From a growers point of view: Why I don't like hydro

[Hala]

1.Hydroponics usually requires a greater technical knowledge than crop growth in soil (geoponics).
2.Hydroponics usually requires more expensive equipment than geoponics. Most hydroponic crops are grown in greenhouses or controlled environment agriculture.
3. Hydroponics usually requires more and more frequent maintenance than geoponics. If timers or electric pumps fail or the system clogs or springs a leak, plants can die very quickly in many kinds of hydroponic systems.
4.For the previous three reasons, hydroponic crops are usually more expensive than soil-grown crops.
5.Solution culture hydroponics requires that the plants be supported because the roots have no anchorage without a solid medium.
6.Hydroponics has been widely exaggerated as miraculous.
7.Hydroponics will not always produce greater crop yields than with good quality soil.
8.Hydroponic plants cannot be spaced closer together than soil-grown crops under the same environmental conditions.
9.Hydroponic produce will not necessarily be more nutritious or delicious than soil-grown produce.

O_O Mind you, hydro can be very profitable if utilized correctly, though I would never consider growing in my house.

[d4rpa.]

I'll agree with you there Hala. With Hydroponics you really have to know what your doing, it's nowhere near as easy of a system...for a fact it's not as forgiving as soil is as well if you make a mistake. It's a better way to make money though. but as for the expenses they get pretty rough. Depending on what kind of Hydroponic system your making the prices can skyrocket. Although, you can make a hydroponic system for 30 or under if you find the materials on your own for free for the most part. The plants sort of have anchorage by the rockwool or whatever your using as a grow medium, but even that costs a little more money. As for the repairs your talking about doing if you really have to, usually once you get stuff rolling it's fine and you don't have to worry about it.

Hydroponics can get noisey too without the right equipment. I'm a soil kind of guy though, I like the idea behind Hydroponics, but I feel soil is safer and overall easier for me because all you gotta do is add water pretty much and it soaks in.

[Hala]

I would actually consider growing indoors non hydroponically. though i love the idea of 5gal containers that i can move freely.

[d4rpa.]

Thus why I like soil a lot as well, I'd hate to be limited to the movements I can make.

[Hala]

with that dwc idea of yours i'd use a ballast to measure water levels. hmm you should also consider CO2 injection. Co2 is quite cheap. for your dwc try to find tubing thats quite flexable but very durable. personally im thinking of a way to create a swiveling disc that i can have potters on.

[d4rpa.]

I saw a thing in High Times where they had the plants rotate around a high powered light, kinda like your disc idea.

[Hala]

just for easy access/watering though its not that much of a practical effort besides having to lift all that soil and mass often.

[Zmatra]

Whats the point of this? To keep people away from trying hydro?

[Hala]

this is a discussion, that is my point, these are forums, how simple a concept.

[BerettaM92FS]

Plus it's alot harder to hide, and people that live with their parents can't do it. But in the future, I'd like to have a hydro system cause it's faster, and I'm sure it's worth it once you understand it.

[Hala]

:p theres many factors about different geographical regions and whatnot, if you get geographical and landmass maps you can look for places to scout out to see if they're good spots to grow greenery

[Stygian]

i want an outdoor hydro setup, just to see the massive results (if done right). but i perfer soil. too much babysitting the plants with hydro for me.

[Hala]

outdoor with soiless mix? uh oh, the plants would be so unprotected, so much can go wrong, personally, i would buy something that would grow 20ft and just tie it down, make sure it blends in with the foliage quite well. an old guy i know showed me some crazy seeds, they were almost as big as an acorn, you don't see seeds like that much anymore.

[Zmatra]

from a growers point of view.... what a nice title would be sooo nice if the person who started it accually was a grower.

[Hala]

bahaha why would anyone be so foolish as to grow marijuana, this is a concept forum, remember? just look up a couple inches on your screen