Benefits of Hydroponic Cultivation

Benefits of Hydroponic Cultivation

Hydroponic is a soilless cultivation using water mixed with completely soluble nutrients, and various types of substrates [1].  There are a wide variety of soilless growing systems available to individuals and for commercial stage [1]. 

Here are some benefits of growing plants hydroponically:

a.                Water use is more efficient, recirculating [2][3][5]

b.               Environmental contamination limited - the lack of herbicides and pesticides [2][3][5]

c.                Intensive production in cultivation space [2][3][5]
d.               Taste is superior, quality, appearance, uniformity, and shelf life of hydroponic vegetables  is longer [5]

e.                Increase in production [2][4], decrease in production costs such as labour and materials [4]

f.                Crops can be produced all year round [5]

References:

1.  Raviv, M., and Lieth, J. H. (2008). Significance of Soilless Culture in Agriculture. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science. doi: 10.1016/b978-044452975-6.50003-4

2.  Schnitzler, W.H. (2013). Urban hydroponics for green and clean cities and for food security. Acta Hortic. 1004, 13-26
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.1004.1
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.1004.1

3.  Treftz, C. and Omaye, S. (2016), "Hydroponics: potential for augmenting sustainable food production in non-arable regions", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 46 No. 5, pp. 672-684. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-10-2015-0118

4.  Hansen, R. (1999). Chrysanthemums grown in hydroponics; toward development of a cost effective, automated production system. Acta Hortic. 481, 297–304. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.1999.481.32

5.  Pak. J. Agri., Agril. Engg., Vet. Sc. 22 (2) 2006.  http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.514.4323&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Nutrient Film Hydroponic Set - Up:

Nutrient Film Hydroponic Set - Up:

The system we will be looking at today is what we call a nutrient film set up. This set up is classified as a recirculating system, as the pants root system is constantly in contact with a flow of nutrient water and recycles runoff water back into its reservoir. The set up pictured above is great for those living in tight living spaces such as small town houses or apartments. This particular set up can be hung up against a wall, there for minimising the space in which it takes up. 

The system is made up of a few different components. The first is a set of four PVC pipes that are stacked on top of each other, much like shelvings for books. These PVC pipes are connected together through metal plates and pillars that have been drilled and screwed into a metal frame. Each PVC pipe (in the pictured set up) holds up too 20 small pots (80 in the whole system). These slots are cut out before hand. A lot of growers view this system as one of the most efficient and low maintenance systems in hydroponics. Once you've set up your preferred frame size, its now time to add in the other components. One of the most important things with this system is selecting a water pump that will cover all your needs. The purpose of the water pump itself is to pump water, which is stored in the systems reservoir tank, to the PVC pipes. The water pumped from the reservoir will trickle in at a steady pace into the PVC piping. Its also important to note that the direct tubing from the water pump in the reservoir should be connected to the top PVC pipe in the system. We do this because the system utilizes gravity, in the sense that the water will reach the end of the top PVC piping and flow down to the next one. The PVC pipes all have an additional length of tubing connecting it to the PVC pipe below it. When the nutrient solution reaches the bottom (last) PVC pipe it will then lead back into the reservoir itself, therefore giving you a recycling system, which can be very cost efficient. Depending on the size of your grow, you should aim to change your nutrient solution every one - two weeks, ensuring the solution is not getting diluted or contaminated. 

DIVING INTO GROWING MEDIUMS

Introduction into Growing Mediums:

Choosing what medium to grow in when using a hydroponic set up is one of the most important things to get right. Growing mediums range from things like coco peat, rock wool and clay balls. We also have to take things like medium pH and medium maintenance when choosing our growing medium.


Expanded Clay Balls:

Expanded light weight clay balls are one of, if not, the most popular choice of growing mediums used today by small and commercial growers due to its ease of use and cost efficiency. These clay balls are processed at a very high temperature that produces a highly porous and highly effective growing medium. It's also important to note that clay balls are pH neutral, non-degradable and release almost no additional nutrients into your water solution. Its circular (spherical) shape provides a great balance of water and oxygen for your plant. Clay balls are also reusable, simply rinse and reuse, which is why a lot of growers opt for it as their growing medium.


Coco Peat/Coconut Fibre: 

Coco peat, like clay balls, is one of the most popular growing mediums out there on the market for growers to use. Coco peat is made from discarded coconut husks (the brown outer layer of the coconut) and is viewed as the most environmentally friendly growing mediums in hydroponics. Some advantages with growing with coco peat include; pH neutral growing medium, anti fungal, great moisture retention, slow to decompose and provides great aeration for your plants root system. Coco peat also mixes great with other mediums and is commonly mixed in with perlite or vermiculite.


