Good Earth Earl Grey Tea
Good Earth Earl Grey Tea No items matching your keywords were found. Hydroponics/Organic...
Good Earth Earl Grey Tea
![The Good Earth [No CDs]](http://www.recycling-4u.com/media/images/i/31iGAOwIiZL._SL75_.jpg)
![Planet Earth (Six-Disc Special Edition) [Blu-ray]](http://www.recycling-4u.com/media/images/i/51lDXclMHEL._SL75_.jpg)
Hydroponics/Organics - Whats the difference?
Is Hydroponics the same thing as Organics?
No, not really, but hydroponics is often mistakenly thought of as being organic. Organics is a method of growing plants, most commonly, vegetables, by using materials that have not been ‘processed' (chemically or otherwise) and changed from their natural state, whereas hydroponic produce is usually grown using solutions of chemicals and minerals in order to provide the plants with the nutrients they need to grow. Just like many growers who use traditional growing methods, hydroponic growers often use pesticides of some sort to keep the plants free from bugs and diseases.
There is an area of hydroponics incorrectly referred to as organic hydroponics. When people refer to this growing method, it is not the type of system, but rather the type of nutrients and pest control within the hydroponics system that is being referred to.
In some cases, it is possible for the hydroponic grower to meet the standards that organics demand by using a special mix of nutrients and natural pesticides. When hydroponic produce has been grown in this manner, the label on the product packaging will show the word ‘organic' which is usually white and usually on a green background, although nowadays, this varies and can be any colour.
Hydroponics fertilizer is very different to that used by the organic method both in its composition and in the way it delivers the nutrients to the plant. Organic fertilizers rely upon the bacteria and microbes around the base of the plant to break down the material to its basic elements in order for the plant to use.
The main difference between hydroponic and organic fertilizer is that hydroponics fertilizers contain (or should do) the right amount all of the essential micro-nutrients required by the plant. In an organic system, the plant roots are expected to find these shortfalls themselves from the soil.
When natural pesticides are being used in an hydroponics setup, such as Phyto Mites (Phytoselulus persimilis), as a rule, less are used because of the nature of hydroponics, i.e. The growing medium; no soil based bugs to start with gives a head start and allows an almost brazen attitude that as there are no bugs to start with, little else is required.
Incidentally, natural pesticides do not just include using good bugs to kill bad ones. There are lots of different natural methods including; crushing a few aphids near the growing areas, or a known aphid infestation. Crushed aphids release a chemical at the point of death which signals to the remaining ones to leave, quickly.
Bugs which hide on the underside of leaves can be confused by positioning a mirror, or plate of reflective metal at the base of the plant. This reflects the light up to the underneath of the plant leaves disorientating the bugs. It also helps the plant by giving light to otherwise sheltered areas.
Calcium and charcoal dust or powdered bone meal also works great on most aphids. Soap spray is another common natural pesticide, as is using garlic oil sprays. If I ever encounter an aphid infestation, I most often use dust of diatomaceous earth. It works a treat. Care is needed not to inhale this dust!
There are also many versions of using fruit rinds, or ‘tea' which is said to have repelling qualities however; I have never had any luck using any of them, and if we are talking about Earl Grey, I would rather drink it than throw it on my plants!
George.
About the Author
Hello, my name is George Pattenson and it is a pleasure to introduce myself. I have just retired from a lifetimes work in the gardening industry. It is a huge industry nowadays, very different from when I first started as a lad back in the late 50′s. I have always had a keen interest in all types of gardening but for the last 28 years, have been involved in hydroponic gardening systems of some sort or another. These systems have also developed greatly since I first began to learn about them. In those days a rusty old bucket formed the tub, and with a lick of lead based paint (illegal nowadays) soon became a great sight when overflowing with whatever was growing inside! I was born in the mid 40′s and then, hydroponics was relatively unheard of from a home growers point of view. It had much more following in Europe and was used especially in Holland. During my time working at various gardening institutes, owning and running my own gardening centres and working abroad, I have experienced, and personally used every different type of Hydroponic system available, from single tub, static solution cultures to continuous flow systems, from aeroponics to passive sub-irrigation systems, from ebb and flow/flood and drain to run to waste and deep water culture systems. You name it, and I have set it up at some point. I didn't plan to go in this direction, it's where my work took me and I'm glad it did. In my late 30′s I lived and worked in Holland, in a small town (that isn't so small nowadays) called Emerloord. Here I began learning all about the Dutch Pot system. The Bato. A simple, safe top-drip setup system mainly used for growing vegetables peppers or fruit, but these were used in such large volumes in the Netherlands I was initially shocked when I first set eyes upon them. Acres of pots as far as the eyes could see! Later in my life, in my late 40′s I returned to England and began working on advanced hydroponic systems, including modifications to Bubbler systems which now form part of the Bubbler systems that can be bought today from any retail outlet. Now retired, I can finally sit back and enjoy what I really enjoy doing and that is showing and telling people about the gardening methods of hydroponics. I have written my first book for beginners, and depending on the feedback, which has been positive so far, I intend writing further books which will include intermediate and advanced skill levels, and also include some system setups rarely heard of or used in this country but very effective for growing fruit. You can get the first free chapters free from the howto hydropoics website in the book section. So, that is me. I have spent a total of over 55 years, as a lad, and later, as my career in gardening. A pet hate of mine is people that can't do their job properly. I have met just about every ‘celebrity' gardener there is (I've taught many of them) and it is my claim that there is no question about hydroponic gardening that I can't answer.I currently live between my properties in Devon and London but will shortly be moving, one last time, back to Devon, where I will start ‘taking things easy' and hopefully continue writing my books. Oh, and Taking things Easy!! Kindest Regards George Pattenson