- Author: Jane E. Curtis
- Narrator: Raja Spider
- Length: 3 hours, 16 minutes
- Format: Audiobook
- Published: 04/29/2020
Summary
This hydroponics guide begins by presenting important definitions, describing essential hydroponic components, and emphasizing the massive value of growing plants without soil. The author draws the reader in with a detailed illustration of the soil-free growing operation in their own office, enticing them to discover the mechanisms that make such a system possible. This intimately detailed illustration sets the tone for the rest of the guide.
After the introduction, the book dives into the history of hydroponic research, dating as far back as 1860, the beginning of European scientists growing green plants without soil. As the reader travels through time, concepts concerning the misinformed “Old Humus Theory”, practical military applications, and case studies from around the world will be revealed.
There are smatterings of historical references throughout this guide to support the author’s claims, however; the book wastes no time teaching readers how to build a working hydroponic system in chapter 3. Using common items found around the house or from the hardware store, anyone willing to do the work can build the systems described in this guide.
Great care is taken to warn readers against exposing plants to potentially toxic materials. For example, the guide draws attention to certain metals and substrates that are reactive to nutrient salts used to fertilize the operation. Chemically inert materials are preferred to avoid poisoning your plants. This includes using coconut fiber as a substrate and bitumen paint to line any metal surfaces that will contain the nutrient solution.
This guide will teach you how to care for hydroponically grown plants, from seed sowing to harvesting and beyond. For example, growers should always avoid top-watering as water droplets can magnify the sun’s rays and damage the plant. Wilted or dying foliage should also be removed immediately to keep rotting bacteria from infecting the system.
Flower walls, peat moss pillars, hydroponic barrels, and many more soil-less systems are covered in great detail, giving the reader a diverse toolset to grow plants in a variety of settings. Most notably, this guide gives its readers the know-how to grow plants anywhere, despite their access to nutrient-dense soil.
The latter end of the book is dedicated to practical applications for hydroponic systems and an optimistic take on how hydroponics can help societies achieve sustainability. The author speculates how hydroponic agriculture will become a necessary adaptation to anthropogenic climate change in soil-deficient areas. This is made especially apparent through algae cultivation, a plant-based protein source that the author theorizes will help feed the world’s growing population.
Main Takeaways
Hydroponics Definition
Hydroponics, when split by its roots is “hydro“, the Greek word for water, and “ponos“, the Greek word for work. The word we have today is defined by the cultivation of plants grown using nutrient-infused water which satisfies the plant’s hunger and thirst.
Hydroponically grown plants feed from their roots, not from the soil. This change distinguishes the method in question from geoponics, plants grown from the soil, and aeroponics, plants grown from air saturated with moisture.
Old Humus Theory
Not hummus, the chickpea spread. I’m talking about humus, the nutrient-dense product of decayed organic matter that makes for fertile agricultural soil. Minerals and especially Nitrogen are essential nutrients for growing healthy plants but the Nitrogen contained in humus is wholly unavailable to plants.
For a long time, the likes of Jean-Baptiste Boussingault (1802-1887) hypothesized that plants require soil and feed directly from the soil’s humic content. Today, this old theory is proven scientifically inaccurate and the success of hydroponic systems is a testament to that.
This concept is thoroughly explained in the hydroponics guide, but briefly, plants depend on microorganisms to consume the soil’s humic material. The microbe’s digestion process transforms the humus into a compatible for plants and water serves as a vehicle that transfers the digested nitrogen to the plant’s roots.
In hydroponic systems, the microbial “middle man” is cut out and nutrient-rich mineral salts are applied to the constant trickle of water. The mechanisms of osmosis and capillary action do the rest of the work to distribute moisture and nutrients throughout the plants, satisfying the plant’s hunger and thirst.
Hydroponic Substrates
Substrates refer to the structural base that helps anchor the plant while its roots grow into the water/nutrient solution. The first substrate presented to the reader is coconut fiber, the stringy husk surrounding the coconut.
The guide elaborates over several suitable substrate materials, but coconut fiber is highlighted because it checks off many boxes for a great substrate.
Coconut fiber is:
- Chemically inert (unreactive)
- Resistant to rot
- Porous (large partials)
- Lightweight
- Moisture retentive
Review
While not the longest guide out there, this 3-hour long audiobook is dense with value. The author is concise cutting straight to the necessary information while maintaining an engaging tone.
The mental images illustrated by the author and narrator paint a clear picture for readers and listeners alike. This makes following along with DIY hydroponic builds as easy as taking notes as you listen.
One small concern where the audiobook falters is wherever information is presented in a chart structure. Not that this information is inaccurate, but audiobook listeners can expect charts to be read out literally. Especially in the plant nutrition chapter, I found my listening session disjointed by a long list of chemicals and measurements that seemed to go in one ear and out the other as I had no way to take detailed notes at the time.
Nonetheless, the information is accurate and crucial for refining a hydroponic nutrient solution. I recommend that audiobook listeners keep a pen and paper handy for sections like this, pausing here and there to catch up.
Thankfully, each chapter is titled so that audiobook listeners may skip between chapters to find the information they need with ease.
Sustineri Score
I highly recommend this guide to beginners and experienced hydroponic growers. The knowledge here is substantially valuable for growers at any level. My experience listening to this guide was positive and I will continue to reference it once my seedlings are mature enough to transfer over to my own hydroponic tower.
I appreciate the author’s attention to detail and their dedication to producing this masterpiece for the aquaculture community. I also commend the narrator for lending their voice for a divine and easy listening experience.
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