Perlite and Vermiculite:

Perlite and Vermiculite are not usually used own their own (although you can) instead many growers use these two porous rocks as mixers or fillers in other growing mediums like coco peat and clay balls. Both are very similar to one another; both are composed of minerals that are synthesized under a high heating process that produces a highly porous, pH neutral and water and oxygen retentive growing medium. It's also important to note that vermiculite does retain water better than perlite does.


Rock wool:

Rock-wool is another popular growing medium used by all growers. Rock wool is made from granite or limestone which is heated, melted, spun and stretched to for long thing fibres. Rock wool is often used for germinating seeds but can also be used through out a plants full cycle. Like the previously mention growing mediums Rock wool is highly porous, sterile, easy to use and provides great oxygenation to your plants root system. Some disadvantages to using rock wool include; non degradable growing medium, and is naturally high in its pH level, which requires soaking in a neutral or lower pH tested water solution before using in your hydroponic set up.


Oasis Cubes (for Germination):

Oasis cubes are normally found attached together, giving growers the ability to germinate multiple seeds at one time in the same space. In recent years a lot of growers have made the switch from rock wool to oasis cubes, although they both provide the same elements in which your plant will grow in. Oasis cubes are highly porous, provide great oxygenation for root systems. Because of their open cell structure, oasis cubes can absorb air and water but are not as susceptible to becoming waterlogged like rock wool. Another advantage over rock wool is the pH neutral component of oasis cubes which does not require pre soaking.

UNDERSTANDING PLANT CYCLES

Germinating Seeds:

All plant life starts as seeds. Each individual seed contains what we call a embryo. There are also two types of seeds that we can commonly find at your local nursery. The first type of seed found is called a dicot while the other is named monocots. An example of a dicot would be a bean seed as it houses something called a cotyledons in addition to the embryo itself. The function of the cotyledons is to provide the young seedling with food for the first few days. Cotyledons also refer to the first two leaves that sprout out of the ground during germination. Monocots only have one cotyledon as appose to two. A corn seed is an example of a Monocat seed. Both seeds have the beginnings of a root system. The hard shiny outer layer is called the seed coat and acts as a protective layer for the embryo inside. It is important to note that if your storing seeds for future grows to keep them in a dark, dry and cold storage place.

The key components to germinating seeds falls down to two things; warmth and moisture. Some seeds also require light to start the germination process but this is not the case of all seeds, in fact in some seeds light can actually have a decremental affect on the seeds germination process. After planting your seed in your medium, lightly soak the medium with either plain water or a very diluted nutrient solution. This will help the seed swell up and split its outer layer and allows for the cotyledons to emerge. Monocots have harder seed coats that do not split, but stay in one piece. After a few days of soaking and swelling the stem or hypocotyl will extend itself out of its medium with its two cotyledons (seed leaves). This is called sprouting. At the other end of the plant, its roots push down and search for nutrients being stored in your medium. A few days later as the stem of the plant grows, the cotyledons fall off and the first true leafs of your plants will take its place.

Growth and flowering: 

In order for a plant to grow and develop it must produce its own food through a process called photosynthesis. All plants contain something we call chloroplast, this converts energy from sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into sugars, which then acts as a food source for the plant itself. Plants store their food within the root system and its stems. As the plant develops and grows taller, its root system expands deeper and deeper while also developing root hairs (extensions of the roots themselves) in order to absorb water and nutrients at a quicker rate. The stem of the plant keeps on extending itself out to its source of light, stretching and growing with each new day. Sugars and starches are consistently changed into energy used to promote growth through out the plants full cycle. As the plant nears the end of its cycle, you'll notice bud (flower) sites through the ends of its branches and through out its stem system. Some plants can take a few weeks to fully flower while others can take up to a year to fully develop.

ISABELLA'S FORMULA - LOCALLY PRODUCED SINGLE PART GROW AND BLOOM NUTRIENTS

Having a good knowledge base on how nutrient solutions and nutrient additives work together will take you a long way when growing crops in a hydroponic set up. The photos above showcase a general idea as to which nutrients you should be pairing up together, obviously growers can choose from a number of combinations from the market available but today we will be focusing on our single part nutrient solutions and additives that can be easily found here in Perth while also being cost efficient without cutting any corners. 

