architecture and the landscape creating harmonious whole. In fact, courtyards or patios can be seen as an outdoor room and the transition between the house and landscape. Vines growing on an arbor or trellis help unify the garden and house. Wisteria, honeysuckle, a climbing rose, clematis and trumpet vine are all are all vigorous growers and are effective on garden structures.

Flower gardens are wonderful bordering a walk or near a patio. In general they should be located where they’ll be seen. Formal or informal, flower gardens should be easily accessible for maintenance purposes. Spring flowering bulbs, planted in the flower garden or beneath a large shade tree, are a welcome sight after a long winter.

Proper planning is essential to a successful garden. Draw out your design ideas before getting out the shovels. Know your local environment as well; it will help when choosing what plants will work best.

Tim Birch is the publisher of

GardenLeap

, a garden resource site for the gardening enthusiast.

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com