hydp:hydroponics

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hydp:hydroponics [2025/12/05 18:54] – Katja Durranihydp:hydroponics [2026/05/15 14:23] (current) – [Further resources] Dave Darby
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-# Hydroponics+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. 
 +====== Hydroponics ======
  
  
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-## What is hydroponics?+===== What is hydroponics? =====
  
 Hydroponics is growing plants in a non-soil medium, using water with added nutrients. There are different options, such as: Hydroponics is growing plants in a non-soil medium, using water with added nutrients. There are different options, such as:
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 <caption> <caption>
-Net pot.+_Net pot._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 'Aeroponics' is a higher-tech system where roots are suspended in air, and are misted with nutrient solution via pumps and timers. 'Aeroponics' is a higher-tech system where roots are suspended in air, and are misted with nutrient solution via pumps and timers.
  
-### History+==== History ====
  
-The legendary, ancient [Hanging Gardens of](https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Hanging-Gardens-of-Babylon-was-considered-one-of-the-seven-wonders-of-the-ancient_fig3_268747328) [](https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Hanging-Gardens-of-Babylon-was-considered-one-of-the-seven-wonders-of-the-ancient_fig3_268747328)[Babylon](https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Hanging-Gardens-of-Babylon-was-considered-one-of-the-seven-wonders-of-the-ancient_fig3_268747328) were said to have incorporated what we would call hydroponics. Much more recently, small-scale experiments aimed at growing plants in water rather than soil have been carried out since the 17th century, a breakthrough coming in Germany in the 19th century when Sachs and Knop discovered that plants need mainly nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) to thrive, and developed a nutrient formula based on these elements. Hoagland added micronutrients such as iron, magnesium and sulphur in the 1920s.+The legendary, ancient [[wp>Hanging Gardens of Babylon]] were said to have incorporated what we would call hydroponics. Much more recently, small-scale experiments aimed at growing plants in water rather than soil have been carried out since the 17th century, a breakthrough coming in Germany in the 19th century when Sachs and Knop discovered that plants need mainly nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) to thrive, and developed a nutrient formula based on these elements. Hoagland added micronutrients such as iron, magnesium and sulphur in the 1920s.
  
 In the 1970s it was discovered that the cannabis plant grew in a hydroponic system, and that indoors was a good place to grow plants that you didn't want anyone to know about. It resulted in a boom in the hydroponics industry. More recently, NASA has contributed to development in hydroponics for growing food plants in space. In the 1970s it was discovered that the cannabis plant grew in a hydroponic system, and that indoors was a good place to grow plants that you didn't want anyone to know about. It resulted in a boom in the hydroponics industry. More recently, NASA has contributed to development in hydroponics for growing food plants in space.
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 <caption> <caption>
-[Hanging Gardens of Babylon](https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Hanging-Gardens-of-Babylon-was-considered-one-of-the-seven-wonders-of-the-ancient_fig3_268747328): ancient hydroponics?+_Hanging Gardens of Babylon: ancient hydroponics?_
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What are the benefits of hydroponics?+===== What are the benefits of hydroponics? =====
  
-### Personal+==== Personal ====
  
 Gaining any craft or growing skills can help meet your and your family’s needs, save you money and bring a lot of satisfaction and pleasure. Gaining any craft or growing skills can help meet your and your family’s needs, save you money and bring a lot of satisfaction and pleasure.
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 Tests have shown similar nutrient levels in food grown hydroponically or in soil – however, plants grown hydroponically are subjected to less stress than plants grown outdoors, which results in lower antioxidant levels because they don't have to develop natural defences against pests. Tests have shown similar nutrient levels in food grown hydroponically or in soil – however, plants grown hydroponically are subjected to less stress than plants grown outdoors, which results in lower antioxidant levels because they don't have to develop natural defences against pests.
  
-### Environmental+==== Environmental ====
  
 1. Can be stacked / layered / vertical, so can produce more food from a given area. 1. Can be stacked / layered / vertical, so can produce more food from a given area.
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 <caption> <caption>
-DIY hydroponic garden tower - nutrient film technique (NFT).+_DIY hydroponic garden tower - nutrient film technique (NFT)._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Democracy / decentralising power away from corporations+==== Democracy / decentralising power away from corporations ====
  
 Providing food (including fish, with aquaponics) for ourselves in communities helps prevent extraction, decentralises power away from corporations (which makes it more difficult for them to corrupt democracy) and democratises work. Providing food (including fish, with aquaponics) for ourselves in communities helps prevent extraction, decentralises power away from corporations (which makes it more difficult for them to corrupt democracy) and democratises work.
  
