Hydroponics Systems

Back in the ancient times of Babylon and Aztecs, hydroponics systems were already being used. However, the hydroponics system was only truly discovered and studied sometime in the 1800s. The term ‘hydroponics system’ came from Greek terms, meaning ‘working water’.

Hydroponic systems started gaining recognition when researchers found that soil can be replaced by other growing media. It was learned that soil was not the essential element needed by plants. It was actually the water and mineral nutrients from the soil that plants needed, as well as carbon dioxide. Hydroponics systems were invented to replace the soil used in planting for better results. Hydroponic grow systems use mineral nutrient solution, together with inert medium for the growth of the roots.

There have been various techniques used in hydroponics systems. Depending on the type of growing medium used, there are slightly different methods in the hydroponic growing systems. The two most common hydroponic growing system techniques are the solution culture and the medium culture. Simple hydroponic systems, such as the solution culture, only make use of a nutrient solution and no other solid medium. In fact, there are three major types of this hydroponics growing system, and they are the continuous flow solution culture, static, and aeroponics. On the other hand, the medium culture makes use of a solid medium. These types of hydroponic plant systems can either be sub-irrigation or top irrigation.

If you plan to build a hydroponics system, the most common reservoir used today is plastic. However, you may still consider glass, concrete, metal and wood to build your own hydroponics system. Just make sure that light should be excluded in the containers because it may encourage the growth of algae in your nutrient solutions.

Now, there are many types of growing media used in hydroponics system. There are the diahydro or diatoms, and the expanded clay or hydroton, also known as LECA, which is short for light expanded clay aggregate. The most common type of growing media is the rockwool. Rockwool comes from basalt rock and it is heated in very high temperature to produce the right texture and properties needed in a hydroponics system. Probably, the next most common medium is the perlite and vermiculite combination. Other medium include the coir or coconut fiber, sand, gravel, brick shards, and polystyrene packing peanuts.

Many growers also use homemade hydroponics system. If you want to build a hydroponics system, you will have to do research on a lot of things. It might be better if you purchase a complete hydroponics system from gardening stores.