Sigma Station Hydroponics

The staff of the Sigma Hydroponics Greenhouse welcomes you to our information
site.

The hydroponics garden onboard the station was originally established in
AU11325, a year before the station was launched. This was done to ensure that
there would be sufficient supplies of food and oxygen available for the
residents of the station as soon as the station became fully operational.

The hydroponics system onboard is basically an ebb and flow system, the
plants being flooded 2-3 times a day to ensure proper delivery of nutrients
and to keep the rock bed materials clean. A computer subsystem of the
station’s Core monitors Ph levels, nutrients, and air temperature and
circulation to ensure optimal growing conditions and also controls the
flooding cycles. The lighting is provided by metal halide lights which yield
a higher number of blooms per plant while being less harsh on the eyes.

To avoid insect infestation onboard the station, the plants are pollinated by
an army of small "spider" robots which roam the hydroponics greenhouse. These
small robots are directed remotely by the same computer subsystem that
monitors other hydroponics systems. Visitors will probably not notice their
presence.


Visitors will notice some of the following plants:


Pamyos plant
============
A bio-engineered combination of the yos plant, a formerly common food source
on Xylan, and pampri grass, a tall water plant also native to Xylan. Both yos
and pampri could be grown in water, ensuring that the resulting combination
would be ideal for hydroponics. The pamyos plant combines the nitrogen-fixing
properties and nutritious seeds of the yos with the thin leaves and tall
height (over 4m) of the pampri.

Velen
=====
To all appearances, the velen might be mistaken for a weed. However, its broad
leaves growing from thick, woody stems make it a vital oxygen-producing
addition to the greenhouse.

Cusil
=====
Flowering plants of the cusil family have broad, short leaves and large,
purple blossoms which are later replaced a sweet, fleshy fruit which is
highly nutritious.


This article was contributed by Tregina.