Transcript Hydroponics - Riverside High School

What are plant needs

Water
Sunlight
Air
Nutrients (usually soil)
Anchorage (root
system)
Terms
Hydroponics:

Growing of plants in a solutions of nutrients,
without soil
What is used as a growing media when soil isn’t
present?
- Gravel
-Rockwool
- Sand
-Styrofoam
Vermiculite - Anything Inert!
Why have Hydroponics?

Q. Why have scientists and
horticulturists
experimented with
different methods of
hydroponics?
A. It is a simple fact that some
people cannot grow in the
soil in their area (if there is
even any soil at all).
General Facts

Any plant can be grown in hydroponics.
Almost any system can achieve
acceptable growth.
Small scale hydroponics is different to
large scale.
General Facts

Hydroponics contributes to understanding
plant growth.
Very few commercial producers.
Hydroponic Requirements

Best possible light
50% or more humidity
Day temp = 75 deg.
Night temp = 65 deg.
Correct pH level – 6.5-7.0
Other Requirements

All essential elements needed
The larger the particle size of
substrate the more watering
needed.
Commercial Production

Minimum of 100,000 sq ft
Thousands of plants needed
Will be able to tell conditions of water by
looking at the plants
Advantages of
Hydroponics

 Reduced land cost
 More control over growing
environment
 Reduced pesticide use
 Year-round supply
 Alternative to urban sprawl
 Soil has bacteria which may lead to
problems
Disadvantages of Hydroponics

Start-up costs
Management
Labor requirements
ABOUT NUTRIENTS
In the soil, organic
material is broken
down to release the
nutrients and minerals.
There are 17 mineral
elements present that
are essential to plant
growth.
You need to be sure to
give the plants the right
amount of soluble
nutrients for plants
success in growth.
WHAT IS ROCKWOOL?
 Rockwool is made from
rock which has been
melted and spun into
fibrous cubes.
 Rockwool is a form of
Perlite in which the
pebbles or rocks anchor
the plant down so they
don’t just float up
above the water.
 Rockwool is the most
popular medium for
germination seeds
hydroponically.
AGGREGATE
Aggregate helps to
support the roots.
Water and nutrients
cling to it
Sand can be used as
an aggregate
HYDROPONIC SYSTMES
HYDROPONIC SYSTEMS
 Aeroponics
Nutrient Film System
PROPAGATION
There are three
different methods to
propagation.
They are seed
germination, rooting
stem cuttings, and
tissue culture.
Stem cuttings from
most types of plants
can be rooted in 714 days.