An Introduction to Hydroponics
Hydroponics is a method of gardening in water that requires the gardener to provide all the nutrients the plants need because they are grown in a soilless media such as rockwool, perlite, vermicullite, expanded clay pellets, or plastic pellets rather than traditional potting medias. For the past several months I have been experimenting with growing houseplants including foliage and trees in the Baby Bloomer ebb and flow hydroponic system. This article presents the results of this experimentation.
System Description
The Baby Bloomer® consists of two plastic trays. The bottom unit houses a recirculating pump and holds approximately 5 gallons of water. This constitutes the "reservoir" which contains all the nutrients available to the plants for growth. The top tray has a drain and an intake for water which is pumped up from the reservoir. The plants are set in this unit in whatever growing media you may select.
Water PH and Nutrients
It is vital that you test the ph of your water. In my hometown, the water tests out at approximately 9 ph. This is very alkaline and can prevent the uptake of nutrients by the plants which prefer a ph range of 6-7. Therefore, I add phosphoric acid in the amount recommended on the container to the water to lower its ph. I am using Hydrofarm®'s Hydroponic Nutrient (7-7-7) which contains Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potash, Calcium, Magnesium, Sulfur, Boron, Chlorine, Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Sodium and Zinc. Several of these minerals are in a chelated form which means they have been mixed with glass which was then ground up into a fine powder. This makes the minerals available to the plants at all times instead of being dependent on the presence or absence of other nutrients.
In order to maintain the proper water ph and nutrient level, you should change the water every week or so. According to my research, just adding additional water and nutrients may result in a totally un-balanced system for your plants. This would lead to plant loss.
Plants Used in Experiment
I had several African Violets that had refused to bloom for me for about 6 months. They were headed for the trash can when I decided to experiment with this system. I put several of the plants in a media of expanded pellets and set the ebb and flow cycle to ½ hour twice a day. The clay pellets did not stay adequately moist for the violets and I lost those plants.
Latest Articles