Hydroponic gardening is, simply put, growing plants
without soil. The plants are grown from
seed by placing them in soil; however, once they have developed an established
root system, they are removed from the soil.
In the Supersonic Hydroponics Green Team’s project, the seedlings are
removed from the soil, their roots are rinsed, and they are placed in pots that
will later be inserted into the hydroponics system.
The seedlings are held in place inside the pots by “hydro clay.” The hydro clay is completely inert and does not contribute nutritionally to the plant. It just holds them in place.
The Green Team used plastic tumblers purchased at a local retail store as their pots. They drilled holes in the bottom two inches of the tumblers which allow water and nutrients to reach the plants roots. Eventually, the roots grow through these holes as the plant becomes more established. All water used in the hydroponics system is collected from the downspouts of the greenhouse thereby recycling the water rather than leaving it to just flow down to the drainage system. Interestingly enough, the rain water has the perfect pH for the plants grown in our hydroponics reactors.
The seedlings are held in place inside the pots by “hydro clay.” The hydro clay is completely inert and does not contribute nutritionally to the plant. It just holds them in place.
The Green Team used plastic tumblers purchased at a local retail store as their pots. They drilled holes in the bottom two inches of the tumblers which allow water and nutrients to reach the plants roots. Eventually, the roots grow through these holes as the plant becomes more established. All water used in the hydroponics system is collected from the downspouts of the greenhouse thereby recycling the water rather than leaving it to just flow down to the drainage system. Interestingly enough, the rain water has the perfect pH for the plants grown in our hydroponics reactors.