Hydroponics

If you were marooned on the space station for quite some time and started craving a Denver omelet, let me tell you, hydroponics would save the day.

But wait, let's back up. First, what is this Hydrowhatchamacallit? Eventhough we are accustomed to finding plants grown in soil, they don't necessarily require soil to grow. A growing process which makes use of water and dissolved nutrients is known as Hydroponics. Hydro means water, ponos pertains to labor. Fundamentally, hydroponics therefore means "working water". There is a whole grocery aisle of positive results to hydroponics farming.

First, the absorption of nutrients is accelerated by cultivating in water. The growth rate of a soil plant is 30-50 percent slower than in a hydroponics plant cultivated under the same conditions. This makes for greater harvests (more!) over less time and requiring less space. Hydroponics systems deliver the necessary nutrients direct to the plant. So not like in soil, roots do not spread as much as they do. Since the plants do not need to search in the soil for the nutrients it demands and this saved energy allows them to grow quicker and produce more, scientists think that the growth rate of hydroponically grown plants is higher. Pretty impressive.

BC Northern Lights is America's premiere hydroponics resource for the professional grower. Their line of grow boxes and grow cabinets are perfect for the hobbyist or the professional. Their line of nutrients is unsurpassed.
You got that right. For many years NASA has been finding means for space station astronauts and eventually planetary colonizers to grow their own food. Because there is no low-cost or less complicated manner for them to take 3 years of food stuff with them, it has become a necessity. In space, where longer term life will have to be supported as we venture out further and further, hydroponics proves to be the most able means to generate fresh foods. It will aid minimize the weight of the provisions that need to be taken off the Earth. Colonists will need to use more efficient agricultural techniques than those on Earth because space is at a premium in outer space colonies. Although hydroponics doesn't need soil and takes up less space than usual methods, plants grown hydroponically are oftentimes larger and healthier than plants grown conventionally. Also a cleaner technique of cultivating plants than soil-based systems is hydroponics. With a plant system, it was also thought that the filthy water produced by the astronauts could be sterilized by recycling.

Astronauts can definitely grow anything their stomachs desire, as long as they have the seeds and the space to do so. Basil. Tomato. Spinach. Oranges. Bananas. Mushrooms. Anything. So our astronauts' tummies will be kept happy with all the best delicacies from Earth. Thank goodness for hydroponics.

If you were marooned on the space station for six months and started craving a Denver omelet, let me tell you, whether you're in Beijing or Los Angeles, hydroponics would help you.

But wait, let's rewind a bit there. First, what is this Hydrowhatchamacallit? Eventhough we are accustomed to finding plants grown in soil, they do not actually need soil to thrive. A growing method which makes use of water and melted nutrients is called Hydroponics. "Hydro" = water and "ponos" = labor. Essentially, hydroponics therefore means "working water". There is a whole grocery aisle of benefits to hydroponics farming.

First, by growing in water the absorption of nutrients is speeded. The growth speed on a hydroponics plant is 30-50 percent faster than in a soil plant cultivated under similar conditions. This makes for plentiful yields (more!) over less time and utilizing less space. Hydroponics systems deliver the necessary sustenance direct to the plant. Therefore unlike in soil, roots do not spread as much and widely as they do. Since the plants don't need to hunt in the soil for the nutrients it demands and this saved energy allows them to grow quicker and yield more, scientists think that the growth rate of hydroponically grown plants is greater. Quite impressive.

BC Northern Lights is the premiere Los Angeles hydroponics resource for the professional grower. Their line of grow lights including the newly developed LED grow lights are perfect for the hobbyist or the professional.
That's right. For a good number of years NASA has been finding means for space station astronauts and finally planetary colonizers to generate their own food. It's a must as there is no economic or viable way for them to bring 3 years of food stuff with them. In space, where longer term life will have to be supported as we venture out further and further, hydroponics proves to be the most efficient way to generate fresh foods. The mass of the cargoes that have to be taken with them outside Earth will be decreased considerably.. And, since space is at a premium in outer space settlements, colonists will need to utilize more efficient agricultural techniques than those utilized on Earth. Plants grown hydroponically are frequently bigger and healthier than plants grown naturally, even though hydroponics does not need soil and takes up less space than normal means. Also a cleaner method of growing plants than soil-based systems is hydroponics. Via a plant system, it was also an idea that the filthy water made by the astronauts could be sterilized by cycling.

As long as they possess the seeds and the space to plant, astronauts can definitely cultivate anything their stomachs want. Fruits. Herbs. Vegetables. Just about anything. So our astronauts' stomachs will be kept satisfied with all the best delicacies from home. All due to Los Angeles hydroponics.