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Examples Of The Hydroponic Moisture Meter

Hydroponic Moisture Meter

Moisture Meter Guide

The complete moisture meter website

Hydroponics is a way of growing plants in water, using mineral nutrient solutions and no soil. Terrestrial plants can be grown using such mediums as gravel, mineral wool, expanded clay and rock wool. It was in the 18th century when researchers actually discovered that soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir and that soil is in fact not essential to plant growth. Basically, as long as the necessary mineral nutrients are added to a plant's water supply, that plant does not require soil to flourish.

Advantages of hydroponics

You do not require any soil

Any water can be reused, so a less water supply is required

You have complete control over nutrient levels

No pollution

Very stable growing method mthat gives high yields

Getting rid of pests and disease is so much simpler

Moisture Meter Guide 2010                                                                                               Contact details:garnett65@hotmail.com

Water culture system - This is perhaps the simplest hydroponic growing system to use. Here a styrofoam tray will hold the plants and float on the nutrient solution. The air pump is used to to give air to a bubbling stone, which in turn releases the the nutrient solution and supplies the necessary oxygen to the plant roots. Something like lettuce is grown in this manner. Not so many plants, however, thrive in this process.

For the water culture system you will require;

Reservoir

Grow tray

Media

Nutrients

pH/TDS/EC controller

Wick system - Another very simple method of hydroponics. It is classified as a passing system which means it has no moving parts to it. The nutrient solution is passed through a wick to the growing tray. Several different growing means can be used in this system.

What you require for the wick system are;

Reservoir

Grow tray

Media

Air pump

Diffuser

Nutrient solutions

pH/EC/TDS tester

Hanna HI 981504 ph/TDS/Temperature Monitor

This hydroponic tool from Hanna is very easy to setup and install. It will give the gardener a simultaneous display of ph/TDS and temperature. All you do is locate the area you want to monitor, plug the indicator in and immerse all 3 probes. All 3 readings will be displayed by 3 backlit LCDs. The unit is waterproof protected to give it a longer life in more extreme conditions. Cleaning and maintaining the unit is very easy.

Hanna HI 9813-6 Portable Ph/TDS/EC Temp meter

This hydroponic tool from Hanna is a tool specially designed for use with hydroponics. The large LCD displays the parameter being measured and has a built in CAL CHECK so that you can check the calibration of the unit whenever you desire. You can switch parameters at any time with just a push of the button. Calibration is simple and the battery power percentage is always shown. The multiparameter probe is of fast response. There are even on screen tutorial messages to help you set up the unit.

Harvesting is simpler

No plant damage from pesticides

Disadvantages of hydroponics

Without soil, plants do not have a buffer. This can lead to speedy plant death if there is any failure within the hydroponic system

Pathogen attacks like damp off

Different fertilizers required for different methods

Hydroponic Growing Systems

Aeroponic system - This is one of the most technically demanding hydroponic growing systems. The main growing medium is that of air. The plant's roots actually hang in the air and any nutrient requirement is spray misted onto the roots every couple of minutes or so. With this method you require a constant timer to control the nutrient pump to ensure the nutrients are constantly distrubuted. For the Aeroponic method you will require;

Reservoir

Pump

Spray nozzles

Nutrient solutions

Grow media

A pH tester and a EC/TDS controller

Drip Growing System - This form of hydroponics is actually the most widely used method. Here a timer will control a pump that is submersed, to release a nutrient solution to the base of every plant. Any excess nutrient solution can be collected and reused whenever necessary.

For the drip system you will require;

Reservoir of water

Pump

Lines and a drip manifold

A suitable grow tray

Nutrient solution

Air pump

Diffuser

pH/EC/TDS controller

Ebb and flow system - Here the grow tray is actually flooded with a nutrient solution and then that solution is drained back into the reservoir that is controlled with a pump and timer. The flooding and retracting process takes place several times in a day.

The timer switches on and the grow tray is flooded. Whne the timer switches off, the nutrient solution is pulled back to the reservoir.

The whole system can be modified to suit certain plants. Rocks or gravel can be placed in the grow tray. One drawback, though, to this system is that a power outage or pump failure can have disastrous effects.

For the ebb and flow system you will require;

Reservoir

Pump

Grow tray

Nutrient solutions

Air pump

Diffuser

pH/EC/TDS meter

Nutrient Film Technique - When you think of hydroponics, this is the most thought of system. Here the system has a continual flow of nutrients and no timer is required. What happens is that the nutrient solution is submitted to the grow tray all over the plant roots and then drained into the reservoir. The growth medium used is that of air. All the plants are supported in small baskets, usually made of plastic, with the roots dangling into the present nutrient solution. Again though a power outage and pump failure could result in ruin.

For the nutrient film technique you will require;

Water reservoir

Pump

Grow tray

Media

Nutrient solution

Air pump

Diffuser

pH/EC/TDS monitor

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For more information on the above 2 units or any other Hanna instrument check out the official Hanna website >