Pictured above is our very own locally produced nutrient solution, Isabella's Hydro Plant Food (Single Part Grow), which you can find at our shop in Wanneroo. This single part grow solution aims to provide growers with an easy to use nutrient solution while delivering high quality essential elements like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Dosage is straight forward; Use 2.5ml per litre for seedlings and cuttings, 5ml per litre for young plants and 10ml per litre for large sized plants. Our recommended pH level for our single part nutrient solution is 6.0 - 6.3 for young plants and seedlings and 6.3 - 6.5 in medium to large plants. Our single part nutrient solution also houses elements like calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, borax and sulphur to aid and assist in plant development and growth. 

Along with our single part grow solution we also produce our very own single part bloom solution that will assist your grow at your plants last few weeks. Our Isabella's Hydro Plant Food Single Part Bloom solution helps transition your plant from its vegetative (grow) stage too its flower (bloom) stage by reducing the amount of nitrogen (essential to early root, stem and leaf development) and increasing the amount of phosphorus and potassium (essential to flower production, flower density, and flowering sites) which maximises crop yield and quality. Dosages, again, are quite straight forward; Simply use 5ml per litre for plants that are still in their early stages of flowering, while in its later stages, increase the dosage too 10ml per litre. Try and keep pH levels between 6.0 - 6.3 in younger plants while maintaining a pH level of 6.3 - 6.5 for more mature plants. Its also important to note that solutions in your reservoir should be changed every 7 days. 

INTRODUCTION INTO NUTRIENTS

Macronutrients:

Macronutrients are our elements in which healthy plants require large amounts of to grow. The main macronutrients are magnesium, sulfur, oxygen, phosphorus, carbon, hydrogen, potassium, calcium and nitrogen. Each element supplies the plant with an important source of overall nutrients and each must be considered individually in terms of its application to your grow at a certain stage in the plants cycle.

Micronutrients:

On the other side of the scale, micronutrients are elements that plants need in smaller quantities than macronutrients. These elements are cobalt, iron, chlorine, zinc, molybdenum, manganese, boron and copper. Micronutrients support and aid plant growth and development and add to the overall need of the plant. Micronutrients are commonly used where plants are showing a deficiency in nutrients.  

Understanding the ‘grow’ and ‘bloom’ cycles:

Grow:

The grow cycle of a plant refers to the very early development of things like a plants root system, main stem, and leafs. The early stage of a plants growth cycle is seen as the most crucial part of any grow. Your treatment of your plant with in the first 2 – 4 weeks will be crucial to its development down the road. Nitrogen is a crucial macronutrient in this stage of the cycle, as it is responsible for things like root development and early leaf and stem development. This is why a lot of grow nutrients will house a higher ratio of nitrogen in their solutions then other macronutrients like potassium and phosphorus.

Bloom:

The bloom cycle refers to the mid too end stages of a plants growth cycle. This is the stage in which we get our plants to show their flowers. A plants bloom cycle is often shorter than its grow cycle and can last up to 3 – 4 weeks depending on what plant you are growing. During the bloom stage plants require a higher dosage of phosphorus than the other macronutrients. At this stage in the plants cycle, leaf and stem development is not prioritized by growers and nitrogen levels are reduced, and phosphorus is increased to help the plant transition from its grow to bloom stage.

Understanding NPK ratios:

NPK refers to the 3 main macronutrients required in heightened amounts than other elements. The N stands for Nitrogen while, P refers to phosphorus and K referring to Potassium. While looking through different nutrient solutions you may come across number ratios like 7 – 9 – 5 or 10 – 14 – 8. This simple means that your plant will is receiving a nutrient solution that has 7% nitrogen, 9% phosphorus and 5% potassium or 10% nitrogen, 14% phosphorus and 8% potassium. This will help you determine which solution is best fitted to your plant and where it is in its plant cycle.  

Single Part Nutrients:

Most places would recommend single part nutrients for those just starting to grow in hydroponics, or those looking for a cheap, low maintenance and low risk option. A lot of commercial growers utilize single part nutrients due to these factors, which when growing in large quantities is important to maintain consistency and quality through all your crops and grows. Single part nutrients are simple to use. Shake the bottle thoroughly and mix into your water until you achieve the required PPM (Parts Per Million).

Two or Three Part Nutrients:

Nutrient solutions for both grow and bloom cycles can also be found in two or three part solutions. For example, a lot of companies will have grow part A and B, or Bloom part A and B. The need to split the nutrient solutions into two parts allows manufacturers the ability to separate volatile elements and produce nutrients at a higher concentration. This ultimately means that the grower uses less product in their nutrient solution as compared to those using a single part nutrient solution. Utilizing a two part nutrient solution requires accurate readings when mixing into your reservoir and is often suited too more advanced growers than those just starting out.