Is Vinyl Safe For Hydroponics

What sealants are considered safe for contact with hydro solution.

Is vinyl safe for hydroponics.

One of the more common questions i m asked on the blog is about plastic use specifically what plastics are safe for use in the garden since a lot of epic gardening readers are into hydroponics and aquaponics over soil gardening there are a lot of people with a lot of plastic in their setup that are curious about their safety and place in the garden. The rigid form of pvc is used in construction for pipe and in profile applications such as doors and windows. We used to get a lot of crap for using poly tubing instead of pvc for our irrigation lines. But is it safe to use around food plants.

We always recommend checking with the manufacturer about the food safe status. We are blessed to live in a world where norm. Pvc comes in two basic forms. Non food grade plastics can be used for drains or other non contact surfaces.

Poly vinyl chloride commonly abbreviated pvc is the third most widely produced polymer after polyethylene and polypropylene. Most often used in construction pvc is a plastic composed of three elements. A tower garden also called a window farm is a system of vertical hydroponics which includes an a frame hydroponic system hydroponic wall and cascades of bottles. I think the other writers have done a pretty good job at answering the question and the only thing i will add is this.

Based on all the research papers i ve read i believe it s clear pvc is a toxic material that has no place in an organic garden or anywhere. Polyvinyl chloride is more often referred to by its less technical names pvc and vinyl. Here we take a look at some of the risks that are associated with this kind of gardening technique. Want to use something like silicone on one end for inspection and maintenance but worry about voc s in the sealants.

Although hydroponics present a gardener with the possibility of much better plant growth there are dangers associated with it. Want to do a vinyl fence post project but want to be able to check the spray heads frequently since i have had problems with them clogging. In hydroponic farms plants are grown without soil. It can be used for growing various crops like strawberry lettuce swiss chard herbs spinach kale broccoli and flowering petunia.

Carbon hydrogen and chlorine. If you are really worried about something find a way to go out there and test it. Pvc plastic leaches toxic chemicals. Rigid sometimes abbreviated as rpvc and flexible.

All plastics can leach toxic substances to some degree given the right conditions there are however safer plastics than others. My best suggestion is to use food grade or food safe materials for all surfaces that come in contact with the plants and the hydroponic solution.