Hydroponics and Aeroponics

Plants are cultivated in hydroponic pipes.

Hydroponics is a modern farming system which excludes the use of soil. Hydroponics was first discovered by Dr. W. F. Gericke from University of California in 1936.
Hydroponics uses water and porous materials as media, such as; chaff charcoal, sand, pumice, and pebbles. Nutrients needed by plants flow through water pipes. Plants can also be placed over
the nutrient container where their roots will be able to absorb nutrients from the nutrient container. Thus in a hydroponic system, the plant roots are always soaked with nutrient liquid.

Aeroponic planting.

Aeroponics is a way of farming by hanging the plant root down in the air without them adhering to any media. Nutrients needed by the plants are given by spraying water containing nutrients onto the hanging roots. The spraying is performed automatically by using a spraying device which is equipped with a timer (time controller).
Both farming methods are now being utilized in my country, Indonesia. The kinds of plants which are cultivated are generally vegetables and fruit.

The advantages of farming using hydroponic and aero ponic methods are as follow:

• They do not depend on the place and season, like extensive land or higher ground.
• The vegetables or fruit produced have better quaity than the ones using soil.
• They do not need much fertilizer because the frequency of its quantity is pre-determined.
• They are free form pest attacks and diseases originating from the soil.

Steps for implementing hydroponics farming
In implementing hydroponic farming, there are several steps to take:

1. Preparing the sowing medium
   The sowing media commonly used are chaff charcoal, sand, refined bricks, or other porous and strerile materials.
   
   
   Chaff charcoal.
2. Raising seedlingsFor raising seedlings, chaff charcoal or ready-to-use jiffy-7 media can be used.
3. WeaningTwo-week plants are moved to small pots with a sand medium and given nutrients every morning and afternoon.
4. PlantingSeeds from small pots are then transferred into polyethylene for planting. The time when plants are moved in this manner is varied according to the kind of plants.
5. MaintenanceHydroponic farming needs careful maintenance. Some ways to look after hydroponic plants are:
   1) Watering, is conducted 5-8 times a day
   2) Binding (tying of) or straking, at one week melon or cucumber plants should be given stakes so      that they can grow upright.
   3) Opting for productive stems, one or two stems are chosen to be the main stems.
   4) Prunting, is conducted every two days for leaves growing on axillary leaves.
   5) Pest control, is conducted by using insecticides with appropriate dosages.

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