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Hydroponic Glossary Of Terms
Have you ever wondered what is involved in Hydroponic gardening? In order to understand how to use hydroponics for gardening you will need to understand the terminology of the various parts. You will notice that some of these terms are similar to regular gardening as well.
Macroelement - Nutrients that are needed in greater amounts than any other plant nutrients. Example: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium are the three Macroelements.
Magnesium - One of the two secondary macronutrients essential for plant growth. Most soils have sufficient supplies of magnesium to insure healthy plants, but sandy soils may be deficient. In addition to activating enzymes that form oils, starch, and fats, magnesium also is a component of the chlorophyll molecule. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency appear first on older growth in the form of interveinal chlorosis. New growth is reduced or stunted.
Manganese - One of the seven micronutrients essential for plant growth. Manganese activates some important enzymes involved in chlorophyll formation. Manganese deficient plants will develop chlorosis between the veins of its leaves. The availability of manganese is partially dependent on soil pH.
Maturation - The act or process of becoming fully-grown.
Mealy bug - Scale-like plant-eating insect coated with a powdery waxy secretion; destructive especially of fruit trees
Meristem - A small group of cells that retain the capacity for rapid cell division (growth). The main meristematic areas within the plant are the apical meristems of the terminal and lateral shoots, the vascular cambium, the root apex, and the marginal meristems (active during the growth of leaves).
Metal Halide - Metal halide lights are a type of light bulb which burns very white and very bright. They require a special fixture and ballast. They are the closest thing we have to artificial sunlight, and are typically used on reefs and planted tanks. They are very efficient in terms of lumens/watt. Do not confuse these with halogen bulbs, which have a very yellow light not appropriate for plant use.
Microelements - A group of chemical elements that are needed in minute quantities for the proper growth, development, and physiology of an organism. Examples include: Iron, Manganese, Boron, Molybdenum, Copper, Zinc, and Sulfur.
Micronutrients - the minor minerals that are used by plants in small amounts, consisting of boron (B), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), and zinc (Zn).
Mineral deficiency - when a plant is not receiving a required nutrient--at all or in an insufficient amount--a disorder will result.
Mist system - A system of water delivery that can serve several functions: Propagation of cuttings, and evaporative cooling.
Mites - Mites are relatives to the spider, but are very small and often microscopic. They can be yellow, red, or green. Like their relatives, mites can spin minute webs under leaves and in joints between stems. Before you ever see the mites, you'll probably see tiny yellow spots on leaves. To confirm the presence of mites, tap leaves over a white surface where the tiny spiders will be more visible. Mites are frequently a pest of drought stressed plants and can usually be controlled by keeping plants well watered and by hosing off those that are heavily infected. Insecticidal soaps can also be used.
Mold - A common name for fungi that grow in a filamentous fashion and reproduce by means of spores; all molds are fungi, but not all fungi are considered 'molds'
Molybdenum - One of seven micronutrients essential to plant health. Molybdenum is used by plants to reduce nitrates into usable forms. Some plants use it for nitrogen fixation, thus it may need to be added to some soils before seeding legumes.
Monocot - One of two main divisions of flowering plants (the other being dicots), characterized by having a single cotyledon (seed leaf); examples include grasses, orchids, bamboos, and palms.
Monoecious - varieties or species with separate male and female flowers on each plant.
Mother plant - In hybridization, the plant or species that is pollinated in order to create hybrid seed. Also used to describe the original plant after cuttings are taken, or it sends out runners which root and establish as daughter plants. The term is frequently applied to strawberry growing where mother plants should be removed every few years to maintain health and berry production.
Mulch - A natural or artificial layer of plant residue or other material on the soil surface. Mulch reduces erosion, conserves soil moisture, inhibits weed growth, and can provide the soil with organic matter as it breaks down. Mulch till prepares the soil so as to leave plant residues (or other mulching materials) on or near the surface.
Mutation - A change in the genetic material, i.e. DNA.
Mycorrhizae - Mutualistic association of a fungus with the root of higher plant. In this relationship, the fungus helps the plant in extracting certain nutrients from the soil. In exchange, the fungus is provided with a habitat and nutrition in the form of carbohydrates.
Napthalene Acetic Acid - Napthalene Acetic Acid can significantly increase the number, length and dry weight of root hairs, small roots and large roots.
Necrosis - Referring to the death of tissue within a certain area.
Neem oil - Neem oil is an extract derived from the neem tree and contains a wide variety of compounds. The collective action is that of insect repellent, feeding inhibitor, egg-laying deterrent, growth retardant, sterilant and toxin. It affects some 170 insect species in several orders, which includes some beneficials.
Neem is relatively non-toxic to mammals.
Nematode - Nematodes are invertebrates comprising the parasitic roundworms. A smooth, narrow, cylindrical, non-segmented body tapered at both ends characterizes them. They shed their tough outer cuticle four times during life to allow growth. The microscopic free-living forms are found in all parts of the world, where they play an important role in the destruction and recycling of organic matter. The parasitic nematodes are much larger and some of them can cause serious diseases in man.
Nutrient Film Technique - Hydroponic technique used to grow plants. NFT delivers a film of water or nutrient solution down a trough or tray where the plants are located, either continuously or through on-off cycles (e.g., on 8 minutes and off 7 minutes).
Nitrogen - One of the three macronutrients essential for plant growth. Nitrogen is a major component of plants; it is a building block of amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids (genetic material), chlorophyll, and enzymes. Though nitrogen is in air, it is only available to plants once soil microorganisms have fixed it. Nitrogen deficiency is not uncommon; it is readily apparent as chlorosis and stunted growth. Deficiencies can be remedied by adding manure, compost, urea, seed meal, or blood meal. Leguminous cover crops will also supply nitrogen.
Node - The point on a trunk or stem where a branch or leaf is attached.
Nutrient solution - An aqueous solution consisting of a set volume of water and mineral nutrients that are applied to the root zone in hydroponics. Minerals dissolved in water that are used to feed hydroponically grown plants.
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