Getting Started in Hydroponic Gardening

This class will focus on growing edible things--fruits and vegetables--rather than flowers. You'll get an overview of hydroponics and how it compares to soil-based gardening. We'll briefly review several common hydroponic techniques and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques.

The focus of the class will be on one particular technique, "Deep Water Culture." A variation on this technique will be used in a simple, hands-on project you'll work on at home, which will involve growing a head of lettuce. The goals of this project will be to give you experience with some of the basics of hydroponic growing and to provide knowledge that will help you step up to more complex systems that are capable of growing a wider variety of crops, if you choose to do so later.

List of topics we'll be covering:

• Contrasts between soil-based and hydroponic gardening
• Advantages of hydroponics/Potential problems
• Introducing...the Deep Water Culture technique
• A day in the life of a hydroponic gardener
• "An intensive care unit for your plants"
• Equipment requirements for your hydroponic setup
• "The Experiment": your homework assignment
• "Tips & Tricks" (water, seed sowing, "food safe" plastic, hydrogen peroxide, air stones, pumps, lighting, algae prevention, root rot, cinnamon, "tip burn," overfeeding, nutrient mixing/changing procedures, specialized hydroponic nutrients, topping off nutrients/water)
• Sources for more information

You'll receive a kit with most of the supplies you'll need for the project, along with instructions on how to complete it at home.