Dry Hydroponics. Windowfarms. Growing Medium. By Professor Hydro There are probably hundreds of different kinds of growing medium, anything that a plant can grow in is considered a growing medium. There are manmade as well as organic (natural) mediums. Even plain old AIR can be an effective growing environment for roots. I have been asked many times what growing medium is the best. This is like asking what is the best color? Or what is the best kind of vehicle to own. I have listed the most popular types of growing mediums below, click on the name to view details about the general use, advantages and disadvantages, and particular characteristics of the specified growing medium. Oasis cubes These lightweight pre-formed cubes are designed for propagation.
The cubes are meant to be a starter medium and come in three sizes up to 2" x 2". Coconut Fiber Coconut fiber is rapidly becoming one of the most popular growing mediums in the world. One word of caution about coconut fiber, you must be careful when you purchase coconut fiber. Perlite. Frugal Hydroponics. Brand New Windowfarms- Vertical Food Gardens by The Windowfarms Project. Windowfarms Now Available For Clumsy People With Short Attention Spans. Windowfarms/Promo image In 2009 Warren introduced us to Windowfarms, writing that they "take the vertical farming notion and make it both real, and more human scale. " They are "a vertical, hydroponic garden for growing food in your windows. " It became a phenomenon, an open source community of 25,080 windowfarmers around the world. Downloadable plans were provided so that handy types could build their own hydroponic farms out of PET bottles and aquarium pumps. Windowfarms take advantage of the natural light and climate of homes to grow fresh vegetables hydroponically, bathing the plants’ roots in nutrients from the sea, rather than in a traditional soil filled container.
Windowfarms/Promo image But not all of us are handy with tools, have the time to put it together or want a bunch of DIY duct-tape covered water bottles hanging in our windows. We are excited to offer this simplified and lower cost option. Be sure to check out the Windowfarms community, too.