|
In
a traditional garden, plant roots are in the soil. They support
the plant and search for food and water. In hydroponics, we
often use a growing medium in place of soil. The roots of a
hydroponic plant do not work as hard as those of a plant grown
in soil because their needs are readily met by the nutrient
solution we feed them.
Ideal
mediums are chemically inert, porous, clean and able to drain
freely.
Many
materials have been used as hydroponic growing mediums. These
include: vermiculite, saw dust, sand, peat moss and, more recently,
rockwool, perlite and expanded clay pebbles. Today's popular
growing mediums, perlite,
rockwool and expanded clay pebbles are described below
Rockwool:
Rockwool is derived from basalt rock. It too is heated to high
temperatures but then is spun into fibers resembling insulation.
These fibers are spun into cubes and slabs for hydroponic production.
The cubes are commonly used for plant propagation and the slabs
are used similarly to the perlite grow bags. A plant is set
onto the rockwool slab and grown there. The plant roots grow
down into the slab. Rockwool slabs usually hold 3or 4 long term
plants.
Perlite
Perlite is derived from volcanic rock which has been heated
to extremely high temperatures. It then explodes like popcorn,
resulting in the porous, white medium we use in hydroponics.
Perlite can be used loose, in pots or bagged in thin plastics
sleeves, referred to as "grow bags"
because the plants are grown right in the bags. Plants in perlite
grow bags are usually set up on a drip feed system. Perlite
grow bags usually hold 3 or 4 long-term plants.
Perlite is also used in many commercial potting soil mixes.
Expanded
Clay Pebbles:
Many hobby hydroponic gardeners use expanded clay pebbles for
their growing medium.
Expanded clay pebbles have a neutral pH and excellent capillary
action. Often Ebb and Flow systems use expanded clay pebbles
in the grow pots as the growing medium.
|
Shop open 7 days a week 'til 9.00pm at night!
