Hydroponics Myths & Reality

Though, hydroponics is now an established method of plant cultivation certain misconceptions about it have worked against its wider acceptance among laypeople as well as gardening enthusiasts. Though associations and bodies representing concerned professionals, enthusiasts etc. have sought to dispel these myths, many of these have persisted through the decades and continue to bedevil the hydroponics industry. With the growth of the Internet and the easy availability of specialized information on the subject, however, one can expect much improvement in public perception of hydroponics. Here is a sampling of the more persistent myths, some amusing, some fanciful, but all of these are grounded basically in ignorance of the subject.


Hydroponics Isn’t Simple, It Requires Special Expertise

It is quite true that once upon a time, hydroponics wasn’t quite as simple as it is now.
This was especially so with regard to nutrient preparations that had to be mixed meticulously to ensure the nutritional requirements of the plants were met. The easy availability of pre-mixed nutrients that require only to be mixed in the right amounts of water has now simplified matters. Growers need only to add water and use grow lights.

You Need to be a Scientist

This one probably originates from the association of hydroponics with tubes, troughs, meters, gauges etc. Additionally since much scientific material is available in the form of lab reports, experiments etc. it creates a false impression of complicated lab procedures etc. Actually you don’t need to be a scientist, nor do you need to have a lab in the house to grow plants indoors, all you need is interest and dedication.


You Don’t Get the Taste, besides its all Water

With the right kind of nutrition that plants get in hydroponics they grow to their fullest genetic potential. They usually grow much faster, mature quicker and give higher yields but they taste just the same as normally grown produce. It is not possible to tell a lettuce grown hydroponically from on grown the normal way only by taste. Taste is basically determined by the nutrient elements plants absorb and as long as they get all the nutrient elements taste is not affected.


You get to eat Mouthfuls of Chemicals

The chemicals that a plant absorbs when grown in soil are not different from the ones that are used in hydroponics. With the rights amounts of chemicals it uses, hydroponics leaves nothing to chance, unlike conventional cultivation in which there is always a chance of under nutrition, nutritional deficiencies or uptake of harmful chemicals like lead that may be present in the soil. The chemicals used in both normal cultivation and hydroponics end up in the plant tissue as beneficial compounds and not as toxic or harmful chemicals.


Hydroponically Grown Plants Don’t Taste Great Like Organically Grown Plants
Taste and flavor have much to do with our first impressions when we first tasted the plant. If the plant gets the all the elements it needs, it will taste great. The rest has much to do with other extraneous factors and subjective experiences. With the precise control over the nutrition that hydroponics offers, hydoponics growers have much better control over the flavor and nutritional value of the produce.


Hydroponics Doesn’t Work Outdoors

Hydroponics is all about growing plants in a controlled environment. In the outdoors, growing plants in greenhouses offers a way to control the growth environment and even extend day length. Commercial hydroponics, which requires large areas for commercial scale production is best done in greenhouses. Greenhouse production allows year long growth and also helps control pest damage without the use of pesticides. With grow lights greenhouse production can be extended across seasons for best plant performance.


Grow Lights Ratchet Up Power Bill

Power is billed on kilowatt hours, which is1000 watts for one hour. Though power rates vary from state to state, in many parts of the U.S. a 1000 watt light will run for less than ten cents per hour. A 250 watt light will run for four hours on 10 cents. High intensity grow lights are exceedingly cost efficient lights as they give much higher illumination per watt of power consumed. High pressure sodium grow lights put out almost 10 times the light that incandescent grow bulbs produce, that is 10 times the efficiency of incandescent bulbs.


Grow lights must run 24x7

Plants adjust their growth cycle in response to the length of light and dark on which they determine the season. During fall, plants accelerate flower and fruit production to prepare for winter. Grow lights enable control over the light available to plants irrespective of the seasons outside. This makes it is possible to have long, long days in the winter and fall.


High intensity lights harm the eyes

While it is true that looking at a bright object will cause distress and even harm the eyes, and grow lights are no exception in this respect, would be indoor gardeners need not worry overmuch as simple precautions are quite adequate. Indoor gardeners learn quickly not to look directly at the lights, which suffices in most cases.


High Intensity Lights Tan the Skin

High intensity garden lights do not give off much light in the ultra-violet range, which is what causes burning of the skin. Plants do not need much light in the ultra-violet spectrum and with good quality grow lights there is no need to worry about getting a tan.

