CONTAINER GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS: The Best Beginner's Guide for Growing Plants, Fruits, Herbs and Vegetables in Containers. How to Create your Home Garden using Hydroponic Growing Systems. by Joshua Bloom

CONTAINER GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS: The Best Beginner's Guide for Growing Plants, Fruits, Herbs and Vegetables in Containers. How to Create your Home Garden using Hydroponic Growing Systems. by Joshua Bloom

Author:Joshua Bloom [Bloom, Joshua]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2020-05-30T16:00:00+00:00


Home Gardener/Hobby Hydroponic Grower

Hydroponics presents a challenge that some have taken up to the home gardener and hobbyist. Most have developed their own hydroponic growing systems based on knowledge contained in and from the internet in books, manuals, and magazine posts. Smith (2001a, b, c, d), explains how to design and create your own hydroponic system in a four-part sequence. He says, "My hydroponic sequence of introductories delved into the basics of what makes hydroponics tick. We covered the quality of your water supply, the different types of systems and the hydroponic nutrients your plants need." "Hydroponics for the Rest of Us "is the title of an article discussing different hydroponic growing systems (passive — wick system and active — flood-and-drain, top feed, NFT) and their operating requirements. The two recommended for the home gardener are the hydroponic flood-and-drain and top feed systems because they "perfect for home design and construction without compromising durability and quality" (Van Patten, 1992). Additionally, Van Patten (1992) divides processes into two additional types, recovery or non-recovery (respectively recirculation or discard) of the nutrient solution.

Coene (1997) offers basic details on soilless gardening, focusing on media- and water-based crop systems, nutrient solutions, artificial lighting, and pest control, and then explains how to create a growing vessel with a drip system. Likewise, Creaser (1997) gives instructions for building a drip system growing tray which he used to grow a variety of vegetables and house plants.

Peckenpaugh (2002a) recognized the need for hobby growers to provide a reliable source of hydroponic techniques and procedures. He explains the design and operation of four hydroponic systems (NFT, floating raft, ebb-and-flow, and drip), the formulation and use of nutrient solutions, including organic, and discusses the most commonly grown crops (cucumber, lettuce, pepper, strawberry, and tomato) plus how to treat insects and diseases. For one who just wants to play with small growing systems, Peckenpaugh (2002a) explains hydroponic growing techniques that "can be built by anyone with the time and patience to go through the process." In his article, he explains three different growing systems, Passively Wicking Pot, Styrofoam Cooler Grower, and Dutch Pot Dripper, describing the materials required to create each system.

For those who want to create their own hydroponic growing system for drip irrigation, Peckenpaugh (2003b) lists the following items needed: growing container, drip irrigation lines, drip emitters, nutrient reservoir, submersible pump, nutrient return line, growing media (expanded clay), and timer. He notes that "drip irrigation approaches the height of growing complexity due to its highly economical use of water and precise application of nutrients to the root zone of the plant." Expanded clay is the growing medium because it "holds some moisture and nutrients for plant use after the irrigation process, but does not get soggy or too wet." Peckenpaugh (2003c) explains its performance in using its homemade hydroponic growing system in a follow-up report.

Alexander and Coene (1995–96) concentrated on certain hydroponic systems that would draw the cost-conscious grower who wouldn't want to make major equipment investments. A simple passive



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