BEGINNER'S
corner
Indoor Growing Terms
By Anne Harvester
There are a variety of different hydroponics systems
available; however, there are only a select few systems that
the others are based upon. These hydroponic systems are:
Wick
This hydroponics system does not require an aquarium air
pump as it uses a common candlewick. It uses these wicks to
move the water-soluble rich nutritional solution from the clay
pellets or even lava chips to the plant roots. This hydroponic
grow system is the most inexpensive route, but it can become
unhealthy for the plants as they become too wet. This is the
major drawback and tends to produce less surviving plants, in the
long run.
Ebb and Flow
This indoor gardening system is also known as the Flood and
Drain system. It is an indoor growing system that requires an
aquarium air pump to push the rich water soluble nutrients to
the plant roots where low oxygen contained air is constantly
changed to air rich in high density oxygen. The pump for this
system remains active for roughly 15 minutes, until the high
nutrition water-soluble fluid reaches the required level. When
this happens, the drainage tube drains the excess fluids back
into the holding tank. This indoor gardening system requires
low maintenance so this is a great pick for the beginner
hydroponics hobbyist.
Continuous Drip
As another good beginner system, this hydroponics active
system may be used for both a recover/non-recovery
depending on whether or not a tray is used underneath to
collect and recycle the nutrient solution. It is considered as an
active system due to
the usage of a pump
to push the solution to
the nutrient lines that
thread through each
plant, connecting them
for supplying proper
balanced nutrition. To
stabilize the plant, a
growing medium, like
rockwool, is used.
68
MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2009
Nutrient Film Technique
This indoor growing hydroponics system is a recovery system
that requires the help of gravity, through the means of slanted
grow tubes which take the rich nutrient fluid back into the
unit. These growing tubes allow the plant roots to be exposed
to the nutrient solution, which makes this system less forgiving.
The reason being is
that the plant roots
are totally dependent
on the continual flow
of the nutrients for
sustaining plants. This
system requires higher
maintenance and more
technical knowledge.
Aeroponic
In this hydroponics system the roots of the plants are
continuously misted with nutrient solution. Roots are
suspended in midair and receive air constantly. The nutrient mist
consists of 20 per cent
oxygen, which allows
the plan to access a
maximum amount of
oxygen possible, which
results in tremendous
growth of the plant.
As far as hydroponic
systems goes, this one is
not for the beginner as
it’s better suited for the
advanced gardener.
There are a variety of
hydroponic systems available, however, when you’re choosing
it’s best to do your research and know exactly what you want
before buying one.
MY
About the Author:
Anne Harvester has a great deal of experience with indoor
gardening. Hydroponic gardening is the way of the future.
Known to some as “soilless gardening”, hydroponics is proven
to grow plants 20 to 30 per cent faster than their soil grown
counterparts. Article Source: www.Free-Articles-Zone.com