In a message dated 1/19/2004 5:03:51 PM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

Hydroponics is just growing plants in a nonsoil circulating nutrient
system. The niftiest one I've seen is a hydroponic fogger where the roots
just sit bathed in fog. But the basic difference is that in soil the
nutrients are stored on clays (which are positively charged), whereas in
hydroponics, the nutrients aren't stored at all; they are constantly
added.

The trouble with any of these systems is that they have to be clean.
Oomycetes and algae *love* water, and once you get them in the nutrient
system you need to add fungicides and algicides, or the plants die or they
tubes get clogged.

Nina


I have not been to EPCOT in a long time, but the Land Exhibit had a number
of demonstration systems. One used the fog you mention, It hung the plants on
wires and moved then on an overhead belt through banks of misters and then
into the "open" greenhouse air, then back into the mister. The plants looked
healthy and they claimed to use the produce in the Land restaurant. Of course
this was "Disney."

Billy on the Florida Space Coast
BSF Annual Convention May 28 - 31, 2004 Radisson Hotel, Cape Canaveral,
Florida
Sponsored by The Bonsai Society of Brevard and the Treasure Coast Bonsai
Society
http://www.bonsaisocietyofbrevard.org/2004/2004.html

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