Water Culture (Hydroponics) Flashcards
what is water culture (hydroponics)?
Growing plants in a nutrient solution without soil.
How do hydroponics work?
A solvent carries the nutrients to plant roots,
The plant/roots are supported in either perlite, vermiculite or gravel.
what are a selection of alternative growing mediums?
perlite
Vermiculite
Gravel
What industries are using hydroponics more now?
Growing food Interior landscaping (green walls)
How are the nutrients added to the solution?
Either manually, or with an automated system.
What is meant by Aquaponics?
water is rotated between plants and fish creating a symbiotic relationship.
What are the advantages of hydroponics? x4
A constant supply of available water to roots
Nutrition- accurate control so better growth and yield
Conservation of water- loss of water/evaporation reduced and loss of nutrients through drainage minimal
Reduced costs- Labour reduction, quicker crop turn around, reduced costs of growing medium.
How can you make sure a plant grow well using the hydroponic method?
The plant receives oxygen, suitable anchorage and support.
How does the plant receive oxygen?
Oxygen moves slowly through water so air is pumped through it where the plants are grown.
Disadvantages of hydroponics…
High initial set up costs for construction and automated systems.
Skills needed- for controlling pH balance and nutrient levels in the medium and water.
The water has no “buffering capacity”
what is “buffering capacity”?
soil can retain nutrients including lime against loss by leaching.
What is the disadvantage of the water not having a buffering capacity?
The water can’t hold on to nutients.
Small changes can alter the pH balance overnight to toxic levels.
What is a characteristic of a plant grown in water culture?
The plant had no root hairs
