Hobby Hydroponics, Second Edition
Hydroponics as a hobby can provide enjoyment, stress relief, and the gratification of creating your own fresh, pesticide-free garden. The increased interest in hobby hydroponics over the last 30 years has created market demand and, therefore, widespread availability of small-scale hydroponic units. Hobby Hydroponics, Second Edition is a guide to all aspects of home hydroponic culture and systems, providing the most up-to-date information on hobby hydroponic growing, including the numerous advancements in concepts, technology, and products since the first edition.
The book presents an overview of typical hobby hydroponic units available, describing representative systems including water culture—for example, aeroponics and nutrient film technique (NFT)—and soilless culture, such as coco coir, perlite culture, and vertical plant towers. The author discusses culture practices and the tools necessary to care for plants and provide optimum growing conditions by regulating variables including lighting, temperature, and carbon dioxide, as well as monitoring pH and electrical conductivity. He also provides information on nutrients, natural pest control, and symptoms of pests and imbalances to assist growers in being aware of and controlling these issues. The book instructs readers on how to start plants, recommends crop varieties, and even describes how to construct some systems in lieu of buying them, for readers who choose to do so.
New this edition:
• Discusses new hobby units and components including lights, CO2 generators, and testing equipment
• Updates available nutrients and new products such as mycorrhizae
• Includes many new photographs
• Provides up-to-date references, suppliers, and websites
Making hydroponics accessible to everyone willing to learn and apply the knowledge, this book provides the information necessary to start, grow, and reap the rewards of having your own hydroponic crops.
Table of Contents
Background
Starting Your Plants
Seeds
Sowing of Seeds in a Medium
Hydroponic Culture in Choice of Medium
Transplanting
Seedling Temperatures
Light for Seedlings
Strawberries
Cultural Practices and Environment
Plant Spacing
Watering
Temperatures
Light
Types of Lights
Amount of Light
Reflectors and Wall Covering
Ballasts
Light Movers
Carbon Dioxide Enrichment
Caring for Your Plants
Stringing
Training
Pollination
Planting Schedules
Crop Changeover
Controlling Pests and Diseases
Plant Nutrition
Essential Elements
Soil in Comparison to Hydroponics
Sources of Essential Elements
Water Analysis
pH of Nutrient Solution
Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the Nutrient Solution
Symptoms of Nutritional and Other Problems
Water Culture (True Hydroponic Systems)
Hydroponics vs. Soilless Culture
Water Culture Systems
Choosing the System
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) Systems
Ebb and Flow Water Culture Systems
Aeroponic Systems
Combination Water Culture and Soilless Systems
Soilless Culture
Substrates (Media)
Soilless Systems–Expanded Clay
AeroGarden
Rockwool and Coco Coir Cultures
Perlite Culture–Vertical Plant Towers
Popular Hydroponics
Hobby Hydroponic Supplies and Information
Hydroponic Supplies
Hydroponic Services
Hydroponic Organizations and Internet Chat Clubs
Hydroponic Magazines
References
Closing Comments
Index
