Hydroponics

Lesson #1
Introduction
to
Hydroponics
 Objectives
1. To describe how hydroponics differs
from traditional agriculture.

2. To identify the advantages of

hydroponics over soil based
agriculture.
1. What is hydroponics?
Growing plants in a solution
of the nutrients necessary for
plant growth rather than
directly in the soil (growing
w/o soil)
2. What are the major parts of a
typical hydroponic system?

Growing tank – the tank that

contains the plants growing media
2. What are the major parts of a
typical hydroponic system?

Nutrient tank – the tank that contains

the water and nutrient solution

Catch basin – the tank that catches

the nutrient solution after it has
drained through the growing tank
 3. What is the difference between
passive and active hydroponics systems?

An ACTIVE system does

recirculate the nutrient solution
with a pump.
A PASSIVE system does not
recirculate the nutrient solution
with a pump.
Active Systems…

Nutrient Film Technique (NFT )

Active Systems…
Passive Systems…

Wick/Air Gap
an “open” and a “closed”
system?

In an open system the nutrient

solution is distributed from the
reservoir to the plants and is
then “drained to waste.”
In a closed system, the water is
collected and reused.
 5. What are the advantages of hydroponics
over traditional soil based growing systems?

No cultivating
No digging
No weeding
No soil born pest and diseases
Less water and fertilizer is needed
Closer plant spacing is possible
Fact – 10 to 13 tons of tomatoes per acre/yr vs.
350 tons per acre/yr with hydro (Eurofresh)
 Objectives
1. To describe how hydroponics differs
from traditional agriculture.

2. To identify the advantages of

hydroponics over soil based
agriculture.