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History of Hydroponics | Benefits of Hydroponics | Definitions

History Of Hydroponics
Growing hydroponically in a controlled environment can be traced back to the Roman Emperor Tiberius, who in the first century had cucumbers growing in water under mica (transparent stone) when the conditions outside made traditional growing methods impossible.

Interest in Greenhouses on American soil began in 1925. And in the 1930's Gericke studying at the University of California, named the process "Hydroponics". This phrase was taken from the Greek word for water, hydro, and labor, ponos, thus water working. "Hydroponics' was used extensively in the 1940's by the US Military to grow food for soldiers on islands in the Pacific Rim, where traditional growing methods were impossible.

Over the course of the twentieth century researchers have developed alternative mediums in which to base roots, as well as deliver nutrients to the root base. It has only been since the 1960's that hydroponic growing systems have seen significant expansion and commercialization.

Today, technology continues to educate greenhouse growers and improve the quality of product we deliver!

The Ancient Hydroponics
Who would have guessed hydroponic growing has a longer history than soil growing? The fact is that long before any plant form was growing in soil, plants were growing in the oceans, hydroponically.

History points to the first possible successful use of hydroponic growing techniques by man as the Hanging Gardens in the ancient city of Babylon.

Over time many different cultures have used hydroponics in different ways and for different purposes. The definition of hydroponic growing has evolved to encompass many different facets. Currently when people refer to hydroponic growing the suggestion is that you are growing in a soil-less medium. True hydroponics by definition remains growing in nutrient rich water.

Hydroponics of Today
Southern Ontario has become the North American epicenter of hydroponics. Today more than 1000 acres of the 2500 acres in North America exist in a 15-mile radius around Ruthven encompassing Kingsville and Leamington. Red Zoo, located in the heart of Ruthven exercises some of the most advanced methods available to the industry.

At Red Zoo, our plants are located in huge greenhouse facilities, where details are adhered to as if they were giant laboratories. Plants are rooted in a rock wool base (a slab of molten rock that is blown into a web similar to steel wool) and are monitored with computers that directs a drip irrigation system that delivers the most accurate level of nutrients to plants as well as opens and closes huge air vents to control ideal air temperatures.

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