hydroponics - perlite

**thesightofoneself** · 01-22-2011, 04:48 AM

has anyone grown hydroponics? what medium did you use, if any?

**thesightofoneself** · 01-22-2011, 04:48 AM

i'm trying to grow in perlite(medium)

**Russ** · 01-22-2011, 06:01 AM

I would really do a cost comparison on that because IIRC startup costs are pretty high.

**madhen** · 01-22-2011, 09:12 AM

I've started seeds in vermiculite, but I've never tried to take it the whole way.

I have also seen "soiless mixes" at the nursery - basically, the bag contains everything except dirt, I guess (!), but I don't know if that would work for you, or if you want to go pure hydroponics.

**sunshine** · 01-22-2011, 09:52 AM

We've done aquaponics - and grew the plants in just some slit plastic. . . or in some expanded clay, or in some small gravel.

**Durgan** · 01-23-2011, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by thesightofoneself

has anyone grown hydroponics? what medium did you use, if any?

Hydroponics are utilized when there are extreme outdoor climates. It is a poor attempt to simulate typical growing conditions. There is nothing to recommend the procedure except as an academic exercise.

In Canada, the propagation utilizing hydroponic methods produces stores full of lousy tomatoes, during the Winter season. Some insipid lettuce is also grown.

Plants need; heat, nutrients, light, and a support substrate usually supplied by the soil. If it is necessary to supply these artificially much expense is incurred.

From my experience it is hard to improve on what nature supplies, which can be modified in some cases for maximum plant growth.

**sunshine** · 01-23-2011, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Durgan

Hydroponics are utilized when there are extreme outdoor climates. It is a poor attempt to simulate typical growing conditions. There is nothing to recommend the procedure except as an academic exercise.

Aquaponics, however have many advantages - especially for those in extreme climates. Advantages such as:

miserly water use - the water is used very efficiently to grow two crops - fish & plants

small environmental impact - no nutrient-rich waste-water discharge, the fish food is used to its maximum potential (to grow fish & plants)

two crops from the one input - the fish feed entering the system supports the growth of both fish and plants

small footprint/high density - because of their compact nature, aquaponic set ups take up little space, can be located closer to the end user - saving nutrients (which get lost over time for travel) and gas for transportation

In addition, pesticides and herbicides cannot be used to treat the plants, as these would effect the fish, so the plant crops cannot contain any harmful chemical residues.

**onencgirl** · 01-23-2011, 12:10 PM

I keep seeing an ad on CL for free classes in hydroponics. I've been wondering if I should check it just for the info.

**Durgan** · 01-23-2011, 12:29 PM

Get a simple book on hydroponics and play around. One soon arrives at the conclusion that there has to be better ways to grow plants.

**madhen** · 01-23-2011, 12:33 PM

TSOO, it might be too late to help you with your Jan challenge, but I have a hydroponics store about six miles from my house. If I get the chance this week, I'll swing by and ask about substrates.

**thesightofoneself** · 01-23-2011, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by madhen

TSOO, it might be too late to help you with your Jan challenge, but I have a hydroponics store about six miles from my house. If I get the chance this week, I'll swing by and ask about substrates.

thx so much. that'll really help out

**thesightofoneself** · 01-23-2011, 01:06 PM

rockwool would be my first choice but i had perlite handy and i'm broke

**thesightofoneself** · 01-27-2011, 06:23 AM

the perlite doesnt seem to be working so i'm going to try vermiculite. the bag says 'start seeds' so i'm hoping for better results then i had with the perlite.