Urban Hydroponics - Jargon Buster
Urban Hydroponics offers all the advice you need to get you growing. We hope our list of common hydroponic terms is useful. If you have any question please call Urban Hydroponics on 01204 522217 or send us an email: sales@urbanhydroponics.co.uk
A
ACID a sour substance: An acidic solution has a pH below 7
AERATION Supplying a growing medium and roots with air or oxygen.
ALKALINE refers to medium or nutrient solution with a high pH: Any pH over 7 is considered alkaline
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
B
BLOOM fertilizer high in phosphorus (P) that increases flower or bud yield
BOLT term used to describe a plant that has run into seed prematurely
BURN Leaf tips that turn dark from excess fertilizer, light or salt burn
C
CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas in the air necessary for plant life. Occurs naturally in the atmosphere at .03%
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.
CLONE A plant produced through asexual reproduction including, but not limited to, cuttings, layering and tissue culture
CONDITIONING to soak new Rockwool in an acidic solution to lower the pH from 8,0 to 5.5
D
DAMPING OFF FUNGUS disease that attacks young seedlings and cuttings causing stem to rot at base: Overwatering is the main cause of damping-off
DISSOLVED SOLIDS the amount of dissolved solids, usually fertilizer salts, that are measured in water in parts per million
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
E
ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY (EC) the ability of a solution to carry electrical energy as a result of the elements and compounds in the solutionF
FOLIAR FEEDING misting fertilizer solution which is absorbed by the foliage FUNGICIDE a product that destroys or inhibits fungus FUNGUS: DAMPING OFF FUNGUS disease that attacks young seedlings and cuttings causing stem to rot at base: Overwatering is the main cause of damping-offG
GERMINATION the process of causing the initiation and development of a plant from seedH
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
HARDEN-OFF to gradually acclimatize a plant to a more harsh environment. A seedling must be hardened-off before planting outdoors
HID High Intensity Discharge (referring to light bulbs used in hydroponic gardens)
HOOD reflective cover of a HID lamp: A large, white Hood is very reflective HOR the abbreviation stamped on some HID bulbs meaning they may be burned in a horizontal position
HORMONE Chemical substance that controls the growth and development of a plant. Root-inducing hormones help cuttings root
HYBRID an offspring from two plants of different breeds, variety or genetic make-up
HYDRATED LIME instantly soluble lime, used to raise or lower pH
HYGROMETER instrument for measuring relative humidity in the atmosphere: A hygrometer will save time, frustration and money
I
INTENSITY the magnitude of light energy per unit: Intensity diminishes the farther away from the sourceK
KILOWATT-HOUR measure of electricity used per hour: A 1000 watt HID uses one kilowatt per hourL
LEAF CURL leaf malformation due to overwatering, over fertilization, lack of magnesium, insect or fungus damage or negative tropism
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.
M
MACRO-NUTRIENT one or all of the primary nutrients N-P-K or the secondary nutrients magnesium and calcium
MICRO-NUTRIENT also referred to a TRACE ELEMENTS ,including S, Fe, Mn B, Mb, An and Cu
MONOCHROMATIC producing only one colour: LP sodium lamps are monochromatic
N
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.
NUTRIENT plant food, essential elements N-P-K, secondary and trace elements fundamental to plant life NUTRIENTS, SECONDARY Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)
P
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
PERLITE Sand or volcanic glass, expanded by heat, holds water and nutrients on its many irregular surfaces
PHOTOPERIOD the relationship between the length of light and dark in a 24 hour period
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
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
PROPAGATE 1 Sexual - produce a seed by breeding different male and female flowers
2 Asexual - to produce a plant by taking cuttings
PYRETHRUM natural insecticide made from the blossoms of various chrysanthemums
R
RESERVOIR any container of a variety of constructions which holds water in reserve for use
REVERSE OSMOSIS (R/O) water that has had all contaminates and salts removed.
ROCKWOOL inert, soilless growing medium consisting of thin strand-like fibres made from rocks
S
SECONDARY NUTRIENTS Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)
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
U
URBAN HYDROPONICS the UK's leading Hydroponics Supplier !!!!!V
VERMICULITE mica processed and expanded by heat. Vermiculite is a good soil amendment and medium for rooting cuttingsW
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
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