So you have actually found out about in this manner of growing plants called ‘hydroponics’, however have no clue what it is …
If you have actually heard about hydroponics but find yourself overwhelmed by info and have no hint where to start … this is for you.
Before we enter the meat of this article, if you find yourself asking, Where did hydroponics originated from? I would suggest you check out the history of hydroponics post that I composed a while back.
This short article will take you from knowing nothing about hydroponics to understanding enough to construct your own homemade hydroponic system and grow your own food!
However prior to we get to all of that, we require to comprehend precisely how hydroponics works. Without this fundamental understanding, we would never ever build a deep understanding of how our hydroponics systems work.
How Does Hydroponics Work?
If you break down the word hydroponics you get hydro and ponos, which indicate water and work. In hydroponics, water and a solution of nutrients do all of the work to make the plant grow … there is no soil! The picture to the right is an example of among the many basic kinds of hydroponics systems, a passive watering setup.
In this setup, the plants are kept in place by a. growing medium. ( in this case perlite is being utilized). The 2 liter soda bottle is utilized as the reservoir to hold the perlite along with the water, which remains in the bottom compartment. Add a little light to this setup and you have a working hydroponics system!
Obviously, this is a really simplified setup. While it will keep these plants alive,.they most likely won’t prosper in this system.
Read on to discover why.
What are Plants Made Of?
If we want to understand how to feed and care for our plants, we must know what they are made of. All living things are comprised of raw material.
Organic matter must be comprised of the following elements
- Nitrogen.
- Oxygen.
- Hydrogen.
- Carbon.
These four elements account for over 90% of a plant’s weight and serve various functions in the functioning of all of a plant’s various systems.
What do Plants Required to Grow?
Now that we know what plants are made from, we require to know what they need from the environment to grow.
The 5 secrets to plant development are light, co2, oxygen, water, and nutrients.
Light.
Plants require light in order to perform the procedure of photosynthesis. Merely put, photosynthesis produces glucose, which is a sugar that offers energy for the life cycle of a plant.
Carbon Dioxide.
Carbon dioxide is used by plants in order to breathe. They take in co2 and breathe out our next compound, oxygen.
Oxygen.
Plants need oxygen as part of the breathing process. They breathe it out as a waste item during photosynthesis. For us, their waste product is what we human beings require to breathe!
Water.
Water is needed for several biochemical responses in a plant, along with being a solvent for additional reactions. It also assists to keep a plant stiff– without it, plants wilt. It acts as a transport medium for nutrients.
Nutrients.
The many different elements that plants utilize as nutrients. are very important because they are the components that comprise a plant. They are used in all biochemical responses.
Macro Nutrients.
The most vital elements are Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. They are called macro nutrientssince they are absorbed in the biggest quantities and are the most crucial for the survival of a plant.
Micro Nutrients.
In addition to these macro nutrients, plants require other aspects in smaller sized quantities. These are understood as micro nutrients. They include
- Boron.
- Calcium.
- Copper.
- Iron.
- Magnesium.
- Manganese.
- Molybdenum.
- Sulfur.
- Zinc.
This is an extremely basic explanation of what nutrients do for plants. For an extensive explanation, visit my complete guide on plant nutrients and their shortages.
How This Plugs Into Hydroponics.
Now we what plants need to grow and the basics of hydroponics. What makes a hydroponic system tick?
If we take a look at it, we’re essentially removing soil. This means that we are removing the only source of nutrition for a plant. To counter this, we need to supplement the plant with correct nutrition. We do this using hydroponic nutrients, which is. a totally different short article. .
By getting rid of the soil we’re doing a few things
- Eliminating nutrients (which we then add back).
- Eliminating the primary source of pests.
- Getting rid of a water-retaining medium.
You might be believing, Hm. These all sound like BAD things. Why would you grow in a hydroponic system instead of soil?.
It’s an excellent question. The narrative is this
You acquire nearly complete control over your growing environment, which implies healthier plants that grow faster.
To answer that more in depth, take a look at my short article on. hydroponics vs. soil gardening .
Why You Required To Know All Of This Things.
When you. develop your own hydroponic systems you are producing a new environment for our plants to reside in. Without comprehending what a plant needs to survive, it will be hard for you to grow healthy and strong plants. You ‘d likewise have a tough time fixing issues that arise in your homemade hydroponics system.
It is very important to know all of the various variables that go into your system. In this manner, you can find out how to optimize them and have everything operate in harmony. A well-designed system is definitely a lovely thing to see … everything runs instantly, creating an utopia for your plants!
An improperly developed system is an atrocity. Too little light? Underwatered? Wrong nutrient mix? Any of these might trigger your plants to grow badly, and leave you with an uninspired crop. Don’t worry however– this series of short articles will provide an answer to all of these issues and more!
Now that you understand the fundamentals, take a look at the next post in the series. I have actually assembled an overview of all of the different types of hydroponics systems that you can construct and their pro’s and con’s.
