DIY Network

Introduction to Hydroponics Introduction to Hydroponics From "Fresh from the Garden" episode DFFG-210

Joe Lamp'l explains there in addition to growing vegetables and fruits in a garden or a greenhouse, you can grown a garden hydroponically. Demetri Hubbard, an expert in the field, will be on hand to share information about hydroponics. He will explain hydroponic gardening's simplicity and advantages, and with the help of a small hydroponic kit, he'll demonstrate how the system works.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G
	Figure H
	Figure I
	Figure J
	Figure K
	Figure L
	Figure M
	Figure N
	Figure O
	Figure P
	Figure Q

Vegetables can be grown hydroponically, especially in a greenhouse, in zones 3-12.

So many of us think that all gardens have to look alike, with rows and mounds of dirt (figure A), but vegetable gardening isn't limited to this anymore. In fact, many of the fresh fruits and vegetables you buy in the store are grown hydroponically, especially during the winter months or in colder climates.

Hydroponics is a method of growing crops without soil (figure B). Plants are grown in rows or on trellises, just like in a traditional garden, but they have their roots in water rather than in dirt. Most of us confuse soil with nutrients. In fact, soil provides structure, not the actual food itself, for plant roots. The food comes from other materials mixed in the soil, such as compost, broken-down plant waste or fertilizers. Plants grown hydroponically can actually grow faster and healthier than plants in soil because they don't have to fight soilborne diseases; in addition, all the food and water they need are given directly to their roots around the clock.

Growing plants hydroponically doesn't have to be done on a large scale, and it's easier than you might think. Now there are kits, do-it-yourself systems and even fully automated growing tables, all designed for home gardeners (figure C).

Hydroponics is very simple -- in many ways, it's simpler than growing plants in soil. Plants need food, water and air. When you break it down to those three things, it becomes simple to give plants only what they need. Hydroponics is the science of growing plants without soil. The plants thrive on the nutrient solution alone; the medium merely acts as a support for the plants and their root systems.

The following are some of the advantages of growing plants hydroponically:

• 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 (figure D). As a result, you can get higher yields per square foot, per unit of time.

• Plants will grow faster because they will be getting all the nutrients they need and in the proper proportions.

• Root systems stay smaller, so each plant can concentrate its energy on producing plant mass, rather than roots.

If you can 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. 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 and herbs and flowers of all types.

The Science Fair Project

You can buy a ready-made kit, or you can build one from scratch. Almost all of the supplies needed for a small bucket hydroponic system can be purchased at your local hardware or home-improvement store (figure E). This project, called the Science Fair project, is great for kids to build so that they can learn about how plants grow.

Tools
Five-gallon bucket
Drill
Three-gallon bucket
3/4" hole saw
Small pump
7/8" paddle bit
Support medium like rocks or pebbles
3/8" drill bit
1/4" plastic tubing, 1'
Scissors
1/2" plastic tubing, 1'
Two air stones
1/2" barb elbow
Rubber grommet
Clip
Net cups

1. Using the hole saw, drill three holes in the lid for the net pots (figure F).

2. Drill several holes in the bottom of the three-gallon bucket for drainage (figure G).
3. Use the paddle bit to make a hole in the bottom side of the five-gallon bucket for the rubber grommet and elbow (figure H). Also drill a hole at the top for a clip to hold the water indicator tubing (figure I).

4. Insert the rubber grommet and elbow and attach the tubing (figure J), then add water and nutrients to the bucket (figure K).

5. Pull two pieces of tubing through the bottom of the three-gallon bucket, attach the air stones (figure L) and place them back in the five-gallon bucket. (Air stones make the air bubbles coming from the tubing smaller so that the plant roots can absorb.)

6. Fill the bucket with pebbles (figure M), run the tubing through the lid (figure N) and place the lid on top (figure O).

7. Run the tubing through the net pots and hook them into the pump (figure P). The bottom bucket holds the pump and the nutrients that are pushed into the upper bucket (figure Q).