Plant Nutrition in Hydroponics

Hydroponics cultivation is considered to be superior to conventional cultivation because of the numerous advantages it offers. Both commercial scale production and small scale crop cultivation using hydroponics techniques have proved to be advantageous in many respects. One of the advantages of hydroponics is its simplicity. However, what is essentially a fairly simple, straight forward technique may at times seem complicated, especially to the newly initiated. This is particularly so regarding issues such as plant nutrition in hydroponics. Given the plethora of tonics, additives, growth enhancers and other concoctions, that promise accelerated growth, bigger yields and so on, one of the basic aspects of hydroponics viz. plant nutrition may seem frustratingly complicated. It isn’t though.

Nutrient Formulations

All plants, whether they are grown in soil or with hydroponics require a balance of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (N-P-K) and trace elements to grow properly. These nutrients are available to plants in soil in small amounts, but over time they get depleted and need to be supplied separately to make up the deficit. In hydroponics, it is all the more important to ensure that plants get the right nutrients in the right amounts.

Hydroponics formulations are structured for specific stages of plant life cycle. A plant's nutritional requirements vary according to the stages of its life cycle. When plants are in the vegetative stage, they require greater amounts of nitrogen, which is the key element in development of leaves and stems. Deficiency of nitrogen during the growth period leads to stunted growth with yellowing of leaves. This is the most commonly seen deficiency in plants. During the flowering cycle, the ratio of nitrogen, the plant requires less nitrogen more phosphorus and potassium.

Using good quality formulations that contain the vital elements for plant growth should be the first consideration in providing for plant nutrition in hydroponics.

Keep it Simple

Following a good nutrient regime and keeping it simple will go a long way to ensure adequate uptake of all the essential nutrients. It is advisable not to use too many formulations as it may be very difficult to trace the exact cause of the problem if there are many additives and supplements in the nutrient mix.

Growth Enhancers, Boosters and Fortifiers

Certain commercial products have been developed that can stimulate faster nutrient uptake and speed up stem and leaf growth. Many of these products are best left to the advanced and experienced growers. Novice hydroponics enthusiasts should approach such products like growth boosters with caution. Also, there are several products available in the market that claim to work as bloom fortifiers. These formulations act to stimulate flowering and increase essential oils in plants. While selecting a bloom fortifier, the best thing to do is to select one with an NPK ratio of 0-50-30. Such fortifiers have no nitrogen and are rich in Phosphorus and Potassium. These essential minerals stimulate the formation of super blooms.

Organic Formulations

Organic gardening has caught on in recent years and the hydroponics industry has sought to integrate organic growing practices in hydroponics cultivation. Several organic formulations have been successfully developed, tested and marketed. Organic formulas for use in hydroponics should be soluble, stand-alone products that leave no sediment in the container. Make sure the organic formula does not require shaking prior to use as any sediment is likely to clog lines and pumps. Also take note that organic formulations meant for soil cultivated plants are not suitable for use in hydroponics as these will clog the pumps and lines resulting in burning of plants.

Other Considerations

Plants need to have fresh nutrients available for healthy growth. Ensuring regular reservoir changes every week is essential. pH and electro conductivity should be checked while mixing the nutrient solution. While the electro conductivity reading will help determine the amount of dissolved nutrients, the pH reading will help in maintaining pH values at levels that will enable plants to absorb the nutrients.

Leaching or rinsing should be carried out one week prior to harvest. This can be done using regular tap water through the system to wash out excess salts that remain in the growing medium.

Keeping a gardening journal will help in avoiding mistakes and establish pointers to the right course of action. Making journal entries regularly will, in course of time, help build up a veritable treasure trove of valuable information on various aspects of nutrition, pH, EC etc.


Appendix

Plants require two types of nutrients for healthy growth- macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients. Plants use macro-nutrients in large amounts while micro-nutrients are required in trace amounts. Following is a list of Macro and Micro- Nutrients and their functional importance in plant growth:

Macro-nutrients and their role plant growth
• Carbon – Formation of organic compounds

• Oxygen- Release of energy from sugar

• Hydrogen- Water formation

• Nitrogen- Chlorophyll, amino acids, proteins synthesis

• Phosphorus- Vital for photosynthesis and growth

• Potassium- Enzyme activity, Sugar and starch formation

• Calcium- Cell growth and division, component of cell wall

• Magnesium-Component of chlorophyll, enzyme activation

• Sulfur- Formation of amino acids and proteins


Micro- nutrients and their role in plant growth

• Boron – Vital for reproduction

• Chlorine - Helps root growth

• Copper- Enzyme activation

• Iron- Used in Photosynthesis

• Manganese- Component of chlorophyll, Enzyme activation

• Sodium- Vital for water movement

• Zinc- Component of enzymes and auxins

• Molybdenum- Nitrogen Fixation

• Nickel- Nitrogen Liberation

• Cobalt- Nitrogen Fixation

• Silicon- Cell wall toughness