Anybody have plans or instructions for building a PVC hydroponics system?

[Gato Moteado]

I want to take a look at some large home systems or small commercial systems that I can make with materials like PVC and have outside in full sun. Anybody ever done this?

When I'm living out on my rain forest property I plan to grow all my own organic food and I think hydroponics will be the way to go. If I'm successful, I wouldn't mind starting a small business for producing organic produce to sell as well.

Also, has anyone ever done aquaculture? How did it work out?

[HamdenRice]

1. I'm curious and a bit puzzled

If you live in a tropical area, why would you want to grow hydroponically? Why not just grow stuff in your soil?

One disadvantage of hydroponics is that your vegetables may not contain certain micro-nutrients that are picked up from soil. Hydroponics is also much more expensive than the earth. If you want to sell the veggies, you would have to cost in all that equipment compared to digging around a bit in the soil.

Just wondering.

[Kolesar]

2. Hydroponics is the greenhouse technology that Canadian farmers use to grow tomatoes

The inputs to their system are augmented light and heat for the greenhouse. Their advantage is scant transportation costs compared to produce from Calfornia or tropical countries.

(If you put a www in front of your blog address, it should turn into a link in your sig line. (I think.))

[Gato Moteado]

3. good questions......

you're right, i do live in a tropical area and the climate is pretty good for lots of things. but, there are several reasons that make hydroponics a better option than growing in the soil here in costa rica.

first of all, unless you're in an area with volcanic soil, the earth is mainly red clay. we look at the rain forest and instantly think that the soil must be incredibly fertile, but nothing could be further from the truth. all the nutrients in the forest are trapped in the canopy. so, unless you use raised beds, it's tough to get certain things growing as well as you'd like. crops will grow so much faster in a hydro system and additionally, i can control everything that comes in contact with the roots, so i can produce fully organic crops.

additionally, because i'll be living in the middle of the forest, i think it will be easier to keep the crops away from the animals and control the insects if i have a PVC type hydro system raised up off the ground and possibly inside a simple green house.

[ThomWV]

4. If its actually a tropical area the soil is probably pretty shitty