Part 01 - Starting Out
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Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (Part 1) Starting Out
By John R. Haughton
What is hydroponics gardening?
PhotoDerived from the Latin Hydro, meaning water and Geoponics, meaning the study of agriculture, hydroponics is the science of growing plants using a solution of suitable nutrients instead of soil. Most types of plants can be grown very successfully using hydroponics.
Part 02 - Plant Needs
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The Basics of Hydroponics Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (Part 2) Plant Needs
By John R. Haughton
What Do Your Plants Need?
All plants need the correct conditions in order to grow to their full potential. Plants grown using hydroponics systems are no exception to this basic rule. Like their soil grown cousins they need sufficient light of the correct wavelengths, a suitable temperature, an adequate water supply, enough oxygen, mineral nutrients and support for their structures.
Part 03 - Lighting
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The Basics of Hydroponics
Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (Part 3) Lighting
By John R. Haughton
An Introduction To Indoor Plant Grow Lights.
There are basically three types of grow lights used in horticulture. These are:
High Intensity Discharge Lights (HID)
These come in two types, the Metal Halide Grow Light (MH) and the High Pressure Sodium Grow Light (HPS)Metal Halide. Metal halide bulbs are designed for plants during their growing cycle. That is, for non-fruiting or non-blooming plants. Metal halide lighting is therefore the best HID choice for the plant’s growing phase.
Part 04 - Environment
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The Basics of Hydroponics
Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (part 4) Environment By John R. Haughton The Success or Failure of Your Plants Depends On Their Environment
The environment, or climate, in which your plants are grown is one of the most important factors affecting your end results. The temperature and humidity have to be right for the type of crop you are raising, the lighting has to be of sufficient intensity and duration for the stage your crop has reached. These and many other factors have to be considered before you can hope to grow a healthy and productive crop.
Part 05 - Plant Growth
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The Basics of Hydroponics
Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (part 5)Plant Growth By John R. Haughton Plant Growth and Physiology
There are three classes of plants. Each of these classes metabolize in a different way. The first class are succulent plants called CAM. These plants like low light and high humidity levels and so thrive indoors, in bathrooms and kitchen areas.
The second class of plants is called C4. These plants grow in hot arid regions and are very efficient at using both Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Sunlight. Most C4 plants are grasses.
Part 06 - The Autopot
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The Basics of Hydroponics
Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (Part 6) The Autopot By John R. Haughton
The Advantages of The Autopot System
The basic Autopot System consists of a plant pot on a membrane in a container. This container has a SmartValve built into it which is fed from a nutrient tank. As the plant in the pot uses nutrient the level of nutrient in the Autopot container is maintained by the SmartValve. This means that the plant always has the optimum level of nutrient at its disposal. As the plant grows and needs more nourishment, the SmartValve opens more frequently to replenish the nutrient supply from the tank. Because the plant pot is sat on a membrane, it will only take up what it needs in the way of moisture.This system ensures that the plant does not become too wet and drown or rot, neither can it dry out provided that the tank is kept topped up.
Part 07 - Hard Water
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The Basics of Hydroponics
Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (Part 7) Hard Water
By John R. Haughton Your Water Hardness is a Critical Factor for Success.
What Is Water Hardness And Why Does It Matter?
Water Hardness refers to the alkaline mineral ion count, usually from Calcium Carbonate and bicarbonate. Water with a high count is called Hard Water. You can usually tell if you are in one of the many hard water areas of Europe (Editor’s Note… Or North America) because your kettle will get a build up of ‘Lime scale’ on the inside.
Part 08 - History
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The History and Potential Uses of Hydroponics
Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (Part 
By John R. Haughton Hydroponics is the science of growing plants without soil.
History shows us that this is by no means a new concept. In ancient times the hanging gardens of Babylon, the floating gardens of the Aztecs of Mexico and those of the Chinese were all early examples of ‘Hydroponic’ culture. Egyptian writings dating back to several hundred years before Christ have descriptions of the growing of plants in water.
Part 09 - Experiment
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My Autopot Tomatoes
Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (Part 9)
By John R. Haughton An Experiment In Hydroponics Container Gardening
The basic Autopot System consists of a plant pot on a membrane in a container. This container has a SmartValve built into it which is fed from a nutrient tank. As the plant in the pot uses nutrient the level of nutrient in the Autopot container is maintained by the SmartValve. This means that the plant always has the optimum level of nutrient at its disposal. As the plant grows and needs more nourishment, the SmartValve opens more frequently to replenish the nutrient supply from the tank. Because the plant pot is sat on a membrane, it will only take up what it needs in the way of moisture. This system ensures that the plant does not become too wet and drown or rot; neither can it dry out, provided that the tank is kept topped up.
Part 10 - Nutrients
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How well do you know your nutrients?
Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (Part 10) Nutrients By John R. Haughton An Experiment In Hydroponics Container Gardening
There are many different plant nutrients on the hydroponics market today. Their function is to provide the optimum mix of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Calcium and various other trace elements, in order to sustain growth, improve yields and allow the plant to achieve its potential. The plants requirements will vary to some extent as it develops. Concentrations and plant food components may also vary with differing growing mediums. The food is absorbed through the plants roots and transported to the leaves, where it is converted into the sugars that the plant needs for energy.