Organic Hydroponics for Beginners

<h1>Organic Hydroponics for Beginners</h1>Author: <a title="Ling Tong" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/ling-tong/61669.htm">Ling Tong</a> Hydroponics is the practice of growing vegetables and plants using mineral nutrient solutions rather than soil. The only difference between regular hydroponics and organic hydroponics is what you decide to feed your plants. Much of the work involved in this type of gardening is learning about it, getting it set up and learning how to make adjustments when they are needed. The food is in the water, which is the key element in hydroponics. The three main things you have to focus on are:
 
- how you can get the food and water to the plants
 
- how to know how much water to give the plants so that they won't drown
 
- how to avoid any serious problems
 
There are many ways of making sure your plants get the food that they need to survive and grow. 
 
1. Watering by Hand. This is an easy method of feeding the plants. You mix vermiculite, perlite and coconut coir together in water. Since none of these contain any nutrients, you will have to add a plant food supplement to the mixture. Coconut coir and vermiculite do retain a lot of the water, so these minerals will help the containers stay moist for a few days. You can also use sphagnum peat, which is the basis for potting soil, in the containers as well and this retains water. 
 
2. Reservoir. The reservoir feeding method is perhaps the easiest way of feeding the plants. Place a layer of about two inches of nutrient solution in a large container and place the containers with the plants in them down into this. You can have small holes in the bottoms of the containers to make sure that the roots grow out into the nutrient solution. Use an aquarium pump to provide constant bubbles in the solution. This will keep the plants from drowning. It is important that you do not allow any light to reach this solution because if it does, algae will develop and this will kill the plants.
 
3. Flood and Drain. This method has also been called the Ebb and Flow Method in which the plants sit in their own container away from the nutrient solution. From time to time, a pump will kick in and will flood the containers with the nutrient solution and then drain it back out again. 
 
4. Drip System. In the drip system, the plants are separate from the nutrient solution as well. A pump pushes the solution through several tubes, which drips onto the plants from the top. This is the hardest method to use because it is difficult to control the drip rate. 
 
Any of these methods will work with organic gardening. The best feeding solution to use is a teaspoon of Maxsea 3-20-20 dissolved in a gallon of water for the first ten days that the plants have roots. After that, you don't have to worry about a high nitrogen content damaging the plants so you can increase it to a solution of 600 ppm of Maxsea16-16-16. You can finish off with two teaspoons of 800 ppm of Maxsea 3-20-20. Flush the crop with plain water before you harvest to improve the taste. About the Author: For more information on <a href="http://www.organic-gardening.net">organic gardening</a>,<a href="http://www.organic-gardening.net/articles/organic-hydroponic-gardening.php">organic hydropoincs</a> and how to have your own <a href="http://www.organic-gardening.net/articles/garden-advantages.php">organic garden</a> visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.Organic-Garden.net">http://www.Organic-Garden.net</a>Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/organic-hydroponics-for-beginners-486837.html" title="Organic Hydroponics for Beginners">Organic Hydroponics for Beginners</a>

Hydroponics is the practice of growing vegetables and plants using mineral nutrient solutions rather than soil. The only difference between regular hydroponics and organic hydroponics is what you decide to feed your plants. Much of the work involved in this type of gardening is learning about it, getting it set up and learning how to make adjustments when they are needed. The food is in the water, which is the key element in hydroponics. The three main things you have to focus on are:

- how you can get the food and water to the plants

- how to know how much water to give the plants so that they won't drown

- how to avoid any serious problems

There are many ways of making sure your plants get the food that they need to survive and grow.

1. Watering by Hand. This is an easy method of feeding the plants. You mix vermiculite, perlite and coconut coir together in water. Since none of these contain any nutrients, you will have to add a plant food supplement to the mixture. Coconut coir and vermiculite do retain a lot of the water, so these minerals will help the containers stay moist for a few days. You can also use sphagnum peat, which is the basis for potting soil, in the containers as well and this retains water.

2. Reservoir. The reservoir feeding method is perhaps the easiest way of feeding the plants. Place a layer of about two inches of nutrient solution in a large container and place the containers with the plants in them down into this. You can have small holes in the bottoms of the containers to make sure that the roots grow out into the nutrient solution. Use an aquarium pump to provide constant bubbles in the solution. This will keep the plants from drowning. It is important that you do not allow any light to reach this solution because if it does, algae will develop and this will kill the plants.

3. Flood and Drain. This method has also been called the Ebb and Flow Method in which the plants sit in their own container away from the nutrient solution. From time to time, a pump will kick in and will flood the containers with the nutrient solution and then drain it back out again.

4. Drip System. In the drip system, the plants are separate from the nutrient solution as well. A pump pushes the solution through several tubes, which drips onto the plants from the top. This is the hardest method to use because it is difficult to control the drip rate.

Any of these methods will work with organic gardening. The best feeding solution to use is a teaspoon of Maxsea 3-20-20 dissolved in a gallon of water for the first ten days that the plants have roots. After that, you don't have to worry about a high nitrogen content damaging the plants so you can increase it to a solution of 600 ppm of Maxsea16-16-16. You can finish off with two teaspoons of 800 ppm of Maxsea 3-20-20. Flush the crop with plain water before you harvest to improve the taste.

