Garden Lover answers:

Rice can be cultivated by Hydroponics; but the capital investment is so huge that it is not economical. Of course, for the small scale experimenter – you can have fun with this.

The advantage of rice hydroponics is surely that the cultivator need not depend upon the whims of the Rains – sok it may be done on a large scale sometime in the near future.

Garden Lover answers:

There is no single method of hydroponics. All you need is water and a way to keep it from becoming de-oxygenated. You can use aquarium air pumps in a simple setup, along with a misting water pump, and an enclosed plastic reservoir. You also need to add pure nutrients into the water and have a way to keep algae from forming (algae is the weeds in hydro gardening).

Check out hydroponic on wikipedia for additional information.

Garden Lover answers:

I’d like to help you with this question, but I am a lot confused.

You speak of items that may not necessarily be part of the same system.

Are the roots of the plants going to be completely exposed and sprayed or fogged with a nutrient solution every 15 minutes (or so)? Or Are the plants going to be planted in an inert medium and watered, either by flooding or drip irrigation?

The reason I ask – is the type of pot you would use is different for different types of watering techniques. In a DIY flood and drain system, you could use standard pots with bottom drainage and add holes about an inch up the sides of the pot by melting holes with a soldering iron. The potting medium could be as simple as clean pea gravel or you could buy LECA (lightweight expanded clay aggregate).

If the roots are going to be exposed (and sprayed or fogged), you don’t need ‘pots’ per say but something as simple as a small piece of foam to wrap around the stem where in meets the roots to keep the plants stable in the cover. The roots would be completely exposed in the lightproof container of your choice.

I have about 30 plants growing in semi-hydroponics – which is also a bit different than the two you mention.

Garden Lover answers:

You can grow almost any kind of fruit or vegetable through this system.

Some day, I imagine, we will build “enclosed cities” on the bottom of bays and along coastal regions. All kinds of food will be grown hydroponically – all you need is the equipment and some seeds…