Teach & Learn III - Hydroponics using Passive Aeration

C. PASSIVE AERATION SYSTEM (HYDROPONICS)

HYDROPONICS is the process of growing plants in sand, water or gravel with added nutrients, BUT w/o soil. Origin is from the 1930’s, the word comes from “hydro” which means “water”, and Greek “ponos” which means “labor” .

In the olden days, it was discovered that plants may thrive in  medium other than soil when essential nutrients are met. They found out that plants utilize the minerals from soil when it is watered because water dissolves the minerals in soil thereby allowing the plants to absorb it. And so, if the right amount of nutrient is given, the soil may be taken away, so the soil is just incidental to plant growth.

For my Hydro system, I utilize the SNAP Solution (A & B) from UPLB College of Agriculture thru its authorized distributors. SNAP stands for Simple Nutrient Addition Process, which simply means, the right amount of minerals & nutrient is supplied to the plants enabling it to thrive in a soil-less condition.

Materials needed: 

SNAP Solution A & B, seedling plugs (styro cup w/ seedlings), water (10-12L), large vessel or container, Growing bottles w/ holes, mosquito net (optional)  

Procedure:

·      Fill a huge container (such as mineral water gallon) with 10-12 Liters of water, add 25ml of SNAP A and mix thoroughly. Then add equal amount of SNAP B (25 ml) to the same solution and stir well.

·      Pour the solution in each growing bottles. Estimate by putting the seedling plug, and seeing to it that the bottom of the cup touches the nutrient solution by at least ¼ to ½ inch deep. Not more, not less.

·      Do the same with the rest of the growing bottles.

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·      Set-up the Hydro in a place where it will receive the earliest morning sunshine, and away from the rain. A roof awning is nice, but if this is not possible, a simple plastic sheet to act as a transparent shed will do.

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·      Secure the plants from insect larvae and other leaf-eating pest by putting an old mosquito net. This also saves you from visiting your garden very early in the morning most esp. when you get busy during weekdays and you don’t have time to spare to even take a peek.

NOTES:

·      Expect the nutrient solution level to recede faster when the plants are much bigger than when they were seedlings.

·      Using this bottle set-up, replenish using fresh nutrient solution when its level has gone down by more than half an inch below the styro cup bottom; however NEVER allow the level of the solution to touch again the bottom of the styro cup.

·      Maintain the nutrient solution by at least ½ or ¼ inch BELOW the styro cup bottom.

Hope you like this post.

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