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Summary
Summary
With practical information aimed at home DIYers, author Tyler Baras (Farmer Tyler to his fans) shows exactly how to build, plant, and maintain over a dozen unique hydroponic systems, some costing just a few dollars to make.
No soil? No sunlight? No problem. A hydroponic growing system gives you the power to grow plants anywhere . Even if you live in an area where water is scarce, a hydroponic system is the answer you've been looking for. Hydroponic systems are sealed and do not allow evaporation, making water loss virtually nonexistent. Simply suspend your essential nutrients in a water-based solution and circulate them to the plant roots in a contained network of vessels and tubes. This accessible guide provides the solid information you need for hydroponic gardening success.
Farmer Tyler shows you, with detailed step-by-step photos, precisely how to create these systems, and how to plant and maintain them. All the information you need to get started with your home hydroponic system is included:
Recipes for nutrient solutions Light and ventilation sources Comprehensive equipment guide Growing and maintenance instructions 12+ hydroponic system builds Complete crop selection charts
DIY Hydroponic Gardens is the best resource available for getting started in hydroponics.
Author Notes
Tyler Baras has a range of urban agricultural experience, from homesteading to commercial hydroponics. While completing his BS in Horticultural Sciences at the University of Florida, he traveled overseas to study Organic Agriculture in Spain and Protected Agriculture (greenhouse production) in China. After graduation, he worked as a grower for 3 Boys Farm Inc., the first certified organic recirculating hydroponic farm in the United States. In 2013, Tyler moved to Denver, Colorado, where he worked as the hydroponic farm manager at The GrowHaus. He managed a profitable urban farm while creating a successful hydroponic internship program with a 90% job placement rate for graduates. The hydroponic farm at The GrowHaus is currently managed by alumni of the farm internship program and continues to provide lettuce for Wholefoods, Safeway, and several local markets. While at The GrowHaus, Tyler started creating educational videos and blog posts about farm tech which he continues to post on his website FarmerTyler.com. He has had multiple appearances on P. Allen Smith's Garden Home , which airs on national PBS. Currently, Tyler manages the Dallas Grown hydroponic greenhouse in Dallas, Texas, and works as Special Projects Manager for Hort Americas. Farmer Tyler continues to produce video content, which can be seen at Urban Ag News YouTube and Farmer Tyler YouTube!
Reviews (1)
Booklist Review
Hydroponics, the process of growing plants without using soil, has in its modern form been used for over 100 years and is now a fast-growing global market. This book uses the science developed by large hydroponic operations and adapts it for a home context. There are several types of systems, and the advantages and disadvantages of each are noted along with a guide to selecting a system by crop, location, maintenance, and difficulty. These DIY systems range from very easy to create and maintain, such as a bottle garden which can be made using a small number of common household items, to much more labor-intensive building projects, such as a nutrient-film-technique floating-raft garden system which will take hours and hundreds of dollars in materials just to construct. Instructions for several methods of seed starting and cloning are outlined, as are approaches to system maintenance. Tools include a troubleshooting guide, glossary, and crop-selection charts. Readers serious about home hydroponic gardening will find this a useful guide to getting set up.--Heidemann, Anne Copyright 2010 Booklist
Table of Contents
| 1 Introduction | p. 6 |
| What Is Hydroponics? | p. 7 |
| Advantages of Hydroponic Growing | p. 8 |
| Key Features of a Hydroponic System | p. 13 |
| 2 Equipment | p. 18 |
| Irrigation | p. 19 |
| Pots and Trays | p. 22 |
| Substrates and Growing Media | p. 24 |
| Equipment for Growing Indoors | p. 28 |
| Grow Lights | p. 29 |
| Pest-Management Products and Equipment | p. 32 |
| Meters | p. 35 |
| 3 Hydroponic Growing Systems | p. 38 |
| How to Choose a System | p. 39 |
| Bottle Hydroponics | p. 42 |
| Floating Rafts | p. 50 |
| Wicking Bed | p. 60 |
| Nutrient Film Technique [NFT] | p. 69 |
| Top Drip System | p. 83 |
| Media Beds | p. 92 |
| Flood and Drain | p. 99 |
| Aeroponics | p. 106 |
| Vertical Gardens | p. 115 |
| 4 Starting Seeds and Cuttings | p. 136 |
| Starting Seeds in Stone Wool | p. 138 |
| Rooting Cuttings in Stone Wool | p. 142 |
| Rooting Cuttings in a Hydroponic Cloner | p. 146 |
| Transplanting Plants Started in Soil | p. 148 |
| 5 Plant Nutrition | p. 150 |
| Plant Nutrient Uptake | p. 151 |
| Fertilizers | p. 152 |
| Measuring Fertilizer Concentration | p. 154 |
| 6 System Maintenance | p. 156 |
| Managing the Nutrient Solution | p. 157 |
| Flushing | p. 160 |
| Cleaning | p. 161 |
| 7 Common Problems and Troubleshooting | p. 162 |
| Nutrient Deficiencies | p. 163 |
| Infestations | p. 166 |
| Seedling Problems | p. 168 |
| Glossary | p. 170 |
| Appendix: Crop Selection Charts | p. 172 |
| Metric Conversions | p. 186 |
| Bibliography and Photo Credits | p. 187 |
| Index | p. 188 |
| About the Author | p. 192 |