Hydroponics is growing plants without using soil. We will look at the benefits of hydroponics as well as some of the negative factors. Also, we will actually use what we learn in class to create our own hydroponics project. Using an old drinking bottle, students will create a wick style hydroponics apparatus where they can grow several different varieties of plants. Students will also keep a log sheet of their plant's growth as well as the weather conditions.

Here I am being a bean counter- just look at that focus.

Here is my best Vanna White pose to display all the different types of seeds students will be able to select.

This is a picture of our class’s hydroponics system- NFT (Nutrient Film Technique). Notice the reservoir on the lower left which holds the nutrient solution and pump. The pump pushes the solution into the system where the roots of the plants are saturated. The pump is set on a timer and runs for 15 minutes and then shuts off for 15 minutes. The lights are grow lights and they too are on a timer set to come on at 6 a.m. and shut off at 9 p.m. Remember, anytime you are dealing with electric and water to use GFI outlets.

This is a closer look at the system. Each hole can be filled with a plant. I use Macroplug plant starters to transplant student plants once their plant is too large for their system. Only a few plants are growing at this point due to testing they system- which I am happy to say seems to be working