Introduction to Hydroponics

Maggie Fitzpatrick

September 6th, 2018

What is hydroponics?

Soilless Agriculture

Back to botany! What do plants need?

• Light

• Nutrients/Oxygen

• Water

What is hydroponics?

• Water culture systems –• Nutrient film techniques-- trough or tube as the container through

which a constant, thin film of nutrient solution flows

• Aeroponics- suspended plants, nutrient mist delivered by vaporizer

• Aeration method – aquarium with tray, roots grow down into solution, inert material supports plants (stem)

• Aggregate Systems –• Inert material around roots, flood and drain OR tickle feed method.

• Tube culture!

Nutrient Film

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Publication

426 / 426-084

Home Hydroponics

Aeroponics

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Publication

426 / 426-084

Home Hydroponics

Aeration

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Publication

426 / 426-084

Home Hydroponics

Aggregate Systems

Use some inert sterile (or serializable material) rockwool, clay pebbles, gravel, perlite, vermiculite, sand, or foam chips.

To support the root system and plants.

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Publication

426 / 426-084

Home Hydroponics

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Publication

426 / 426-084

Home Hydroponics

• Pull photo from Urban Ag Notes? And cite.

Benefits and challenges hydroponics?

From: http://cityfarmer.info/

Benefits and challenges hydroponics?

How to, hydroponics?

• Home Hydroponics • http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-084/426-084.html

• https://web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/downloads/69520.pdf

• Garden Plan--same as soil garden• What System will they use? Give resources to do homework.

• Garden Site Selection (window, shipping container, warehouse, sky scraper building)• Light (supplemental)

• Temp

• Air

• Nutrients/oxygen

What is aquaculture? Aquaponics?

Aquaculture is fish farming or fish production. Warner’s aquaculture systems allow for water to recirculate, drain waste and keep fish growing. With bacteria monitored continuously fish production happens at the highest water purity levels.

Combining the aquaculture and the hydroponics systems results in a mutually-symbiotic and sustainable system known as aquaponics.

https://nyc.cce.cornell.edu/hydroponicsaquaponics/

OSU and Local Resources…

• OSU has workshops and degree specializations• OADRC, Wooster – holds workshops, watch out urban ag newsletter for

announcements

• South Centers, Piketon – Aquaculture boot camp

• Ridall Green Partnership

• Local Examples: Green City Growers and Great Lakes Growers (visitors not welcome)

National Resources…

• Hydroponic Society of America, Contact; Bill Graham, 569 E Evelyn Ave. Mountain View, CA 94041, 1-(650) 968-4070.

• http://www.hydroponicsocietyofamerica.org/

• The Hydroponic Society of America is a 501c3 non-profit organization formed in 1976 in Berkeley, CA. Our extensive experience is in the disciplines of lighting, engineering, controlled environment agriculture, hydroponics, and more. The HSA has a rich history of being involved with leading industry scientists and groups like NASA, the FFA, 4H and a number other national and international organizations. The Hydroponic Society of America works with some of the leading plant scientists and controlled environment application engineers in the industry.

Suggested Reading

Grow More Nutritious Vegetables Without Soil, James D. Taylor, Santa Anna, Calif.: Parkside Press Publishing Co., 1983.

Home Hydroponics...and how to do it!, Lem Jones, New York, N.Y.: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1977.

Hydroponic Food Production, 4th ed., Dr. Howard Resh, Santa Barbara, Calif.: Woodbridge Press, 1989.

Hydroponics for the Home Gardener, Stewart Kenyon, Toronto, Ont., Canada: Van Nostrand Reinhold Ltd., 1979.