The 2000’s: NASA
Over the last few decades, NASA has extensively researched hydroponics for its Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS). Nasa – Controlled Ecological Life Support System. Life Support Systems In Space Travel> Nasa – NASA Research Launches a New Generation of Indoor Farming>
1982: EPCOT: Gardens of Tomorrow
Disney introduces the world to the “gardens of tomorrow” at EPCOT’s brand new Land Pavilion – featuring many different hydroponic techniques. The pavilion is still going strong today with interactive hydroponic experiences. EPCOT Gardens – Wikipedia>
1976: General Hydroponics
Founded by Larry Brooke, General Hydroponics develops hydroponic systems and products for hydroponic cultivation, which are excellent systems for leafy greens such as lettuce. Still, it has significant drawbacks when cultivating large root annuals such as tomatoes.
1965: Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)
NFT is a hydroponic technique developed by Allen Cooper at the Glasshouse Crops Research Institute in England. The method involves a very shallow stream, or a “film” of water, recirculating past the bare roots of plants in a gully/channel where all the required dissolved nutrients are in the water solution. Nutrient Film Technique – Wikipedia>
1952: 8 Million Pounds
According to the special hydroponics branch of the US Army, over 8 million pounds of fresh produce is grown for the military using the growing method. Bloomsbury Collections – Chapter 8. Hydroponic Imperialism: Race, Hygiene and Agro-Technology in Occupied Japan, 1945–60>
1938: The Chemical Culture Company
Businessman Ernest W. Brundin was very interested in Gericke’s work and ended up experimenting himself by growing tomatoes hydroponically. It went so well that he soon produced tons of tomatoes and secured contracts to supply several transcontinental trains and steamships. He named his company “The Chemical Culture Company” and was so successful that by May […]
1938 – 1946: The US Military
The US Military made more recent advances, mostly innovations conceived through necessity. One example is Wake Island, an atoll in the Pacific Ocean and frequent refuelling stop. Incapable of producing crops, the rocky terrain prevented traditional farming. The US Air Force made small, 120 square feet hydroponic growing beds, eventually producing a weekly yield of […]
1882 – 1970: Dr William Frederick Gericke
All Was Quiet Over the next few decades, little effort towards developing commercial applications continued to leave the promise of water culture unfulfilled. Until; Dr William Frederick Gericke (1882 – 1970). In 1929, Dr William Frederick Gericke announced to the world that he had created a new technology which he called hydroponics. He used two […]
1817 – 1891: Johann August Ludwig Wilhelm Knop
While Sachs’ interests lie primarily in studying plant processes while establishing botanical knowledge, Knop could be rightfully called the true father of water culture. His experiments laid the foundation for what we now know today called hydroponics. In his early experiments, Knop sprouted seeds in sand and fibre netting before transplanting the seedlings into cork […]
1832 – 1897: Ferdinand Gustav Julius von Sachs
In 1860 Ferdinand Gustav Julius von Sachs was a German botanist and the author of Geschichte der Botanik, a History of Botany in 1875, which became a highly regarded historical chronicle from the mid-1500s through to the mid-1800s. The book was about the various branches of botanical science, where he published his nutrient solution formula […]