Hobby Hydroponics, Second Edition

Hydroponics as a hobby can provide enjoyment, stress relief, and the gratification of creating your own fresh, pesticide-free garden. The increased interest in hobby hydroponics over the last 30 years has created market demand and, therefore, widespread availability of small-scale hydroponic units. **Hobby Hydroponics, Second Edition** is a guide to all aspects of home hydroponic culture and systems, providing the most up-to-date information on hobby hydroponic growing, including the numerous advancements in concepts, technology, and products since the first edition. The book presents an overview of typical hobby hydroponic units available, describing representative systems including water culture—for example, aeroponics and nutrient film technique (NFT)—and soilless culture, such as coco coir, perlite culture, and vertical plant towers. The author discusses culture practices and the tools necessary to care for plants and provide optimum growing conditions by regulating variables including lighting, temperature, and carbon dioxide, as well as monitoring pH and electrical conductivity. He also provides information on nutrients, natural pest control, and symptoms of pests and imbalances to assist growers in being aware of and controlling these issues. The book instructs readers on how to start plants, recommends crop varieties, and even describes how to construct some systems in lieu of buying them, for readers who choose to do so. New this edition: * Discusses new hobby units and components including lights, CO~2~ generators, and testing equipment * Updates available nutrients and new products such as mycorrhizae * Includes many new photographs * Provides up-to-date references, suppliers, and websites Making hydroponics accessible to everyone willing to learn and apply the knowledge, this book provides the information necessary to start, grow, and reap the rewards of having your own hydroponic crops. Front Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 7 List of Figures......Page 9 List of Tables......Page 17 Preface......Page 19 About the Author......Page 21 Chapter 1 - Background......Page 23 Chapter 2 - Starting Your Plants......Page 29 Chapter 3 - Cultural Practices and Environment......Page 43 Chapter 4 - Caring for Your Plants......Page 57 Chapter 5 - Plant Nutrition......Page 77 Chapter 6 - Water Culture (True Hydroponic Systems)......Page 93 Chapter 7 - Soilless Culture......Page 119 Chapter 8 - Hobby Hydroponic Supplies and Information......Page 141 Back Cover......Page 151 This book provides the reader with information on some of the typical hobby hydroponic units available in the marketplace. It provides information on the following: crop varieties, seed sources, training techniques for the various crops, and suggests the best environmental conditions for growth.