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Indoor vertical Farming 101: Everything you need to know

Hydroponic growing is a method of cultivating plants without soil by using nutrient-rich water. This technique allows plants to grow faster and produce higher yields compared to traditional soil-based farming.
Plants are grown indoors on multilevel shelves and racks, maximizing space efficiency and production capacity. These indoor environments are meticulously climate-controlled, ensuring optimal temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, and lighting for consistent, year-round crop production.

Faster Growth

Plants can grow up to 50% faster in hydroponic systems.

Higher Yields

Hydroponic farms can produce up to 10 times more crops per square foot.

Water Efficiency

Uses up to 90% less water than conventional farming.

Space Efficiency

Vertical farming allows for the use of minimal space with maximum output.

Pest & Disease Control

Controlled environments reduce the risk of pests and diseases.

What is hydroponic vertical farming?

Hydroponic vertical farming is a modern technique of growing plants in stacked layers without soil, using nutrient-rich water. This method allows for efficient use of space, faster plant growth, and pesticide-free produce, making it a sustainable option for urban farming.

Basic Components

Growing Medium:

Instead of soil, materials like perlite, coconut coir, or rock wool support plant roots.

Nutrient Solution:

A water-based solution enriched with essential minerals and nutrients.

Water Delivery System:

Pumps and tubing deliver the nutrient solution to plant roots.

Lighting:

LED grow lights mimic natural sunlight, providing the necessary spectrum for photosynthesis.

Environmental Control:

Systems to regulate temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels, ensuring optimal growth conditions.

Vertical Racks

The plants are cultivated in vertical racks within a controlled environment. Each layer has its own lighting and nutrient delivery system, ensuring uniform growth. These racks allow for more plants to be grown in the same space, making it ideal for urban environments or areas with limited space. Vertical farming maximizes space efficiency by stacking layers of plants.

Controlled Environment

Hydroponic indoor vertical farms operate in a controlled environment where factors such as temperature, humidity, light, and CO2 levels are meticulously managed. This control minimizes the risk of pests and diseases, reduces the need for pesticides, and creates a stable growing environment that enhances plant health and productivity.

Ebb and Flow (Flood & Drain) System

The Ebb and Flow system is one of the most popular hydroponic systems due to its simplicity and efficiency. The growing area is periodically flooded with the nutrient solution, submerging the plant roots. After a set period, the nutrient solution is drained back into the reservoir, allowing the roots to receive oxygen. This process repeats at regular intervals, ensuring that the plants receive the nutrients and oxygen they need.

Starting Your Own Indoor Vertical Farm

Initial Consideration

Space Requirements:

Determine the size and layout of your growing area.

Crop Selection:

Choose crops that are well-suited for hydroponic systems, such as leafy greens, herbs, and certain fruits.

Setting Up

Infrastructure:

Build or purchase vertical racks and install the hydroponic system.

Lighting:

Set up LED grow lights to ensure proper light coverage.

Nutrient Solution:

Prepare and maintain the nutrient solution according to the needs of your chosen crops.

Monitoring:

Regularly check pH levels, nutrient concentration, and environmental conditions with Digital Cultivation powered by AGEYE.

Automation:

Implement automated systems for irrigation, lighting, climate control and plant movement to optimize growing conditions and reduce manual labor.

Maintenance and Care

Daily Checks:

Inspect plants, and monitor system performance.

Nutrient Management:

Adjust nutrient solutions as plants grow.

Harvesting:

Plan for regular harvesting to maintain continuous production.

Differences Between Hydroponic and Conventional Growing

The global population is growing by 1% every year and is projected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050. Vertical farming could provide a solution to cultivating enough food. Vertical farms can be built in many unconventional indoor spaces, including warehouses, skyscrapers, shipping containers, and old industrial buildings and factories. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) regulates temperature, humidity, lighting, water, nutrition, and even carbon dioxide to create a perfect indoor microclimate for growing.

Conventional Farming

Hydroponic Farming

Soil vs. Soilless

Relies on natural soil, which can be inconsistent in nutrient content and subject to erosion and degradation.

Uses a water-based nutrient solution, providing consistent and optimal nutrient delivery.

Water Usage

Requires large amounts of water, much of which is lost to evaporation and runoff.

Recirculates water, drastically reducing water waste. Uses 95% less water.

Space Utilization

Typically requires large expanses of land.

Maximizes space by stacking layers of plants vertically. Uses 99% less land.

Environmental Impact

Can contribute to soil depletion, water pollution, and high pesticide use.

Minimizes environmental impact through efficient resource use and reduced need for chemical inputs.

Organic Potential

Often relies on pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers to protect crops and enhance growth.

Vertical farms are often 100% organic, using no pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers.

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