For more information on organic gardening,organic hydropoincs and how to have your own organic garden visit http://www.Organic-Garden.net

Rate this Article:

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Related Articles
Related Q&A

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/organic-hydroponics-for-beginners-486837.html

Article Tags: Gardening, Organic, Hydropoincs

Latest Gardening Articles
More from Ling Tong

6 Essential Outdoor Furniture Items

By: Matt Jackson (bullz) | 09/07/2009
Wicker outdoor furniture has advanced a lot since the pieces that we most often associate with our grandparents. Stylish and elegant pieces make the perfect addition to a conservatory or sun room and their strength, durability, and weather resistance makes them the ideal choice for the patio, decking, or garden. Whether you’re looking for wicker furniture for indoors or garden furniture for outdoors, modern wicker furniture has everything you need and more.

Patio Furniture For Your Garden

By: Matt Jackson (bullz) | 09/07/2009
There are many different styles, types, and designs of patio furniture available. Ranging from the inexpensive but typically short lived and even flimsy plastic furniture, to the natural looking but heavy and potentially weather damaged natural materials you really do have a massive choice ahead of you when shopping for patio furniture or outdoor furniture of any description.

Modern Patio Furniture Designs

By: Matt Jackson (bullz) | 09/07/2009
Choosing patio furniture means finding a design you like but also selecting items that will last for years while continuing to look great throughout that period. As well as features that you would look for in any furniture, such as high quality materials and a resistance to regular use, you should also consider the furniture’s ability to withstand the elements.

Wicker Garden Furniture Care Tips

By: Matt Jackson (bullz) | 09/07/2009
Wicker garden furniture provides a great look for use in the garden or indoors. Whether you’re shopping for patio furniture, conservatory sofa sets, or lounge chairs, you should be sure that you buy high quality wicker furniture because it is stronger and less likely to fade or corrode.

6 Reasons To Choose Modern Wicker Outdoor Furniture

By: Matt Jackson (bullz) | 09/07/2009
Modern wicker furniture offers great looking designs as well as easy maintenance and weather- and wear-resistance. A variety of different items including lounge chairs, patio dining sets, and even dog beds are made from synthetic wicker that is scratch proof and highly durable and there are even sofa sets and wicker furniture sets that look equally good indoors as they do outdoors. Here are 6 reasons to choose wicker when you shop for your new garden furniture.

Wicker Garden Furniture – Good Looks And Easy Maintenance

By: Matt Jackson (bullz) | 09/07/2009
Wicker garden furniture has become one of the most popular choices in outdoor furniture and in furniture for the conservatory or similar indoor spaces. While synthetic wicker is not a natural material, it offers the same beautiful and natural looks but with a number of key benefits – not least, the fact that it is much easier to care for.

Why Choose Wicker Patio Furniture?

By: Matt Jackson (bullz) | 09/07/2009
Wicker patio furniture has advanced dramatically in the last few years and there is now a great range of elegant and stunning designs. Wicker garden furniture made from synthetic material offers the natural look of rattan wicker but with added strength, durability, flexibility, and resistance to the weather and regular use. You can leave your wicker patio furniture set outside throughout the year or you can use it indoors in the conservatory or other rooms in the home.

Garden Furniture – Durable And Weather Proof

By: Matt Jackson (bullz) | 09/07/2009
Choosing the most appropriate garden furniture not only means finding the best looking designs and the most functional pieces of furniture, it also means finding strong and durable furniture that will last for several years. While plastic furniture and pieces made from other materials may wear with regular use or become discoloured or corroded following exposure to the elements, modern wicker outdoor furniture is able to cope with virtually everything you and the weather can throw at it.

Can You Recognize the Signs of a Cheating Girlfriend?

By: Ling Tong | 29/11/2008 | Weddings
While statistics on infidelity tell us that men are the main culprits for cheating, the fact is that women are just as guilty of cheating as men. A woman seems to be more devious in being able to keep their affairs secret, so much so that their best friends don’t even know about it.

Soaps and Cleaners on a Budget

By: Ling Tong | 29/11/2008 | Finance
Regardless of how tight your budget is, there’s no need to go without soap and detergents. In fact, there are a number of alternatives to commercial soaps that are cheaper and healthier for you and your family.

What to Look for in a Loan

By: Ling Tong | 29/11/2008 | Finance
Do you need financing for personal or business reasons? Do you plan on buying a home or an automobile sometime in the near future? If you said 'yes' to either of these questions, chances are you will be looking for a loan.

Why Visit Europe

By: Ling Tong | 19/11/2008 | Destinations
Most Americans never leave their native country during their lifetimes. Most often, the reason is largely financial. Traveling outside the country is much more expensive than traveling within the United States. Airfare costs more, lodging can often cost more, and there just seem to be more costs here and there associated with traveling abroad.

Why Play Low-stakes Poker

By: Ling Tong | 19/11/2008 | Card Games
When people think of poker, they often think of high-stakes games, such as the World Series of Poker. Images of people winning millions of dollars in tournaments or betting thousands of dollars on a bluff come to mind.

Important Mutual Fund Concepts

By: Ling Tong | 19/11/2008 | Investing
Are you thinking about investing in the stock market? If you are, it is highly likely that you are considering investing in a mutual fund. A mutual fund gives you stock market exposure, diversification, and the professional selections of a seasoned stock picker.

Various Ways to Borrow Money

By: Ling Tong | 19/11/2008 | Loans
Every now and then, we find ourselves in a temporary cash bind and need to borrow some money. Sometimes, it is business related, whereas other times it is personal. Certain methods of borrowing money are cheaper, meaning you pay a lower interest rate and/or loan fees.

Risk Versus Reward of Investments

By: Ling Tong | 19/11/2008 | Investing
If you have some extra cash and are looking to invest your money, the expected amount you can earn is often the result of the amount of risk you take with your money. If you want a guaranteed return, such as a government bond or a bank CD, then the return will often be fairly low but you will also not have very much risk.