The pros and cons of aquaponics include the ones for hydroponics. Both hydroponics and aquaponics have clear benefits over soil-based gardening, however many believe aquaponics is a better option over hydroponics when choosing a water-based growing system. 

• Aquaponics saves more water because there is no need to change the water. 
• There is no need to add liquid nutrients; all you need is to feed the fish. 
• There is even lower susceptibility to pests and diseases. 
• There is no need to use artificial fertilizer to feed the plants. 

Similar to hydroponics, the same vegetables that can and cannot be successfully grown apply in aquaponics. 

It may sound complicated but it’s not hard to replicate at home. So, how do we scale down and use aquaponics in the home?

Koi or goldfish are popular ornamental fish used in aquaponics. They are also easy to care for. We were given a bottom feeder (plecostomus) that we named Bob. He is low maintenance and eats the algae in the tank. After some research, we realized he loves zucchini and squash. He also eats little bits of dried salmon. He also requires a warm temperature so a heater and thermometer was added. This ended up being beneficial for the plants as well since they grow faster in warmer water.

We bought the ECOLIFE Conservation ECO-Cycle Aquaponics Indoor Garden System with LED Light to add to the top of our tank. The growing plants replace the filter for the fish tank. The plants use the fish waste as their food. This system uses clay rocks to support the plants. Since it doesn’t have an automated light system, we purchased an electrical timer to make sure the plants get at least 4-8 hours of light with the least amount of effort. We have planted everything from herbs and lettuce to succulents. 

The post Aquaponics first appeared on Healing | Health | Food | Garden | Compost | The Greener Seed.

Hydroponics is a system where plants are cultivated in a nutrient-filled water solution. This method of growing is done commercially but can also be adapted for home use.

As with anything, there are pros and cons. So what are the advantages of hydroponics?

• Plants grow faster and larger
• Can be grown anywhere
• Can grow year-round
• Ease of controlling pH
• No weeds or other unwanted seeds
• Less work
• Control over the plant’s climate
• Saves water (uses 90% less water than soil-based gardening)
• No need for soil (easy for urban life, no diseases from soil)
• Better control over plant spacing (uses less space)
• No pesticides needed
• In warm weather, the plants receive as much water as needed

What about the disadvantages of hydroponics?

• Plant risk of disease is increased (compared to soil-grown) since plants share the same water solution. 
• Space is limited so large vining plants, squash, zucchini, and corn cannot be accomodated

What can be grown in hydroponics?

• Leafy greens (lettuces, spinach, kale)
• Shallots
• Scallions
• Chives
• Peppers
• Strawberries
• Basil
• Cilantro
• Dill
• Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries (depending on size of your system)
• Cucumbers and Tomatoes (depends on size of your system)
• Cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli (depends on size of your system)

What should not be grown in hydroponics?  Although the following plants will grow, doing so hydroponically is an inefficient, impractical use of space. Hydroponic systems are usually compact, and these plants will dominate the entire unit.

• Corn
• Popcorn
• Zucchini
• Squash
• Pumpkins
• Watermelon
• Other large vining plants

How do we use hydroponics in the home?

For our home, I have purchased two Miracle Gro Aerogarden hydroponics unit. Although I do not recommend other products from Miracle Gro, I have found this particular item to be very easy to use, and can accommodate our growing needs. I would wait until the previous year’s model is on sale and purchase it for $99-$150 rather than $300-$400.   The unit itself is an all-in-one, complete with 50W full-spectrum grow lights, aeration for water tank, starter pods and seeds, and liquid nutrients.

When we started out, we tried growing tomatoes, cucumbers, dill, lettuces, mustard, cilantro, basil, and peppers. After many trials and errors, let me share what works best for us. We start all seeds in the two units. The regulated light and heat help the sprouts to grow quickly. Once tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, peas, beans, and larger plants are about 5-6 inches tall, we extract them from the unit, and transplant them into soil. We have even done this with lemon seeds for fun!  We leave the herbs and lettuces to grow inside since they can be kept at a smaller size. We also choose varieties that are more compact and ideal for container growth.

The post Hydroponics first appeared on Healing | Health | Food | Garden | Compost | The Greener Seed.