Whether you are starting up, experimenting with a new technique or technological break-through, or researching the science of hydroponics, there are several common questions which you may find yourself asking along the way.
- What is ‘aeroponics’ and is it better than ‘hydroponics’?
- What is ‘aeroponics’ and is it better than ‘hydroponics’?
Aeroponics is the technique of growing plants in an air or mist environment. Some people consider aeroponics to be a solution culture hydroponics technique as it relies upon the supply of water and nutrients through sprays or mists. While aeroponics may not be suitable for some plants, it is becoming more popular as water supplies become scarce.
- Do I need a grow-room or grow-box?
- Do I need a grow-room or grow-box?
One of the accessories available for purchase from most good hydroponics hardware suppliers is a self-assembly grow-room tent. If you are interested in growing a larger number of plants than can be contained in a cupboard or enclosed space, grow-rooms or grow-boxes are a good alternative. They allow the climate to be controlled and thus guarantee the success of the crop.
- What sort of irrigation should I use?
- What sort of irrigation should I use?
If you are using a medium culture growing technique you will need to consider whether to use sub-irrigation or top irrigation to maintain the flow of water and nutrients to your plants. Ultimately the irrigation you choose should be determined by the water absorption capacity of the medium you are growing in – in other words, if the medium absorbs all the water and nutrients, sub-irrigation is preferable as it guarantees the water gets to the roots of the plant and is not absorbed by the medium.
- What sort of containers should I use?
- What sort of containers should I use?
Depending on the scale of your enterprise you may choose to use plastic tubing or containers, or glass jars. Which ever you decide upon, it is important to note that the containers need to exclude light from reaching the roots, solution, and medium – if light does get through, there is a possibility for algae growth in the solution, which would thereby destroy the crop.