Park Seed Garden Journal

Park Seed Blog Question of the Day!

This question actually comes from me. I was intrigued by a reader’s email and decided to dig further into the subject.

The other day I got an email from a Hydroponics gardener. Hydroponics is growing plants without soil. There are a few different methods of hydroponics gardening, all involve exposing the roots of your plants directly to a nutrient rich fluid solution. This reduces the work that the roots have to do and allows the plant to focus growth on the parts that gardeners like the most.

This particular gardener has tried a few seed starting systems for his garden, and hasn’t had much success starting seeds for hydroponics purposes. He said he used to buy seedlings from local growers, but had issues with the potting soil, and wanted to try germinating his own seeds. He told me that he is going to try the Park Seed Bio Dome seed starting system this season and see how compatible it is with hydroponic growing methods.

Honestly, I don’t know anything about hydroponics, and I’m not sure how the Bio Dome would perform for that purpose. I emailed my question to one of the Park Seed Horticulturists. He wasn’t sure how the seedlings from the Bio Dome would work for hydroponics. He said that the sponges, made from peat and composted bark would probably have some of the same problems as plants started in soil. The sponges may break up in the watery environment. There may be other issues like shock and sturdiness of the seedlings.

Since we don’t seem to know the answer, I put it to you. If you have any experience with hydroponics, and want to share, please do. If you are a hydroponics gardener, how do you start your seeds? Do you think the Bio Dome would work well for hydroponics? Do you even start from seed?

Sorry today’s Park Seed Blog Question of the Day! wasn’t very informative, but I am sure someone knows the answer. Please let us know what you think.

Thomas
tandrews@parkseed.com

Update:

I received an answer for this question in a very helpful email from a reader and I thought I would copy it here.

I saw your blog asking about hydroponics seed starting.  It should be the same as if you are growing in dirt.  The starter plugs you have pictured are actually ideal for all aspects of seed germination, along with cloning and rooting. 
Ideally with hydroponics it is easier to use clones instead of seeds for many reasons.  I’m not familiar with this bio-dome you speak of but if it just a regular greenhouse style seed starter you should be all set.  Sunleaves, a company that makes the starter plugs has a Styrofoam float that the plug sit in that fits in the trays and is ideal for root growth.  Once you have significant root development you can than transplant the plug into just about whatever hydroponic medium you are using or no medium for at all for that matter.  Hope that answers your questions.

He then followed up with this second email.

I just wanted to add one thing about hydroponics, is that it is a very general term, and because of the broad nature of the subject people seem to mix up many of the ideas.  The basic principal of hydroponics is using nutrient rich water to fertilize your plants, most hydroponic systems use some sort of medium for the roots, it can be anything from coconut peat which i must say is an amazing product, as well as rocks, perlite, and then even medium-less units.  The media systems can be very similar to container gardening.

That really answers alot of questions. If anyone has anymore info, please don’t be afraid to comment. I’d love to know alot more about Hydroponics.