The art of growing indoors
William Texier 
During the last 20 years, advances in techniques of indoor cultivation have been so significant to develop the first prototypes created for industrial use hydroponic systems for the price and size of content, suitable even ordinary wine lovers who can safely use them on the balcony, to the porch, or at home in front of a window or under artificial light.
If space is available, it lacks the range of systems from the greenhouse, allowing for a rich, healthy and abundant crop, to be distributed among friends and acquaintances, or for resale.
And 'well-known fact that in hydroponics the quality of the product is superior in flavor, yield, rapid growth, exploiting the potential of the plant, and of course offers the certainty of a plant treated with substances hazardous to health.
Because these systems have a large supply of water, you might think that the plants are almost self-sufficient, and that choosing this method of cultivation is not necessary to devote much time to our plans, but not so: their metabolism is faster because and requires treatment.
The reasons that push the hydroponics lies not in lack of time to attend traditional vegetable garden, but in search of a higher quality output.
In fact, the subject is often a source of confusion, due also to a certain casual use of the terms: for hydro culture, for example, of course usually a passive system, which makes use of accessories such as drippers.
The hydroponic is a dynamic technique, which exploits the use of pumps to create a recirculation of nutrient solution and oxygen.
Let's see what systems are most common, roughly classified into four categories depending on the technology used:
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Drip systems:
Starting from a main line, small plastic tubes lead at regular intervals, marked by a timer, the nutrient solution to each plant.
This is a system developed in length, consisting of trays containing rectangular slabs of neutral substrate, such as coconut fiber, on which are lying cubic rockwool in which the plant is rooted.
A tank located at the bottom conveys the excess water and depending on the system, the recirculates or expels it.
This type of system can also be very small, 30 x 55 cm, is versatile and easy to use even for a beginner, because to some extent the medium protects the roots from sudden changes of temperature and humidity, and the errors of ' operator.
Irrigation is the most complex: too much water and the roots will rot for lack of oxygen, not enough salts and it is
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accumulate in the rockwool cube preventing the absorption of nutrients.
There is also an ecological problem: you need to change the medium in each cycle of cultivation, producing non-recyclable waste, whether for the amateur is a minor annoyance, it becomes a very important factor in countries with a massive greenhouse production, such as the Netherlands , where the rock wool is used in industrial quantities both in the cultivation of flowers that the vegetable fruits.
Ebb and flood
The system is generally square in shape, consisting of a perforated tray and a container below.
At regular intervals a timed pump fills with water fertilized the tray full of anchor material (rock wool, or better, clay, less prone to infestation of algae and more environmentally friendly), from which then flows out from the holes,
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back in the tank.
An alternative system that provides the tray remains empty and that the plants are directly inserted into the appropriate holes.
Raising and lowering the water level is slowly yielding excellent oxygenation, essential for the success of a hydroponic cultivation, but a good water management is essential to avoid damage to the plants: it is a whole system that can give great satisfaction, but not suitable for beginners and requires a little 'practice for optimum results.
NFT (Nutrient Film Technique)
Developed in England by A. Cooper in the 60's, this is the first true hydroponic system, easy to assemble pieces found in
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hardware stores.
The nutrient solution is distributed in the form of a thin film of water from the flow constant thanks to a simple but ingenious method: it is a board slightly inclined, mounted on a metal structure and covered with a plastic sheet, on which are arranged the plants in rockwool cubes.
The plastic is folded and secured so as to form a central depression in which water can flow, and on the bottom there is a channel that conveys the liquid irrigation in the tank, from where it will fall into the circulation.
The system offers good oxygenation, but in case of failure, the battery plant is a few hours, and is not suitable for cultivation of plants of large size for the possibility of poor management of large masses of radicals.
Recirculation
This technology was developed simultaneously in Israel and the University of Davis, California, in 70 years, and is a method of cultivation
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very popular and widespread.
It 'a circulating system, ecological, and without waste, with high autonomy.
The continuous movement of fertilizer ensures oxygenation and prevents harmful stagnation in the root zone.
