Hydroponics

The objective of hydroponics is to give plants the chance to reach their optimum potential. Interest in this fascinating hobby has increased in the past few years, largely due to the wide selection of equipment now available from Hydroponic Centres.

Almost 70 years after its modern-day discovery, hydroponics has become a sophisticated and successful science, a viable alternative method of growing flowers, herbs and vegetables. It has also, thanks to a tremendous amount of research, become simplified to the extent that even someone with no previous gardening experience can easily become a "green thumb".

But why do we need hydroponics?

If soil in all areas was of a consistently high quality and if all who wished to grow plants had the soil and space to do so, perhaps hydroponics would be no more than a curious experiment. Soil varies greatly in consistency and quality and requires considerable labour to keep it in good condition, and as many now live in cities and suburbs, in small units and flats lacking gardening space, hydroponics is the best and indeed the only logical alternative. Raising plants hydroponically in pots or containers, or in units tailored to fit whatever size and shape of space you have available, is both easy and cost effective.

Hydroponics is a term covering a wide variety of methods: wick or static systems usually used for house plants, herbs and flowers; flood and drain - not a desirable method as a relatively large volume of water in relation to plant life is used, making it impracticable for major production; and N.F.T (Nutrient Film Technique) is the most commonly used system.

Commercial growers use N. F.T Reduced use of resources, eg. water and fertiliser, makes N. F.T economical and viable. Hydroponics has many advantages: Allowing the gardener to grow crops of optimum quality. Hydroponic units remain weed free and largely free of most common pests and diseases. (No soil - no toil.) Crop after crop can be produced with consistently excellent results. (No crop rotation.)

...higher yields...no soil disease...not complicated...steady, controlled, reliable...no insecticides...some
crops within 3 months...4 crops and more a year...crops consistent in size and yield...operation and
maintenance costs much less...no heavy machinery...no weeds...absolutely clean...less fertilizer, less
water, less waste...easy on the environment...can be set up anywhere, on rock or concrete if
necessary...efficiency can be maintained indefinitely...no crop rotation...no drought, no erosion, no "bad " weather....excellent fruits, quality
blooms...NO MORE HIT OR MISS...