Hydroponic Greenhouses
There are different types of greenhouses available today. You should consider the
system you want to use. Check your location, the normal climate and other factors to determine the right kind to
use. Hydroponic greenhouses have become very popular because of its unique approach to greenhouse gardening. You
can easily grow fruits, flowers, herbs and vegetables using this technique. Here are some details on the
approach.
What is Hydroponics?
Hydroponics is described as the process of growing herbs, flowers and vegetables without soil.
The growing medium used instead is water, air or a special mixture including vermiculite, coconut fibers, rock
wool, perlite and gravel. Hydroponic growing approaches provide you higher yields regardless of the crops you are
growing. Tomatoes, for example, that are raised in 1 acre of soil will produce a crop of about 5 to 10 tons. If you
use hydroponics, you will yield as much as 30 times more over the same area.
The Available Systems
Hydroponic systems used in greenhouses will differ depending on the kind of plants that the
growers are raising. The NFT or Nutrient Film Technique is an approach that grows herbs, flowers and other leafy
vegetables well. The NFT system used in greenhouses can work using rows of food grade PVC growing trays. Each of
these have removable lids, plus row of holes where the plants are situated. The roots of the plants will hang in
the air under the tray. The root tips are placed in a flow of nutrient water found at the bottom of the tray. The
nutrient water is piped into an end of one of the rows, and flows over the roots, then exiting again at the other
side of the row.
The Setup
The trays are usually hung in the greenhouse via a system of galvanized steel pipes. Some
greenhouse growers may use tables instead of suspending the plants. There is a holding tank containing the water
and nutrients. This may be combined or separated, based on the type of hydroponic system used by the greenhouse
grower. A number of greenhouses can incorporate the ebb and flow approach. This is set up similarly to the NFT,
having hanging pipes and trays at one or both ends of the tray.
More Details
One will be flowing in, while the other is flowing out. The growing medium used in the approach
is usually gravel. It is used inside the tray and nutrient water is led in during certain times during the day.
Hydroponic greenhouses also function using automated systems to test the nutrient levels and pH inside every
growing tray. The level of nutrient water that the plants get is immediately controlled and monitored depending on
the predetermined amount.
Automation is among the many approaches that lead to efficient and successful hydroponic
greenhouse production.
About the Light
All plants within the greenhouse will need the right amount of light, regardless of whether
these are growing in soil or via the hydroponic system. Several plants get to have a lot of natural sunlight, plus
the right combination of red and blue light for maximum plant growth. The fast-growing hydroponic plants require
supplement light, however, to aid them during the cold months and keep productive growing levels. The addition of
metal halide, LED or high pressure sodium can work well with natural light to give crops sufficient red and blue
light, thereby keeping the plants healthy and strong.
The Portable Design
An outdoor hydroponics system has to be covered or rain might dilute the nutrient solution and
alter the PH very quickly. A greenhouse can offer warmth, animal protection and humidity in a fully managed
environment, thereby making the plan the best process to grow your plants. There are portable hydroponics systems
measuring only around 14 x 18 feet, with a ceiling of up to 12 feet. You can use PVC pipes measuring only 1 inch
and cover it using 8 mm plastic. You can expect it to last very well through rainstorms, snow storms and very
strong winds.
Some gardeners choose to put up the portable setup during certain periods of the year, then
bring it down when you can do easy gardening in an outdoor setting.
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