This article on Hydroponic Gardening gives an overview of hydroponic gardening: what it is, why people do it, where to buy hydroponic gardening supplies and kits.
Hydroponic gardening is defined as "the cultivation of plants in water" or "the cultivation of plants without soil." Hydroponic gardening can work for any kind of plants, including vegetables and flowers. Hydroponic gardening is sometimes called water gardening; however, don't get that confused with water gardens (small ponds with Koi and water lilies).
You can use hydroponic gardening techniques indoors or outdoors. Literally, it means "water works."
When the lack of water supply and fertile land are a problem, hydroponic gardening techniques can be successfully implemented to provide a stable and steady supply of agricultural crops.
Home gardeners also use hydroponics to grow vegetables year round. Oftentimes, people who live in apartments practice hydroponics because it saves space.
Plants do not need soil to grow. Plants can grow in many different media, including nutrient-rich water, peat- or bark-based growing mixes.
Hydroponics knowledge is ancient (think of the hanging Gardens of Babylon and The Floating Gardens of China), but there is a resurgence of interest today for hobbyists and commercial growers alike. It is a fun hobby for some, but the economic impact hydroponics can make is of greatest importance.
Reasons many choose hydroponic gardening:
- No weeds
- Fewer pests
- Fewer plant diseases
- Healthy, vigorous plants
- Faster maturing plants
- Yield earlier harvests
- Can grow plants year round
- Can grow indoors
- No fertilizer or pesticide runoff
- Conserves land, space, and water. Hydroponics also conserves greenhouse space for those who use greenhouses.
- Can be used in areas otherwise inhospitable to most plants, such as a hot, dry desert
Plant requirements are nutrients, water, air and sunlight (or some sort of light - see below for indoor gardening). When plants grow in the soil, they obtain nutrients and water through the soil. When plants grow in water or a soil less medium, you must add the nutrients in a steady diet to the plants.
You can even automate your hydroponics system with timers, further reducing the time spent on gardening. Today, hydroponic gardening kits and supplies are available online, with the systems ranging from small to elaborate.
The advantages of hydroponics for challenged land areas can be readily apparent: Through the use of hydroponic systems, a desert can produce as much food as any other place since precise water and nutrient application directly to the roots of plants conserves water and still allows the plants to thrive.
Indoor hydroponic gardening: You must provide adequate light and good air circulation for indoor gardening. Indoor hydroponics units often incorporate a small fan to circulate the air. Good air circulation allows photosynthesis to occur and also prevents fungus.
Indoor light sources:
- metal halide lamps
- sodium vapor lamps
- gro-lights
- fluorescent lights and incandescent light bulbs
- Natural sunlight from a South-facing window
About nutrient solutions:
There are 13 elements necessary for plant growth (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, iron, manganese, boron, copper, zinc, molybdenum and chlorine).
You will need a fertilizer or solution that is specially formulated for hydroponic gardening. You cannot use the fertilizers that are geared to amending the soil because they do not contain all the necessary nutrients. Ready-made solutions are easily purchased at hydroponics or organic gardening supply stores.
Gardening Tip: You will need to change the nutrient solution as often as your instructions (and your test kit) advise, since some of the nutrients will become depleted. Don't throw the old solution away - use it to water soil-based plants!
Gardening Tip: Suite 101.com has some excellent articles on hydroponic gardening available if you would like to learn more.
If you would like to join others interested in hydroponic gardening, contact Hydroponic Society of America, P.O. Box 6067, Concord, CA 94524, (415)682-4193.
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Copyright© 2006 by Sally Morton. Reproduction without permission prohibited.
