I want to learn the details.

I have recently become entranced by hydroponics as a whole, not just the medicinal plants talked about on this board, but by the process and the industry as a whole. I recently completed college with a geography degree where I focused on GIS technology and well...the field is shot right now.

Throughout my degree I was greatly interested in culture and conservation efforts, which I feel can be intertwined with hydroponics, greatly. I realize a lot of beginners may find a pseudo-passion for the growing and such as they feel they can profit hugely off of selling medicine to friends. Not me. I find the growth of everyday plants such as tomatoes, chards, greens, lettuces, and peppers to be incredible. All of this on small amounts of land use, if any at all.

I've come about thoughts of opening a shop in town for hydroponics, something small...something I can push with the local college kids and gentrification yuppies, but also with those that frequent the farmers market that sadly dies post-October. I have never run a business, never owned a store, and never in my life taken a loan for larger than 4 grand. I'm a broke college graduate wanting something else other than the white-collar dream...at least through its typically path.

Enough with what I enjoy, how I see the business and who I want to target...I need knowledge more than anything else I believe. I have only taken part in one hydroponics system, though it turned out far better than I expected. Improper pruning and managing rendered a stupidly healthy plant (minus nitrogen deficiency) to be thrown to the way side. So be it, I learned quite a bit over its life course. My wanting to learn is stemmed more from my tinkering and need to support local areas, as well as wanting to grow healthy plants year round.

I don't fully trust internet sources, nor do I fully trust literature in general...so where do I go for the best information? a second degree in botany or horticulture is out of the question. I'm tired of classrooms and overzealous teachers. Is there a reputable source that people cling to for information? Scientific journals? Is there such internet sites that are proven to be of use and truthful information? I realize a lot of this can...and does...stem from soil gardening. I can't say that I enjoy that near as much.


Anyways, enough of a story I guess. I am simply asking the pros and possibly even the ameteurs...where do you find SOLID information that delves into hydroponics as a science (and art) specifically. I'm talking NPK info, possible pests and treatments for them, how to raise the efficiency of your system, how to grow larger fruit and what makes them grow larger than normal. This may all be simple info for those that have gone at it for quite a while...but it is needed information for myself and the adventure I want to go about.

go and track down the see more buds videos. Commercial throughput at its best. Wont tell you much on NPK's tho not many people get into that as it gets messy

Mouse

You have no business experience, not much money and you are just starting to learn about hydro in depth. I suggest you get a job at a hydro store and see how the business is run. You would get a first hand education. Not only would you see the details of how the business is run, but you will be hanging around people who know about hydro and make a modest salary at the same time.

I wish you success.

zvuv said:

You have no business experience, not much money and you are just starting to learn about hydro in depth. I suggest you get a job at a hydro store and see how the business is run. You would get a first hand education. Not only would you see the details of how the business is run, but you will be hanging around people who know about hydro and make a modest salary at the same time.

I wish you success.

Click to expand...

I would love to, but my town doesn't have a hydro shop. We are not a medicinal state and we tend to have long(ish) hot seasons so people can spend 7-8 months outdoors growing. Once I move I plan on at least hanging around a shop to gain knowledge but the closest one to me now is 75 miles south.

I know my experience and monetary situation is hurting me but I can't do anything other than research and begin working in other fields until I see it fit to transplant my career into my own hands and own shop. Are their any literary works that can be picked up and put to good use? I don't guess they have to be hydroponic based, though I can imagine soil offers far more complications. These may or may not end up being more than useful in the end.

I am looking to become certified to sell insurance, I plan on that being a money maker until I can manage a sure fire way to succeed at least for a year with over head and all for the new business. I hope my degree can pull through for me, though I know about 20 other people in my field and city hoping for the same thing.

I will look into the videos referenced above, but I would really like something not based on bud...unless maybe this is and the title is a bit misleading? I will take a gander through anything that can be shared from all of you.

There's a lot of people growing stuff in soil, not just MJ. They have money to spend and value expert advice. Seems to me that if you really want to be an expert in hydro you have to know a lot about plant biology at which point you probably know a lot about soil too. Even working in a nursery you will get a valuable education in both plant cultivation and how the bidniss works. Don't underestimate business skills. They don't appear out of thin air when you need them and lack of such skill is a major reason why small businesses fail early.

Just my 2c. I'm not planning a career in hydro supplies so what do I know ?

this site is a great resource for information, along with the community here.

Opening a hydro shop in a non medical state might give you some unwanted challenges and attention, it wouldn't be something I would plan to do.

Your best bet to learning more is to read

Do you research very carefully. Hydroshops don't do near the business in non-med states. And learn more before trying to run a hydroshop. Generally growing things like peppers and tomatoes is the same as weed. Stuff like lettuce you only veg for like a month and it's ready to go. The only thing I haven't found info on is growing asparagus hydroponically. I'm thinking a flood system in perlite should work. I'm trying watermelon this winter.
There's tons of books on the subject as well. You don't need to go back to get another degree to learn everything.

id put it in a blue collar type area.....there was 3 hydro shops here, 1 was in a blue collar area, and the 2 that are now closed were in the rich ass hoods....the remainng dude does mad bizniz cuz most of the growers here are not rich people , jus simple working or not working class people lol....do your research heavily and look at alota diff areas before you go balls deep

i wish you luck mang