Hydroponic Gardening - The Pros and the Cons
By: Tony Buel
When it comes to some of the problems we are facing in the world with regards to food production, hydroponic gardening offers some promising solutions. In the poorer countries where the terrain or climate is inhospitable to agriculture, hydroponics offers a means of growing healthy foods easily. Also, in those areas where the soil has lost its nutrients or fertile land is hard to come by, hydroponics can produce healthy foods using minimum space and resources.
As with all things though, it is not all good news. There are many pros and cons any grower should weigh before deciding to commit to hydroponic gardening.
First, the pros. In comparison to traditional farming, hydroponic growing can be more productive in two ways. For one, hydroponic gardening saves space. Plants can be placed much more closely together than in traditional fields because of the way nutrients are provided to them. As many as four times as many plants can be grown in same amount of space using hydroponic techniques! Secondly, hydroponics minimizes many of the problems associated with traditional farming which means less sickly, damaged, or wasted crops.
Because hydroponic growers customize their own nutrients mixes, it takes the guess work out of figuring out which field has the best soil and proper nutrition for which crop. The nutrient mix is the right one for the particular plant, in the right ratios, every time. Also, soil based diseases are virtually eliminated because there is no soil. These two factors alone make hydroponics an extremely efficient method for producing food.
Benefits accrue to the environment as well. The water consumption in hydroponic growing is significantly less than traditional methods. In many cases, hydroponic crops use just one tenth of the water! Also, the water that is used is used more effectively. For example weeds cannot come in and steal part of the crop's water supply. And because the crops are in a controlled environment and not in a field, there is no pesticide run-off water to contaminate the surrounding ground.
The benefits are not without their costs however. The expense of hydroponic growing is an area where improvements need to be made. The nutrient mixtures and growing mediums used can be expensive.
Hydroponic growing also requires an increase in energy consumption. Much hydroponic growing happens in greenhouses, where significant amounts of electricity are used in order to give the hydroponic plants all the light they need.
While research is happening to try and bring the costs down (such as in the field of aquaponics), hydroponics can be financially prohibitive for those areas where it is most needed.
Research in the field of hydroponics is filled with promise and much research needs to be done. Many of the problems are being addressed however, and many farmers and amateur gardeners are eagerly awaiting new developments in this promising field.
Hydroponic Systems can be a fun and productive new way of gardening for you. We have tips and resources to get you started fast!
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
More articles can be found at Gardening News
Monday, January 22, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
3 Things to Consider when Building a Greenhouse
By Holly Masters
A greenhouse has the potential to provide many benefits for the average flower-lover. However, if they are not built in the appropriate location the results can be detrimental. That said, before you build a greenhouse, it is important to consider all aspects in order to ensure you receive the best results possible.
If you are thinking of building a greenhouse, but are unsure of factors which can affect the outcome, read the information below which will inform you on everything you need to know before you start building. Consider the following factors when determining where you are going to build your greenhouse:
1. Light – Everyone knows that plants need light to grow and sunlight is even more crucial for greenhouses because there are so many different types of plants and flowers requiring light. You do not want to build your greenhouse in an area which receives no sunlight at all however you do not want to build it in an area which receives too much sun either. Not enough can be harmful to the plants and flowers, yet so can too much sun. You will want to build your greenhouse in an area which receives a minimum of 6 full hours of sunlight a day. You may also want to consider planting a tree on either side of your lighthouse which will provide some shade through the day. Overhanging trees are not a good idea and may put your greenhouse in danger due to falling branches.
2. Convenience – You will want to build your greenhouse in a convenient area which can be easily accessed, but is not in an area which may be targeted by high winds. You don’t want to have to walk a mile just to get to your greenhouse because chances are you won’t maintain it as well this way. Other things to consider when building your greenhouse are access to electricity and water. These are important in the successful functioning of your greenhouse.
3. Setting – The actual setting of your greenhouse will greatly affect its overall performance. Many areas throughout the world receive high levels of rain during certain times of the year. This can be detrimental to operation of your greenhouse since too much rain can cause flooding inside. The best way to ensure this doesn’t happen is by building your greenhouse in a high level area that is a great deal higher than most of the other property.
Choosing the location of your greenhouse is the most important factor you will need to consider. Take your time and research all your options before you start building. A greenhouse is a large investment and you want to make sure the money you spend now will be worth it in the future. Holly Masters loves to garden and takes pride in her greenhouse. She has spent much time learning proper http://www.greenhousesandgazebos.com/hydroponics.aspx">hydroponics and serves as a contributing writer for http://www.greenhousesandgazebos.com – a site that offers information about everything from http://www.greenhousesandgazebos.com/storage-sheds.aspx">storage sheds to http://www.yardandgardendecor.com/gazebos.aspx">gazebos.
More articles can be found at Gardening News!
A greenhouse has the potential to provide many benefits for the average flower-lover. However, if they are not built in the appropriate location the results can be detrimental. That said, before you build a greenhouse, it is important to consider all aspects in order to ensure you receive the best results possible.
If you are thinking of building a greenhouse, but are unsure of factors which can affect the outcome, read the information below which will inform you on everything you need to know before you start building. Consider the following factors when determining where you are going to build your greenhouse:
1. Light – Everyone knows that plants need light to grow and sunlight is even more crucial for greenhouses because there are so many different types of plants and flowers requiring light. You do not want to build your greenhouse in an area which receives no sunlight at all however you do not want to build it in an area which receives too much sun either. Not enough can be harmful to the plants and flowers, yet so can too much sun. You will want to build your greenhouse in an area which receives a minimum of 6 full hours of sunlight a day. You may also want to consider planting a tree on either side of your lighthouse which will provide some shade through the day. Overhanging trees are not a good idea and may put your greenhouse in danger due to falling branches.
2. Convenience – You will want to build your greenhouse in a convenient area which can be easily accessed, but is not in an area which may be targeted by high winds. You don’t want to have to walk a mile just to get to your greenhouse because chances are you won’t maintain it as well this way. Other things to consider when building your greenhouse are access to electricity and water. These are important in the successful functioning of your greenhouse.
3. Setting – The actual setting of your greenhouse will greatly affect its overall performance. Many areas throughout the world receive high levels of rain during certain times of the year. This can be detrimental to operation of your greenhouse since too much rain can cause flooding inside. The best way to ensure this doesn’t happen is by building your greenhouse in a high level area that is a great deal higher than most of the other property.
Choosing the location of your greenhouse is the most important factor you will need to consider. Take your time and research all your options before you start building. A greenhouse is a large investment and you want to make sure the money you spend now will be worth it in the future. Holly Masters loves to garden and takes pride in her greenhouse. She has spent much time learning proper http://www.greenhousesandgazebos.com/hydroponics.aspx">hydroponics and serves as a contributing writer for http://www.greenhousesandgazebos.com – a site that offers information about everything from http://www.greenhousesandgazebos.com/storage-sheds.aspx">storage sheds to http://www.yardandgardendecor.com/gazebos.aspx">gazebos.
More articles can be found at Gardening News!
Monday, January 01, 2007
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