Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in water using mineral nutrient solutions in the absence of soil. Terrestrial plants, ones that are grown in soil, may then be grown with their roots immersed in mineral nutrient solution only. A second stream involves the use of an inert medium in hydroponics, with the medium being organic or inorganic. Some hydroponic media include perlite, gravel, vermiculite, sand, rockwool etc.
Research on growing plants in water was being conducted as early as the 17th century. In the 19th century, it was deduced that plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions in water. Plant roots are able to absorb the mineral nutrients in the soil once they dissolve in water. Hence, in hydroponics, when mineral nutrients required by a plant are introduced into the water supply, soil becomes secondary to the growth of the plant.
Almost all plants can be grown using hydroponics. Hydroponics is a standard technique in biology research and teaching. Hydroponics suits those with limited gardening space and water scarcity issues. Such basic problems can often make a garden an unattainable dream. Hydroponics is simple to implement and easy to follow.
Hydroponics is increasingly gaining popularity among individual growers and hence it is becoming easier to grow in water and root zone media. There is a lot of quality information on hydroponics to be found on the internet. One can also buy hydroponics products off the internet.
The yield from hydroponics is much higher than what you will obtain by conventional farming. In fact, one could hedge that it is the solution to the world’s food shortage problems. Hydroponics could also help stall the necessary conversion of forest land into agricultural land, as hydroponic gardening takes less space. This will help us retain our much-needed forest cover and reduce the strain on natural resources.
