| Growing plants using hydroponics means you are | | | | growing medium. Its good drainage characteristics |
| growing without soil. But it doesn't necessarily mean | | | | means that it does not hold much water and so is |
| that you are growing plants without a soil | | | | not good for trapping nutrients. |
| replacement. | | | | Vermiculite is a mineral that acts like a natural wick |
| While not strictly necessary it is usually advantageous | | | | and is able to absorb large quantities of water. |
| to use some form of growing medium. Here's a quick | | | | The combination of Perlite and Vermiculite is a natural |
| run down of the kinds of media available to you | | | | for hydroponics system: one holds air and oxygen, |
| when gardening without soil. | | | | the other holds water and nutrients. |
| Why Use a Growing Medium When Gardening With | | | | Coconut Fibres |
| Hydroponics | | | | Made from the outer husks of coconuts this growing |
| One very good reason to use a growing medium in | | | | medium is becoming increasingly popular with organic |
| your homemade hydroponics garden is to ensure | | | | growers. Some hydroponics growers feel coconut |
| that the roots of your plants are adequately supplied | | | | fibres are superior to Rockwool in their ability to |
| with oxygen. In a traditional garden your plants roots | | | | retain air and water. |
| gather oxygen from the air trapped in the soil. A | | | | Expanded Clay Pellets |
| growing medium serves the same purpose for plants | | | | This medium is made from baked clay. The pellets |
| grown with hydroponics. Growing media are designed | | | | are vary porous and retain both air and water very |
| to trap air that can then be processed by the plant | | | | well. They can be reused as long as they are first |
| roots. | | | | sterilized. |
| Another reason for using a growing medium is to | | | | Aquarium Gravel |
| provide a food reserve for the plants. Like air, | | | | A very popular growing medium is the colored gravel |
| nutrients from the feeding solution are trapped in the | | | | that is used in fish tanks. The main reason for its |
| pores of the growing medium and are then available | | | | popularity is expense. This gravel is very cheap |
| to the plants if needed. This can help to prevent crop | | | | compared to other growing media. The downside is |
| failures. | | | | that it does not hold water, and therefore plant |
| Types of Growing Media | | | | nutrients, very well at all. If you choose to use |
| Rockwool | | | | aquarium gravel you will need a constant water |
| Made from basalt rock and chalk Rockwool is | | | | supply for your plants to avoid root drying. |
| probably the most popular growing medium used by | | | | A homemade hydroponics system can provide you |
| hydroponics gardeners. This porous material can trap | | | | with a constant supply of fresh vegetables that is |
| large quantities of air and water at the same time. | | | | not affected by the seasons. All you need are some |
| Perlite and Vermiculite | | | | basic supplies that are available at any large hardware |
| Perlite is a pebbly volcanic rock that provides | | | | store. |
| excellent drainage and aeration when used as a | | | | |