Fundamentals: What Is Hydroponics – and Why Does It Work?

Since William Frederick Gericke coined the term „hydroponics“ in the 1930s, the method has become established worldwide. Plants do not need soil – they need water, nutrients, support, and light. What soil normally provides is replaced in hydroponics by a precisely balanced nutrient solution.

What to Expect:

• Hydroponics 101: Definition, history, and comparison with soil-based cultivation – advantages and disadvantages presented clearly and honestly.
• Which plants thrive without soil? Lettuce and herbs (lettuce, arugula, basil, parsley) as light feeders, fruiting vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers) as heavy feeders – and what is better left to soil cultivation.
• Propagation and substrates: Coconut, expanded clay, perlite, rockwool, cotton – which medium suits which plant and why the substrate must be chemically inert.
• System types compared: Passive systems (wick, Kratky) and active systems (DWC, NFT, Ebb & Flow, aeroponics) with a decision matrix based on nutrient consumption, water use, yield, and reliability.
• Technology and setup: Reservoir, pipes, pump – and why the NASA principle (reduce complexity, redundancy, minimal interfaces) also applies to home systems.
• The liquid gold: Fundamentals of nutrient chemistry, macro- and micronutrients, and pH and EC management for optimal plant growth.
• Mixing your own nutrient solutions: Understanding proven formulas (Hewitt, Ashton, and others), converting them into elemental components, and calculating your own mix using our free fertilizer calculator.
• Handling measuring devices safely: Calibrating, maintaining, and correctly using pH and EC meters – detecting and correcting deficiencies or excesses early.

Your Results After the Workshop:

After this day you will have the knowledge needed to:

• understand and apply the fundamentals of hydroponics with confidence.
• independently select and build the system that suits your situation.
• calculate and adjust your own nutrient solution.
• realistically estimate costs and operational effort.
• take an important step toward sustainability and self-sufficiency.

Topics in Workshop II: Techniques & Optimization

Build on your foundation and dive deeper into specialized methods.

What to Expect:

• Aeroponics: Detailed setup, operation, and optimization for maximum growth and highest yields.
• Vertical Farming & Urban Gardening: Space-saving cultivation in urban environments, multi-level systems, and their challenges.
• Plant Health & Pest Management: Prevention, biological control, and solutions for common problems in hydroponic systems.
• Automation & Smart Hydroponics: Sensors, microcontrollers, and apps for monitoring and control (pH/EC controllers, pump control).
• Specialty Crops & Niche Products: Herbs, lettuces, berries, and exotic plants – customized nutrient solutions and system adjustments.
• Economics & Scaling: Cost-benefit analysis, potential for commercial cultivation, and tips for scaling.

General Course Information

• Comprehensive training materials: All content clearly prepared and available for later reference.
• Individual project support: We help you realize your own hydroponics projects – from the initial idea to implementation.
• Official completion certificate: A recognized confirmation of your new expertise after successfully completing the course.

Your Advantage as a Course Participant:

Participants who complete Workshop I and then decide to attend Workshop II receive an attractive discount and are optimally prepared for the advanced content.