Hydroponics Essay Research Paper Imagine being able

unit. Almost any container will do to make a hydroponic unit. One can make

a hydroponic unit, basically, in three ways. One can make the first

hydroponic unit by neatly scraping a circle indentation in the cork and then a

hole in the middle where the indentation was. Then the simple plant is placed

through the hole. The plant is then secured by cotton wadding and is placed

in a container of water or a nutrient solution. The second way is to take a

container and fill one third of it with water or nutrient solution. Then leave a

small space above this and place wiring above it. Then place aggregate or

sand above and plant the plant(s). The third way is to fill a container with

sand or aggregate and make a hole in the bottom of the container. Then one

should place a wick through

the bottom of the container. Next place the container on two blocks in a tray

of nutrient solution. One must be sure the wick can absorb the solution.

These are how hydroponic gardens and/or environments are made.

Their are many different variations in the mixtures used to make

nutrient solutions. Most nutrients are in a commercial salt form which can be

dissolved in water to form solutions. Some people just don’t want to bother

with the hassle of creating their own solution so they just buy a pre-made

nutrient solution. For example many people buy a solution called earth juice.

Earth juice is a plant diet used in sterile mediums. Nutrient solutions are

extremely important in the growth of a hydroponic plant. The nutrients

provede, mainly, growth and structure for a plant. This is exactly why one

cannot go and plant a plant in plain old sand or rock. These mediums don’t

have any nutrients they just proved support for the plant. There are several

different types of nutrients used in the growth of plants in regular soil that are

essential to a plant. These nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium,

calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, magnese, zinc, boron, and copper.

Each nutrient a plant uses is essential and has a purpose usually

different than another nutrient received by a plant. Nitrogen is essential in

building the composition of the plant by growing leaves and thickening stems.

Phosphorus is much like nitrogen because it helps the growth of roots and

stem but, more importantly it helps in the growth of flowers and fruits.

Potassium is used by a plant’s cells when energy is being absorbed during

photosynthesis ( photosynthesis is the process in which plants convert

sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into energy ). Potassium is helped in

absorption by calcium. Calcium also helps the growth of roots. Magnesium

also helps the calcium distribute the phosphorus among a plant and it is a

component of chlorophyll (chlorophyll is the green pigment found in plant

cells and is essential the photosynthetic process). In the production of energy

sulfur is used and it joins the nutrient phosphorus to heighten that nutrient’s

effectiveness. Iron is also another nutrient important in the production of

chlorophyll. Magnese aids in the plants absorption of nitrogen. While energy

is transferred in a plant, the absorption of zinc is necessary to help this

process. Boron is important the growth of a plant but scientists are stumped

as to what it does exactly. Copper is the last nutrient a plant needs and is

used in the production of chlorophyll.

Hydroponics is a method of gardening people are now finding very

useful and effective. It is easier to manage and costs less than the usual

garden price. Hydroponics is almost and ancient idea that could be the future

of gardening and/or agriculture. Although this idea is simple, it can better the

world encouraging more plant growth in smaller spaces. Many people like to

grow their hydroponic plants from seeds. This can work but, if you want

your fruit or vegetable ( if that’s what you grow ) to retain more nutrients and

be a healthier plant, you should transfer soil-born plants into hydroponic

environments. This provides for a cleaner and safer world for humans,

animals, and plants to live in. With scientists still working to better this

method even more, the opportunities for gardening in this method will

become greater. This also ensures that diseases or infestations do not harm

those people who eat hydroponic plants. People who now practice this

technique of gardening usually produce cleaner and healthier plants which can

better the lives of many.