Maximum Yield Australia/New Zealand May/June 2019 | Page 54
“
Vertical hydroponic systems
combine the speed of growth
associated with hydroponic gardening
with the space-maximising benefits
of multi-tiered vertical gardening.”
Stadium- or Colosseum-Style Gardens
A stadium- or colosseum-style indoor garden can be a very
effective type of multi-tier setup to maximise the efficiency of
an artificial light source. Stadium- or colosseum-style gardens
are similar to the staggered seating in a stadium or colosseum,
hence the name. The light source is positioned vertically in
the center of the plants. The plants are then staggered around
the light source in a manner similar to stadium or colosseum
seating. This type of setup minimizes the distance the radiant
energy travels from the artificial light source to the plants,
thus maximising the available radiant energy. A basic form
of indoor stadium- or colosseum-style gardening is shelving
that allows the grower to place planting containers around
the light source and stagger the plants vertically next to the
light. With this setup, the plants can be moved or re-positioned
depending on their size to further maximise the radiant energy
emitting from the artificial light source.
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Maximum Yield
Vertical Hydroponic Systems
Vertical hydroponic systems can also be set up in a stadium-
or colosseum-style to best maximise the available radiant
energy from a grow lamp. Vertical hydroponic systems
range from homemade stackable modules made from PVC
to state-of-the-art pre-manufactured vertical hydroponic
systems that come complete with pumps, tubing, and
growing accessories. Most vertical hydroponic systems used
by indoor horticulturists rely on irrigation lines to deliver
nutrients to each individual plant. A series of tubes or
gutters collect runoff and direct the nutrient solution back to
the reservoir for reuse. A vertically positioned light source
surrounded by a vertical hydroponic system provides the
highest amount of radiant light energy.
Indoor horticulture and greenhouse gardening provide height-
ened control over most of the parameters that affect plant
growth. To best utilise the given radiant light energy, some
growers get creative in the ways they position the plants
within their greenhouses or indoor gardens. Multi-tiered, verti-
cal gardens are a great way to utilise the radiant energy from
the light source. Both greenhouse growers and indoor horticul-
turists are limited by their given spaces. To maximise space
and radiant energy, many indoor and greenhouse growers
are implementing some sort of multi-tiered, vertical garden-
ing technique. Whether a grower chooses simple shelving or a
sophisticated automated vertical hydroponic system, he or she
is sure to see the biggest return on investment when the given
space and the available radiant energy are efficiently used.