Very simply, hydroponics is the growing of plants without soil. Nutrients are supplied in water-by simply pouring through the substrate, or sophisticated systems where water is pumped continiously over the root zone. The plant and its root structure is supported by a substrate- this can be a wide variety of materials including rock wool, peat moss, coir, sand, gravel, bark, sawdust, etc. Plant nutrients used in the solution can be organically derived, or synthetically produced yielding inorganic NPK type fertilizer. In areas of the world with good soils, hydroponics is a mere curiosity, however, in areas where there is no soil (like a desert), or the soil is especially poor, hydroponics is one of the few options for crop production.

Hydroponics is most often used to grow produce-tomatoes, lettuce, and peppers are some of the more common applications. This technique is used much less often to grow ornamental crops, especially woody plants-container and field production are the dominant production methods. However, there are a great many species of woody plants, especially those that are considered to be wetland plants, that should readily take to hydroponic production. Hydroponics make sense in a number of ways-


1.The substrate is much more cost effective then traditional container growing media ($150 dollars per yard for Metro Mix Brands vs. $20+/- a yard for homogenous media like sand or composted bark).

2.Container costs are much less expensive, because you are using several large capacity containers, as opposed to hundreds or thousands of individual pots.

3. A large growing capacity can be rapidly established for a fraction of the cost when compared to a like growing area with blow molded pots. Often times containers or growing troughs can be constructed out of recycled material for free.

4.Ultimately less water and fertilizer is used, because the nutrient solution is collected and reused many times, instead of loosing it out the bottom of the pot.

5. Watering is done automatically (with the help of gravity) so this frees up more time for other jobs.

6.Electrical and fossil fuel energy input to grow the plants can be low to zero by using Gravity fed systems (growing on a slope).

7.Fertilizer pollution is substantially reduced; reusing the nutrient solution many time maximizes fertilizer uptake, and minimizes excessive fertilizer release in the environmnet which can cause many adverse issues.

Many plants already grow in hydroponic like conditions in nature; take wetland shrubs for instance- thay grow naturally in sphagnum moss. The nutrients they recieve come in the form of organics that are dissolved in the water column. Faster growth may be achieved, as the nutrients are more easily obtainable.

In the 2009 growing season I will be testing this theory on a variety of yearling plants including- Mountain Holly (Nemopnathus mucronatus, Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis),Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia), and Beach Plum (Prunus maritima), among others. I will be using the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT). This method caught my attention as it uses materials that are inexpensive and easy to work with, and a substantial growing capacity can be set up quickly and at little cost. PVC pipes can be used with large holes cut into the tops where the substrate and the plant is set. Holes or often pre-drilled in the bottom for gas exchange and free drainage of the nutrient solution.

I will post photographs of my setups, and crop updates further on in the season.

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