GARDENING: HYDROPONICS

Hydroponics, derived from Greek words “hydro” (meaning water) and “ponos” (meaning labor) is an innovative method for growing plants with the use of mineral nutrient solutions, devoid of soil. It is basically a technology involving the growth of plants in certain nutrient solutions including water based fertilizers that may or may not contain any artificial medium , such as, vermiculite, gravel, rockwool, peatmoss, perlite, sawdust or coir, in order to support the plants mechanically. Hydroponics systems can either be liquid or aggregate; the liquid systems do not have other medium for support while the aggregate systems have a support medium which is solid. Hydroponics has been defined to state only the liquid systems thus confining its usage and underestimating the technology’s scope and implications to the economic conditions.

The hydroponics systems in the world’s temperate regions are well enclosed in typical greenhouse-styled structures so as to enable temperature control, minimize evaporation and diminish pest infestations and diseases in vegetables and plants. It is the most highly prolific, conservative of land and water and the protective shield of the atmosphere.

The Basics

We all know that plant foliage needs oxygen; light as well as carbon dioxide and the root systems of the plant require water, oxygen and essential nutrients. While normally growing the plants, the water tends to leech the nutrients from underlying soil. These nutrients along with the water are then taken up to feed the plant’s growth by the plant roots. Further, so drainage enables the replacement of water by air between the soil grains and gaps. This in turn supplies oxygen to the roots.

Incase of hydroponics the essential nutrients are always dissolved in water. The soil is then substituted with a medium that enhances growth in order to supply the plant roots with water, oxygen and nutrients. Hydro juice, which is a nutrient solution, is used to drip feed the plants and it can be regularly be used for flooding the chamber of roots and then draining it out. In order to enable even nutrients circulation through roots, you would need a timer and a pup. The growth of roots in the air can also be encouraged by spraying hydro juice mists to the roots, or by growing them in hydro juice along with an aerated solution beneath the root masses with the help of air pump.

The Advantages

Hydroponics system or hydroponics controlled environment agriculture (“CEA) has several advantages, but the key advantage lies in the ability of the process to enable the growth of crops without soil. Also, the system enables high-density and maximum crop production and yield with no indifference to seasonality and environmental temperature and other associated factors followed by superior use of fertilizers and water in a small piece of land. The system also allows pest and disease control because of its advanced mechanization. As compared to the produce growing fields, hydroponics CEA involves the separation of the crop from soil that leads to pests, diseases, poor structure, improper drainage and salinity.

Moreover, hydropnic systems allow the growth of plants all through the year; you can grow plants, vegetables and flowers indoors as well.

How is Aeroponics similar to Hydroponics?

Both hydroponics and aeroponics seem to be similar systems, but there’s a difference between the two- aeroponic system does not allow the circulation of water containing nutrients through the plan’s roots implements as a foreign element (misting spray) to fulfill the requirements of the plants. The basic belief behind this method is to deliver more oxygen to the plant.


You can contact Hydroponics Growshop at www.hydroponics.eu to get details of information on hydroponics.