Hydroponics and growing with Solid Mediums
Rockwool and Hydrotons are only a few mediums one can utilize in hydroponics
When using Medium Culture Hydroponics the plants roots are planted in a solid medium and each subcategory is named after the medium used. The main mediums used in Medium Culture are: Expanded Clay, Rock Wool, Coir, Perlite, pumice, Vermiculite, Sand, Gravel, Brick Shards, Polystyrene Packing Peanuts, and Wood Fiber. There are two main variations for each Medium Culture, Sub-Irrigation and Top-Irrigation. Irrigation is the science of artificial application of water. Sub-Irrigation is also known as seepage irrigation which is a method of irrigation where water is delivered to the plant root from below the surface and absorbed upwards. Some of the Medium Culture Hydroponic methods are: Passive Sub-Irrigation, Ebb and Flow or Flood and Drain Sub-irrigation, Run to Waste, Deep Water Culture, and Bubbleponics.
Passive Sub-Irrigation or passive hydroponics is where plants are grown in a porous medium that absorbs water and nutrients as needed from a separate reservoir that the roots can then absorb proper nutrients from. Ebb and Flow or Flood and Drain Sub-Irrigation is a form of Medium Culture Hydroponics where a tray above a reservoir of nutrient solution is filled with a growing medium and plants or there could be pots filled with a medium standing in the tray. Usually a timer will cause a pump to fill the tray with the nutrient solution and then drain back into the lower reservoir. In the Run to Waste system the nutrient solution is periodically applied to the medium. This could be done manually or automatically with a pump and timer. Deep Water Culture is a form of Medium Culture Hydroponics where the plants roots are suspended in a nutrient rich, oxygenated water solution. Bubbleponics is where nutrient solution is pumped from the reservoir over the plants roots and then runs back into the reservoir below and constantly circulated through the system.
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