Hydroponics 101:Hydroponics is the growing of plants without soil. Plant roots are supplied with a solution, which contains all of the essential nutrients necessary for plant growth and development. Because these plants spend less energy seeking out nutrients, they grow and develop more rapidly than plants grown in soil.
Each plant grown in a hydroponics system, which gives mechanical support and delivers nutrient solution directly to the plants roots must also be provided with sunlight or artificial light and adequate ventilation for proper gas exchange to take place. There are many hydroponics systems in which a plant can be grown and the systems vary in complexity. The simplest system can be easily constructed out of a plastic soda bottle. The most complex systems might consist of multiple containers, pumps, timers, and movable light systems. For classroom use, simple systems work best with quick results, but as the students learn, more elaborate systems can be introduced.
From elementary to high school, hydroponically grown plants can provide unique opportunities for exploration and discovery of the scientific method, descriptive writing, plant anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, genetics, drawing, mathematics, and many more topics. Once hydroponics systems are set up in your classroom, endless possibilities for learning will exist.
Growing plants hydroponically, while fun and engaging, is also a highly effective way to stimulate learning and provide students with hands-on experience in growing, observing, and interacting with other living organisms. Hydroponics in your classroom also gives your students an array of skills and abilities, which serve to bridge the gap between school and work. Many of the careers of tomorrow in science and agriculture will, most certainly, utilize this technology.
Hydroponics 101 courtesy of Agro Dynamics
Looking for Hydroponic supplies?
Be sure to visit our sister company http://harrysgardencenter.com/
© 2003 - 2005 HydroponicsClassRoom.com
Site Hosted & Maintained by
