Starting Hydroponics with Wick System

Wick system is one of the six most popular hydroponics systems. The other five hydroponics systems are – EBB & Flow/Flood & Drain System, Nutrient Film Technique, water culture, drip system and aeroponics. This is the simplest hydroponic system as there is no moving part in it and hence requires no electricity or pump. Therefore, it is very useful in places where electricity is not available or if available, it is not adequate.

 

If you are new to hydroponics then it is better to start with wick system. Things you need for wick system are - a container for the plant, a container for the reservoir, a wicking growing media like coco coir, perlite or vermiculite and wicking rope. It is clear from the name; nutrient solution from the reservoir is wicked up to the plant using a process called the capillary action. A good wick system normally has more than one wick for supplying nutrient to the plant container. 

Despite being the simplest and easiest to learn, the wick system is not as efficient as other hydroponic systems. It is suitable for small and non-fruiting plants like lettuce and herbs only. Fruiting and larger plants require more nutrients and cannot be grown in this system. Another disadvantage is inefficient nutrient delivery. You cannot grow fruiting plants like tomato, peppers, as these plants are heavier feeders and nutrient supply by wicks is not sufficient for these plants. 

HydroponicsXpress is a useful resource for knowledge required for hydroponics. You can also purchase complete hydroponics kits for different systems.    

Wall Garden - Hydroponic Propagation

Here's the original Wall Garden bought to you by Aquaponics WA, Grow your own herbs, fruit and vegetables all year round in hydroponics. We also have a smaller stand alone system that you can take with you when you move.

Hydroponic Perth WA - Hydroponic Display Centre Canning Vale

Take a tour of Perth Hydroponics Xpress and Aquaponics WA massive showroom and display centre in Canning Vale, Western Australia.

Aquaponics Kit - Installation at Tuart Hill Primary School

Maurice van Aurich from Aquaponics WA explains the importance of using expanded clay in an aquaponics system and why round fish tanks are a better choice than square or rectangle. Expanded clay helps convert ammonia to nitrite then to nitrate which becomes available for healthy plant growth and in turn cleans the water to recycle back to the fish tank.

Greenfingers visit Hydroponic Xpress

Join Todd Johnson and the Greenfingers team to visit Hydroponic Xpress and Aquaponics WA showroom and display centre in Canning Vale, Perth, Western Australia.

Wall Garden - Hydroponic Propagation

Here's the original Wall Garden bought to you by Aquaponics WA, Grow your own herbs, fruit and vegetables all year round in hydroponics. We also have a smaller stand alone system that you can take with you when you move. Check out the following link Hydroponic Propagation.

Important Tips for Hydroponics Gardening

Hydroponics Perth

Hydroponic gardening, basically means that you grow plants without using any soil. If you have water, perlite, sand, or even gravel, you can start doing it. Whatever kind of plant you want to grow, you can do so with hydroponic gardening. Flowers, vegetables, herbs, and others can be grown with this method. In order for these plants to grow properly, you will need to provide them with the right amount of nutrients, sufficient light, and a proper growing medium so you can grow them just like you would in soil.

If you're wanting to try your hand at hydroponic gardening, you'll do well to keep following tips in mind.

1. First is by having the right medium where your plants will be grown. It is required to be quite perfect because the plants must have the proper growing anchor so they can store nutrients and water that they need. Your plants will need a medium that can supply both water and air. Mixing perlite and vermiculite is a good option because it works to retain water as well as keeps the air near the plant's roots.

2. The second one is by having balanced nutrients. Hydroponic gardening is a very popular method these days because the roots of the plants absorb the nutrients directly. When they are planted in soil, the plants need to find the nutrients and break them down before they get the real benefits. The benefits of hydroponics are that the plants are able to grow faster and may produce more if correctly fed these nutrients. It is important that the proper administration of nutrients is provided for hydroponic plants to grow effectively and properly.

3. And the third requirement for successful hydroponic gardening is having enough light. Just like traditional gardening in soil, hydroponic plants also require enough light for their proper growth. The lighting will depend on the kind of plants you have as well as the amount of money you are willing to spend. Some people use fluorescent grow lights while others use high pressure sodium bulb lights. The fluorescent grow lights are your cheapest option and will suffice unless you want a top of the line system. Of course, you can also use hydroponics gardening techniques in an area that receives sufficient natural sunlight, or even outdoors, as well.

Hydroponic gardening does not have to be complicated and by remembering the above tips, it can be exciting and fun. And, you have the added benefit of having minimal pests and plant diseases to deal with, as most of these are eliminated by not using soil. For more details you can visit Hydroponic Xpress website and also get the best tips to do hydroponics gardening.