1. Hydroponics Defined Water Working
Growing plants in water and nutrient solution without soil.

2. Advantages Less Work Eliminate all soil borne disease
No weeds to pull
No soil to till
Eliminate all soil borne disease
Small unit can be set up anywhere
Plants will grow more rapidly
Exact nutrients provided
Higher in nutritional value
Taste Better

3. Advantages Cont. Use much less water: Can be grown year-round basis
None wasted
None consumed by weed
Can be grown year-round basis

4. Four types of systems Ebb and Flow aka flood and drain Typical media
Roots stay moist
Oxygen plentiful to roots upon draining
Typical media
Rock wool, perlite or expanded clay pebbles
Crops
Both long and short term crops

6. Drip Drip emitters on timed basis Typical media Mainly long term crops
Rock wool or perlite
Mainly long term crops
Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers others

8. Nutrient Film Technique – NFT
Grown in channels
No growing medium
Frequent pumping required
Typically top of roots exposed to air and bottom of roots exposed to solution
Typical crops
Short term – lettuce, herbs other leafy crops
Long term- some form of plant support needed cucumbers and others

10. Passive Low maintenance Slower growing No pumps or timers
Roots dangle in solution
No water movement – low oxygen
Can provide air pumps

11. Expanded Clay Pebbles

12. Expanded Clay Pebbles
Neutral PH
Excellent capillary action

13. Rockwool

14. Rockwool Derived from basalt rock Cubes Slabs
Heated and then spun into fibers
Roots grow down into material
Excellent moisture retention
Cubes
Various sizes 1”, 3” etc.
Propagation for transplant to NFT, Ebb/Flow, Drip
Slabs
Larger pieces
Propagation and growing

15. Perlite

16. Perlite Derived from volcanic rock Heated and explodes like popcorn
Used in pots, bags others
Also used in potting soil mixtures