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REF: Plant Health and Care

2. AQUAPONICS
Plant Health and Care

3. Plant Health and Care Plants adapt to specific environments
Plants grown outside parameters of optimal environment may survive but do not thrive; too far outside environmental parameters and the plant will die
Individual species have specific nutritional needs
Needs vary throughout life stages
Ex: tomato plant needs more nitrogen during vegetative growth stages and less nitrogen during fruiting stages

4. Plant Health and Care
Aquaponics; compromise between what plants, fish, and bacteria need
Nutrients available to plants are directly proportional to the quantity of fish, size of fish, and the amount of fish food given to the fish
Plant crops with similar needs together so the compromise is minimal
Optimal conditions allow for optimal growth

5. Water Amount is species dependent
Lack of water creates large but not very effective root structure and plant produced above ground will be small
Roots sent out in search of water (grow towards water)
Too much water will drown roots
Flood and drain – brings fresh air to plant roots
Raft – air stones supply sufficient air
NFT – thin film of water keeps roots wet but not submerged
Use pure water, water with possible toxic contaminants or salt may stunt or kill plants and fish

6. Temperature
Common garden crops do best in daytime temperatures of 68°-78°F and nighttime temperatures of 58°-64°F
Lower nighttime temperature physiological recovery; intensifies color and prolongs flower life
Moisture loss
Keep 10 to 15 degrees lower than day temperature
Excessively low or high temperatures
Plant failures
Stop growth
Spindly appearance
Foliage damage

7. Humidity % of moisture in the air
Evaporation of water from the fish tank helps to increase humidity around the grow bed
If humidity is low increases by
Misting the plants
Grouping the plants close together
Running a humidifier
Greenhouses – evaporative cooling

8. Ventilation Circulation around leaves Aeration in root zone
Poor ventilation encourages mold, mildew, and plant disease
Commercial greenhouse large fans and air movement systems
Regular air exchanges required for healthy plant growth

9. Reference
Nelson, R. L. Aquaponic Food Production Raising Fish and Plants for Food and Profit Nelson and Pade, Inc. Montello, WI. Pgs
With contributions from John S. Pade