Posts Tagged ‘Hydroponic Articles’

Nitrogen Deficiency

Use Calcium Nitrate or Potassium Nitrate added to the nutrient solution at 20 to 50 ppm Nitrogen

Phosphorus Deficiency

Monopotassium Phosphate is the best Phosphorus source. Add 10 to 20 ppm

Potassium Deficiency

Use Potassium Nitrate or Potassium Sulphate. Add 50 ppm to the nutrient solution and observe

Calcium Deficiency

Use Clacium Nitrate. Add 50 ppm Calcium and observe

Magnesium Deficiency

Use Magnesium Sulphate – Add 20 ppm of Magnesium

Sulphur Deficiency

This is uncommon, but add Potassium Sulphate or Magnesium Sulphate

Trace Elements

The trace elements such as Iron, zinc, copper and manganese etc can usually be rectified by upping the amount of trace mix in your nutrient solution. Alternatively a good foliar feed with a few drops of wetting agent can be used in conjunction with your normal dosing.
Use foliar feeds just after lights out (or in the late afternoon if growing in natural sunlight)
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The required chemicals can be bought from our eShop
For more information on spotting the signs of Nutrient deficiency – search here

The simplest hydroponic grow system uses a form of hydroponics called hydroculture.

It has also been called Passive Hydroponics and Pot Culture.

The great thing about hydroculture is that it does not require expensive equipment and you do not need a science degree to be able to use and understand it.

Some types of hydroponic grow system are quite complex and require pumps and that sort of thing to convey water to the plants. In hydroculture nothing more complicated than capillary action is used to get the water or water and nutrient to the plants. The plant is potted in an inert media. This could be any one of a number of materials which include Rockwool, Perlite, Vermiculite or Leca. Leca stands for “Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate” These are made from clay which has been fired at very high temperatures leaving very porous and lightweight pebbles which are capable of absorbing a considerable amount of water.

The pot with its inert media is placed inside a second pot which contains water. Capillary action draws water up through the inert media to the plants roots. The principle of it couldn’t be much simpler!

PurLec is a company who have refined their hydroponic grow system and which is based on hydroculture to take out all the guesswork and uncertainty from growing in the home.

The PurLec system has 5  key components:-

1) The Culture Pot

This is a specially designed plant pot which not only holds the plant and the inert media, but is designed to hold a water level indicator. It also has slots in the side of the pot so that as the water is used air is allowed in which ensures that oxygen reaches the plant roots.

2) The Water Level Indicator

This is a device which looks a bit like a thermometer but enables the water level to be seen at a glance.

3) The Outer Pot

This is both decorative and contains the water supply for the plant

4) PurLec Nutrient

This is a slow release fertiliser which has been designed for growing without soil. It contains all the essential nutrients including trace elements which are released throughout the growing season at a controlled rate

5) Inert Media

The PurLec system uses a Leca product called Hydroton. This has a high capacity for water absorption and the shape of the pebbles ensures good air circulation to enable the roots to receive their essential oxygen supply.

The PurLec Hydroponic Grow System takes all the guesswork out of both feeding and watering.

For more information on Purlec the Purlec Hydroponic Grow System and PurLec hydroculture visit:-

www.purlec.co.uk

1. Check nutrient conductivity (EC) – Is it too low? If so, adjust it accordingly
2. Check the pH – Is it between 5.8 and 6.2? If not adjust it using a pH UP or pH DOWN solution.
3. Is the nutrient solution aerated? – Are you using an airstone or waterfall technique? If not, address any problems
4. What is the solution and/or substrate temperature – Is it correct for proper root function?
5. Are roots pathogen and disease free? – They should be white and alive
6. Is the nutrient solution correct for the type of crop and the hydroponic grow system in use? – Total loss nutrients are different from recirculating hydroponic grow system solutions, even for the same crop.
7. How long has the nutrient solution been in use? – Nutrients in the solution get used up at different rates, this in turn can stop other nutrients becoming available to the plant – Sound like you? – Dump the tank
8. Is the EC due to salt build up at the expense of nutrients?
9. Is the humidity at an acceptable level?
10. The problems may be nutritional – Check for deficiency symptoms

Why do plants need light?

Plants absorb certain essential elements through their roots and leaves which they convert into carbohydrates. This is their ‘food’ source which they need in order to survive and grow.

To convert the nutrients into carbohydrates requires energy and plants use light energy to do this.

Plants contain a substance called chlorophyll which absorbs light and provides the energy. Chlorophyll is green in colour and this is what makes most plants green.

The process of turning light into energy is called photosynthesis.

In the natural world light comes from the sun but when growing plants in artificial conditions and if maximum yields from crops are required as in hydroponic systems then hydroponic lights are required.

Hydroponic lights are different from ordinary lights because they provide light at different ends of the spectrum depending on the stage of a plants growth.

In the earlier stages of growth – sometimes called the vegative stage plants require light from the blue end of the spectrum but in later stages – the bloom stage they require light from the red end of the spectrum. Hydroponic lights are available to suit these different requirements

More and more people are using hydroponic techniques for growing plants indoors. Hydroponics systems have been used for many years by commercial growers but their systems can be complicated and require a lot of equipment.

Nowadays home hydroponics systems are a very practical option and offer many advantages over growing in soil or ordinary compost.

There are a number of techniques that can be used but the simplest of all is usually referred to as hydroculture. The system uses a Purlec Pot which actually consists of two pots, an inner and an outer. The inner pot is filled with an inert planting media and the outer pot contains water and nutrient. Capillary action draws water and nutrient up into the planting media where it is available for the plant. There is a third part to the Purlec pot – a water indicator which shows the amount of water in the outer pot. This means that it is easy to see if water is required but the bigger danger – too much water – can be eliminated.

The system is ideal for home hydroponics whether being used by beginner or expert, whether it is used for growing plants in the living room or herbs on the windowsill. Purlec pots are a low cost and practical answer to home hydroponics systems.

Hydroponics – A taste of the Future

In the final part to Valcent products introduction to VertiCrop™ we see how it can be adapted to a wide range of locations from traditional greenhouses to the increasingly popular poly tunnel. They also introduce their “warehouse concept” allowing the use of VertiCrop™ in extreme climates while growing under artificial light. They also hint at the future possibility of a home hydroponics unit….

Global application of Hydroponics

Valcent product see the VertiCrop™ system as having a wide Global appeal, whether that’s in “Eco” projects looking into different or new ways of producing food using Hydroponics as a sustainable means, or a government looking to secure it’s food supply for the future.
Either way it seems that ready to prove that hydroponics is a valid way of feeding the world long term.

Cutting food miles with Hydroponics

By installing the VertiCrop™ system at Paignton zoo Valcent products have managed to not only cut down the food miles for their animal feed they have created a new attraction with the custom built glass house and VertiCrop™ hydroponic unit inside. All the while being able to monitor the quality of their produce.

A Hydroponic future

In part 2 of Valcent Products introduction to the VertiCrop™ hydroponic system, you’ll hear of how it may be implemented in any climate, hot or cold with the aid of insulated buildings and a computer controlled environment. Also how they hope to cut down food miles by using hydroponics in close proximity to the end user, be it a supermarket or urban community.

Vertical Hydroponics

Part 1 of 5 short videos showing how Valcent products have approached the need to improve the way we provide food for the future. With their VertiCrop™ system they are currently able to grow in 1 square meter hydroponically the equivalent of 17 square meters of traditional farming.