Hydroponics
Terminology
Select the first letter of the word
from the list above to jump to
the appropriate section of the glossary.
- ACID
- a sour substance: An acidic solution has a pH below 7
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- AERATION
- Supplying soil and roots with air or oxygen.
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- ALKALINE
- refers to medium or nutrient solution with a high pH: Any pH over
7 is considered alkaline
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- AMPERE (AMP)
- the unit used to measure the strength of an electric current: A 20-amp
circuit is overloaded when drawing more that 17 amps
- BLOSSOM BOOSTER
- fertilizer high in phosphorus (P) that increases flower yield
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- BOLT
- term used to describe a plant that has run into seed prematurely
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- BURN
- Leaf tips that turn dark from excess fertilizer and salt burn
- CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)
- a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas in the air necessary for plant
life. Occurs naturally in the atmosphere at .03%
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- CHLOROSIS
- the condition of a sick plant with yellowing leaves due to inadequate
formation of chlorophyll: Chlorosis is caused by a nutrient deficiency,
usually iron or imbalanced pH.
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- CLONE
- A plant produced through asexual reproduction including, but not limited
to, cuttings, layering and tissue culture
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- CONDITIONING
- to soak new Rockwool in an acidic solution to lower the pH from 8,0
to 5.5
- DAMPING OFF FUNGUS
- disease that attacks young seedlings and cuttings causing stem to
rot at base: Overwatering is the main cause of damping-off
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- DISSOLVED SOLIDS
- the amount of dissolved solids, usually fertilizer salts, that are
measured in water in parts per million
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- DRIP SYSTEM
- a very efficient watering system that employs a main hose with small
water emitters. Water is metered out of the emitters, one drop at a
time
- ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY (EC)
- the ability of a solution to carry electrical energy as a result of
the elements and compounds in the solution
- FOLIAR FEEDING
- misting fertilizer solution which is absorbed by the foliage
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- FUNGICIDE
- a product that destroys or inhibits fungus
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- FUNGUS: DAMPING OFF FUNGUS
- disease that attacks young seedlings and cuttings causing stem to
rot at base: Overwatering is the main cause of damping-off
- GERMINATION
- the process of causing the initiation and development of a plant from
seed
- HALOGEN
- any of the elements flowering, chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine
existing in a free state: Halogens are in the arc tube of a halide lamp
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- HARDEN-OFF
- to gradually acclimatize a plant to a more harsh environment. A seedling
must be hardened-off before planting outdoors
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- HID
- High Intensity Discharge (referring to light bulbs used in hydroponic
gardens)
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- HOOD
- reflective cover of a HID lamp: A large, white Hood is very reflective
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- HOR
- the abbreviation stamped on some HID bulbs meaning they may be burned
in a horizontal position
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- HORMONE
- Chemical substance that controls the growth and development of a plant.
Root-inducing hormones help cuttings root
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- HYBRID
- an offspring from two plants of different breeds, variety or genetic
make-up
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- HYDRATED LIME
- instantly soluble lime, used to raise or lower pH
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- HYGROMETER
- instrument for measuring relative humidity in the atmosphere: A hygrometer
will save time, frustration and money
- INTENSITY
- the magnitude of light energy per unit: Intensity diminishes the farther
away from the source
- KILOWATT-HOUR
- measure of electricity used per hour: A 1000 watt HID uses one kilowatt
per hour
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- LEAF CURL
- leaf malformation due to overwatering, over fertilization, lack of
magnesium, insect or fungus damage or negative tropism
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- LUMEN
- measurement of light output: One lumen is equal to the amount of light
emitted by one candle that falls on one square foot of surface located
one foot away from one candle.
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- MACRO-NUTRIENT
- one or all of the primary nutrients N-P-K or the secondary nutrients
magnesium and calcium
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- MICRO-NUTRIENT
- also referred to a TRACE ELEMENTS ,including S, Fe, Mn B, Mb, An and
Cu
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- MONOCHROMATIC
- producing only one colour: LP sodium lamps are monochromatic
- NFT (NUTRIENT FILM TECHNIQUE)
- nutrient is fed into growtubes where the roots draw it up. A thin
film of nutrient allows the roots to have constant contact with the
nutrient and the air layer above at the same time.
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- NUTRIENT
- plant food, essential elements N-P-K, secondary and trace elements
fundamental to plant life
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- NUTRIENTS, SECONDARY
- Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)
- pH
- a scale from 1 to 14 that measures the acid to alkaline balance of
a growing medium (or anything): In general plants grow best in a range
of 6 to 6.8 pH 6.3 is considered ideal. If the pH is not within the
acceptable range nutrients may not be absorbed to maximum capacity
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- PERLITE
- 1. Sand or volcanic glass, expanded by heat, holds water and nutrients
on its many irregular surfaces
2. Mineral soil amendment
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- PHOTOPERIOD
- the relationship between the length of light and dark in a 24 hour
period
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- PHOTOSYNTHESIS
- the process by which plants use light energy to collect carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere and convert it to chemical energy in the form of
sugar
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- POLLINATION
- the transfer of pollen from a stamen to a pistel. Often enhanced by
environmental manipulation , plant movement through shaking or vibrating
or the introduction of bees into the growing area
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- PROPAGATE
- 1 Sexual - produce a seed by breeding different male and female flowers
2 Asexual - to produce a plant by taking cuttings
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- PYRETHRUM
- natural insecticide made from the blossoms of various chrysanthemums
- RESERVOIR
- any container of a variety of constructions which holds water in reserve
for use
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- REVERSE OSMOSIS (R/O)
- water that has had all contaminates and salts removed.
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- ROCKWOOL
- inert, soilless growing medium consisting of thin strand-like fibres
made from rocks
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- SECONDARY NUTRIENTS
- Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)
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- SYSTEMIC
- used in reference to a disease within the plant tissue, not initiated
from the external cells. Also refers to materials and compounds which
are taken up or absorbed by the plant and designed to fight disease
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- VERMICULITE
- mica processed and expanded by heat. Vermiculite is a good soil amendment
and medium for rooting cuttings
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- WETTING AGENT
- compound the reduces the droplet size and lowers the surface tension
of the water, making it wetter. Liquid concentrate dish soap is a good
wetting agent if it is biodegradable
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- WICK
- part of a passive hydroponic system using a wick suspended in the
nutrient solution, the nutrients pass up the wick and are absorbed by
the medium and roots
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