Intro to Hydroponics Class

Class is held at Farm.One, 625 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11238.

Learn how to grow herbs, greens, micros & flowers indoors with hydroponics in a controlled environment and artificial light. Farm.One in Prospect Heights grows hundreds of rare herbs, edible flowers, and microgreens for the best chefs in New York. There is no other hydroponic learning space like this!

This introduction to the high-tech world of indoor growing will open your eyes to the possibilities of year-round, pesticide-free, high-quality, high-yield agriculture suitable for any size. Students get hands-on experience from seed to harvest under the guidance of our Director of Farming, Kate Lodvikov.

Students of all experience levels and all backgrounds are welcome. Classes are limited to 12 students, enabling plenty of one-on-one instruction.

In this 120 minute course, 6:30-8:30pm, you will learn about:

• The Principles of Hydroponics
• Hydroponic Systems
• Climate & Nutrients for your Crops
• Growing & Managing from Seed to Harvest
• Avoiding Pests without Pesticides
• Pruning & Harvesting for Best Yield

About your instructor, Kate Lodvikov

Kate has operated a number of vertical farms in NYC. Currently she is the Director of Farming at Farm.One. She is an instructor at the New York Botanical Garden and teaches a yearly class on hydroponics.

Full class Overview

1. Principles of Hydroponics

• What is hydroponics? How does it work?
• Why is it so efficient?
• The easiest and most appropriate crops to grow
• Principles of indoor artificial lighting
• Growing herbs versus fruit and flowers
• Challenges of hydroponic systems
  

2. Hydroponic Systems

• Different types of hydroponic systems, their pros and cons
• The best lighting systems and which to choose
• Simple ways to start at home
• Overview of commercial systems
  

3. Climate & Nutrients For Your Crops

• Managing nutrients
• Spotting and fixing unhealthy plants
• What climates work best for herbs and greens
• How to simply manage climate
• More sophisticated climate control & CO2

4. Grow and Manage from Seed to Harvest

• The basics of planting and germinating with hands-on instruction
• Growing mediums
• Techniques to improve germination rates
• Transplanting into the main system
• Growing from cuttings

5. Avoid Pests Without Pesticides

• Techniques to keep your farm pest-free
• What to do if you do get pests
  

6. Prune & Harvest for Great Yield

• The basics with hands-on instruction
• Specific techniques for popular crops
• Lifecycle and stages of growth