What Is Hydroponics?

Hydroponics refers to the process of growing plants without the use of soil. Instead, plants are fed using mineral nutrient solutions directly in water or using a neutral medium with a dissolved nutrient liquid. Plants grow normally without soil as long as adequate nutrition is provided to the root system. The success of hydroponics lies with the feeding method, mediums and nutrient sources and provides many advantages.

Feeding the plant

In hydroponics, plants absorb nutrients directly from the liquid nourishment provided. Because plants do not require soil for growth, minerals dissolved in liquid support full growth. Before nutrients dissolve in water, plant roots are unable to absorb mineral ions, so hydroponic growth provides an ideal feeding method. Depending on the plant, nutrient solutions are customized to provide optimal levels for the plant's growth and health.

Mediums and nutrient sources

Many terrestrial plants are grown hydroponically by placing their roots directly in the water-based, mineral solution or by using an inert medium. The most common inert mediums include mineral wool, gravel, coconut husk or perlite. However, hydroponic growers have numerous options from which to choose when selecting an appropriate medium.

Advantages of hydroponics

Numerous advantages of hydroponics exist, primarily around the expense of plant production. In hydroponics, no soil is needed and the water is reused. Controlled amounts of nutrients are provided, resulting in lower nutrition costs. Because fewer nutrients are used, fewer are wasted and reenter the environment. Finally, hydroponics produce higher and steadier yields.

Risks of hydroponics

While hydroponics offer many advantages, there are a few disadvantages. Without soil, any failure in the nutrient base causes quick plant death. While many diseases are better fought in hydroponics, there are some specifics to water-based growing, such as damp-off.

Hydroponics is a rapidly growing segment of agriculture, especially as growers seek alternate methods of developing stable and high-yield production. While it may seem complicated, the field continues to grow and new information is available frequently.