The Best Media For Hydroponics Growing Systems

 

Hydroponics growing systems can use a variety of growing mediums or some systems go without. Choosing which is is the best system/option for you will depend upon various factors and in the following article we shall look at the growing mediums in detail.

Hydroponic Mediums

Hydroponic gardens involve growing plants without soil and it is often the case that a growing medium is required for rooting cuttings or growing from seed. Obviously it is best to keep the amounts used to an absolute minimum, especially if you are growing for profit (as this will help keep costs down considerably). While early systems utilized naturally occurring materials such as gravel or coarse sand modern hydroponics growing systems use more suitable mediums more capable of retaining the correct balance of fluid and air for optimum growing conditions.

There are a number of popular growing mediums, such as, coconut coir, clay pellets, perlite and rockwool, which can be used in isolation or as part of a mixture. A popular mix is a half and half mix of coconut coir and perlite.

The Best Medium

The most suitable medium for hydroponics growing systems should be capable of holding an equal ratio of air and water. The material should be capable of being flushed and wetted easily from bone dry and it should also be capable of buffering any ph changes which occur from time to time.

Any medium used should be light when dry, cheap to buy and, if possible, it should be biodegradable, if not it should be able to be reused many times. Below is a brief introduction to some of the popular mediums mentioned.

Coconut Coir
Available widely under such names as Cocopeat this material is made from coconut husks which are shredded and sterilized. Coco Coir is great for germinating seeds which benefit from an element of protection from fungus and other root diseases.

LECA
Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate (LECA) is a very coarse, ph neutral, reusable, growing medium. The only important thing to remember when using this medium in hydroponics growing systems is that it can contain dust so it will need to be rinsed thoroughly before use.

Perlite
Perlite was the first soilfree growing medium available on the market and is made from glass pellets which have been puffed up with air. This medium is a great mixer as it is extremely light and retains large amounts of air. Unfortunately this is also a disadvantage as it is far too easy to wash it away so it should not be used outdoors or in a flood and drain system.

Rockwool
Rockwool is no longer as popular as it once was for use in hydroponics growing systems but is still widely used as an insulating material in buildings. Rather similar to glass fiber, rockwool is made from molten rock which, once spun, is compressed into blocks. Rockwool is a great medium for larger systems as it can be steam cleaned between uses to create a fully sterile medium. Unfortunately the dust from rockwool can cause problems with the skin and should not be inhaled so make sure you were gloves and a mask when handling it!

 

More articles about hydroponics >