Spotlight On: Hydroponics

Scientists are always looking for new and innovative ways to grow plants and cultivate crops that can help to feed a growing population. As consumers, we are aware that fruit and veg have become much less seasonal compared to only a few decades ago. For example, tomatoes are usually a summer plant, yet we can pick a punnet of them up in supermarkets all year round.

Although this has been made possible due to international import and export, many of these fruits and vegetables are made through hydroponics. As a bottled gas supplier, we have a full range of products to help with effective hydroponic systems and will be exploring the process to provide all the ins and out which hydroponics require to bring us seasonal plants during any month.

The History of Hydroponics

While it may seem like a relatively new technology, hydroponics can be traced back thousands of years. The famed Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the Floating Gardens of China are early examples of hydroponics. However, it wasn’t until the 1950s that scientists started experimenting more with growing plants and crops without using soil.

Research has come a long way since these older techniques were first used, and scientists are now looking to how they could use the technology in space, with NASA extensively researching for its Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS). The hope is that this research will help to further space exploration as it becomes possible to grow plants in space and possibly even on other planets.

How Does Hydroponics Work?

There are several different ways in which hydroponics is used to grow plants. Systems such as the wick system are simple and basic, requiring no moving parts. However, other, more sophisticated methods use features such as pumps to ensure that the roots are constantly supplied with the nutrients they need to survive.

Deep Water Culture Hydroponics (DWC) – the roots are suspended in an actively oxygenated solution of water and nutrients rather than planted in soil.

Hydroponic Drip Irrigation System – drip emitters are placed into growing containers, with the drip emitters connected to a pump. The pump, put into a reservoir, holds a nutrient solution, which is pumped through to the emitters regularly. It is then delivered directly to the roots of your plants.

Wick System Hydroponics – the wick system is very similar to DWC in that you need the basics: air pump, water reservoir, air stone and nutrient solution. Another container, a wick, and some neutral mediums are added to help optimal growth.

NFT (nutrient film technique) Hydroponics – the system uses a pump to deliver fertilised water to the grow tray and a drainpipe to recycle the unused nutrient solution. The difference is that in NFT, the nutrient solution continuously flows over the roots.

The Benefits of Hydroponics

Through hydroponics, food and other plants can grow in unlikely conditions that previously proved unsuitable for growing. In addition, as soil is not used in hydroponics, there is no risk of the transmission of soil-based organisms, which could cause disease. There are also fewer pesticides used, which can cause toxins in the foodstuffs grown and could risk passing on to consumers.

Plants grown using hydroponics have a much faster growth rate – around 30-50% faster than a soil plant. In addition, the yield of the plant is greater. This has exciting implications for how we farm and cultivate crops and food, particularly in the developing world where growing conditions may be difficult and offers a successful reduction in water needs for extraordinary growth.

Another benefit of growing plants without soil is the success it can offer within highly populated cities. Lack of green areas to grow crops can be a significant issue with buying local produce to reduce carbon footprints. However, hydroponics can provide an opportunity to grow plants without the need for large fields and could be adapted to grow on a vertical system to save on space.

The Use of Gas

CO2 is a requirement for plant growth, and in a natural environment, there is ample space for them to absorb. However, in hydroponics, natural CO2 is reduced. Luckily food-grade CO2 can be injected into sealed greenhouses that grow plants through this soilless process. This gas helps to increase the yield of the plants by improving growth and plant fertility and having the ability to monitor the inputs can help maximise and optimise this process. So, when finding the best CO2 for hydroponics, ensure you are getting excellent value for money.

At Adams Gas, we stock a range of bottles of CO2 for various applications, such as hydroponics and CO2 for aquatic plant growth. We provide CO2 gas bottles rent-free, and you can order them directly online for ease. Each of our gases is tested to ensure high-quality products, and we offer a quick delivery service. So, if you are interested in this service, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our team.