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Title: Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower
Author: J. Benton Jones Jr.
ISBN: 0-8493-3167-6
Price: ~ $80.00
I am a man of science. When a claim is made, I need more than just anecdotal evidence to support it. Growing cannabis is no exception. So why then, am I reviewing a work where our favorite plant is referenced zero times? Simple. For the aspiring cannabis cultivator, the currently available cannabis-specific resources fall far short of academic standards. They are sloppy, imprecise, lack sources, and at times just flat out wrong. Remember that cannabis is simply a plant. It is a wonderful and magnificent plant, but is still just a plant. Despite what other authors or nutrient manufactures would have you believe, it does not require special nutrients or techniques. Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower by J. Benton Jones Jr. excels where all cannabis-specific books fail.
First and foremost, this work is a guide to plant nutrition. The majority of this book is dedicated to the essential elements and their concentration in the nutrient solution. The chapter on the elements is extremely detailed. It lists each one’s purpose, deficiency symptoms, common reagents (with molar mass), and the ideal concentration range for the nutrient solution. While tomato is the most frequently referenced, other common hydroponic crops including lettuce, peppers, and strawberries are covered. There is even a chapter on organic gardening; however I found this to be lacking when compared to the remainder of the text.
This work by Mr. Jones is more than just a guide to nutrients; it is a general handbook to soilless gardening. Within it are chapters on everything from how the plant root works to diagnostic testing procedures to pest control. Of particular usefulness are the sections on operating one’s very own hydroponic systems (i.e. NFT, ebb-and-flow, drip irrigation, etc.). It provides excellent, precise details on running each system. And while it doesn’t include step-by-step instructions for constructing one’s own, the details, including a multitude of photographs and diagrams, give ample information to do so.
Do not let the high price steer you away. Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower is a must have for anyone serious about mixing his or her own nutrients. Even if you’re not yet to that point, but simply interested in taking your indoor gardening to the next level, this book is for you. The knowledge within will pay for itself a hundred times over.
Pros: Extremely detailed, lists many sources, amazing source of information on plant nutrition and soilless culture
Cons: Expensive, wordiness makes it inaccessible for growers who aren’t dedicated to learning
Author: J. Benton Jones Jr.
ISBN: 0-8493-3167-6
Price: ~ $80.00
I am a man of science. When a claim is made, I need more than just anecdotal evidence to support it. Growing cannabis is no exception. So why then, am I reviewing a work where our favorite plant is referenced zero times? Simple. For the aspiring cannabis cultivator, the currently available cannabis-specific resources fall far short of academic standards. They are sloppy, imprecise, lack sources, and at times just flat out wrong. Remember that cannabis is simply a plant. It is a wonderful and magnificent plant, but is still just a plant. Despite what other authors or nutrient manufactures would have you believe, it does not require special nutrients or techniques. Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower by J. Benton Jones Jr. excels where all cannabis-specific books fail.
First and foremost, this work is a guide to plant nutrition. The majority of this book is dedicated to the essential elements and their concentration in the nutrient solution. The chapter on the elements is extremely detailed. It lists each one’s purpose, deficiency symptoms, common reagents (with molar mass), and the ideal concentration range for the nutrient solution. While tomato is the most frequently referenced, other common hydroponic crops including lettuce, peppers, and strawberries are covered. There is even a chapter on organic gardening; however I found this to be lacking when compared to the remainder of the text.
This work by Mr. Jones is more than just a guide to nutrients; it is a general handbook to soilless gardening. Within it are chapters on everything from how the plant root works to diagnostic testing procedures to pest control. Of particular usefulness are the sections on operating one’s very own hydroponic systems (i.e. NFT, ebb-and-flow, drip irrigation, etc.). It provides excellent, precise details on running each system. And while it doesn’t include step-by-step instructions for constructing one’s own, the details, including a multitude of photographs and diagrams, give ample information to do so.
Do not let the high price steer you away. Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower is a must have for anyone serious about mixing his or her own nutrients. Even if you’re not yet to that point, but simply interested in taking your indoor gardening to the next level, this book is for you. The knowledge within will pay for itself a hundred times over.
Pros: Extremely detailed, lists many sources, amazing source of information on plant nutrition and soilless culture
Cons: Expensive, wordiness makes it inaccessible for growers who aren’t dedicated to learning