-### Community / collapse preparation+==== Community / collapse preparation ====
  
 Exchanging home-grown produce (etc.) strengthens community bonds, and in case of any kind of collapse scenario (broken supply chains, environmental destruction, financial crash, war, civil unrest etc.), we're going to have to look after ourselves in our communities, and so the more people with useful skills the better. Exchanging home-grown produce (etc.) strengthens community bonds, and in case of any kind of collapse scenario (broken supply chains, environmental destruction, financial crash, war, civil unrest etc.), we're going to have to look after ourselves in our communities, and so the more people with useful skills the better.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Media bed of clay pebbles (left) and deep water culture / polystyrene raft (left).+_Media bed of clay pebbles (left) and deep water culture / polystyrene raft (left)._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
-### Starting off / getting a system+==== Starting off / getting a system ====
  
 Small hydroponic systems can be housed in a [greenhouse](/grho/greenhouses) or indoors. Whatever system you use, you can buy off-the-shelf (or second-hand) kit, or you can build your own bespoke system, using basic DIY and plumbing supplies that are widely available. The only specialist equipment required are a pumping system and air stones that can be found in any aquarium shop. Small hydroponic systems can be housed in a [greenhouse](/grho/greenhouses) or indoors. Whatever system you use, you can buy off-the-shelf (or second-hand) kit, or you can build your own bespoke system, using basic DIY and plumbing supplies that are widely available. The only specialist equipment required are a pumping system and air stones that can be found in any aquarium shop.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Simple diagram showing the nutrient flow for NFT or media bed systems.+_Simple diagram showing the nutrient flow for NFT or media bed systems._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </figure> </figure>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
-### Nutrients+==== Nutrients ====
  
 Soil is the medium that most plants have evolved to live in. Soil is a living medium, and all the microorganisms living in it are constantly making nutrients available for plants. This doesn't happen in hydroponics, and so all the nutrients, including micro-nutrients, must be added to the nutrient mix, apart from carbon, oxygen and hydrogen that can be absorbed from the air and water. Soil is the medium that most plants have evolved to live in. Soil is a living medium, and all the microorganisms living in it are constantly making nutrients available for plants. This doesn't happen in hydroponics, and so all the nutrients, including micro-nutrients, must be added to the nutrient mix, apart from carbon, oxygen and hydrogen that can be absorbed from the air and water.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Growing lettuces hydroponically on a commercial scale.+_Growing lettuces hydroponically on a commercial scale._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Growing hydroponically+==== Growing hydroponically ====
  
 It's a good idea to attend courses and read as much as you can before you start - there's a lot that can go wrong. But if you enjoy looking after plants, it can be very exciting to see them growing in a different way, with you in complete control of all inputs. The plants will be much more dependent on you though - you have to be around to look after them. It's a good idea to attend courses and read as much as you can before you start - there's a lot that can go wrong. But if you enjoy looking after plants, it can be very exciting to see them growing in a different way, with you in complete control of all inputs. The plants will be much more dependent on you though - you have to be around to look after them.
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 <caption> <caption>
-Cannabis is one of the most popular plants to grow hydroponically, as in many places, its illegality requires it to be grown indoors, secretly.+_Cannabis is one of the most popular plants to grow hydroponically, as in many places, its illegality requires it to be grown indoors, secretly._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Organic hydroponics and aquaponics+==== Organic hydroponics and aquaponics ====
  
 There are organic purists who say that hydroponics can't be organic, because organic growing involves feeding the soil, not the plant, and indeed, in most countries it's not possible for hydroponically-grown food to receive organic certification for just that reason. But certification is much less important than attempting to minimise the ecological damage that our food industry causes - it's possible to grow hydroponically using natural rather than synthetic feeds, and pesticides are (often) not used anyway. So let's focus on that - how to feed plants without soil, but also without the pollution, resource use and environmental damage involved with the production and distribution of synthetic chemicals. There are organic purists who say that hydroponics can't be organic, because organic growing involves feeding the soil, not the plant, and indeed, in most countries it's not possible for hydroponically-grown food to receive organic certification for just that reason. But certification is much less important than attempting to minimise the ecological damage that our food industry causes - it's possible to grow hydroponically using natural rather than synthetic feeds, and pesticides are (often) not used anyway. So let's focus on that - how to feed plants without soil, but also without the pollution, resource use and environmental damage involved with the production and distribution of synthetic chemicals.
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 <caption> <caption>
-NASA scientist experimenting with growing onions, radishes and lettuces hydroponically, for potential use in space stations.+_NASA scientist experimenting with growing onions, radishes and lettuces hydroponically, for potential use in space stations._
  
 </caption> </caption>
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-## Further resources+===== Forum =====
  
-- [Complete Guide for Growing Plants Hydroponically (pdf)](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/Growing-plants-hydroponicaly.pdf)+This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening).
  
-- [Totally Organic Hydroponics (pdf)](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/Totally_Organic_Hydroponics.pdf)+===== Further resources ===== 
 + 
 +- [Complete Guide for Growing Plants Hydroponically (pdf)](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/wp-content/uploads/Growing-plants-hydroponicaly.pdf)
  
 - [University of Florida](http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs184): how to build a floating hydroponic garden - [University of Florida](http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs184): how to build a floating hydroponic garden
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-## Specialists+===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [[herb:Herbs]] 
 +- [[spro:Sprouting|Sprouting & microgreens]] 
 +- [[urbs:small-space gardening|Urban / small-space gardening]] 
 +- [[grho:Greenhouses|Greenhouses & polytunnels]] 
 +- [[vegg:Vegetable growing]] 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • hydp/hydroponics.1764960842.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2025/12/05 18:54
  • by Katja Durrani