Soilless Growing Media

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Soilless Growing Media

• By Johnny M. Jessup
• Agriculture Teacher/FFA Advisor

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Soils Growing Media

• Made up of two types of materials.
• Organic Matter
• Inorganic Compounds

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Organic Matter

• Dead plant or animal tissue.
• Contains carbon.
• Usually has diseases or insects.

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Types of Organic Matter

• Compost
• Mixture of partially decayed organic matter.

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Types of Organic Matter

• Bark
• Particles too large to use in
  seed germination media.

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Types of Organic Matter

• Mulch
• Material placed on soil to break the fall of
  raindrops (prevents erosion), prevent weeds from
  growing, or improve the appearance of the area.
• Used to cover soil to help hold moisture and
  prevent weeds.

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Mulch
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Types of Organic Matter

• Straw

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Types of Organic Matter

• Peat Moss
• Type of organic matter made from sphagnum moss.

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Types of Organic Matter

• Sphagnum
• Pale ashy mosses used to condition soil.

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Types of Organic Matter

• Sawdust Wood Shavings
• High carbon to nitrogen ratio that makes nitrogen
  unavailable for plant use.

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Inorganic Compounds

• Do not contain carbon
• Usually sterile.

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Types of Inorganic Compounds

• Soilless Media
• Artificial soil.
• Perlite
• Natural volcanic material.
• Helps aeration.
• Improves water-holding capacity.

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Perlite
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Vermiculite

• Vermiculite
• Mica mineral matter used to start seeds and
  cuttings.
• Helps hold moisture.
• Has neutral pH.

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pH

• Most organic matter is acid.
• Most artificial media is neutral.

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Hydroponics
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Hydroponics

• The process of growing plants without soil.

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Types of Systems

• Aggregate System
• Using sand or gravel to support plant roots.

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Types of Systems

• Water Culture
• Also called solution culture or nutriculture.
• Plant roots grow in water containing dissolved
  nutrients.

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Types of Systems

• Aeroponics
• Plant roots hang in air and are misted regularly
  with a nutrient solution.

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Types of Systems

• Continuous Flow System
• Nutrient solution flows constantly over plant
  roots.
• Most commonly used for commercial production.

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Advantage of Hydroponics

• No soil problems associated with soil.
• Easy to control nutrient content of plants.

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Disadvantages of Hydroponics

• Plant support must be provided with strings,
  wires, or stakes.
• Water quality must be high.
• Diseases spread through water.
• More moisture or humidity in air to cause
  favorable environment for disease organisms.
• More expensive.

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Designed By

• Johnny M. Jessup FFA Advisor
• Hobbton High School