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To me, hydroponics is an art that takes time to understand and is a never ending learning experience. I play guitar (like Jimmy Hendrix!, "I wish") which took me years to learn and many days my fingers hurt and I'm still learning. For me, hydroponics is so similar and addicting. You can still get your hands dirty and you can still harness the power of the sun instead of indoor lighting.
Anyway, before you start your project, there are some things you need to consider. What do you want to grow? how much space do you have And what can you afford?
You'll need to spend some hard-earned cash to get started, but prices vary depending on the type of system you choose.
Remember that hydroponics is about using inert media and not soil. So let's start with the media.
What medium?
Rockwool, Coco Coir, Pearlite, Vermiculite, Clay Pebbles (Hydroton) to name a few!
What system? (Just to name popular techniques)
NFT System (Nutrition Film Technique)
This is where the nutrient is pumped onto a spreading mat that tapers down into the tank and then back up. Plants sit on a spreading mat in 3-4" mineral wool cubes and receive as much nutrients as they need.
Flood & Drain (Ebb & Flow)
This is where the nutrient reservoir on the timer starts and then pumps into the second pot (Brain Pot) which gravity feeds the individual pots of your plants. The "Brian Pot" then pumps nutrients back into the reservoir and draws fresh air into the root zone. This system is good for clay pebbles.
DWC (Deep Water Culture)
This is where the plants are seated in mesh pots over a nutrient tank that has an air stone that bubbles up and sprays the suspended roots with nutrients.
Drip system
This system is where a timer triggers feeding from a nutrient reservoir and pumps nutrients to the plants using a thin "spaghetti tube" that has emitters attached to the ends. This then delivers a controlled amount of nutrients to the base of the plant.
Seeds or cuttings
The seeds give the grower the ability to play around with different plant varieties of their choice and find what works for them. Cuttings will speed up your crop circle and are a very effective method of producing plants that are almost perfect replicas of the mothers there. You should always take cuttings from your best, healthiest and strongest plants!
Lighting
Your choice of lights is ultimately determined by the type of plants you grow and the location of your indoor garden. How low is your ceiling height? How many plants? Will heat be a problem? Is electricity a concern? etc. There are many factors to consider.
Metal Halide (HID)
The blue light spectrum is great for promoting leaf growth. It also helps keep the plant nice and compact. Many may find that the plants in their hydroponic garden are becoming leggy as they strive for light, blue light helps combat this. This is the best type of hydroponic system light for a primary light source. The average metal halide light provides around ten thousand hours of good light. After that, it starts emitting less and less light. The best way to light a hydroponic system seems to be a combination of blue and red-orange light to keep the plants compact and blooming.
High Pressure Sodium (HPS)
High pressure sodium lights producing an orange-red spectrum last approximately eighteen thousand hours of use. It is best for flowering plants. The orange-red light stimulates plant hormones, which contributes to more flowering in the plant. Be careful when placing a young plant under red-orange light. It can grow very quickly, but you will only see vertical growth and it will become leggy and skinny. The reason for this is the lack of blue light spectrum available to the new plant. The best way to light a hydroponic system seems to be a combination of blue and red-orange light to keep the plants compact and blooming.
CFL (Compact Fluorescent)
Compact fluorescent lamps are the ideal lighting system for starting seeds or cuttings. They can even be used throughout your growing season. With this type of lighting you save on electricity and they do not produce as much heat as high intensity discharge lamps. Mandatory equipment for growers of seeds or cuttings.
In Short plants can grow at an amazing rate and develop optimal levels of appearance, yield and flavor when grown hydroponically. In half the space and half the time, you can grow about two to ten times the yield.
So go ahead, give it a go, you'll enjoy it immensely!
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