These systems consist of two buckets, stuck into each other: the upper one, from the bottom of holes, contains a medium anchor, such as clay, while the lower performs the function of the tank.
In the column of irrigation, which connects the two containers, air is pumped through an oxygenator: the water level rises and wets the clay.
Then, for the same effect of gravity, the liquid is conveyed towards the perforated bottom and back into the tank, where it is recirculated.
This type of "active vessels" are ideal for individual plants, which can svilupparvici for years and reach impressive size, but have a range of a few days if you do not have an extra tank.
To operate on a larger scale, there can be directed on modular units: it is of tubes, with holes in which to insert perforated baskets filled with expanded clay for the anchorage of the plants, in which flows a stream consisting of (the depth of approximately 8 cm) of nutrient solution.
The water is delivered into fertilized jets, which allow the strong oxygenation from which comes the term aeroponics, and that guarantee a truly impressive growth.
This type of system, proposed in a wide variety of sizes (from 2 x 1 meter to 30 meters x 7), allows the recycling of all materials used, and an optimal direct control of the flow of water (with the pump always on or off at night).
However, requires a certain attention to the temperature of the liquid, in which the roots are totally immersed, and a well-ventilated.
WHICH TO CHOOSE?
For a balanced decision must take into account several factors: the available space, the goals to be achieved, the financial resources and time available for the project.
As a general rule, the better the system and the faster growth, but also more demanding maintenance.
And 'to predict a substantial initial outlay, but will quickly dampened by the results obtained.
Whatever the final choice, there are some basic rules to be followed:
- Ventilation: the room in which you hold your plants should be well ventilated to remove excess moisture and make CO2
-Some fans will help eliminate the pockets of warm moist air and the stems of the plants more robust.
-In the case of artificial lighting must be remembered that their range is rather limited, thus will be kept as close as possible to the plants, taking care not to burn.
the recommended distance varies depending on the type of bulb used.
may be useful to prune the lower branches that receive little light.
-In summer, when grown in a confined space can be a good idea to turn on the lights at night, taking advantage of the cool.
-The nutrient solution should be kept as cold as possible to keep high the oxygenation of the roots: the ideal temperature is around 18 ° C, and the pH must have a value between 5.5 and 6.5.
The ideal value of EC is between 0.4 and 0.8 for cuttings, 1.6 for the young plants, 2.0 for the vegetative stage, and between 1. and 1.8 for the stage of flowering or fruiting.
-The choice of nursing is very important for defining the medium must be neutral, and fertilizers are the only source of nourishment for the plant.
must be complete and balanced, the salts must be clean for better absorption, preferably liquid because it clogged ducts.
Read labels carefully and do not hesitate to do some comparative testing personnel staff: fertilization is a factor that will affect a lot on your cultivation.
IN CONCLUSION
For over 20 years I grew my plants in hydroponics: crying always a few specimens on earth, to compare the developments.
The difference in results does not cease to amaze me.
Only a few species do not give great satisfaction with this technique: it is usually difficult to transplant plants and require to be sown and germinated in the same place to grow.
The production quality is the main objective of the home grower, but unfortunately no specific fertilizer, to my knowledge, has been certified as organic (though some boast of this feature).
In fact, because a food is organic, it must be produced by living organisms and then made available for the sustenance of the plant, in hydroponics, these organisms compete with plants for oxygen, thrive and develop to the point of colonizing the system and roots preventing the vital functions.
However the market products of high nutritional value, with a yield equal to or superior to the best soils.
In these years I have done everything possible to get a type of organic farming as much as possible, as a tangle of plastic tubes do not recall to mind something close to nature: I have never made use of pesticides (or, of course, herbicide) , using insect predators to recreate a microcosm biologically diverse: it is a fascinating challenge.
The cultivation of plants, the balance between technology and respect for nature, gives great satisfaction and great results: I hope you can find out firsthand.
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Tags: growing in water , hydroponics , hydroponic , cultivation techniques
