What is Hydroponics?
Hydroponics, by definition, means “water-working.” In practical use, it means growing plants in a water and nutrient solution, without soil. The science of hydroponics proves that soil isn’t required for plant growth, but the elements, minerals and nutrients that soil contains are necessary. Soil is simply the holder of the nutrients, a place where the plant roots traditionally live and a base of support for the plant structure. Hydroponic growing is ideal for fruit-bearing crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, leafy crops, like lettuce and herbs, and flowing plants.
Hydroponics is defined as the cultivation of plants by placing the roots in a liquid nutrient solution rather than soil. This method of growing plants is believed to have been used to grow plants in the hanging gardens of Babylon over 2,000 BC. In modern times, the US army used hydroponics to feed the occupation troops in Japan after World War II. The Japanese used human waste to fertilize their crops and the US troops were getting sick when they ate the local produce. The US army brought in horticulturists who set up growing systems to produce vegetables without being grown in the local Japanese soils. Although true hydroponics would grow plants without using a growing media, today it is generally accepted that anyone who is mixing nutrients into the water that feeds their plants is using some form of hydroponics. Today, some growers use sterile medias, such as; rockwool, perlite, and vermiculite. Other growers use fairly stable organic medias, such as; coconut fiber, peat moss, and c
Hydroponics is the growing of plants without soil. The plants grow in moist inert materials or water solutions containing the necessary minerals needed for growth. The main purpose of soil for a plant is to provide nutrients and water for plants. This can still be achieved, often more efficiently, without the presence of soil. When most people think hydroponics, a picture of plants growing in nothing but water often comes to mind. Most often hydroponics is a term used to describe the growing of plants in a soiless medium. Some examples of soiless mediums are: gravel, lava rocks, peat moss, perlite and sawdust. Their purpose is to hold water and nutrients for the plants roots. Because a soiless medium is inert, or has no nutritional value, all of the necessary elements are provided in a nutrient solution is just plain water with an added hydroponic nutrient. There are many different ways to water your plants with a hydroponic nutrient solution which is why there are many different hydro
Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants without soil. Most commonly, hydroponics cultivates plants in nutrient-rich water, although hydroponics can also be considered to be the practice of growing plants in other aggregates, such as a soil-less bark-based mix. Hydroponics is an advantageous method of gardening both for home and commercial use. There are no weeds to deal with, and hydroponic plants are typically more healthy, mature earlier, and use less space. In addition, because it is entirely water-based, it is possible to fully automate a hydroponics system, so if the gardener is absent for an extended period of time, the plants will not suffer. The water is typically reused, as opposed to traditional farming methods where much water is lost through evaporation or runoff. In an indoor hydroponics system, plants may receive sunlight through artificial means such as grow lights. Another consideration for indoor hydroponic gardens is air circulation. This prevents fungal disease
Hydroponics is the method of growing plants using a soilless media which could include a wide variety of examples like: gravel, peat, vermiculite Perlite, old rubber tires, rockwool, and expanded clay aggregates. The minerals that the plant needs are dissolved into the water which is then watered directly to the plants. So, in short instead of the plants searching throughout the soil for their minerals they draw them directly from the water that they are being fed.
