AngleseyPonics - Hydroponics

Once a hydroponic system is up-and running, it is fairly cheap to maintain as fewer inputs are needed compared with conventional, soil-based cultivation. For a start, it is less labour-intensive.
As water is recycled, hydroponic systems conserve water by as much as 90% compared to field growing conditions. And because it's a closed system, with no nutrients leaching into soils, there are good environmental arguments for going down this route.
Nutrient-rich water is pumped, sprayed or dripped onto plant roots in a controlled environment.
At Cae Gwyn, the water is pumped along troughs, like guttering, which are raised waist-high on benches- this is called an NFT system (nutrient film technique).
We also grow in containers containing perlite or clay balls- using a drip system.
We also use floating beds for plants and we also grow aeroponically – where the roots are sprayed with a fine mist of water to which some nutrient has been added.

Hydroponeg

Unwaith mae system hydroponeg wedi’i sefydlu ac yn rhedeg mae’n eithaf rhad i’w chynnal gan fod angen llai o fewnbwn o’i gymharu ag amaethu confensiynol sy’n defnyddio pridd. I ddechrau, mae’n llawer llai llafurus.
Gan fod dŵr yn cael ei ailgylchu, mae’r systemau hydroponeg yn cynilo hyd at 90% o’i gymharu ag amgylchiadau tyfu mewn cae, a gan ei bod yn system gaeedig, gyda dim maeth yn trwytholchi i’r pridd, mae yna resymau amgylcheddol da o blaid defnyddio’r ffordd hon o dyfu.
Mae dŵr llawn maeth yn cael ei ddiferu, ei bwmpio neu ei chwistrellu ar wreiddiau’r planhigion mewn amgylchedd rheoledig.
Yng Nghae Gwyn, mae’r dŵr yn cael ei bwmpio drwy gafnau tebyg iawn i gafnau bondo sydd wedi eu dal ar feinciau sy’n cyrraedd at eich canol - mae hyn yn cael ei alw’n system NFT (nutrient film technique).
Tyfwn hefyd mewn cynhwysyddion llawn perlit neu beli clai - gan ddefnyddio system ddiferu.
Defnyddiwn hefyd wlâu fflôt ar gyfer planhigion, ac rydym hefyd yn defnyddio system aeroponeg - lle mae dŵr sydd yn cynnwys ychydig o faeth yn cael ei chwistrellu o gwmpas y gwreiddiau.

Why Hydroponics?

The poor weather endured by most of us living in a temperate climate means that the massively popular pastime of gardening is restricted to a few summer months of the year.

With the best results obtained under cover, such as a greenhouse or a polytunnel, a longer growing season is possible, with no digging or weeding and no soil-borne pests. The growing season is therefore extended by the use of hydroponics. Water usage is also kept to a minimum with the only top up of water being needed of replenishing tanks due to evaporation loss.

In an age of an ever-increasing ageing population, hydroponics enables everyone to enjoy gardening no matter whether wheelchair bound or without a garden. As no digging or weeding is needed, the hard physical nature of traditional gardening is eliminated.

Hydroponics is increasingly being used by schools as an education tool. The knowledge and interest in food production and the technology of hydroponics is being used to interest young people in the growing of their own food .

Concerns about pesticide residues and food scares such as BSE and e.coli mean that the public have little faith in the health and safety of 'big business' food companies. The only way to guarantee safe, cheap fruit and vegetables is to grow them for yourself.

hydrodome